1856 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

Baseball

Events * The four established New York (Manhattan) clubs play nine matches between August 30 and October 28. Several other clubs in present New York City play matches against a rival or two. Daily and weekly newspapers cover the game and some matches. * 17 October — the Eagle club scores 8 against 2 by Gotham, an extreme example of the main problem with the 21–run rule (revised to nine innings next spring).

Boxing

Events * 26 January — Harry Poulson meets the upcoming

Tom Sayers Tom Sayers (15 or 25 May 18268 November 1865) was an English Bare-knuckle boxing, bare-knuckle prize fighter. There were no formal weight divisions at the time, and although Sayers was only five feet eight inches tall and never weighed much mo ...

at Appledore, Kent. Sayers enhances his growing reputation by winning in the 109th round.Cyber Boxing Zone – Tom Sayers
Retrieved on 8 November 2009. * 19 May —

Harry Broome Henry Alfred Broome (1826 – 2 November 1865) was a boxer from the bare-knuckle fighting era who became heavyweight champion of England in September, 1851 when he defeated fellow Englishman William Perry in Mildenhall, England. He lost the tit ...

finally defends the Championship of England against

Tom Paddock Tom Paddock, born Thomas Paddock (c. 1822, Redditch – 30 June 1863) also known as the Redditch Needlepointer was a champion English bare-knuckle boxer in the early Victorian era. Tom was baptised on 25 August 1822 in Redditch, Worcesters ...

at Manningtree. Paddock wins in the 51st round and takes the title. Broome announces his retirement.Cyber Boxing Zone – Tom Paddock
Retrieved on 8 November 2009. * 2 October — a scheduled bout between Paddock and former champion

William Perry William Perry may refer to: Business * William Perry (Queensland businessman) (1835–1891), businessman and politician in Queensland, Australia * William H. Perry (businessman) (1832–1906), American businessman and entrepreneur Politics and ...

is cancelled because Paddock is ill. Paddock pays forfeit and Perry claims the English title but is not recognised. * With the American champion

John Morrissey John Morrissey (February 12, 1831 – May 1, 1878), also known as Old Smoke, was an Irish American politician, bare-knuckle boxing champion, and criminal. He was born in 1831 in Ireland. His parents moved to New York State when he was a ...

refusing to fight again until 1858,Cyber Boxing Zone – John Morrissey
Retrieved on 8 November 2009. the focus shifts to his eventual next opponent, the upcoming

John C. Heenan John Camel Heenan, also known as the Benicia Boy (2 May 1834 – 28 October 1873) was an American Bare-knuckle boxing, bare-knuckle prize fighter. Though highly regarded, he had only three formal fights in his career, losing two and drawing one. ...

, known as "The Benicia Boy".Cyber Boxing Zone – John C. Heenan
Retrieved on 8 November 2009.

Cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

Events *

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

begins a period of dominance in the inter-county game, their team at this time including

William Caffyn William Caffyn (2 February 1828 – 28 August 1919), known as Billy Caffyn, was an English cricketer who played mainly for Surrey County Cricket Club and various England representative sides. He played in 200 first-class cricket matches, 89 of t ...

, Tom Lockyer, Edgar Willsher,

H. H. Stephenson Heathfield Harman "HH" Stephenson (3 May 1833 in Esher, Surrey – 17 December 1896 in Uppingham, Rutland) was a famous English cricketer during the game's roundarm era. Stephenson bowled right-arm fast roundarm, batted right-handed and was an ...

and

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

England * Most runs – John Lillywhite 620 @ 24.80 (HS 138) * Most wickets – John Wisden 73 @ 12.51 (BB 6–33)

Horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

England * Grand National – Freetrader *

1,000 Guineas Stakes The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 ...

– Manganese *

2,000 Guineas Stakes The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres) and scheduled to take place each year at ...

– Fazzoletto * The Derby –

Ellington Ellington may refer to: Places United Kingdom *Ellington, Cambridgeshire * Ellington, Northumberland *Ellington High and Low, a civil parish in North Yorkshire **High Ellington **Low Ellington United States *Ellington Airport (Texas), Hous ...

* The Oaks – Mincepie * St. Leger Stakes – Warlock

Lacrosse

Events * The Montreal Lacrosse Club is formed in Montreal by W. George Beers, the first organised lacrosse team. They also develop the first codified rules of lacrosse, which Beers will rewrite in

1867 Events January–March * January 1 – The Covington–Cincinnati Suspension Bridge opens between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky, in the United States, becoming the longest single-span bridge in the world. It was renamed a ...

Rowing

The Boat Race * 15 March — Cambridge wins the 13th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The first twelve Races were contested over 27 years from 1829. From 1856 the event will be annual except during the two World Wars.

References

{{Sports by year 1851 – 1900 Sports by year