Houghton (H.O.) Company is established in Cambridge.

It is founded by Henry Houghton and leases the Riverside Press, which is located in the former Cambridge Almshouse, . Houghton joins with Melancthon Hurd to publish books under the name of Hurd & Houghton in 1865 (1964), becomes the sole owner and purchases Riverside Press in 1867, and merges with the James Osgood Company to form Houghton & Osgood in 1878. When George Mifflin becomes a partner, the company becomes Houghton, Mifflin and Company in 1880.*