1853
Centuries: 18th century - 19th century - 20th century
Decades: 1800s 1810s 1820s 1830s 1840s - 1850s - 1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s
Years: 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 - 1853 - 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858
Births
- March 30 - Vincent van Gogh, Dutch painter
- July 5 - Cecil John Rhodes, South African politician
Deaths
- January 16 - Matteo Carcassi, Italian composer
Events
- August 24 - Potato chips first prepared.
- Franklin Pierce succeeds Millard Fillmore as President of the United States of America
- Start of Crimean War
- Independant Santa Cruz Maya of Eastern Yucatan recognized as an independant nation by British Empire