Births on August 23

John Cockburn, Scottish-Australian politician, 18th Premier of South Australia (d. 1929)

Sir John Alexander Cockburn (23 August 1850 – 26 November 1929) was Premier of South Australia from 27 June 1889 to 18 August 1890.

29 Jan

Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the U.S. Congress.
7 Mar

Compromise of 1850
Senator Daniel Webster gives his "Seventh of March" speech endorsing the Compromise of 1850 in order to prevent a possible civil war.
29 Jun

Church of Greece
Autocephaly officially granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to the Church of Greece.
18 Sep

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
The U.S. Congress passes the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
29 Sep

Universalis Ecclesiae
The papal bull Universalis Ecclesiae restores the Roman Catholic hierarchy in England and Wales.