1851

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

• Decision made to build a lighthouse on Muckle Flugga. When first built it was named "North Unst", but was renamed Muckle Flugga in 1964
• Northmavine roadbuilders blast through Mavis Grind
• Census figures: Bressay -1812, Dunrossness - 4505, Lerwick - 3390, Tingwall - 2874, Fetlar & North Yell - 1656, Mid & South Yell - 1741, Unst - 2977, Delting - 2124, Nesting - 2420, Northmaven - 2534, Sandsting - 2603, Walls - 2442.
• Shetland knitting appeared at London's Great Exhibition. Eliza Edmonston showed items "manufactured in Shetland from the wool of the sheep of the island, which is spun by the wives and daughters of the fishermen in the ordinary lint-wheels and knitted by them at their own homes" and Capt. Theodosius Webb, R.E. showcased twenty-six of their patterns.

January

• Wreckage identified as belonging to the Washington discovered washed ashore on the east coast of Bressay, and it is preseumed this vessel wrecked or foundered on or near to that location.

June

• 25th
  Author, journalist and sailor Archibald Greig Cowie was born.

November

• 10th/11th
  The Sovereign (1851), a sloop, laden with a cargo of herring, of and for Wick, Scotland, from Lerwick, sprang a leak and foundered off Helli Ness, Cunningsburgh. All of the crew were saved.

1850<->1852