On This Day

Soldiers marching on a bridge in Manchester, England, cause it to collapse.

Broughton Suspension Bridge was an iron chain suspension bridge built in 1826 to span the River Irwell between Broughton and Pendleton, now in Salford, Greater Manchester, England.

Broughton Suspension Bridge was an iron chain suspension bridge built in 1826 to span the River Irwell between Broughton and Pendleton, now in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. One of Europe's first suspension bridges, it has been attributed to Samuel Brown, although some suggest it was built by Thomas Cheek Hewes, a Manchester millwright and textile machinery manufacturer.

On 12 April 1831, the bridge collapsed, reportedly due to mechanical resonance induced by troops marching in step. As a result of the incident, the British Army issued an order that troops should "break step" when crossing a bridge. Although rebuilt and strengthened, the bridge was subsequently propped with temporary piles whenever crowds were expected.

Historical Significance

Broughton Suspension Bridge was an iron chain suspension bridge built in 1826 to span the River Irwell between Broughton and Pendleton, now in Salford, Greater Manchester, England.

Events Before

  1. The Republic of Ecuador is founded with Juan José Flores as president

    Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west.

  2. US President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, a key law leading to the forced removal of the Cherokee, Chick

    US President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, a key law leading to the forced removal of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes out of Georgia and surrounding states, setting the stage for the Cherokee Trail of Tears

  3. Beginning of French colonization of Algeria: 34,000 French soldiers land 27 kilometers west of Algiers at Sidi Ferruch

    Beginning of French colonization of Algeria: 34,000 French soldiers land 27 kilometers west of Algiers at Sidi Ferruch

  4. The first American-built locomotive, "Tom Thumb," races a horse-drawn car from the Stockton and Stokes stagecoach compan

    The first American-built locomotive, "Tom Thumb," races a horse-drawn car from the Stockton and Stokes stagecoach company from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills; due to mechanical problems, the horse wins!

  5. Princess Marianne of the Netherlands (20) marries her cousin Prince Albert of Prussia (20) (marriage dissolved 1849)

    Princess Marianne of the Netherlands (20) marries her cousin Prince Albert of Prussia (20) (marriage dissolved 1849)

Events After

  1. Romantic ballet "La Sylphide" by Filippo Taglioni premieres at the Opéra de Paris

    Romantic ballet "La Sylphide" by Filippo Taglioni premieres at the Opéra de Paris

  2. British Parliament, led by Charles Grey, passes the Reform Act, introducing wide-ranging changes to the electoral system

    British Parliament, led by Charles Grey, passes the Reform Act, introducing wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales, increasing the electorate from about 500,000 voters to 813,000

  3. Felix Mendelssohn's concert overture "Hebrides" premieres in London, England

    The Hebrides (German: Die Hebriden) is a concert overture that was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1830, revised in 1832, and published the next year as Mendelssohn's Op. 26.

  4. First US Democratic National Convention is held in Baltimore

    The 1832 Democratic National Convention was held from May 21 to May 23, 1832, in Baltimore, Maryland.

  5. Source of Mississippi River discovered by American geographer Henry Schoolcraft

    Henry Rowe Schoolcraft (March 28, 1793 – December 10, 1864) was an American geographer, geologist, and ethnologist, noted for his early studies of Native American cultures, as well as for his 1832...

More from the 1830s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on April 14, 1831?
Broughton Suspension Bridge was an iron chain suspension bridge built in 1826 to span the River Irwell between Broughton and Pendleton, now in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. One of Europe's first suspension bridges, it has been attributed to Samuel Brown, although some suggest it was built by Thomas Cheek Hewes, a Manchester millwright and textile machinery manufacturer. On 12 April 1831, the bridge collapsed, reportedly due to mechanical resonance induced by troops marching in step.
Why is Soldiers marching on a bridge in Manchester, England, cause it to collapse. significant?
Broughton Suspension Bridge was an iron chain suspension bridge built in 1826 to span the River Irwell between Broughton and Pendleton, now in Salford, Greater Manchester, England.

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