Main events
Abraham Lincoln elected President of USA
Encyclical on temporal power of Popes

In Paris
Wagner in Paris
City limits extended, 1 Jan

Literature
Burckhardt: Civilisation of Renaissance in Italy
Eliot: Mill on the Floss

Science / Invention
Total Eclipse of Sun, 18 July
1st international conference on Chemistry
the asteroid DanaeSeptember 9th: Goldschmidt discovers asteroid Danaë

"The sixty first asteroid was discovered by the indefatigable Mr Goldschmidt. It was first seen by him on the evening of September 9th, but illness prevented him from finding it again before the 19th, and unfortunately precluded him from following up on the discovery by a series of observations. The planet was, however, found by Dr Luther, in Bilk, at the instance of Mr Goldschmidt, and, at his suggestion, has received the name of Danaë"

Astronomical Journal, no. 141 Nov 1860

Named by Francois Arago, Director of the Paris Observatory.