Government

The abdication of Emperor Francis II (1768-1835) signals the end of the Holy Roman Empire.

Government

Holland becomes a kingdom ruled by Louis Bonaparte (1778-1846).

War

The British seize the colony of Capetown in Africa from the French-dominated Dutch.

Medicine

Morphine becomes the first drug to be isolated from a plant.

Technology

Coal gas is first used for lighting at Newport, Rhode Island.

Education

Noah Webster (1758-1843) publishes "The Compendious Dictionary of the English Language," which becomes the recognized authority on American English. The letters i and j and u and v are established as separate letters.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Lord Byron (1788-1824) privately publishes "Fugitive Pieces," which is immediately suppressed by the Church of England on grounds of immorality.

Jefferson, Martha

James Madison Randolph (1806-), the grandson of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), is the first child born in the White House.

Pierce, Jane

Jane Means Appleton (1806-1863), future wife of President Franklin Pierce (1804-1869), is born March 12 in Hampton, New Hampshire.

Harrison, Anna

Benjamin Harrison (1806-1840), son of William Henry and Anna Harrison, is born.

Discovery

Lewis and Clark: January 4, President Jefferson welcomes a delegation of Missouri, Oto, Arikara, and Yankton Sioux chiefs who had met with Lewis (1774-1811) and Clark more than a year earlier.

Discovery

Lewis and Clark: March 23, Fort Clatsop is presented to the Clatsop Indian, for which it was named, and the expedition begins the journey home.

Discovery

Lewis and Clark: In the fall, Lewis (1774-1811) and Clark (1770-1838) are treated as national heroes. They return to Washington, D.C. The men receive double pay and 320 acres of land as reward, the captains get 1,600 acres. Lewis is named governor of the Louisiana Territory, Clark is made Indian agent for the West and brigadier general of the territory's militia.

Discovery

Zebulon Pike (1779-1813) identifies the Colorado peak that will eventually bear his name.

Discovery

Mungo Park’s (1771-1806) final Niger River expedition ends tragically when he and several other are attacked and killed by African tribesmen.

Sports

Horse Racing: “Yankee” becomes the first horse to trot a mile in under 3 minutes.

Politics

Scandal: Aaron Burr (1756-1836), Vice President under Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), is arrested for treason for planning to invade Mexico; he is later acquitted of all charges.

Government

In an effort to punish Great Britian for impressing American sailors, Congress passes the Embargo Act, which prohibits American vessels from landing in any foreign port without the express authorization of the President.

War

War of 1812: The U.S. frigate "Chesapeake" fires on the British man-of-war Leopard in conflict over the impressments of sailors.

Science

Potassium and sodium are discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy (1778-1829).

Science

A huge meteor lands in Connecticut.

Inventions

Isaac de Rivas makes a hydrogen gas powered vehicle - first with internal combustion power, however it is a very unsuccessful design.

Technology

London streets are lit by gas light.

Technology

Robert Fulton’s (1765-1815) paddle steamer, the Clermont, navigates on the Hudson River.

Education

Children''s Books: Charles (1775-1834) and Mary (1764-1847) Lamb publish "Tales from Shakespeare," a collection of children’s stories based on the plays.

Education

Libraries: The Athenaeum Library is founded in Boston.

Arts and Letters

Architecture: Napoleon (1769-1821) commissions the construction of the Arch de Triumphe.

Van Buren, Hannah

Abraham Van Buren (1807-1873), son of Martin and Hannah Van Buren is born on November 27.

Adams, Louisa

Charles Frances Adams (1807-1886), son of President John Quincy Adams and Louisa Adams, is born on August 18.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The very first passenger train runs from Swansea to Mumbles in England on March 25th.

Economics

The manufacture of clocks with interchangeable parts is begun in Connecticut by Seth Thomas (1785-1859) and Eli Terry (1772-1852).

Economics

Transportation: The first steamboat with regular passenger service is instituted by Robert Fulton's Clermont (1765-1815).

Discovery

Zebulon Pike (1779-1813) leads first Anglo American expedition into New Mexico. He publishes account of way of life in New Mexico upon return to U.S.

Daily Life

Townsend Speakman 1st sells fruit-flavored carbonated drinks in Philadelphia

Daily Life

Townsend Speakman sells first fruit-flavored carbonated drinks in Philadelphia

Sports

Horse Racing: The first Ascot Gold Cup in horse racing is held in England.

Religion

The U.S. Evangelical Association, founded by Jacob Albright (1759-1808), holds its first convention.

Social Issues

Slavery: England prohibits the African slave trade.

Reform

Women's Suffrage Movement: New Jersey revokes the right of women to vote which it had granted in 1776.

Law

"The American Law Journal," America’s earliest law periodical, is published.

Politics

James Madison (1751-1836) is elected as the 4th President of the U.S., defeating Charles Pickney; George Clinton (1739-1812)is reelected as Vice President.

Government

Presidents: Andrew Johnson (1808-1875), 17th President of the U.S., is born December 29 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Government

Slavery: The United States bans slave trade that involves importing African slaves, but smuggling continues.

Science

Sir Humphrey Davy (1778-1829) discovers the elements boron and strontium.

Inventions

Railroad History: Trevithick (1771-1833) builds a circular railway in London's Torrington Square. Steam carriage "Catch Me Who Can" weighes 10 tons and makes 15 mph.

Education

Higher Education: Andover Theological Seminary is established.

Education

Education of Women: Catholic Education: Elizabeth Seton (1774-1821) establishes a school for girls in Baltimore, Maryland.

Arts and Letters

Drama: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1837) publishes the first section of his Romantic epic, "Faust," in Germany.

Arts and Letters

Beethoven (1770-1827) composes the "Fifth" and the "Pastoral" Symphonies.

Ideas

Women''s Rights Movement: Charles Fourier’s (1772-1837) "Theory of the Four Movements" relates social progress to the progress of women toward freedom.

Madison, Dolley

Dolley Madison (1768-1849) accompanies her husband in his campaign for the presidency, influencing many with her charm and tact.

Jackson, Rachel

Andrew Jackson Jr. (1808-1865), Andrew and Rachel Jackson's adopted son (he was one of the pair of twins born to a sibling of Rachel Jackson), is born and named after his new father.

Economics

John Jacob Astor (1763-1848) incorporates the American Fur Company with himself as the sole stockholder.

Discovery

Extensive excavations begin at Pompeii and last until 1815.

Discovery

The source of the Ganges River is discovered.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The "Times" of London sends Henry Crabb Robinson (1775-1867) as the first war correspondent to cover Napoleon’s (1769-1821) campaign in Spain.

Religion

Napoleon (1769-1821) abolishes the Inquisition in Spain and Italy.

Religion

Women''s Firsts: Jane Aitken (1764-1832) publishes the only Bible ever printed by a woman in the U.S. up to this date.

Religion

The first Bible Society is established in Philadelphia.

Government

James Madison (1751-1836)is inaugurated as the nation's fourth President and George Clinton is inaugurated as the continuing Vice President.

Government

The Illinois Territory, including what is now Wisconsin, is established.

Government

Presidents: Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), 16th President of the U.S. is born February 12 in Hardin (now Larue) County, Kentucky.

War

Indian Wars: General William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) obtains over 3 million acres of Indian lands with the Treaty of Fort Wayne.

Science

The first detailed geological survey of the United States is published by William McClure.

Inventions

The steamboat is patented by Robert Fulton (1765-1815).

Inventions

Airplanes: The first successful glider is built in England.

Technology

Women's Firsts: The first patent given to a woman was to Mary Kies of Connecticut, for a technique for weaving straw with silk and thread.

Arts and Letters

Architecture: Neoclassicism emerges as a dominant force in British architecture with the construction of Covent Garden Theatre.

Madison, Dolley

Dolley Madison (1768-1849) becomes the first First Lady to attend her husband's inauguration and the first to host an inaugural ball.

Harrison, Anna

Mary Symmes Harrison Thornton (1809-1842), daughter of William Henry and Anna Harrison is born January 22.

Adams, Louisa

John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) is appointed American minister to Russia.

Economics

The U.S. resumes trade with all countries except Britain and France.

Economics

The "Phoenix" becomes the first sea-going steamship, traveling from New York to Philadelphia.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The first newspaper published west of the Mississippi River, the "Missouri Gazette," is published in St. Louis.

Sports

Cricket: The first cricket club is founded in Boston.

Popular Culture

Washington Irving (1783-1859) writes "Rip van Winkle."

Religion

Napoleon (1769-1821) annexes the Papal States and takes Pope Pius VII prisoner.

Religion

Elizabeth Seton (1774-1821) founds the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph in the U.S.

Reform

The African Female Benevolent Society of Newport (RI) is founded.

Politics

Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) emerges as a major figure in South American politics.

Government

Chile declares its independence from Spain.

War

Southerners revolt against Spanish rule in West Florida; the U.S. annexes the area.

Science

John Dalton (1766-1844) publishes "New System of Chemical Philosophy," the foundation for modern chemistry.

Science

Charles Bell’s (1744-1842) "Anatomy of the Brain," studies the difference between sensory and motor nerves.

Science

Nicotine is identified and named after Jean Nicot (c.1530-1600), who sent tobacco back to France.

Medicine

The first American book on pediatrics, "The Maternal Physician," is published in Philadelphia.

Medicine

The field of homeopathy is founded by German physician Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) ; it is not called by this name until 1826.

Technology

Airplanes: Sir George Cayley (1773-1857) tries three times to organize an aeronautical society to study the problem of flight, but finds little interest among scientists.

Education

Yale Medical School is established.

Education

Parochial Education: Elizabeth Seton (1774-1821) and her community of sisters founds the first American Catholic parochial school in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Education

Education of Women: German feminist and educator Betty Gleim publishes "On the Upbringing and Instruction of the Female Sex."

Arts and Letters

Literature: Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) writes "Lady of the Lake."

Arts and Letters

The Philharmonic Society in Boston is organized by Gottlieb Graupner (1767-1836).

Arts and Letters

The San Carlo Opera House is built in Naples, Italy.

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: During this year, English stars begin to come in larger numbers to U.S.

Van Buren, Hannah

John Van Buren (1807-1873), son of Martin and Hannah Van Buren is born February 18.

Johnson, Eliza

Eliza McCardle (1810-1876), future wife of President Andrew Johnson (1808–1875), is born October 4th in Leesburg, Tennessee.

Economics

Population: The U.S. population is about 7,239,881, including 60,000 immigrants and about 1.2 million slaves; New York City becomes the largest city in the U.S.

Economics

Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) founds a ferry service between New York City and Staten Island.

Economics

The American cotton crop exceeds 175,000 bales; American cotton mills quadruple in one year to 269.

Sports

The first public billiards rooms open in London.

Sports

Boxing: Tom Molineaux (1784-1818), a freed Virginia slave and the first unofficial heavy-weight boxing champion, is defeated in the 40th round in a match in England.

Popular Culture

The first American county fair (a cattle show) is held in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Religion

The Cumberland Presbytery in Kentucky is excluded from the Presbyterian Church.

Religion

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions is established, beginning a wide missionary effort in the U.S.

Social Issues

Native Americans: The Shawnee, under Tecumseh (1768-1813), begin to establish a tribal confederacy to preserve their lands and culture.

Social Issues

Abortion: Abortion is made a criminal offense in France.

Government

Scandal: U.S. Senator Timothy Pickering (1745-1829) becomes the first senator to be censured when he reveals confidential documents communicated by the President of the United States (John Adams).

Government

The Prince of Wales, later George IV (1762-1830), becomes Prince Regent of England after George III (1738-1820) is declared insane.

War

Indian Wars: William Henry Harrison (1773-1841), Governor of the Indiana Territories, defeats Indians under Tecumseh (1768-1813) at Tippecanoe, IN.

Science

Iodine is isolated by French chemist Bernard Courtois (1777-1838).

Science

William Herschel (1738-1822) suggests that a nebula is an early stage in the development of a galaxy.

Science

Mary Anning (1799-1847), British geologist, at age 12 is involved in the finding of the first identifiable icthyosaurus and later of a plesiosaur.

Medicine

Sir Charles Bell (1774-1842) writes "New Idea of the Anatomy of the Brain."

Education

Education of Women: Sarah Pierce (1767-1852), founder of the Litchfield Academy, publishes "Sketches of Universal History Compiled from Several Authors: For the Use of Schools."

Education

African American Education: Christopher McPherson (c.1763-?) , a free African American, opens a school for other free Blacks and slaves in Richmond, Virginia. Local white citizens, not only close the school as a public nuisance, but they also send him to the Williamsburg Lunatic Asylum.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Jane Austen (1775-1817) writes "Sense and Sensibility."

Adams, Louisa

Louisa Catherine Adams (1811-1812), the only daughter of John Quincy and Louisa Adams, is born.

Taylor, Margaret

Anne Margaret Mackell Taylor Wood (1811-1875), daughter of Zachary and Margaret Taylor, is born April 9.

Economics

Work begins on the Cumberland Road at Cumberland, Maryland; the road reaches Vandalia, Illinois in 1840, at a cost of $7 million, and becomes an important route for the westward expansion of the U.S.

Discovery

The eastern coast of Africa is explored by English naval captain Philip Beaver.

Daily Life

Disasters: Earthquakes beginning on December 16 cause the Mississippi River to flow upstream for several hours; the town of New Madrid, Missouri, is pushed into the river.

Sports

Women in Sports: Golf: On January 9, the first known women’s golf tournament is held at Musselburgh Golf Club, Scotland, among the town fishwives.

Sports

Competitive rowing races are popular; a race between Knickerbocker of New York City and Invincible of Long Island attracts thousands; Knickerbocker wins.

Religion

The “Great Schism” of Welsh Protestants occurs; two thirds leave the Anglican Church.

Religion

The Presbyterian Church in the U. S. formally states its support for “pious females,” who had begun organizing independent, female-run benevolent societies to support foreign and domestic missionaries, teachers, and doctors.

Reform

Labor Movement: “Luddites” destroy weaving machines in North England, trying to prevent conversion from hand looms.

Politics

James Madison (1751-1836) is re-elected to a second term as President of the U.S. and Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814) is elected the nation's 5th Vice President.

Politics

The term gerrymander is coined, meaning the practice of dividing a geographic area into voting districts in such a way that one political party is given unfair advantage in an election. The practice is named for Elbridge Gerry, who first thought of doing it, and salamander, because the original voting district resulting from the practice looked like a salamander.

Government

New State: Louisiana becomes the 18th state in the U.S.

Government

George Clinton (1729-1812), 4th Vice President of the United States, dies in office. He is not replaced until the general election in the fall, when Elbridge Gerry is elected.

War

War of 1812: The U.S. declares war on Britain.

War

War of 1812: The U.S. frigate Constitution, Old Ironsides, defeats the British ship Guerriere.

Science

Georges Couvier (1769-1832) discovers that fossils follow an increasing age sequence as one probes deeper into layers of rock and soil.

Medicine

Benjamin Rush (1745-1813) publishes "Medical Inquiries and Observation Upon the Diseases of the Mind."

Medicine

Physician James Thatcher publishes a book about rabies.

Technology

Transportation: Transportation technology is advanced by Scotsman Henry Bell (1767-1830) with his new steamboat, the three-horsepower Comet, which sails on the River Clyde.

Education

Children''s Books: The Brothers Grimm--Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm (1786-1859)-- publish their "Fairy Tales," which include Tom Thumb, Little Red-Riding Hood, Bluebeard, Snow White, and Cinderella.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Lord Byron (1788-1824) writes "Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage."

Arts and Letters

The final shipment of Elgin Marbles—a group of ancient sculptures and architectural details from the Parthenon obtained from the Turks by Lord Elgin (1776-1841)—arrives in England from Greece, giving Londoners their first taste of original classical Greek art.

Ideas

German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Hegel (1770-1831) publishes "Die Objektive Logik."

Madison, Dolley

White House Wedding: At the first wedding in the White House, Dolley Madison's (1768-1849) widowed sister, Lucy Payne Washington (1777?-1846), is married to Supreme Court Justice Thomas Todd.

Adams, Louisa

Louisa Catherine Adams (1811-1812), the only daughter of John Quincy and Louisa Adams, dies in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Van Buren, Hannah

Martin Van Buren (1812-1855), son of Martin and Hannah Van Buren, is born December 20.

Harrison, Anna

Carter Bassett Harrison (1812-1839), son of William Henry and Anna Harrison, is born October 26.

Economics

The City Bank of New York opens, the forerunner of today’s Citibank.

Economics

The manufacture of lead pencils begins.

Economics

Transportation: The first steamboat to sail down the Mississippi River reaches New Orleans in January.

Economics

Large-scale drug production begins in Philadelphia.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The first commercially successful steam locomotives, using the Blenkinsop rack and pinion drive, commenced operation on the Middleton Railway.

Discovery

Lewis and Clark: On December 20th Sacagawea (1790-1812/1884) dies at Fort Manuel. Clark (1770-1838), who is in St. Louis, assumes custody of Jean Baptiste, as well as her daughter, Lisette.

Discovery

Swiss historian J.L. Burckhardt (1773-1825) discovers the Great Temple at Abu Simbel in Egypt.

Popular Culture

The present Drury Lane Theatre in London is built.

Religion

Elizabeth Seton (1774-1821) formally establishes the Sisters of Charity, the first Catholic sisterhood founded in America, from her earlier community (1809).

Religion

Women''s Firsts: Ann Nancy Hesseltine Judson and Harriet Newell are the first two American women sent abroad as missionaries.

Religion

Mother Catherine Spaulding (1793-1858) founds the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky, a home-visiting order of nurses and teachers.

Government

James Madison (1751-1836) is inaugurated to a second term as President of the U.S. and Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814) is inaugurated as the nation's 5th Vice President.

War

War of 1812: U.S. forces capture York (now Toronto); the British seize Fort Niagara and burn Buffalo, NY; the British blockade coastal ports.

War

War of 1812: The Battle of Lake Erie (under Captain Oliver Hazard Perry) and the Battle of the Thames (Ontario) provide two victories for the Americans.

Inventions

J.F. Hummel patents rubber.

Inventions

Railroad History: Englishman William Hedley (1773-1843) builds and patents a railroad locomotive which can haul 10 coal wagons at 5 mph, equal to 10 horses.

Education

Higher Education: Colby College in Maine is founded.

Education

Higher Education: McGill University in Montreal, Canada, is founded.

Arts and Letters

The London Philharmonic Society is founded.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1827) completes his first major work, "Queen Mab"—an anti-religious work, at the age of 21.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Jane Austen (1775-1817) writes "Pride and Prejudice."

Adams, Abigail

Nabby Adams Smith (1765-1813), daughter of Abigail and John Adams, dies on August 15, of cancer.

Madison, Dolley

Dolley Madison (1764-1849) serves ice cream for the first time in the White House at the second Inaugural Ball.

Harrison, Anna

Anna Tuthill Harrison Taylor (1813-1845), daughter of William Henry and Anna Harrison, is born October 28.

Economics

Francis Cabot Lowell (1775-1817) first employs young women workers to work at the spinning frames and looms at his mill in Waltham, Massachusetts; living in boardinghouses established by Lowell, they became the first large-scale women’s labor force in America.

Daily Life

Newspapers: An editorial in the Troy (NY) Post first uses the nickname, “Uncle Sam,” as a symbolic reference to the United States.

Daily Life

The Grand Freemason Lodge is founded in the U.S.

Daily Life

Dancing: The waltz becomes popular in Europe.

Daily Life

The game of craps is first introduced into New Orleans, adapted from a French dice game called “hazards.”

Popular Culture

Johann Rudolf Wyss (1782-1830) completes "The Swiss Family Robinson."

Religion

The Methodist Missionary Society is founded.

Religion

A choirbook is composed for use in the Spanish missions of the southwest.

Religion

American nun Mother Mary Rhodes (1782-1853) founds the Sisters of Loretto in Kentucky after establishing two other communities for women west of the Allegheny Mountains.

Reform

Labor Movement: Leaders of the anti-technology Luddite movement in England are sentenced to hanging or deportation.

Government

Elbridge Gerry, 5th Vice President of the United Sates, dies in office; he is not replaced until the election of 1816, when Daniel D. Tompkins is elected.

War

National Capital: War of 1812: The British burn the White House, the Capital, and many other buildings in Washington, DC.

War

War of 1812: The Treaty of Ghent ends the British-American War on December 24. The Treaty returned conditions between the two countries to those that existed before the war began. Neither side achieved a clear victory.

Science

Massachusetts physician Jacob Bigelow (1786-1879) publishes "Flora Bostoniensis," the standard botany manual for years.

Inventions

Railroad History: George Stephenson (1781-1848), British inventor, invents the first steam locomotive, which is used instead of horses and mules to haul coal.

Inventions

The metronome is invented in Vienna by J.N. Maelzel (1772-1838).

Inventions

Eli Terry (1772-1852) invents a 30-hour shelf clock that uses interchangeable parts.

Inventions

Railroad History: Englishman George Stephenson (1781-1841) builds Blucher, his first railway engine. Pulls 30 tons at 4 mph, but is not efficient.

Education

Libraries: Although the Library of Congress is destroyed when the British burn Washington, DC, Congress decides to start over by purchasing Thomas Jefferson’s (1743-1826) personal library.

Arts and Letters

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) begins composing Lieder, lyrical songs in the Romantic tradition.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Jane Austen (1775-1817) publishes the novel "Mansfield Park," creating the character of Fanny Brice.

Madison, Dolley

Dolley Madison (1764-1849) is responsible for saving the famous Peale portrait of George Washington, hanging in the White House, and the Declaration of Independence, from the British when they invade the capital. She leaves the city just ahead of the British troops, who then burn Washington, DC.

Harrison, Anna

James Findlay Harrison (1814-1817), is the last son born to William Henry and Anna Harrison.

Taylor, Margaret

Sarah Knox Taylor Davis (1814-1835), daughter of Zachary and Margaret Taylor, is born March 6.

Fillmore, Abigail

Abigail Powers (Fillmore) (1798-1853) begins teaching in New Hope at age 16.

Economics

Francis Cabot Lowell (1775-1817) opens the first totally mechanized factory for processing raw cotton into finished cloth.

Daily Life

The term grapefruit is used for the first time in print, perhaps because its clusters resemble those of grapes.

Daily Life

Gas street lamps are installed in the first neighborhood—St. Margarets, Westminster, in London.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The "London Times" begins to be printed by a steam-operated press.

Popular Culture

Frances Scott Key (1779-1843) writes a poem about the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 called “Defense of Fort McHenry.” It is later set to music and becomes “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Popular Culture

Children’s Books: Johann David Wyss (1743-1818) added religious piety to the Rousseauian influence in his "The Swiss Family Robinson"(German original 1812-1813); first edited and translated for English readers by William (1756-1836) and Mary (1797-1851) Godwin.

Religion

Pope Pius VII (1740-1823) returns to Rome and restores the Inquisition.

Religion

Elizabeth Seton’s (1774-1821) Sisters of Charity take charge of orphanages in Philadelphia (and later, in 1817, in New York City), establishing the first Catholic orphanages in America.

Social Issues

Native Americans: War of 1812: General Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) leads his troops to victory over the Creek Indians allied with Britain in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (Alabama), thus destroying all future Creek power in the West.

Government

National Capital: The Capitol Building and the White House are rebuilt after the burning of Washington, DC.

War

The first steam warship, the U.S.S. Fulton is built.

War

U.S. naval hero Stephen Decatur (1779-1820) stops attacks by Algerian pirates by threatening to bomb Algiers.

War

Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) defeats the British at the Battle of New Orleans, fought two weeks after the Treaty of Ghent is signed.

Science

Sophie Germain (1776-1831) is awarded a gold medal from the Institute of France for her essay on elasticity.

Medicine

The Apothecaries Act in Britain bans the practice of medicine by unqualified doctors.

Inventions

A harder, smoother road surface made of crushed stones is invented by John McAdam (1756-1836).

Inventions

Davy invents the safety lamp for miners.

Inventions

Railroad History: Stephenson's (1781-1841) second engine: 6 wheels and a multitubular boiler.

Inventions

Railroad History: Englishman Julius Griffiths patents a passenger road locomotive.

Education

Libraries: Thomas Jefferson sells his book collection to the Library of Congress after its original collection was destroyed by the British army.

Education

Sunday school education is promoted in Boston.

Education

Education of Women: Margaret Bryan publishes An Astronomical and Geographical Class Book for Schools based on her girls’ school lectures.

Arts and Letters

The Biedermeier period in art and furniture design begins.

Arts and Letters

Magazines: "The North American Review" is established in Boston, soon to be the foremost literary journal in the U.S.

Tyler, Letitia

Mary Tyler Jones (1815-1848), is the first daughter born to John and Letitia Christian Tyler on April 15.

Economics

Leading imports in the United States are woolen and cotton items, sugar, and coffee. The leading export is cotton.

Daily Life

Transportation: The Conestoga wagon becomes a major method of transportation, especially among those headed west.

Daily Life

Dancing: A French ballroom dance, the quadrille, becomes fashionable among the English aristocracy.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: The 1815 edition of the Brockhaus Conversations-Lexikon lays out the division of the sexes: “Man obtains, woman sustains . . . man resists fate itself and defies force, even in defeat. Woman, however, submits willingly and finds comfort and succor, even in her tears.”

Law

The right to review state court decisions is affirmed by the Supreme Court.

Politics

James Monroe (1758-1831) is elected 5th President of the U.S. and Daniel Tomkins (1774-1825) is elected as the nation's 6th Vice President.

Government

New State: Indiana becomes the 19th state in the U.S.

Government

The U.S. Congress passes the first protective tariffs.

Science

The first book on mineralogy in the U.S., "Elementary Treatise on Mineralogy and Geology," is published by Parker Cleaveland (1780-1858).

Medicine

Epidemics: Ireland suffers a typhus epidemic that kills about a quarter of its population.

Inventions

The stethoscope is invented by French physician R. T. Laennec (1781-1826).

Inventions

The kaleidoscope is invented by Sir David Brewster (1781-1868).

Education

German educator Friedrich Frobel (1782-1852) moves his first educational community from Griesheim to Keilau, Thuringia.

Education

Children’s Books: "A Merry Method of Making Minor Mathematicians" is published by John Harris (1820-1884); this collection of mnemonic rhymes was designed to teach the multiplication tables.

Arts and Letters

Opera: "The Barber of Seville," by Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) opens in Rome.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Jane Austen (1775-1817) writes "Emma."

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1827) writes his first major poem, "Alastor."

Ideas

Hegel (1770-1831) completes his "Science of Logic;" his philosophy of idealism will dominate metaphysics for 25 years.

Taylor, Margaret

Octavia Pannel Taylor (1816-1820), daughter of Zachary and Margaret Taylor, is born August 16.

Tyler, Letitia

Robert Tyler (1816-1877), the first son of John and Letitia Christian Tyler, is born September 9.

Economics

Transportation: Regular clipper ship service across the Atlantic begins between New York and Liverpool, England.

Economics

The first Savings bank, The Provident Institute for Savings, is founded in Boston.

Economics

American Money: The second Bank of the United States is chartered for 20 years until 1836.

Daily Life

Disasters: The summer of 1916 is unusually cold in many parts of the world due to the eruption of the Tambora volcano in Indonesia—perhaps the greatest in recorded history. In New England, there is 10 inches of snow in June 6, and half an inch of ice in Vermont and New Hampshire in July and August. It is recorded as “the year in which there was no summer.”

Sports

Boxing: Jacob Hyer beats Tom Beasley in a boxing match and calls himself America’s first boxing champion.

Popular Culture

Ananias Davisson (1780-1857) publishes "Kentucky Harmony," a collection of music of the South and Midwest U.S.

Religion

The American Bible Society is founded; one of its goals is to place a Bible in every American home.

Social Issues

Immigration: Large numbers of British immigrants come to the United States and Canada.

Social Issues

The American Colonization Society forms—assists in repatriating free African Americans to a Liberian colony on the west coast of Africa.

Government

James Monroe (1758-1831) is inaugurated as the 5th President of the U.S. and Daniel Tomkins (1774-1825) is inaugurated as the nation's 6th Vice President.

Government

New State: Mississippi becomes the 20th state in the U.S.

War

Indian Wars: The Seminole War begins on the border between the U.S. and Spanish Florida.

Science

Selenium and lithium are discovered.

Science

Cadmium is discovered independently by Friedrich Stromeyer (1776-1835) and Hermann (1765-1846).

Medicine

James Parkinson (1755-1828) describes the degenerative disease that will carry his name.

Education

Early frontier education is influenced by the American Tract Society which spreads religious literature by means of circuit riders.

Education

Public Education: A petition presented in the Boston Town Meeting calls for establishing of a system of free public primary schools. Main support comes from local merchants, businessmen and wealthier artisans. Many wage earners oppose it, because they don't want to pay the taxes.

Arts and Letters

Opera: "Cinderella," a comic opera by Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868), is first staged in Rome.

Ideas

David Ricardo (1772-1823) promotes liberal economic theory in his "Principles of Political Economy and Taxation;" his ideas are the foundation of modern economics as a science.

Ideas

G.F. Hegel (1770-1831) publishes the "Encyclopedia of Philosophy."

Madison, Dolley

The Madisons retire to Montpelier, their estate in Virginia, where Dolley continues her role as hostess and helps her husband, who suffers from arthritis, by taking dictation for his correspondence. She also helps him prepare his papers for future publication.

Van Buren, Hannah

Smith Thompson Van Buren (1817-1876), son of Martin and Hannah Van Buren is born January 16.

Harrison, Anna

James Findlay Harrison (1814-1817), the last son born to William Henry and Anna Harrison, dies.

Economics

Native Americans: American traders began to compete with Native American tribes for the buffalo fur business.

Economics

The U.S. begins construction of the Erie Canal between Buffalo and Albany.

Economics

The New York Stock and Exchange Board is officially established, to be renamed the New York Stock Exchange in 1863.

Economics

John Jacob Astor (1763-1848) obtains a fur trade monopoly in the Mississippi Valley, founding his fortune.

Daily Life

Baltimore becomes the first American city lit by gas.

Popular Culture

Stories of a sea serpent off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts tell of a creature 3 feet in diameter and from 70-100 feet long with a long tongue that shoots out of its mouth.

Religion

Construction of the Vatican Museum begins in Rome.

Social Issues

Slavery: The American Society for the Return of Negroes to Africa is founded in Richmond, Virginia; the Society first sends Negroes to Sierra Leone, then buys and establishes a neighboring area called Liberia.

Reform

Prison Reform: British reformer Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845) founds a prisoner’s aid society focusing on the prison conditions of women and children.

Government

The border between the U.S. and Canada is agreed to be the 49th parallel.

Government

New State: Illinois becomes the 21st state in the U.S.

Government

American Flag: The Act of April 4, 1818 states that 13 stripes and one star for each state will be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state and is signed into action by President Monroe.

Science

F.W. Bessel (1784-1846) catalogs over 3,000 stars in his Fundamenta Astronomiae.

Science

Cadmium is discovered independently by Friedrich Stromeyer (1776-1835) and Hermann (1765-1846).

Medicine

Iodine is used as a treatment for goiter by French chemist Jean-Baptiste Dumas (1800-1884).

Medicine

Marie Gillain Boivin (1776-1841) publishes her gynecological-obstetrical text, "Nouveau traité des maladies de l’uterus et des annexes."

Inventions

A lathe for making irregularly shaped items such as gun stocks is designed.

Education

Public Education: Boston public schools offer schooling for children as young as 4 years.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Lord Byron (1788-1824) writes "Don Juan."

Arts and Letters

Poetry: John Keats (1795-1821) writes "Endymion."

Arts and Letters

Literature: Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) writes "The Heart of Midlothian" and "Rob Roy."

Arts and Letters

Literature: Mary Godwin Shelley (1797-1851) writes "Frankenstein."

Arts and Letters

Literature: Jane Austen’s (1775-1817) last two novels, "Northanger Abbey" and "Persuasion," are published after her death.

Adams, Abigail

Abigail Adams (1744-1818), second First Lady of the United States, dies of typhoid fever in October while residing in Braintree, MA.

Lincoln, Mary

Mary Todd Lincoln (1818-1882), future wife of Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), is born on December 13 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Economics

Transportation: Packet boat lines begin to sail between New York and Liverpool, England.

Discovery

John Ross (1777-1856) leads an expedition to the Arctic to discover a Northwest Passage.

Daily Life

The tin can is introduced to the United States.

Sports

Horse Racing: The first professional horse racing occurs in the U.S.

Popular Culture

Englishman Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825) publishes a censored version of "The Family Shakespeare"; the expression to bowlderize becomes a term for the practice of omitting vulgar words from written works.

Religion

The lyrics for the hymn “Silent Night, Holy Night,” are written by the young curate, Joseph Mohr.

Law

'In "McCulloch v. Maryland," the Supreme Court expands federal powers by allowing Congress to charter a bank, an act not specifically permitted by the Constitution.

Government

Florida is ceded to the U.S. by Spain.

Government

New State: Alabama becomes the 22nd state in the U.S.

Government

The U.S. cities of Memphis and Minneapolis are founded.

Science

The American Geological Society is established at Yale College in Connecticut; it disbands in 1828.

Science

Electromagnetism is discovered by Danish physicist Hans C. Oersted (1777-1851).

Medicine

Mitscherlich discovers isomorphism.

Inventions

W.K. Clarkson patents the bicycle.

Education

Education of Women: Emma Hart Willard (1787-1870) writes "An Address to the Public: Particularly to the Members of the Legislature of New York, Proposing a Plan for Improving Female Education."

Education

Higher Education: Focusing on technical training, Norwich University opens in Vermont.

Education

Slavery: African American Education: Virginia outlaws blacks and a mulatto, whether free or slave, from meeting for the purposes of education and forbids teaching blacks to read and write.

Ideas

German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) publishes "The World as Will and Idea."

Van Buren, Hannah

Hannah Hoes Van Buren (1783-1819) dies of tuberculosis on February 5, eighteen years before her husband, Martin Van Buren, becomes President of the U.S.

Tyler, Letitia

John Tyler Jr. (1819-1896), son of John and Letitia Tyler, is born April 27.

Taylor, Margaret

Margaret Smith Taylor (1819-1820), daughter of Zachary and Margaret Taylor, is born July 27.

Fillmore, Abigail

Abigail Powers (1798-1853) meets Millard Fillmore (1800-1874) at the Academy in New Hope, New York.

Economics

Transportation: The very first ship to use steam as support on an Atlantic crossing was the American sailing ship Savannah who had been equipped with auxiliary steam engines geared to two paddle wheels on the ship’s sides. Because of distrust in this new mode of transportation, the vessel does not carry either passengers or cargo.

Economics

The Bank for Savings in New York City opens as one of the first U.S. savings banks.

Economics

The first commercially produced eating chocolate is produced in Switzerland.

Discovery

An expedition to the Rocky Mountains is led by explorer Stephen Long (1784-1864).

Religion

With roots in the Protestant Reformation and liberal New England Congregationalism, Unitarianism is founded in Boston by William Ellering Channing (1780-1842).

Social Issues

Slavery: Canada denies the American government the right to pursue runaway slaves within its borders.

Social Issues

Immigration: Congress establishes reporting on immigration.

Reform

Labor Movement: Children under the age of 9 are forbidden to work in mills in England; other young workers are limited to 12-hour days.

Politics

First Political Parties: James Monroe (1758-1831) is re-elected to a second term as President of the U.S. on the Democratic-Republican ticket, defeating John Quincy Adams; John C. Calhoun (1782-1850) is elected the nation's 7th Vice President.

Government

Slavery: Congress passes the Missouri Compromise, admitting Maine into the Union as a free state and Missouri as a slave state; slavery becomes excluded from the Union north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Government

The Public Land Act lowers the cost of western lands to $1.25 an acre, in the hope of encouraging settlement of the West.

Government

New State: Maine becomes the 23rd state to join the Union.

Science

Andre Marie Ampere (1775-1836), French physicist, discovers the basic processes of electric currents.

Medicine

The New York Eye Infirmary is founded.

Inventions

An improved plow and cultivator is invented by Henry Burden (1791-1871) of New York.

Education

Massachusetts physician John Gorham (1783-1829) publishes a 2-volume textbook, "Elements of Chemical Science," which is the standard for years.

Education

Public Education: First public high school in the U.S., Boston English, opens.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Percy Bysshe Shelly (1792-1827) writes "Prometheus Unbound."

Arts and Letters

Literature: Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) publishes "Ivanhoe."

Arts and Letters

Poetry: John Keats (1795-1821) writes "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "Ode to a Nightingale."

Ideas

Thomas Malthus (1766-1834) writes "Principles of Political Economy."

Monroe, Elizabeth

White House Wedding: Elizabeth Monroe (1768-1830) is the first First Lady to have a daughter (Maria Hester Monroe) married in the White House.

Tyler, Julia

Julia Gardiner (1820-1889), second wife of John Tyler (1790–1862), is born on Gardiner’s Island in New York. She is the third of ten First Ladies born in New York, the "mother state" of presidential wives.

Taylor, Margaret

Octavia Pannel Taylor (1816-1820), daughter of Zachary and Margaret Taylor, dies July 8 of malaria.

Taylor, Margaret

Margaret Smith Taylor (1819-1820), daughter of Zachary and Margaret Taylor, dies October 22 from malaria three months after the death of her sister.

Fillmore, Abigail

While teaching in New Hope, Abigail Fillmore (1798-1853) begins a campaign to raise funds for the first circulating library in New York.

Economics

The percentage of people working in agriculture begins to decline as family farms are gobbled up by larger agricultural businesses. At the same time, cities grow tremendously, fueled by new manufacturing industries.

Economics

A canning factory is opened in Boston by William Underwood.

Discovery

Nathanial Palmer becomes the first person to actually see the land mass of Antartica.

Discovery

Platinum is discovered in the Russian Ural Mountains.

Discovery

The statue of the Venus de Milo (c. 150 B.C.) is discovered in Melos.

Discovery

Major Stephen Long (1784-1864) leads an expedition from Pittsburgh, exploring the area between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains.

Popular Culture

The short story as a literary form is introduced by Washington Irving (1783-1859) with the publication of "The Sketch Book," which includes “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

Religion

The Jesuits are driven out of Rome.

Religion

The music for the hymn “Silent Night, Holy Night,” is composed by Franz Xaver Huber to words written by the young curate, Joseph Mohr.

Social Issues

Slavery: 86 Blacks set sail for the British colony of Sierra Leone on the ship Mayflower of Liberia.

Social Issues

Slavery: In Charleston, South Carolina, slaves are required to wear distinctive identification tags. This law is later extended to free blacks in the city as well.

Government

Mexico declares independence from Spain. Santa Fe Trail opened to international trade.

Government

James Monroe (1758-1831) is inaugurated to a second term as President of the U.S. and John C. Calhoun (1782-1850) is inaugurated as the nation's 7th Vice President.

Government

New State: Missouri becomes the 24th state to join the Union (as a slave state).

Inventions

The electric motor is invented by Michael Faraday (1791-1867).

Technology

Sound reproduction is demonstrated by Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875).

Education

Education of Women: Dorothea Dix (1802-1887) opens a dame school for young girls in Boston.

Education

Education of Women: The Troy Female Seminary is founded by Emma Hart Willard (1787-1870).

Education

Native American Education: A Cherokee named Sequoyah (c.1770-1843) develops an alphabet of 86 characters, with which stories, hymns, and a Bible were printed in the Cherokee language.

Education

Children’s Books: Early Piety, or Memoirs of Childhood mixes stories such as "Of a very good girl; that died very happy before she was seven years old, with others like "the history of a sad wicked child, and his miserable death."

Arts and Letters

Frances Wright (1795-1852) publishes "Views of Society and Manners in America."

Tyler, Letitia

Letitia (Letty) Tyler Semple (1821-1907), daughter of John and Letitia Tyler, is born on May 11.

Economics

Population: The fourth census (1820) shows that the population of the U.S. is about 9.6 million.

Daily Life

Transportation: The first wagon train on the Santa Fe Trail is led by William Becknell (1788-1865).

Daily Life

The game of poker is invented by sailors in New Orleans.

Popular Culture

James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) publishes "The Spy," which leads him to become the first popular American novelist.

Religion

The first Catholic cathedral to be dedicated in the U.S. is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore.

Reform

Black Suffrage Movement: Nearly all property qualifications required to vote are abolished by the New York state constitution, but the state continues to deny suffrage to Blacks.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Benjamin Lundy (1789-1839), Quaker saddle maker, begins publishing his anti-slavery newspaper, Genius of Universal Emancipation.

Government

Presidents: Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), 18th President of the U.S., is born April 27 in Point Pleasant, Ohio.

Government

Presidents: Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1881), 19th President of the U.S., is born October 4 in Delaware, Ohio.

Government

Florida is organized as a territory.

Science

A theory of evolution, subsequently proved to be in error, is published by Jean Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829).

Medicine

Observations of human gastric juices are begun by U.S. Army physician William Beaumont (1785-1853). His observations are made on a sailor who suffered a bullet wound in the stomach that did not quite heal.

Inventions

The first patent for making false teeth is obtained by W.C. Graham.

Technology

Gas lights are installed on the streets of Boston.

Education

Higher Education: Hobart College is founded in Geneva, NY; it offers an “English Course” designed for “the practical business of life.”

Arts and Letters

Franz Liszt (1811-1886), Hungarian pianist, makes his debut at age 11.

Arts and Letters

The Royal Academy of Music in founded in London.

Arts and Letters

The diorama, paintings illuminated in a dark room to give the illusion of reality, is invented by Daguerre and Bouton.

Economics

Cotton mills in Massachusetts begin using water-powered machinery.

Discovery

The Rosetta stone, found in 1799, is deciphered by French Egyptologist Jean Francois Champollion (1790-1832).

Daily Life

Molly Pitcher, a.k.a. Mary McCauley (1754-1832), is awarded a pension by the state of Pennsylvania.

Sports

Soccer: Yale prohibits the playing of football (soccer); violators are fined.

Social Issues

Slavery: An informer reveals a plot led by Denmark Vesey (1767-1822), a free black man, for a massive slave uprising in South Carolina. Thirty-five blacks, including Vessey, are hanged, and severely repressive slave codes are passed in the South.

Reform

Slavery: Liberia is founded as a colony for blacks fleeing America.

Reform

Protest Music: “The Ballad of Major Andre” is written during the American Revolution by Major John Andre (? -1780).

Politics

Daniel Webster (1782-1852) takes a seat in the House of Representatives, and Henry Clay (1777-1852) becomes Speaker of the House.

Government

James Monroe (1758-1831) presents his Monroe Doctrine, stating that any attempts by Europeans to interfere in the Americas will be considered an affront to the national interest of the U.S.

War

Indian Wars: American troops defeat the Sauk and Fox chief Black Hawk, who has tried to prevent white settlement in the Illinois territory.

Medicine

The first ophthalmology book in the U.S., "A Treatise on the Diseases of the Eye," is published.

Medicine

The British medical journal, "The Lancet," is first published.

Inventions

Computers: Early attempts to build a calculating machine (computer) are made by Charles Babbage (1791-1871).

Inventions

A waterproof fabric is invented by Charles Macintosh (1766-1843).

Education

Education of Women: Catherine Beecher (1800-1878) founds a girls’ school in Hartford, CT.

Education

Teacher Education: The first private normal school (for training teachers) in the U.S. opens in Concord, Vermont.

Education

The first gymnasium offering systematic instruction is started by the Round Hill School in Massachusetts. Gymnastics is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m.

Education

Children''s Books: Clement Clark Moore (1779-1863) publishes "A Visit from St. Nicholas" ("‘Twas the Night Before Christmas").

Education

African American Education: Alexander Lucius Twilight (1795-1857) graduates from Middlebury College, making him the first black college graduate in the U.S.

Arts and Letters

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1857) completes the "Missa Solemnis, Op. 123."

Tyler, Letitia

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Tyler Waller (1823-1850), daughter of John and Letitia Tyler, is born July 11.

Sports

Football: Football is invented by a 17-year-old British rugby player when, against the rules of rugby, he takes up the ball and runs with it.

Sports

Horse Racing: The first great U.S. horse race takes place between the North and the South on Long Island; the purse is about $20,000.

Popular Culture

James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) publishes "The Pioneers," the first of the Leatherstocking Tales.

Reform

Abolition Movement: An Anti-Slavery Society is founded in England by William Wilberforce (1759-1833).

Politics

John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) is elected as the 6th President of the U.S. by the House of Representatives when none of the four candidates achieves a majority in the national election; John C. Calhoun (1782-1850) is re-elected as Vice President.

Politics

The world’s first public opinion poll tries to predict voting intentions for the presidential election of 1824.

Government

The Tariff Act of 1824 is passed by Congress in an effort to protect American industry.

Government

Native Americans: The U.S. Secretary of War establishes the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which does not receive congressional authorization until 1934.

Government

National Capital: The Capitol Rotunda is completed; it is the connecting space between the House of Representatives and the Senate sides of the building.

Science

French physicist Nicholas Leonard Sadi Carnot (1796-1832) first states the principle that will become William Thompson’s (1824-1907) Second Law of Thermodynamics (energy moves from a warm to a cold body, not the reverse).

Education

Emma Willard (1787-1870) writes a widely-used textbook, "Ancient Geography."

Education

The first science and engineering school in the U.S. is founded; it is later named Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute.

Education

Mary Randolph (1762-1828) publishes "The Virginia Housewife," intended to instruct novice wives.

Education

Children''s Books: Dorothea Dix (1802-1887) writes a children’s book, "Conversations on Common Things."

Arts and Letters

The National Gallery is London is founded.

Taylor, Margaret

Mary Elizabeth Taylor Bliss Dandridge (1824-1909), daughter of Zachary and Margaret Taylor, is born April 20.

Lincoln, Mary

Mary Todd’s (1818-1882) mother dies in childbirth when she is six years old.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: Construction begins on the 1st locomotive workshop in New Castle, England.

Discovery

A gateway to the west through the Rocky Mountains is discovered at South Pass, WY.

Discovery

The Great Salt Lake is discovered.

Religion

The Sunday School Union is founded in the United States.

Reform

Utopian Movement: Robert Owen (1771-1858) founds New Harmony, a utopian community in Indiana.

Reform

Labor Movement: The first recorded strike by women is a weaver’s strike at Pawtucket, RI.

Government

The U.S. signs a treaty with Russia setting the border between Canada and Alaska.

Government

Native Americans: Congress adopts a policy of removal of eastern Indian tribes to territory west of the Mississippi River; whites settle on Indian lands.

Government

John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) is inaugurated as the 6th President of the U.S. and John C. Calhoun (1782-1850) is inaugurated as the continuing Vice President.

Government

Native Americans: A treaty is established between the U.S. and the Oglala branch of the Teton Sioux (Lakota) regarding fur trade, signed for the Oglala by Standing Buffalo (aka Standing Bull).

Science

Michael Faraday (1791-1867) succeeds in isolating benzene.

Science

Georges Couvier (1769-1832) suggests that alterations in the earth causing extinction of whole animal species are associated with great natural catastrophes.

Technology

Railroad History: Stephenson's (1781-1841) 8-ton LOCOMOTION No. 1 built for the Stockton & Darlington Railroad is capable of pulling 90 tons of coal at 15 mph.

Arts and Letters

"The Diary of Samuel Pepys" is published.

Arts and Letters

Dance: The Bolshoi Ballet is established in Moscow.

Ideas

English philosopher John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) publishes "Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind," an early work in psychology, at age 19.

Adams, Louisa

Louisa Adams (1775-1852) moves into the White House with her husband, John Quincy Adams.

Adams, Louisa

Louisa Adams (1775-1852) becomes the first First Lady to write her autobiography, which she called "Adventures of a Nobody."

Tyler, Letitia

Anne Contesse Tyler (1825), daughter of John and Letitia Tyler, is born in April and dies three months later in July.

Lincoln, Mary

Mary Todd’s (1818-1882) father remarries—Elizabeth (Betsy) Humphreys of Frankfort, KY.

Economics

The Erie Canal, connecting Lake Eire and the Hudson River, opens.

Economics

The New York Stock Exchange opens, trading mostly canal, turnpike, mining, and gas lighting companies.

Discovery

Alexander Gordon Laing (1793-1826) is the first explorer to reach Timbuktu (in what is now Mali).

Daily Life

Tea roses from China are introduced in Europe.

Daily Life

Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854) begins producing furniture in the Empire style.

Sports

Baseball: A Baseball Club is organized in Rochester, New York.

Sports

Horse Racing: The New York Trotting Club builds a race course on Long Island.

Social Issues

Native Americans: The Chippewa, Iowa, Potawami, Sauk and Fox, Sioux, and Winnebago tribes sign a treaty for territorial boundaries.

Social Issues

Native Americans: Creek Indians reject a treaty ceding all their lands in Georgia to the U.S.

Reform

Labor Movement: In Boston, 600 master carpenters strike for a 10-hour day.

Reform

Utopian Movement: A community of slaves is organized by Frances Wright (1795-1852), designed to help them get ready for freedom.

Politics

Third Parties: The first third party in the U.S., the Anti-Masonic Party, is founded.

Science

André Ampere (1775-1836) publishes his "Treatise on Electrodynamics."

Inventions

The first permanent photograph is produced by J.N. Niepce (1765-1833), a French scientist.

Inventions

Samuel Morey (1762-1843) patents an internal combustion engine.

Inventions

The first reflecting telescope is built in the U.S. by Amasa Holcomb (1787-1875) in Massachusetts.

Inventions

Bassell designs a pendulum that takes exactly one second per swing.

Education

The American Lyceum—a mechanism for adult education—is founded.

Education

The Smithsonian Institution is founded in Washington, DC, endowed by James Smithson (1765-1829).

Education

Education of Women: The first public high schools for girls open in New York and Boston.

Arts and Letters

The U.S. Academy of Design is founded by Samuel F.B. Morse (1791-1872).

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) publishes "Essays on Mind, with Other Poems."

Adams, Abigail

John Adams (1735-1826), 2nd President of the U.S., dies in Braintree (now Quincy), MA.

Jefferson, Martha

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) dies on July 4 at Monticello (near Charlottsville, VA).

Harrison, Anna

Lucy Singleton Harrison Este (1800-1826), daughter of William Henry and Anna Harrison, dies April 7.

Taylor, Margaret

Richard Taylor (1826-1879), son of Zachary and Margaret Taylor, is born January 27.

Fillmore, Abigail

Abigail Powers (1798-1853) marries Millard Fillmore (1800-1874) on Feb. 5 in Moravia, NY.

Lincoln, Mary

Mary Todd (1818-1882) enters the academy of Dr. John Ward; stays until she is 14.

Grant, Julia

Julia Boggs Dent (1826-1902), future wife of President Ulysses S. Grant(1822–1885), is born on January 26 on her family’s plantation near St. Louis, Missouri.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The first line of rails in the New England States is said to have been laid down at Quincy, Mass., 3 miles in length and pulled by horses.

Discovery

The first overland journey to Southern California is led by Jedediah Strong Smith (1798-1831).

Daily Life

Newspapers: The first issue of the "United States Telegraph" is published; it reflects an anti-John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) bias.

Popular Culture

James Fennimore Cooper (1789-1851) publishes "The Last of the Mohicans."

Social Issues

Native Americans: The Creek Indians sign the Treaty of Washington, which voids the previous treaty and cedes less land to the government; it requires the Indians to move in 1827.

Social Issues

Slavery: A Pennsylvania law makes kidnapping a felony, thereby nullifying the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793.

Reform

Temperence Movement: The American Society for the Promotion of Temperance is founded in Boston.

Politics

Sectional differences in the U.S. between the North and South increase over tariffs: northern industrialists are for them; southern plantation owners oppose them.

Government

Joint occupation of the Oregon territory is agreed upon by the U.S. and Britain.

War

Congress gives the President the right to call out the militia.

Science

The mammalian ovum (egg) is discovered, proving that mammals do develop from eggs.

Science

John J. Audubon (1785-1851) publishes "Birds of North America."

Medicine

Brights’ disease (of the kidneys) is described by English physician Richard Bright (1789-1858).

Inventions

The screw propeller for ships is invented.

Education

Joanne Bethune founds the Infant School Society in New York City.

Education

African American Education: A letter in the Freedom Journal demands education for black women.

Education

The first nautical school in America is opened in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Education

Public Education: Massachusetts requires every town with 500 or more families to establish a public high school.

Education

Public Education: Massachusetts passes a law making all grades of public school open to all pupils free of charge.

Arts and Letters

"A Midsummer Night’s Dream," by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), premieres.

Economics

Transportation: The first public transit system—horse-drawn busses—appear in New York City.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is chartered to run from Baltimore to the Ohio River in Virginia. It was the first westward bound railroad in America.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The Switch Back Gravity Railroad in Pennsylvania begins operation in May of 1827 before work begins on the B&O. It is the second railroad in the U.S.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The first newspaper for blacks in the U.S., "Freedom’s Journal" is published in New York City.

Daily Life

Cincinnati is considered the Queen City of the west, at least for a time before the rise of Chicago.

Daily Life

Karl Baedeker (1801-1859) begins publishing his travel guides.

Daily Life

John Walker (1781-1859) introduces sulfur friction matches—called Lucifers—in England.

Daily Life

Holidays: The Mardi Gras celebration begins when French-American students organize a procession of street maskers on Shrove Tuesday in New Orleans.

Sports

A handbook for sportsmen, the American Shooter’s Manual, is published in Philadelphia.

Popular Culture

The murder of Maria Martin in England is the inspiration for a wildly popular melodrams, Maria Martin, or The Murder in the Red Barn.

Religion

The Second Great Awakening, an era of intense, emotional religious revivalism, makes a large impression across the country.

Reform

Perhaps the first organized American women’s club, the Women’s Social Society at New Harmony, is founded by Frances Wright.

Politics

First Political Parties: The Democratic party is formed, based on Jeffersonian principles. Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) is the first nominee, and defeats John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) for the Presidency; John C. Calhoun (1782-1850) is re-elected Vice President.

Politics

Third Parties: The Working Men’s Party is founded in New York City.

Government

Railroad History: Congress authorizes the construction of the first state-owned railway in Pennsylvania.

Government

The so-called Tariff of Abominations, imposing duties on manufactured goods is passed.

Science

The discipline of organic chemistry begins.

Science

Caroline Herschel (1750-1848) is awarded a gold medal by Britain’s Royal Astronomical Society for her catalog of nebulae.

Medicine

Dr. Hopff first uses the term "hemophilia" in describing the blood disease.

Inventions

The electromagnet is invented.

Education

Education of Women: Zilpah Grant (1794-1874) becomes head of the Ipswitch Female Seminary, a select girls’ boarding school.

Education

Noah Webster (1758-1843) publishes his "American Dictionary of the English Language," with 70,000 definitions, including many words derived from immigrant and Native American languages.

Education

Libraries: The Reading Room Society, the first social library for African Americans, opens in Philadelphia.

Arts and Letters

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) gives his only public concert in Vienna.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Alexander Dumas (pere--1802-1870) writes "The Three Musketeers."

Adams, Louisa

White House Weddings: Louisa (1775-1852) and John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) son, John II (1803-1834), marries Mary Catherine Hellen in the White House.

Jackson, Rachel

Rachel Donelson Robards Jackson (1767-1828) dies at home on December 22 at 62. She is the first President's wife to die after her husband had been elected to office of President but before he was sworn in and she could become the First Lady.

Fillmore, Abigail

Millard Fillmore (1800--1874) is elected to the New York State Legislature, where he serves until 1831.

Fillmore, Abigail

Millard Powers Fillmore (1828-1889), son of Millard and Abigail Fillmore, is born April 25.

Johnson, Eliza

Martha Johnson Patterson (1828-1901), daughter of Andrew and Eliza Johnson, is born October 25.

Economics

Construction starts on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. builds a railroad from their mines to the termination of the canal at Honesdale.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The first Indian newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix is published in Georgia.

Daily Life

Magazines: Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879) becomes editor-publisher of the American Ladies Magazine (until 1836).

Sports

The first archery club is formed in Philadelphia; members pay an initiation fee of $5.00 and $.50 dues a month.

Popular Culture

Thomas (“Jim Crow”) Rice (1808-1860) introduces the song “Jim Crow” between acts of a play; it is the first international song hit of American popular music.

Social Issues

Native Americans: American social critic Elizabeth Sanders (1762-1851) anonymously publishes a booklet praising Indian culture and condemning its destruction by General Andrew Jackson.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Isabella van Wagener (c. 1797-1883) is freed from slavery and takes the name Sojourner Truth; she preaches against slavery throughout New York and New England.

Politics

The practice of awarding political appointments based on party service is introduced by Andrew Jackson (1767-1845).

Government

Andrew Jackson (1767-1848) is inaugurated as the 7th President of the U.S. and John C. Calhoun (1782-1850) is inaugurated as the continuing Vice President.

Inventions

Louis Daguerre (1787-1851) invents the daguerreotype, a commonly used form of photography.

Inventions

The concertina is patented by Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875).

Inventions

An early version of the typewriter is patented by William Austin Burt (1792-1858).

Technology

The term “technology” is coined in a work called "Elements of Technology" by Harvard professor Jacob Bigelow., M.D. (1787-1879).

Education

Special Education: The Perkins Institution, the first school for the blind in the U.S. opens.

Education

The first American encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Americana ins published.

Education

Special Education: Louis Braille (1809-1852) adapts a communication system used by the French military.

Education

Children’s Books: Ann Taylor (1782-1866) and her sister Jane (1783-1824) collaborated on several books of poems for "infant minds," chiefly but not exclusively religious poems. Ann (1782-1866) was author of "My Mother" and Jane (1783-1824) of "Twinkle, twinkle, little star." They wrote "Original Poems for Infant Minds," illustrated with woodcuts.

Arts and Letters

Opera: Rossini (1792-1868) completes his last major work, the opera, "William Tell."

Arts and Letters

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) debuts in Vienna.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849) publishes his first work, "Tamerlane and Other Poems."

Adams, Louisa

George Washington Adams (1801-1829), son of President John Quincy Adams and Louisa Adams, dies a mysterious death on April 30. Many historians believe he committed suicide.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The first steam locomotive used in America, the English-built Stourbridge Lion, is put to work on the Delaware & Hudson.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: Peter Cooper (1791-1883) of New York in 6 weeks time builds the Tom Thumb, a vertical boiler 1.4 HP locomotive, for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

Economics

The first modern hotel, the Tremont, opens in Boston with 170 rooms.

Daily Life

Second Great Awakening: In part stimulated by the Second Great Awakening, crusader Sylvester Graham attacks meats, fats, catsup, mustard, pepper, and white bread as stimulating carnal appetites.

Religion

The Catholic Emancipation Act in Britain allows Catholics to hold public office.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Sarah Moore Grimké (1792-1873) publishes Epistle to the Clergy of the Southern States, in which she attacks religious rationalizations of slavery.

Government

Native Americans: The Indian Removal Act is passed enabling whites to move Indians to reservations.

Government

Abortion: U.S. Congress makes abortion a statutory crime.

Government

Mexico bans further U.S. settlement in Texas.

Government

Presidents: Chester A. Arthur (1830-1886), 21st President of the U.S., is born October 5 in Fairfield, Vermont.

Science

The cell nucleus in plants is discovered.

Science

Charles Lyell (1797-1875) organizes the geological system into three groups: eocene, miocene, and pliocene.

Medicine

America’s first veterinarian, Charles Grice, opens an animal hospital in New York City.

Inventions

Frenchman, B. Thimonnier (1793-1859), invents a sewing machine.

Inventions

The fountain pen is patented by H.D. Hyde of Pennsylvania.

Education

African American Education: By this time, most southern states have laws forbidding teaching people in slavery to read. Even so, around 5 percent become literate at great personal risk.

Arts and Letters

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) writes his "Symphonie fantastique."

Monroe, Elizabeth

Elizabeth Kortright Monroe (1768-1830), wife of James Monroe, in office 1817-1825, dies at the family home, Oak Hill, in Virginia.

Harrison, Anna

John Cleves Symmes Harrison (1798-1830), son of William Henry and Anna Harrison, dies October 30 in the midst of political controversy.

Tyler, Letitia

Tazewell Tyler (1830-1874), the youngest of John and Letitia Tyler's children, is born December 6.

Fillmore, Abigail

The Fillmore family moves to Buffalo; both parents are active in efforts to improve public education and establish a public library system there.

Lane, Harriet

Harriet Lane (1830-1903), niece of President James Buchanan (1791–1868), is born on May 9 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Since he remained a bachelor, Harriet Lane served as his First Lady during his time in office.

Johnson, Eliza

Charles Johnson (1830-1863), son of Andrew and Eliza Johnson, is born February 19.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The first locomotive built in the U.S. makes its first trip on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad; it later loses a race against a horse when an engine belt slips. 0 1210 1830 12 Population: The fifth national census puts the population at 12.8 million, including about 150,000 immigrants. 0 8066 1830 12 Transportation: Railroad History: The Best Friend is built at the West Point Foundery at New York for the Charlston & Hamburg Railroad. It was the first complete

Economics

Population: The fifth national census puts the population at 12.8 million, including about 150,000 immigrants.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The Best Friend is built at the West Point Foundery at New York for the Charlston & Hamburg Railroad. It was the first completely American-built steam engine to go into scheduled passenger service.

Daily Life

Fashion: Ladies' skirts grow shorter and sleeves and hats grow bigger; stiff collars become part of men’s dress.

Daily Life

Sylvester Graham invents the graham cracker, which becomes a favorite of children everywhere.

Daily Life

Magazines: "Godey's Lady's Book," a magazine for women, is founded.

Popular Culture

Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894) writes the poem, “Old Ironsides,” which so popularizes the story of the U.S.S. Constitution that plans to scrap the ship are cancelled.

Religion

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or Mormons, is founded by Joseph Smith (1805-1844).

Politics

Former President John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) is elected as the Congressional representative from Massachusetts.

Government

Presidents: James A. Garfield (1831-1881), 20th President of the U.S. is born November 19 in Orange, Ohio.

Government

U.S. copyright law is amended to last for 28 years, renewable for 14.

War

The French Foreign Legion is founded.

Science

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) sails on the H.M.S. Beagle, a trip on which he conceives the idea of evolution.

Science

Michael Farraday (1791-1867) develops the electromagnetic generator.

Inventions

Chloroform is invented.

Inventions

An early version of the mechanical reaper is developed by Cyrus McCormick (1809-1884).

Technology

Airplanes: Thomas Walker (1804-1886) proposes a tandem-wing airoplane with the pilot and the propulsion system amidships. This would later influence Samuel Langley as he designed his aerodromes.

Education

African American Education: Maria W. Miller Stewart (1803-1879), an African American orator, exhorts African Americans to become educated and fight for their rights; she speaks out at a time when very few women are able to speak in public.

Education

Libraries: The Female Literary Society, the first social library for African-American women, is founded in Philadelphia.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Victor Hugo (1802-1885) publishes "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

Monroe, Elizabeth

James Monroe, fifth President of the U.S. dies in New York, New York (b. 1758).

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy Ware Webb (1831-1889), future wife of Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–1893), is born August 28 in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Economics

The Industrial Revolution focuses on textile mills.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: Robert L. Stevens buys the British locomotive, the John Bull, and establishes America’s first steam railway.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The 3.5 ton De Witt Clinton hauls 5 stage coach bodies on railroad wheels at 25 mph on the Mohawk & Hudson Railroad between Albany and Schenectady.

Economics

Transportation: The Canadian paddle steamer, Royal William, cross the Atlantic with steam as the prime source of drift. However, her engines had to be stopped every few days because they had to be scraped from the accumulated salt deposits from the seawater used in her boilers.

Discovery

Scottish explorer James Ross (1800-1862) and his Uncle, Sir John Ross (1777-1856), determine the position of the magnetic North Pole.

Daily Life

This year sees the first use of the term “Old Glory” for the U.S. flag.

Sports

Horse Racing: A popular racing sheet, the "Spirit of the Times," is established by William Trotter; its aim is to improve the reputation of racing and other sports.

Popular Culture

American Theatre: The first showboat is built, called "The Floating Theatre."

Popular Culture

Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895) writes the words to "My Country, 'Tis of Thee."

Social Issues

Immigration: German immigration to the U.S. is about 15,000.

Social Issues

Slavery: Nat Turner (1800-1831) leads an unsuccessful slave uprising.

Social Issues

Slavery: The term "underground railroad" becomes widely used.

Reform

Abolition Movement: William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879) begins publishing his abolitionist periodical, The Liberator.

Politics

Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) is re-elected President and Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) is elected the 8th Vice President on the new Democratic Party ticket.

Politics

Third Parties: For the first time in American history, a third party challenges the major two parties. William Wirt (1772–1834) of the Anti-Masonic Party carries 8 percent of the vote and one state. Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), Democratic-Republican, is reelected President over National-Republican Henry Clay (1777–1852).

Government

John C. Calhoun (1782-1850) becomes the first Vice President to resign from office; he runs successfully for the Senate.

Government

States in the South begin a series of nullification acts, attempting to redefine their relationship to the federal government.

War

Indian Wars: U.S. troops fight the last Indian war north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi.

Science

Jane Kilby Welsh publishes her textbook, "Familiar Lessons in Mineralogy and Geology."

Medicine

The dissection of cadavers in medical schools is legalized in Massachusetts.

Medicine

Epidemics: A cholera epidemic sweeps through major American cities, killing over 7,000 people in New York and New Orleans.

Medicine

The disease later known as Hodgkin’s disease is described by English physician Thomas Hodgkin (1798-1866).

Inventions

The lawn mower is invented.

Inventions

Walter Hunt (1796-1859) invents a lock-stitch sewing machine.

Inventions

Louis Braille (1809-1852) invents the stereoscope.

Inventions

Cyrus McCormick invents the first commercially successful reaper.

Education

Education of Women: Catherine Beecher (1800-1878) founds the Western Female Institute in Cincinnati.

Education

Special Education: Samuel Howe (1801-1876) founds the Perkins Institute, the first major school for the blind in the U.S.

Arts and Letters

The Boston Academy of Music offers free music lessons to children, adults, and teachers.

Arts and Letters

Drama: Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) finishes "Faust."

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) publishes "The Lady of Shalott."

Adams, Abigail

Thomas Boylston Adams, third son of John and Abigail Adams, dies at 59, probably of complications of alcoholism.

Fillmore, Abigail

A daughter, Mary Abigail (1832-1854), is born to Abigail and Millard Fillmore in Buffalo on March 27.

Lincoln, Mary

Mary Todd (1818-1882) is enrolled at Madame Victorie Mentelle’s select school for young ladies.

Johnson, Eliza

Mary Johnson Stover Brown (1832-1883), daughter of Andrew and Eliza Johnson, is born May 8.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy Webb's (1831-1889) father dies of cholera.

Garfield, Lucretia

Lucretia Rudolph (1832-1918), future wife of President James A. Garfield (1831–1881), is born on April 19 in Hiram, Ohio.

Harrison, Caroline

Caroline Lavinia Scott (1832-1892), future wife of President Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901), is born On October 1 in Oxford, Ohio.

Economics

Transportation: The "Ann McKim," first of the American clipper ships, is launched in Baltimore.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: "The Brother Jonathon" was the first locomotive in the world to have a four-wheel leading truck; it was designed by John B. Jervis for the Mohawk & Hudson Railroad.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: "The American No. 1" was the first 4-4-0, the first of its class; it was designed by John B. Jervis (1795 –1885), Chief Engineer for the Mohawk & Hudson.

Daily Life

Frances Trollope (1780-1863) publishes "Domestic Manners of the Americans."

Reform

The first work to treat women in a completely distinctive way, "The History of Women," is published.

Reform

Abolition Movement: The New England Anti-Slavery Society is founded in Boston.

Reform

Abolition Movement: African American women found the first Anti-Slavery society in Salem, Massachusetts.

Government

Congress gives President Jackson (1767-1845) the power to use the armed forces to enforce the tariff laws; South Carolina rescinds its nullification acts after a compromise on tariffs is reached.

Government

President: Benjamin Harrison (1831-1901), 23rd President of the U.S., is born.

Government

National Capital: The Treasury building burns to the ground in Washington, DC.

Government

Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) is inaugurated as President and Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) is inaugurated as the nation's 8th Vice President.

Science

Michael Farraday (1791-1867) coins the terms electrolysis, electrolyte, anode, and cathode.

Inventions

Computers: Charles Babbage (1791-1871) suggests the possibility of building an “analytical engine,” an early calculator.

Education

Education of Women: Prudence Crandall (1803-1890) admits black students to her girls’ school in Connecticut and is imprisoned for violating a law passed especially to prevent her from doing so.

Education

Higher Education; Education of Women: African American Education: Oberlin College in Ohio is the first college to admit Blacks and women.

Education

Libraries: The first tax-supported public library in the United States is founded in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Education

Children’s Books: Peter Parley's "Winter Evening Tales;" this delightful little book with its copperplate title page and frontispiece shows a less forbidding side of S. G. Goodrich (1793-1860).

Arts and Letters

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) writes the "Piano Concerto in E Minor."

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) writes "In Memoriam."

Daily Life

Transportation: The Canadian ship, S.S. Royal William crosses the Atlantic in 25 days.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The first "penny press," the "New York Sun," makes newspapers widely available, thus helping the spread of literacy.

Daily Life

Magazines: The first magazine for mothers, "Mother’s Magazine," is published and edited by Abigail Goodrich Whittelsey (1788-1858).

Daily Life

Magazines: Parley's Magazine for Children & Youth. This is a twice-monthly magazine, founded by Samuel Griswold Goodrich (1793-1860). It emphasized geography, travel, natural history, and simple technology, along with Bible stories.

Sports

Baseball: An early form of baseball is played by the Olympic Ball Club in Philadelphia; most rules are like those of English cricket.

Popular Culture

The legend of Davy Crockett (1786-1836) is begun with the publication of "Sketches and Eccentricities of Col. David Crockett, of West Tennessee."

Social Issues

Slavery: The British Empire abolishes slavery in its colonies.

Reform

Abolition Movement: The American Anti-Slavery Society is founded in Philadelphia by James Mott (1788-1868). Lucretia Mott (1793-1880), his wife, founds the Female Anti-Slavery Society.

Reform

Labor Movement: Shoemakers in Geneva, New York, go on strike; they win, but a later court case declares strikes to be illegal.

Reform

Labor Movement: The General Trades Union is formed in New York City.

Politics

Third Parties: Anti-Jackson forces form the American Whig party; it lasts until 1852.

Government

Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) removes federal deposits from the Bank of the U.S. and deposits them in “pet” state banks around the country.

Government

The U.S. Senate censures Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) for taking federal deposits from the Bank of the U.S.; the censure is removed from the record the following year.

Government

The city of Toronto is incorporated.

Science

Amalgam (a mercury alloy) is introduced as a filling material for decayed teeth.

Medicine

An antidote for arsenic poisoning is discovered by Robert Bunsen (1811-1899).

Inventions

The mechanical reaper is patented by Cyrus H. McCormick (1809-1884).

Inventions

Computers: Charles Babbage (1791-1871)invents the principle of the "analytical engine," which is the forerunner of the computer.

Inventions

Jacob Perkins (1766-1849) invents an early refrigerator (really an early ice machine).

Education

Special Education: French teacher Louis Braille invents (1809-1852) a system of printed raised dots that enables the blind to read.

Education

Children''s Books: The fairy tale "The Three Bears" is popularized.

Arts and Letters

"The Last Days of Pompeii is published."

Lincoln, Mary

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) enters politics in the Illinois legislature at the age of 25.

Johnson, Eliza

Robert Johnson (1834-1869), son of Andrew and Eliza Johnson, is born February 22.

Adams, Louisa

John Adams II (1803-1834), son of President John Quincy Adams and Louisa Adams, dies an alcohol related death on October 23.

Economics

Twenty-eight million acres of public land are offered for sale to those who wish to move west.

Discovery

The first settlement is established in Oregon.

Daily Life

Tomatoes are begun to be eaten in the U.S.; before this, people thought they were poisonous and they were only used as ornamental “love apples.”

Sports

Baseball: The first printed rules for a game much like baseball are found in the Book of Sports.

Sports

Baseball: Robin Carver publishes the "Book of Sports," the first American book on baseball.

Sports

Women in Sports: The first modern Lacrosse games are played. Lacrosse will become a major new sports opportunity for women in the 1990's with many colleges offering scholarship dollars. The original game was played by North American Indians.

Popular Culture

Madame Tussaud (1761-1850) opens her wax museum in London.

Social Issues

Native Americans: Under an 1828 treaty, the U.S. orders the Seminole Indians to leave Florida.

Social Issues

Native Americans: Four thousand Oglala people relocate to Fort Laramie to boost their fur trade with white people.

Reform

Labor Movement: The Factory Girls Association is organized in the Lowell textile mills; women workers stage their first strike, which fails.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Anti-abolition riots occur in New York City and Philadelphia.

Government

Congress pays off the national debt.

War

Mexican Wars: American settlers defeat a Mexican cavalry in the first battle of the Texas Revolution.

War

Indian Wars: A new Seminole War begins in Florida after the escape of Seminole leader Osceola.

Science

Hailey's comet appears in its usual 75-year cycle.

Inventions

The revolver is invented by Samuel Colt (1814-1862).

Inventions

Computers: Charles Babbage (1791-1871) invents a mechanical calculator.

Education

Children''s Books: Hans Christian Anderson (1805-1875) publishes a book of his "Fairy Tales."

Education

African American Education: A school that enrolls 14 Black students in New Hampshire is burned to the ground.

Education

Education of Women: Harriet Hunt (c.1805-?) is accepted at Harvard Medical School, but the male students riot and she is forced to withdraw.

Education

Education of Women: Education for girls is established in Panama.

Ideas

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) publishes his "Democracy in America," a work that is still quoted today.

Ideas

Women''s Rights Movement: Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880) publishes "History of the Condition of Women."

Jackson, Rachel

Assassination: President Andrew Jackson survives the first-ever assassination attempt on a U.S. president.

Taylor, Margaret

Sarah "Knox" Taylor Davis (1814-1835), daughter of Zachary and Margaret Taylor, dies September 15 of malaria.

Monroe, Elizabeth

Eliza Kortright Monroe Hay (1786-1835), daughter of President James Monroe and Elizabeth Monroe, dies in France at age 49, shortly after converting to the Catholic faith. Cause of death is unknown

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: 1,096 miles of railroad tracks are in use in the U.S.

Economics

Native Americans: Gold is found on Cherokee lands in Georgia.

Economics

The first cast-iron bridge in America is built over Dunlap’s Creek in Brownsville, Pennsylvania.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The "New York Herald" is published as a penny-paper.

Sports

For a purse of $1,000, nine runners participate in a 10-mile foot race on Long Island; the winner’s time is 59 minutes, 44 seconds.

Popular Culture

P.T. Barnum (1810-1891) begins his career as a showman in the U.S.

Popular Culture

A pseudoscience called “phrenology” becomes popular; it says that physiological features, especially of the head, determine character.

Religion

Women''s Firsts: Henrietta Hall Schuck becomes the first American female missionary in China at age 18.

Reform

Prison Reform: Mt. Pleasant Female Prison, the first American prison for women, is founded in New York.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Censorship efforts in Southern states expel abolitionists and forbid the mailing of antislavery propaganda.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Pro- and anti-slavery mobs clash in Charleston, South Carolina, in Boston, and in New York; in Boston, the pro-slavery attackers take William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879) and parade him through the streets with a rope around his neck.

Law

Chief Justices: President Andrew Jackson(1767-1845) nominates Roger Brooke Taney (1777-1864) as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He is confirmed by the Senate in 1836 and serves for twenty-eight years, the second-longest tenure of any Chief Justice.

Politics

Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) is elected as the 8th U.S. President and Richard M. Johnson (1780-1850) is elected as the nation's 9th Vice President.

Politics

Texas declares independence from Mexico.

Government

New State: Arkansas becomes the 25th state in the U.S.

Government

The Michigan territory is divided to create Wisconsin.

War

Mexican Wars: The battle of the Alamo takes placeover 13 days; less than 200 defenders are finally defeated by 2,500 Mexican soldiers.

Science

The first American botanical textbook, "Elements of Botany," is written by Asa Gray (1810-1888).

Science

Pepsin, the powerful ferment in gastric juice, is recognized by the German physiologist, Theodor Schwann (1810-1882).

Inventions

Francis Pettit Smith and John Ericcson (1803-1889) co-invent the propellor.

Education

Special Education: Laura Bridgman (1829-1889) becomes the first deaf-mute taught to communicate at the Perkins Institute.

Education

Public Education: The first McGuffey readers are published.

Education

Higher Education: Education of Women: Women’s Colleges: Wesleyan College is chartered to Georgia and is known for granting the first college degrees to women.

Education

Public Education: Child labor laws in Massachusetts require children to attend school for at least three months a year until they are 15.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Charles Dickens (1812-1870) writes "The Pickwick Papers."

Ideas

The first meeting of the Transcendentalist Club is held in Boston.

Madison, Dolley

James Madison (1751-1835) dies at the Madisons' home at Montpelier, and is buried there.

Fillmore, Abigail

Millard Fillmore (1800-1874) is elected again as a Representative to Congress; serves until 1839.

Lincoln, Mary

Mary Todd (1818-1882) enrolls for two more years at Ward’s academy.

Pierce, Jane

Franklin Pierce Jr. (1836), son of Franklin and Jane Pierce, is born February 2 and dies three days later on February 5.

Jefferson, Martha

Martha Washington Jefferson Randolph (1772-1836), daughter of Thomas and Martha Jefferson, dies of apoplexy on October 10.

Economics

American Money: With minimum regulation, a proliferation of 1,600 local state-chartered, private banks now issue paper money.

Daily Life

Gas stoves are manufactured for the first time.

Daily Life

The Arc de Triumphe, begun 30 years earlier, is finished.

Sports

Cricket: Batting pads for Cricket are invented.

Religion

The first Mormon Temple is dedicated in Kirtland, Ohio.

Social Issues

Native Americans: A written Seneca Indian language is devised by missionaries Laura Wright (1809-1886) and her husband.

Social Issues

Slavery: Texas wins independence from Mexico and legalizes slavery. Free blacks and mulattos are forbidden from entering the state.

Reform

Temperance Movement: The Ladies' American Home Education Society and Temperance Union is founded.

Reform

Abolition Movement: There are 500 active abolitionist societies in the North.

Reform

Labor Movement: At age 11, mill worker Harriet Jane Hanson Robinson leads her young co-workers out in support of older workers striking in protest over wage cuts.

Law

Membership on the Supreme Court is increased from seven to nine.

Government

President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) recognizes the Republic of Texas on his last day in office, thereby preventing its admission as a slave territory.

Government

Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) is inaugurated as the 8th U.S. President and Richard M. Johnson (1780-1850) is inaugurated as the nation's 9th Vice President.

Government

New State: Michigan becomes the 26th state in the U.S.

Government

Presidents: Grover Cleveland (1837-1906), 22nd President of the U.S., is born in Caldwell, New Jersey.

War

Indian Wars: General Zachary Taylor tricks(1784-1850) Seminole leader Osceloa (c.1804-1838) and captures him.

Science

French mathematician Simeon Denis Poissson (1781-1840) develops the rules of probability by studying the incidence of death from mule kicks in the French army.

Inventions

Alfred Lewis Vail (1807-1859), Samuel Morse’s (1791-1872) assistant, develops the “Morse Code” of dots and dashes that will be used by telegraphers everywhere.

Inventions

John Deere (1804-1886) invents the steel-toothed plow.

Inventions

English schoolmaster, Rowland Hill (1744-1833) invents the postage stamp.

Education

Public Education: Horace Mann (1796-1959) becomes head of the newly formed Massachusetts State Board of Education. Edmund Dwight (1716-1755), a major industrialist, thinks a state board of education was so important to factory owners that he offered to supplement the state salary with extra money of his own.

Education

Freidrich Froebel (1782-1852) establishes the first kindergarten in Germany.

Education

Higher Education: Education of Women: Women's Colleges: Mary Mason Lyon (1797-1849) opens Mt. Holyoke Seminary in Massachusetts, one of the first colleges for women.

Education

Higher Education: Education of Women: Women’s Colleges: Mount Holyoke Female Seminary is founded and is chartered in 1888(becomes the model for other colleges in the future years).

Arts and Letters

Literature: Nathaniel Hawthorne’s (1804-1864) first work, "Twice-Told Tales" is published.

Ideas

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) publishes "The American Scholar."

Arthur, Ellen

Ellen Lewis Herndon (1837-1880), future wife of President Chester A. Arthur (1829–1886), is born August 30 in Culpepper Court House, Virginia.

Economics

Transportation: The first British liner made of iron—the Great Britain—is launched.

Economics

The economic Panic of 1837 is felt across the nation. Many people are out of work.

Daily Life

Victoria (1819-1901) becomes Queen of Great Britain. She is the first monarch to live in Buckingham Palace.

Daily Life

Magazines: Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879), author of "Mary Had A Little Lamb," begins editing the popular women''s magazine, "Godey''s Lady''s Book."

Sports

The first boat race, sponsored by the Castle Garden Boat Club, is held in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Sports

Women in Sports: Donald Walker's book, "Exercise for Ladies," warns women against horseback riding, because it deforms the lower part of the body.

Religion

American Presbyterians are split into the “old” and the “new.”

Reform

Abolition Movement: The first Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women is held in New York.

Reform

Labor Movement: The Grimké sisters found the National Female Anti-Slavery Society, one of the first to admit women of color from the start.

Government

Slavery: John Calhoun (1782-1850), Senator from South Carolina, introduces resolutions in the Senate affirming the legality of slavery.

War

Afrikaner (Boer) forces fight and defeat the Zulu at the Battle of Blood River in South Africa.

Science

The Royal Irish Academy elects astronomer Caroline Herschel to membership.

Science

The idea that cells are the basic building blocks of all living things is advanced.

Inventions

America’s first microscope is built by Charles A. Spencer (1813-1881).

Inventions

A one-day, brass movement clock is invented that is both accurate and inexpensive, giving rise to the term “Yankee ingenuity.”

Technology

Samuel Morse (1791-1872) gives the first demonstration of the telegraph.

Education

Education of Women: William Holmes MdGuffey (1800-1873) supports more liberal education for women.

Education

French philosopher Auguste Comte (1798-1857) gives the discipline of sociology its name.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Author James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) publishes two novels criticizing American democracy; he is roundly criticized.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849) writes "Ligeia," often called the first work of American science fiction.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Charles Dickens (1812-1870) writes "Oliver Twist" and "Nicholas Nickleby."

Harrison, Anna

William Henry Harrison (1802-1838), son of William Henry and Anna Harrison, is born September 3.

Economics

Transportation: The British liner Great Western sails from England on her maiden voyage; she is the first to cross the Atlantic regularly.

Economics

Transportation: The British steamship Sirius crosses the Atlantic solely on steam power in 18 days, 10 hours.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The New York "Herald" is the first U.S. newspaper to employ European correspondents.

Daily Life

The coronation of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) takes place a year after she ascends the throne.

Popular Culture

Jenny Lynd (1820-1887), the "Swedish Nightingale," makes her debut.

Social Issues

Native Americans: Fifteen thousand Cherokee Indians remaining in Georgia are moved by federal troops 800 miles westward in what becomes known as "the Trail of Tears."

Reform

Women's Suffrage: Widows with school-age children are allowed to vote in school board elections in Kentucky.

Reform

Abolution Movement: Angelina Grimké becomes the first woman to ever address an American legislature, speaking on abolition in Massachusetts.

Law

Women's Firsts: Mississippi becomes the first state to give the right to own property to women, although they must have their husbands’ permission.

Politics

Third Parties: The first anti-slavery political party, the Liberty Party, runs James Birney (1792-1857) for president. He loses.

Government

The kingdom of Belgium is recognized by all countries of Europe.

War

The first Opium War between Britain and China begins.

Science

Ozone is discovered and named.

Inventions

The first electric clock is invented.

Inventions

The first bicycle is constructed by Scottish inventor Kirkpatrick Macmillan (1813-1878).

Technology

Louis Daguerre (1787-1851) takes the first photograph of the moon.

Technology

Telegraph inventor Samuel F.B. Morse (1791-1872) makes the first daguerreotype portraits to be produced in the U.S.

Education

The Lowell Institute in Boston is founded to provide free lectures by eminent scholars.

Education

A College of Dental Surgery opens in Baltimore.

Education

Teacher Education: The first public normal school (teachers' college) is founded in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Ideas

The unofficial headquarters of the Transcendentalist Club is Elizabeth Palmer Peabody’s (1804-1894) Boston bookshop.

Madison, Dolley

Dolley Madison (1768-1849) moves back to Montpelier to try farming.

Harrison, Anna

Carter Bassett Harrison (1812-1839), son of William Henry and Anna Harrison, dies August 12.

Lincoln, Mary

Mary Todd (1818-1882) goes to live with her sister, Elizabeth Edwards (Mrs. Ninian), in Springfield, Illinois; she meets Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) there at a dance.

Tyler, Julia

Julia Gardner Tyler (1820-1889) is the first President's wife to pose for a department store advertisement.

Pierce, Jane

Frank Robert Pierce (1839-1843), son of Franklin and Jane Pierce, is born August 27.

Economics

The manufacture of rubber is pioneered by Charles Goodyear (1800-1860).

Daily Life

Magazines: The Lowell mill girls begin publishing "The Lowell Offering," a monthly magazine of poetry, fiction, and essays that becomes internationally known.

Sports

Horse Racing: The first Grand National horse race is run in Britain.

Sports

Baseball: Abner Doubleday (1819-1893) lays out the first baseball field and the first game is played.

Politics

William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) is elected the 9th President of the U.S., and John Tyler (1790-1862) is elected as the 10th Vice President on the Whig ticket.

Government

Upper and lower Canada are united by an Act of Parliament.

Government

Stamps: The first postage stamps appear in Britain, bearing Queen Victoria's (1837-1901) profile. The tiny stamps (3/4 by 7/8 inches) are printed using only black ink. Brazil is the second nation to have postage stamps.

Science

Louis Agassiz (1807-1873) publishes a work on the movements and effects of glaciers.

Science

The fundamentals of artificial fertilizer are discovered.

Science

James Joule (1818-1889) develops the idea that energy can be converted from one state to another, but cannot be destroyed.

Medicine

The American Society of Dental Surgeons is organized in New York City.

Inventions

Englishman John Herschel (1792-1871) invents the blueprint.

Education

Public Education: Irish Catholics in New York City struggle for local neighborhood control of schools as a way of preventing their children from being force-fed a Protestant curriculum.

Education

Women’s Colleges: St. Mary-of-the-Woods College is founded in Indiana as the first of many women's institutions that are established by Catholic Sisters and is chartered in 1846.

Ideas

Margaret Fuller (1810-1850) becomes editor of "The Dial," an influential transcentalist publication.

Harrison, Anna

Benjamin Harrison (1806-1840), son of William Henry and Anna Harrison, is born.

Adams, Abigail

"Selected letters" by Abigail Adams (1744-1818) on social, political, and other matters are published.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: There are 2,816 miles of railroad in operation in the U.S.

Economics

Transportation: The Cunard steamship line is established, the first with scheduled transatlantic sailings.

Economics

Population: The sixth national census shows a population of more than 17 million; 600,000 immigrants have arrived since 1830, 207,281 from Ireland.

Daily Life

Women''s Firsts: Elizabeth Peabody (1804-1894) becomes the first woman publisher in Boston and the U.S.

Daily Life

History of Toys: The first American dollmaker is granted a patent and dolls begin to be mass-produced in America for the first time.

Sports

The game of bowling (called nine pins) becomes popular in the U.S.

Popular Culture

The expression, "O.K." is first used; it refers to “Old Kinderhook,” birthplace of Martin Van Buren (1782-1862), and is also the name of a Democratic Club in New York City.

Popular Culture

The ritual of afternoon tea is introduced in Britain by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford (1788-1861).

Popular Culture

James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) writes "The Pathfinder."

Social Issues

Native Americans: An increasing flow of emigrants to Oregon and California bring cholera, smallpox, and measles to the Indians as well as accelerated buffalo hunting for the fur trade.

Social Issues

Slavery: Slaves on the Spanish ship Amistad mutiny and sale the ship into a Connecticut harbor.

Social Issues

Immigration: Over a million Irish immigrants arrive in the United States, driven out of their homes in Ireland by the potato famine.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Women's Rights Movement: William Lloyd Garrison refuses to speak at the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention in London because women have been excluded from the meeting.

Reform

Abolution Movement: Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are chosen as delegates to the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention in London.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880) and her husband, David Lee Child (1794-1874), edit the Anti-Slavery Standard until 1844.

Reform

Labor Movement: The 10-hour day is established for federal employees by a Presidential order.

Law

Slavery: Affirming a strong argument made by John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), the Supreme Court rules that the slaves who took over the Amistad may be freed. Thirty-five freed men return to Africa.

Government

President William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) dies in office and is replaced by Vice-President John Tyler (1790-1852) as the 10th U.S. president; no new Vice President is selected.

Government

Tyler’s cabinet resigns over his veto of a bill creating a national bank; Daniel Webster remains Secretary of State.

Government

New Zealand becomes a British crown colony.

War

Mexican Wars: Texas soldiers invade New Mexico and claim all land east of the Rio Grande. Their efforts are thwarted by Governor Manuel Armijo (1793-1853).

Medicine

James Braid (1795-1860), Scottish surgeon, investigates the use of hypnosis.

Inventions

Adolphe Sax (1814-1894) invents the saxophone.

Inventions

Cornstarch is patented by Orlando Jones.

Inventions

Samuel Slocum (1792- 1861) patents the stapler.

Technology

The first U.S. steam fire engine is tested in New York City.

Education

Education of Women: Oberlin College in Ohio is the first to grant college degrees to women.

Education

New England transcendentalists found the commune and school, Brook Farm.

Education

Education of Women: Catherine Beecher (1800-1878) publishes "A Treatise on Domestic Economy."

Education

Children''s Books: Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) publishes a collection of children’s stories, "The Playfellow."

Education

Children’s Books: Unlike the early nineteenth-century Rousseauesque castaways, Victorian versions of the Crusoe story stressed adventure, manliness, and self-help. Well-known examples include Captain Marryat's reassuringly Evangelical Masterman Ready.

Education

Children’s Books: Frederick Marryatt (1792-1848), an ex-naval officer who wrote a whole series of shipboard novels. His Masterman Ready, or the Wreck of the Pacific, first published in three volumes in 1841-42.

Ideas

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) writes "Self Reliance."

Madison, Dolley

Dolley Madison (1764-1849) returns to Washington, DC.

Pierce, Jane

Benjamin Pierce (1841-1853), son of Franklin and Jane Pierce, is born April 13.

Harrison, Anna

Anna Symmes Harrison (1775-1864) is the first President's wife to never get to see or live in the White House because her husband, William Henry Harrison, died before she could join him there. President Harrison delivered the longest inaugural address (105 minutes) on a very cold winter day and contracted pneumonia.

Tyler, Letitia

Letitia Christian Tyler (1790-1842) is the First Vice President's wife to become First Lady at the death of the former president.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The "New York Tribune" begins publishing, edited by Horace Greeley.

Popular Culture

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) publishes the first detective story, "Murders in the Rue Morgue."

Popular Culture

James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) writes "The Deerslayer."

Popular Culture

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) writes "The Old Curiosity Shop."

Social Issues

Slavery: Texas gives its citizens the right and responsibility to apprehend runaway slaves and turn them over to the law so that they may be returned to their owners or sold at auction.

Social Issues

Slavery: Slaves aboard the U.S.S. Creole take over the ship and sail it to Nassau, where they become free.

Government

The border between the U.S. and Canada is established from Maine to the Great Lakes.

Government

American author Washington Irving (1783-1859) is appointed ambassador to Spain.

Government

Stamps: The first adhesive postage stamps are used in the U.S.

War

Indian Wars: After destroying the Seminoles’ crops and villages, U.S. troops force a peace treaty and move them to Indian Territory in eastern Oklahoma.

Science

The Doppler Effect is described by Christian Doppler (1803-1853).

Medicine

The first surgery using an anesthetic—ether—is performed by Dr. Crawford Long (1815-1878) of Georgia.

Inventions

Joseph Dart builds the first grain elevator.

Education

Women's Colleges: Augusta Female Seminary—later Mary Baldwin Seminary, then College) is founded by Presbyterians in Staunton, VA; it will become one of the best-known early 19th century schools for girls.

Arts and Letters

The New York Philharmonic Orchestra gives its first performance.

Ideas

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) becomes editor of "The Dial," an influential transcendentalist publication.

Tyler, Letitia

Letitia Christian Tyler (1790-1842) dies of a second stroke in the White House on September 10. She is the first First Lady to die during her husband's presidency.

Mary Todd (1818-1882) and Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) are married on November 4 at her sister Elizabeth’s house in Springfield.

Harrison, Anna

Mary Symmes Harrison Thornton (1809-1842), daughter of William Henry and Anna Harrison, dies November 16.

Discovery

John Charles Fremont (1813-1890) maps the Oregon Trail and wagon trains begin to move west.

Daily Life

Disasters: Mount St. Helens in Washington state erupts.

Sports

Horse Racing: Horse races at the Union Course on Long Island attract thousands of fans.

Popular Culture

P.T. Barnum (1810-1891)exhibits the young midget, Tom Thumb (Charles Sherwood Stratton, c. 1850).

Reform

Labor Movement: The landmark Supreme Court decision, Commonwealth v. Hunt, rules that trade union are not illegal, the striking for a closed shop is legal, and that unions cannot be held responsible for illegal actions by individuals.

Politics

Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) enters politics as a delegate to the Democratic State Convention in Alabama.

Government

Diplomatic representatives are sent to Hawaii by the U.S.

Government

Presidents: William McKinley (1843-1901), 25th President of the U.S. is born in Niles, Ohio.

Government

The first town meeting is held in Boston at Faneuil Hall.

Inventions

A U.S. patent for a hand-cranked ice cream freezer is granted to Nancy M. Johnson.

Inventions

Alexander Bain (1818-1903) of Scotland invents the facsimile.

Technology

Airplanes: William Samuel Henson, England, proposes the Aerial Steam Carriage in "Mechanics Magazine," the first known design for a propeller-driven fixed-wing aircraft.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) writes "Morte d’Arthur" and "Locksley Hall."

Ideas

Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) lays the foundations for existentialism by stressing the primacy of the individualand the inevitability of suffering.

Ideas

Women''s Rights Movement: Margaret Fuller (1810-1850) writes “The Great Lawsuit: Man versus Men, Woman versus Women.”

Lincoln, Mary

Mary Todd (1818-1882) and Abraham Lincoln’s(1809-1865) son Robert Todd (1843-1926) is born August 1 in Springfield, in the Globe Tavern, where the Lincolns lived for a time after their marriage.

Pierce, Jane

Frank Robert Pierce (1839-1843), son of Franklin and Jane Pierce, dies November 14 of typhoid fever; Franklin Pierce begins to wonder if God is taking his children.

Economics

Samuel Morse (1791-1872) starts to build a telegraph line between Baltimore and Washington, DC.

Discovery

John Charles Fremont (1813-1890) crosses the Rocky Mountains into California.

Daily Life

Fashion: A new form of female dress--bloomers--is introduced by Amelia Bloomer (1818 - 1894).

Daily Life

The first use of the word “millionaire” occurs in newspapers.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: The Mansion of Happiness is developed by S.B. Ives in Salem, Massachusetts. It becomes the first board game sold in the United States.

Sports

Skiing begins as a sport in Norway.

Sports

Rowing is introduced at Harvard.

Popular Culture

American Theathre: The first minstrel show is performed in New York City.

Popular Culture

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) publishes "A Christmas Carol."

Religion

The Jewish organization B’nai B’rith is founded.

Religion

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) becomes a traveling evangelical preacher.

Reform

Labor Movement: The Lowell Female Labor Reform Association wins the first investigation of labor conditions by a government agency.

Reform

Mental Health Movement: Dorothea Dix (1802-1887) pushes reforms in the way mental health patients are treated through the Massachusetts legislature.

Politics

James Knox Polk (1795-1849) is elected as the 11th President of the U.S., and George Dallas (1792-1864) is elected as the nation's 11th Vice President.

Government

A plan to annex Texas is rejected by the Senate.

Government

The first treaty of peace, amity, and commerce is signed by the U.S. with China.

War

A gun on the new frigate Princeton, being demonstrated by the U.S. Navy, explodes, killing the Secretaries of State and the Navy, as well as other government officials.

Medicine

Nitrous oxide is first used in dentistry.

Inventions

Paper made from wood pulp is invented by Friedrich Keller.

Inventions

Englishman John Mercer (1829- 1897) invents mercerized cotton.

Technology

Charles Goodyear (1800-1860) receives a patent for rubber vulcanization.

Technology

Samuel F.B. Morse (1791-1872) sends his first telegraph message to an associate 45 miles away: the message is, “What hath God wrought?”

Arts and Letters

Literature: Alexander Dumas (1802-1870) writes "The Three Musketeers."

Ideas

Karl Marx (1818-1883) writes of religion as “the sigh of the oppressed creature, the feelings of a heartless world…the opium of the people.”

Madison, Dolley

Dolley Madison (1768-1849) sells Montpelier and is the first First Lady to be granted a permanent seat on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Lincoln, Mary

Mary Todd (1818-1882) and Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) buy a home from the Episcopal minister who had married them. This will prove to be the only home the couple ever own.

Tyler, Julia

Julia Gardner (1820-1889) is the first woman to marry an American President while he was in office.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy Webb's (1831-1889) mother, Maria Webb, moves her family to Delaware, Ohio, so that her sons, Joseph and James, can enroll in the newly formed Methodist college, Ohio Wesleyan University.

Economics

Morse’s (1791-1872) telegraph is used for the first time between Baltimore and Washington, DC.

Daily Life

The first private bath in an American hotel is built in the New York Hotel.

Sports

Cricket: The first official international cricket match is played: Canada vs. United States.

Religion

Brigham Young (1801-1877) is chosen to replace Joseph Smith (1805-1844) as leader of the Mormons.

Religion

The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) is founded in England.

Reform

Anti-Child Labor Movement: The Factory Act in England prohibits children under 13 from working more than 6 ½ hours a day.

Government

Congress establishes the first week in November for election day; the harvest is over but the roads are still passable.

Government

The U.S. Senate overrides a presidential veto for the first time.

Government

New State: Florida becomes the 27th state in the Union.

Government

New State: Texas becomes the 28th state in the Union.

Government

James Knox Polk (1795-1849) is inaugurated as the 11th President of the U.S., and George Dallas (1792-1864) is inaugurated as the nation's 11th Vice President.

Inventions

American Elias Howe (1819-1867) invents a sewing machine.

Inventions

Sarah Mather receives a patent for a submarine telescope.

Inventions

Rubber bands are invented.

Inventions

The first pneumatic tires are patented in England.

Technology

Airplanes: William Samuel Henson and John Stringfellow (1799-1883) attempt to form the Aerial Transit Company, which (if only they had a practical airplane), would have been the world's first airline. To drum up support, they build and test a model of Henson's aerial carriage with a 20-foot wingspan. It makes brief glides, but does not sustain flight.

Education

The first written examinations in elementary schools begin in Boston.

Education

Higher Education: The U.S. Naval Academy opens at Annapolis, MD.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) publishes his poem, “The Raven” with the famous line, “Quoth the Raven, Nevermore.”

Ideas

Catherine Beecher writes An Essay on Slavery and Abolitionism with Reference to the Duty of American Women to Their Country

Ideas

Margaret Fuller publishes Women in the Nineteenth Century, an expansion of her earlier essay calling for equality for women.

Jackson, Rachel

Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), 7th President of the U.S., dies at the Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee.

Polk, Sarah

Sarah Childress Polk (1803-1891) is the first First Lady to be "selected" by the previous President for her position (President Tyler told newly elected James Polk that he needed to get married and should marry Sarah). As a result of this selection, Sarah is the first First Lady to serve as her husband's personal secretary.

Harrison, Anna

Anna Tuthill Harrison Taylor (1813-1845), daughter of William Henry and Anna Harrison, dies July 5.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy Webb (1831-1889) attends classes at Ohio Wesleyan and receives some credits from the College, although female students are not officially enrolled there.

Economics

Power looms for weaving carpets and tapestries are built by Erastus Bigelow (1814-1879).

Daily Life

The Eastern Hotel in Boston becomes the first steam-heated building in the U.S.

Daily Life

Magazines: "Scientific American Magazine" begins publication.

Religion

Children’s Books: "Letter to My Young Cousin" by American Sunday school Union. This is a book of religious advice on behavior in the family, written as from one teenage girl to another.

Social Issues

Immigration: The potato crop fails in Europe, hitting Ireland especially hard; Irish immigrants continue to flock to the U.S.

Reform

Labor Movement: The Industrial Congress of the U.S., one of the earliest labor unions, is organized.

Government

New State: Iowa becomes the 29th state in the U.S.

War

Mexican War: The U.S. declares war on Mexico over California. U.S. forces under General Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) defeat the Mexicans at Palo Alto, the Navy occupies Monterey, and the territory of New Mexico is annexed to the U.S.

Science

Caroline Herschel (1750-1848) is awarded the King of Prussia’s Gold Medal for science.

Science

The planet Neptune is discovered by German astronomer Johann Gottfied Galle.

Medicine

Dr. William Morton (1819-1868), a Massachusetts dentist, is the first to use anesthesia for tooth extraction.

Inventions

Elias Howe (1819-1867) receives a patent for his sewing machine.

Education

The Smithsonian Institution is established in Washington, DC as a center for scientific research.

Education

Education of Women: The National Academy of Design accepts women students.

Ideas

Catherine Beecher (1800-1878) publishes "The Evils Suffered by American Women and American Children."

Lincoln, Mary

With Mary’s (1818-1882) encouragement, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lincoln, Mary

Edward Baker (1846-1850), son of Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln, born on March 10 in Springfield.

Tyler, Julia

David Gardiner "Gardie" Tyler (1846-1927), the first son born to John Tyler and his second wife Julia, is born on July 12.

Harrison, Anna

Elizabeth "Betsey" Bassett Harrison Short (1796-1846), the oldest daughter of William Henry and Anna Harrison, is born September 29.

Harrison, Anna

Elizabeth "Betsey" Bassett Harrison Short (1796-1846), the oldest daughter of William Henry and Anna Harrison, dies September 26.

Daily Life

Women''s Firsts: Sarah Bagley (1806-1848) becomes the first woman telegrapher in the U.S.

Daily Life

The first painted Christmas card is designed.

Sports

Baseball: New York surveyor Alexander Cartwrite codifies the rules of baseball.

Sports

Baseball: The first recorded baseball game is played in Hoboken, NJ.

Popular Culture

Edward Lear (1812-1888) publishes his "Book of Nonsense."

Religion

The Mormons under Brigham Young (1801-1877) move westward beyond the U.S. borders to the Great Salt Lake.

Religion

The American Missionary Association is founded, combining Protestant evangelicalism with abolitionism.

Social Issues

Slavery: During the Mexican-American War, Mexico is defeated and forced to yield an enormous amount of territory to the United States. Americans then wrestle with a controversial topic: Should slavery be permitted in the new lands?

Reform

Capital Punishment: Michigan becomes the first state to outlaw capital punishment.

Government

California comes under U.S. control.

Government

Liberia, colonized by American ex-slaves, becomes the first independent republic in Africa.

Government

Stamps: United States stamps debut. The first two feature George Washington (1732-1799) and Ben Franklin (1706-1790).

Science

Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) discovers a new comet which is named after her.

Science

Joseph Leidy (1823-1891) suggests that the environment affects changes (evolution) within a species.

Medicine

Childbirth assisted by anesthetic (chloroform) first takes place.

Medicine

The American Medical Association is organized in Philadelphia.

Medicine

Epidemics: Another world-wide epidemic of influenza occurs.

Medicine

Antiseptics are developed by Ignaz Semmelweis (1818-1865), a Hungarian.

Inventions

The ophthalmoscope is invented by Charles Babbage (1791-1871) .

Education

Women's Colleges: Rockford Female Seminary (later College) is founded in Rockford, IL; it is called the “Mount Holyoke of the West.”

Arts and Letters

Literature: Emily Bronte (1818-1848) writes "Wuthering Heights" and Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) writes "Jane Eyre."

Fillmore, Abigail

The Fillmore (1800-1874) family moves to Albany when Fillmore is elected state comptroller; the children are away at boarding school and college.

Mckinley, Ida

Ida Saxon (1847-1907), future wife of President William McKinley (1843–1901), is born in Canton, Ohio on June 8.

Tyler, Letitia

Alice Tyler Denison (1847-1854), daughter of John and Letitia Tyler, is born March 23.

Economics

Evaporated milk is made for the first time.

Daily Life

Disasters: Forty-seven of the eighty-seven members of the Donner Party die while trapped in the Sierra Mountains.

Daily Life

The California town of Yerba Buena is renamed San Francisco.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The telegraph is used to transfer stories over great distances, thus making news more immediate.

Religion

The Mormons found Salt Lake City, Utah.

Social Issues

Immigration: The first Chinese immigrants arrive in the U.S.

Social Issues

Immigration: Irish immigration reaches 105,000, 3 times more than the year before.

Social Issues

Native Americans: Taos Rebellion against the U.S. military occurs.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) , escaped ex-slave, begins publishing his abolitionist newspaper, the North Star.

Reform

Anti-Child Labor Movement: Women and children in Britain may only work a 10-hour day.

Politics

Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) is elected 12th President of the U.S. on the Whig ticket; Millard Fillmore is elected as the 12th Vice President.

Politics

Third Parties: Former Democratic President Martin van Buren (1782-1862) becomes the presidential candidate of the anti-slavery Free-Soil Party. He wins 10 percent of the popular vote, and is credited with siphoning off enough votes from Democratic candidate Lewis Cass (1782-1866 ) to help Whig candidate Zachary Taylor (1784- 1850) win the election.

Government

New State: Wisconsin becomes the 30th state in the U.S.

War

Mexican Wars: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the war with Mexico, the U.S. receives New Mexico and California as well as parts of Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Colorado for $15 million.

Science

Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) becomes the first woman to be elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Science

Hyperion, the eighth moon of Saturn, is discovered.

Medicine

Epidemics: More than 5,000 deaths are caused by a cholera epidemic in New York City.

Inventions

Margaret (Mattie) Knight (1838-1914) (10) invents a stop-motion device to keep shuttles from sliding out of the looms and injuring workers.

Inventions

Chewing gum is invented by John B. Curtis (1827–1897) of Maine.

Inventions

Waldo Hanchett patents the dental chair.

Education

Public Education: Massachusetts Reform School at Westboro opens, where children who have refused to attend public schools are sent. This begins a long tradition of "reform schools," which combine the education and juvenile justice systems.

Education

Public Education: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo guarantees citizenship rights to everyone living in new American areas, mostly Mexicans and Native people. It also guarantees the continued use of the Spanish language, including in education. One hundred fifty years later, in 1998, California breaks that treaty, by passing Proposition 227, which would make it illegal for teachers to speak Spanish in public schools.

Education

Education of Women: A medical school for women opens with 12 students in Boston.

Education

Libraries: Boston Public Library becomes the first publicly supported major urban library.

Education

Women’s Colleges: Moore College of Art is founded in Philadelphia (then called the Philadelphia School of Design for Women); it is the first and only women's visual arts college in the nation--and one of only two in the world.

Ideas

Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) publish "The Communist Manifesto."

Tyler, Letitia

Mary Tyler Jones (1815-1848), the first daughter born to John and Letitia Christian Tyler, dies June 17.

Tyler, Julia

John Alexander "Alex" Tyler (1848-1883), son of John Tyler and his second wife Julia, is born on April 7.

Adams, Louisa

John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), son of Abigail and John Adams, dies of a massive stroke on February 23.

Taylor, Margaret

Margaret Smith Taylor (1788-1852) is the only First Lady whose portrait does not hang in the White House. She refused to ever have it made.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy Webb (1831-1889) meets Rutherford B. Hayes for the first time when he is visiting her town with his mother. She begins college at the Cincinnati Wesleyan Female College this year as well.

Economics

Gold is first discovered in California, in Sutter's mill. After President Polk (1795-1849) announces the news in December, the gold rush begins soon after.

Daily Life

Niagara Falls stops flowing for the first time in history because of an ice jam in the Niagara River.

Popular Culture

Stephen Foster (1826-1864) writes “Oh, Susannah,” which becomes popular among the “49ers” and establishes his reputation as a song writer.

Religion

Spiritualism becomes popular in the U.S.

Social Issues

Native Americans: The California Gold Rush begins, increasing Western expansion across former Native American lands.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: The National Convention of Colored Freedmen held in Cleveland, Ohio resolves that women should be elected delegates on an equal basis with men.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: The first Women’s Rights convention is held in Seneca Falls, NY.

Government

Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) is inaugurated as the 12th President of the U.S. and Millard Fillmore is inaugurated as the 12th Vice President.

Government

Thomas Ewing (1829-1896) of Ohio is appointed as the first Secretary of the Interior, a department created to meet the needs of western settlers.

Government

Congress establishes the Minnesota territory.

Science

Jeffries Wyman (1814-1874) describes the similarities between the skeletons of apes and humans.

Medicine

Women's Firsts: Female doctors are permitted to practice medicine for the first time in the U.S., and Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910) becomes the first woman physician in the U.S.

Inventions

The safety pin is invented by Walter Hunt (1796-1859) , trying to satisfy a $15 debt; he spends 3 hours bending wire into various forms.

Inventions

Mary Ann Woodward patents a fan that attaches to a rocking chair.

Technology

Airplanes: Sir George Cayley (1773-1857), builds a small glider designed to lift about 80 pounds of the ground. He refers to it as his Boy Glider. It is the first recorded manned (or boyed) fixed-wing aircraft. It lifts a 10-year old boy off the ground for a few yards on test runs. Cayley also flew it in a high wind like a kite, tethered to the ground.

Education

Children’s Books: Anna Maria Hall (1800-1881) is one of the most prolific Victorian writers for children, best known for such moral tales as "Grandmamma's Pockets."

Education

The Free Academy in New York City opens; it will become the College of the City of New York and offer free education to the children of New York’s working class.

Madison, Dolley

Dolley Madison (1768-1849) dies on July 12 at the age of 81.

Polk, Sarah

James K. Polk (1795-1849) is the first President to be photographed while in office; he dies on June 15 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Fillmore, Abigail

The family moves to Washington.

Lincoln, Mary

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) applies for a patent on a floating dry dock; he is the only U.S. President to do so.

Harrison, Caroline

Caroline Harrison (1832-1892) meets Benjamin Harrison (1831-1901) , a student of her father’s in Cincinnati.

Tyler, Julia

Julia Tyler Spencer (1849-1871), daughter of John Tyler and his second wife Julia, is born on December 25.

Economics

Seven thousand “49ers” invade California in a search for gold.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The Pacific Railroad Company is chartered, the first railroad west of the Mississippi River.

Economics

Women''s Rights Movement: Amelia Bloomer (1818 - 1894) begins publishing "The Lily," moving it to Ohio in 1853 and employing female typesetters in spite of a strike by males on the staff.

Sports

The Pearl of Bermuda beats the U.S. yacht Brenda in the first recognized international yacht race.

Social Issues

Slavery: California holds a convention, adopting a constitution that forbids slavery and requests admission to the Union.

Social Issues

Native Americans: The giant redwood trees in California are named Sequoias in honor of the Cherokee Indian Chief, Sequoya (c.1770-1843).

Social Issues

Immigration: The California Gold Rush sparks first mass immigration from China.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Maryland slave Harriet Tubman (c.1820-1913) escapes to the North with some help from her friends.

Government

New Mexico (which included present day Arizona, southern Colorado, southern Utah, and southern Nevada) is designated a territory, but denied statehood.

Government

Slavery: The Compromise of 1850 is passed after bitter debates about slavery in new territories and states.

Government

Vice President Millard Fillmore (1800-1847) becomes the 13th President of the U.S. on the death of Zachary Taylor. No new Vice President is selected.

Government

New State: California becomes the 31st state in the U.S.

Government

The city of Los Angeles is incorporated.

Science

The inner-most ring of Saturn is discovered.

Inventions

The continuous stitch sewing machine is invented by Isaac Singer (1811-1875).

Inventions

Joel Houghton is granted the first dishwasher patent in 1850.

Technology

Newspapers: Powerful, giant presses appear, and they are able to print ten thousand complete papers per hour.

Technology

The first clear photograph of the moon is made (a daguerreotype).

Education

Education of Women: The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania is founded.

Education

Public Education: One of the first “free,” or public, schools in New Jersey is founded by Clara Barton (1821-1912).

Education

Children’s Books: "Three Little Kittens" and other stories from Mama Lovechild''s Series were issued by the American toy and game publisher, McLoughlin Brothers.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) writes "Sonnets from the Portuguese."

Arts and Letters

Literature: Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) writes "The Scarlet Letter."

Lincoln, Mary

Edward Baker Lincoln (1846-1850), son of Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln, dies of tuberculosis at age 3, on February 1.

Lincoln, Mary

William Wallace Lincoln (1850-1862), son of Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln, is born on December 21.

Taylor, Margaret

President Zachary Taylor (1784-1850), 12th President of the U.S., dies of indigestion on July 9 in Washington D.C. after less than a year-and-a-half in office on .

Fillmore, Abigail

The first library in the White House is established by Abigail Fillmore (1798-1853); She used her furniture money to buy the books. In addition to the library, she also had the first White House bathtub installed and replaced the fireplace used for cooking with the first White House cookstove.

Monroe, Elizabeth

Maria Hester Monroe Gouverneur (1803-1850) President James Monroe and Elizabeth Monroe, dies at the age of 47.

Tyler, Letitia

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Tyler Waller (1823-1850), daughter of John and Letitia Tyler, dies June 1 from childbirth complications.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy Webb Hayes (1831-1889) is the first First Lady to earn a college degree from Cincinnati Wesleyan.

Grant, Julia

Fredrick Dent Grant (1850-1912), son of Ulysses and Julia Grant, is born May 30.

Economics

Young Bavarian-American Levi Strauss (1829-1902) invents blue jeans.

Economics

Population: The population of the U.S. is 23 million (3.2 million black slaves).

Daily Life

Fashion: Crinolines become popular in the U.S., later to be replaced by hoop skirts.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The first "pictorial" weekly newspapers emerge; for the first time they feature extensive illustrations of news events.

Popular Culture

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) publishes "David Copperfield."

Popular Culture

P.T. Barnum (1810-1891) brings Jenny Lind (1820-1887) to sing in the U.S.

Popular Culture

Steven Foster (1826-1864) writes “Camptown Races.”

Social Issues

Native Americans: Silversmithing is introduced to the Navajo Indians, who make it an art form.

Social Issues

Slavery: The Compromise of 1850 includes the Fugitive Slave Act, a law designed to assist in the recovery of runaway slaves by increasing federal officers and denying fugitive slaves a right to a jury trial.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Women gain the right to own land in Oregon.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Harriet Tubman (c.1820-1913) begins to lead slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. She makes 19 trips back to the South to free about 300 slaves.

Government

American Money: Three-cent coins are authorized by Congress.

Government

National Capital: The dome on top of the Capitol Building is designed.

Science

Understanding of the rotation of the earth is advanced.

Medicine

Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910) sets up a small medical clinic in a New York City tenement district.

Medicine

The use of glass eyes is introduced; many think they will restore sight.

Education

Libraries: The first law allowing towns to support free libraries through taxes is passed in Massachusetts.

Education

Teacher Education: White American education pioneer Myrrilla Miner opens a teaching college for black women in Washington, DC, the Miner Normal School, amid threats, arson attempts, and stone-throwing mobs.

Education

Libraries: Fire at the Library of Congress burns two-thirds of its collection, 900 of which have still to be replaced.

Education

Public Education: State of Massachusetts passes its first compulsory education law. The goal is to make sure that the children of poor immigrants get "civilized" and learn obedience and restraint, so they make good workers and don't contribute to social upheaval.

Arts and Letters

Opera: Giuseppe Verdi’s (1813-1901) opera "Rigoletto" is first performed in Venice.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Herman Melville (1819-1891) publishes "Moby Dick."

Tyler, Julia

Lachlan Tyler (1851-1902), son of John Tyler and his second wife Julia, is born December 2.

Hayes, Lucy

Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1881) asks Lucy Webb (1831-1889) to marry him; she accepts.

Daily Life

Newspapers: The "New York Times" begins publishing.

Daily Life

The first double-decker omnibus, drawn by horses, appears in England.

Daily Life

Fashion: Amelia Jenks Bloomer (1818-1894) gives her name to “bloomers,” a split skirt designed by Elizabeth Smith Miller (1822-1911) for bicycle riding.

Sports

In the America’s Cup race, the U.S. yacht America beats the British yacht Aurora on Cowes, England.

Sports

Baseball: The first baseball uniforms are worn by the New York Knickerbockers—straw hats, white shirts, and blue trousers.

Popular Culture

Stephen Foster (1826-1864) publishes “Old Folks at Home.”

Popular Culture

Children’s Books: The American abolitionist novel Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1812-1896) was pirated and abridged to become a children's classic. Although the book presents both African-American and white characters through melodrama and stereotype, the novel has received increasing critical reappraisal in recent years.

Religion

The first Young Men’s Christian Association (WMCA) opens in Boston.

Social Issues

Native Americans: The Sioux Indians give their Iowa lands, and most of their lands in Minnesota to the U.S.

Reform

Temperance Movement: Prohibition against liquor is begun in Maine and Illinois.

Reform

Native Americans: Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy (1818-1888) arrives in New Mexico and establishes schools, hospitals and orphanages throughout the territory.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) gives her famous "Ain't I a Woman" speech at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.

Reform

Harriet Beecher Stow publishes the first installment of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in an abolitionist weekly. After 40 more installments, it is published as a book in 1852.

Politics

Democrat Franklin Pierce (1804-1869) is elected as the 14th President of the U.S., defeating the Whig candidate, General Winfield Scott; William R. King (1786-1853) is elected as the 13th Vice President. The Whig party ceases to be a power.

Government

Napoleon III (1808-1873) becomes the Emperor of France.

Government

The South African Republic (Transvaal) is established.

Government

Stamps: The first pre-stamped envelopes are sold. Pre-stamped postcards (for a penny) appear 19 years later.

Science

Kerosene is discovered and named.

Medicine

A Dutch army surgeon creates the first cast for broken bones by injecting bandages with plaster.

Inventions

Elisha Gray (1835-1901) invents a safety device to prevent the fall of heavy machinery; his invention makes the development of the elevator possible.

Inventions

James Otis (died 1861) designs a passenger elevator.

Inventions

The non-rigid airship is invented by Henri Giffard.

Education

Education of Women: Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910) publishes "The Laws of Life, with Special Reference to the Physical Education of Girls."

Education

Women's Colleges: The National Women’s Education Association is founded by Catherine Beecher (1800-1878) to provide help for women’s colleges, and promote the idea of women as teachers.

Education

The first effective school attendance law is passed in Massachusetts; it requires at least 12 weeks attendance for all children between 8 and 14, six of which must be consecutive.

Education

Libraries: The Boston Public Library is founded.

Education

Women’s Colleges: Mills College is founded in California; it is the oldest women's college in the western part of the United States.

Johnson, Eliza

Andrew Johnson Jr. (1852-1879), son of Andrew and Eliza Johnson, is born August 6.

Grant, Julia

Ulysses Simpson "Buck" Grant Jr. (1852-1929), son of Ulysses and Julia Grant, is born July 22.

Madison, Dolley

John Payne Todd (1792-1852), the biological son of Dolley Madison and the stepson of President James Madison, dies of typhoid fever. John''s life choices, made him a charlatan and constant disgrace to his parents.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy Webb (1831-1889) and Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1881) are married on December 30 in Cincinnati.

Adams, Louisa

Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams (1775-1852) dies in Washington on May 15 at the age of seventy-seven; the U.S. Congress adjourns to attend her funeral, the first time this honor is conferred upon a woman.

Taylor, Margaret

Margaret Mackall Smith Taylor (1788-1852) dies near Pascagoula, Mississippi on August 18 at the age of sixty-four.

Economics

The Wells Fargo Company is founded.

Discovery

Livingstone (1813-1873) begins explorations of the Zambezi River in South Africa.

Daily Life

The U.S. imports sparrows from Germany as a defense against caterpillars.

Sports

The first intercollegiate rowing race is held between Harvard and Yale.

Popular Culture

The character of “Uncle Sam” appears for the first time in the "New York Lantern Weekly."

Popular Culture

Stephen Foster (1826-1864) writes “My Old Kentucky Home.”

Religion

American Catholics hold their first Plenary Council in Baltimore.

Social Issues

Immigration: Chinese immigration is encouraged in California, particularly to provide labor for building railroads.

Reform

Labor Movement: Ohio becomes the first state to regulate working hours for women.

Reform

Temperance Movement: The Woman’s New York Temperance Society is formed by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

Government

With the Gadsden Treaty, the U.S. secures land from Mexico that completes its acquisition of land in the continental United States.

Government

The Washington Territory is formed from part of the Oregon Territory.

Government

Franklin Pierce (1804-1869) is inaugurated as the 14th President of the U.S., and William R. King (1786-1853) is inaugurated as the 13th Vice President. King dies soon after taking office, and is not replaced.

Medicine

Alexander Wood (1817-1884) uses hypodermic syringes for injections under the skin.

Medicine

Smallpox vaccinations are made compulsory in Britain.

Medicine

Chloroform is used by Queen Victoria (1819-1901) as an anesthetic in the birth of her 7th child; it becomes an accepted practice in England.

Medicine

Epidemics: More than 3,000 perish from yellow fever in New Orleans.

Inventions

African American inventors: George Crum invents the potato chip.

Technology

Airplanes: The first heavier-than-air flying machine, a glider, flies across a valley for 500 yards carrying its frightened creator, George Cayley (1773-1857).

Education

Higher Education: Antioch College in Ohio opens.

Education

Women's Colleges: American educator Mary Easton Sibley (1800-1878) founds the Lindenwood Female College in Missouri.

Education

Children’s Books: From his weekly magazine, "Household Words," Charles Dickens (1812-1870) waxes nostalgic for the educationally-incorrect fairy tales and nursery rhymes of his youth, such as Aladdin or Jack the Giant-Killer.

Arts and Letters

Painting: Rosa Bonheur’s (1822-1899) painting, "The Horse Fair," establishes her reputation as an artist.

Fillmore, Abigail

Abigail Powers Fillmore (1798-1853) dies of pneumonia at the Willard Hotel in Washington at the age of fifty-five.

Harrison, Caroline

Caroline Scott (1832-1892) graduates from the Oxford Female Academy. She begins teaching

Hayes, Lucy

Birchard Austin Hayes (1853-1926), son of Rutherford and Lucy Hayes, is born November 4 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Lincoln, Mary

Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln’s son Thomas "Tad" (1853-1871) is born on April 4 in Springfield.

Tyler, Julia

Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1853-1935), son of John Tyler and his second wife Julia, is born in August.

Pierce, Jane

Benjamin Pierce (1841-1853), son of Franklin and Jane Pierce, dies tragically January 16 in a train accident before his parents' eyes.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The Baltimore and Ohio railroad is completed as far as the Ohio River.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: The New York Central railroad is formed, connecting New York City and Buffalo, NY.

Economics

The building of Steinway pianos is begun in New York City by Henry Steinway (1797-1871) and his three sons.

Economics

Tiffany and Company, jewelers, is established.

Economics

Condensed milk is introduced by Gail Borden (1801-1871).

Economics

American Money: Three-dollar gold pieces are authorized by Congress.

Discovery

Commander Matthew Perry (1794-1858) sails into Japan’s Edo Bay, hoping to open Japan to trade with the west.

Religion

Women's Firsts: Antoinette Brown Blackwell (1825-1921) becomes the first ordained minister of a recognized denomination, the Congregationalists.

Reform

Women's Suffrage Movement: Seventy-three women present a petition to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention urging women’s suffrage.

Politics

Political Parties: The Republican Party is formed in Ripon, Wisconsin; opposition to slavery is their central principle.

Politics

Third Parties: The Know-Nothing Party is formed; native white Protestants opposed to immigration and Catholicism run Millard Fillmore (1800-1874) for President.

Government

Clara Barton (1821-1912) becomes perhaps the first regularly appointed woman civil servant in the U.S. with a clerkship in a Washington, DC patent office.

Government

The Gadsden Purchase Treaty is ratified.

Medicine

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) introduces nurses and standards of cleanliness into military hospitals in the Crimea.

Inventions

The first form of the electric light bulb is invented by Heinrich Goebel (1818-1893) in Germany.

Inventions

The Smith and Wesson revolver is invented.

Technology

The use of the Bunsen burner is introduced.

Education

Special Education: The first state-supported school especially designed for the mentally retarded opens in Syracuse, NY.

Education

Education of Women: Emily Blackwell (1826-1910), Elizabeth Blackwell’s sister, earns a medical degree at Cleveland’s Western Reserve University.

Arts and Letters

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) writes "Walden," or "Life in the Woods."

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) writes "The Charge of the Light Brigade," a poem about a tragic battle in the Crimean War.

Harrison, Caroline

Caroline (1832-1892)and Benjamin Harrison (1831-1901) move to Indianapolis, Indiana.

Fillmore, Abigail

Mary Abigail (Abby) Fillmore (1832-1854) dies of cholera on July 27 at the age of 22.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy (1831-1889) and Rutherford Hayes (1822-1893) and their family move into its own house in Cincinnati.

Tyler, Letitia

Alice Tyler Denison (1847-1854), daughter of John and Letitia Tyler, dies June 8 of colic.

Harrison, Caroline

Caroline and Benjamin Harrison’s son, Russell Benjamin Harrison (1854-1936), is born on August 12.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: Immigration: 13,000 Chinese arrive, the beginning of large-scale Chinese immigration; they are employed largely in railroad building in the west.

Popular Culture

Stephen Foster (1826-1864) writes “Jeanne with the Light Brown Hair.”

Religion

Pope Pius IX (1792-1878) sets forth the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Social Issues

Slavery: During the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Congress sets aside the rulings from the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and allows these two new territories to choose whether or not to allow slavery. Violent clashes erupt.

Reform

Abolition Movement: Northern resistance to the expansion of slavery increases.

Reform

Temperance Movement: Black temperance advocate Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825-1911) lectures for antislavery societies.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Susan B. Anthony collects 6,000 signatures on a petition for women’s rights.

Law

The first U.S. Court of Claims is established.

Government

Stamps: Prepayment of postage is required in United States

Inventions

Kerosene is patented by Abraham Gesner (1797-1864) .

Inventions

The printing telegraph is invented.

Inventions

The first patent for the production of rayon is obtained by George Audemars.

Education

The first German-language kindergarten in the United States is established by Margarethe Schurtz in Watertown, WI.

Education

A professorship of technology is created at Edinburgh University.

Education

Children’s Books: Charlotte Yonge (1823-1901) publishes the children's historical novel, "The Little Duke," and also "The History of Sir Thomas Thumb, a traditional folktale to which Yonge adds material from the Arthurian legends and from the German tales of the Brothers Grimm.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) writes "Hiawatha."

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Walt Whitman (1819-1892) writes "Leaves of Grass."

Arts and Letters

The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra is organized.

Lincoln, Mary

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) runs unsuccessfully for the Senate.

Van Buren, Hannah

Martin Van Buren (1812-1855), son of Martin and Hannah Van Buren, dies in Paris on March 19.

Grant, Julia

Ellen Wrenshall "Nellie" Grant Sartoris Jones (1855-1922), daughter of Ulysses and Julia Grant, is born July 4.

Economics

Transportation: The first Cunard liner crosses the Atlantic in 9 ½ days.

Economics

The first oil refinery in the U.S. is built in Pittsburgh.

Discovery

Missionary David Livingstone (1813-1873) discovers falls on the Zambezi River which he names Victoria Falls.

Sports

Horseback riding by women becomes popular; many riding academies are set up to help women learn.

Social Issues

Slavery: Fugitive slave Ann Wood leads a wagon load of armed boys and girls in a shootout with slave catchers; two are killed and the rest escape to the North.

Politics

James Buchanan (1791-1868) , Democrat, is elected the 15th President of the U.S., and John C. Breckenridge (1821-1875) is elected as the nation's 14th Vice President.

Politics

Third Parties: Former President Millard Fillmore (1800-1874) is selected to be the presidential candidate of the Know-Nothing or American Party.

Government

Presidents: Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) , 28th President of the United States, is born.

War

The Crimean War ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

Science

A Neanderthal skull is found in a cave near Dusseldorf in Germany.

Inventions

Henry Bessemer (1813-1898) invents a process which makes it possible to mass-produce low-cost steel.

Inventions

A patent for a pencil with an attached eraser is granted to H.L. Lipman.

Inventions

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) invents the process of pasteurisation.

Technology

Railroad History: The first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River is completed between Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa.

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: The first American copyright law is established because of the efforts of Dion Boucicault (1820-1890). In its earliest form, it only protects the title of the play.

Tyler, Julia

Robert Fitzwalter Tyler (1856-1927), son of John Tyler and his second wife Julia, is born March 12.

Lane, Harriet

Harriet Lane (1830-1903) serves as James Buchanan's hostess because he never married.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy and Rutherford Hayes’s second son, James Webb Hayes (1856-1934), is born on March 20th in Cincinnati.

Hayes, Lucy

Fannie Hayes Platt, Rutherford’s sister and Lucy’s great friend, dies of complications of childbirth.

Economics

The first street trains, powered by steam, begin running between Boston and Cambridge, MA.

Economics

The Western Union Company is established.

Discovery

Borax is discovered in California.

Sports

Boxing: The longest bare-knuckle boxing match in history pits James Kelly vs. Jack Smith in Melbourne, Australia; the fight lasts 6 hours and 15 minutes.

Sports

Women in Sports: Catherine Beecher (1800-78) publishes Physiology and Calisthenics for Schools and Families, the first fitness manual for women.

Social Issues

Native Americans: The Pottawatomie Massacre takes place in Kansas.

Reform

Abolition Movement: An anti-slavery group led by John Brown (1800-1859) attacks a pro-slavery settlement in Franklin County, Kansas. Horace Greeley’s (1811-1872) "New York Tribune" calls the territory “Bleeding Kansas.”

Law

Slavery: In the Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court rules that slaves are not free just because they live in a free state, that blacks do not have the right to sue in federal court, and that Congress does not have the right to try to exclude slavery from the territories.

Government

Presidents: William Howard Taft (1857-1930) , 27th President of the United States, is born.

Government

National Capital: The House of Representatives moves into its current home in the south wing of the Capitol.

Government

James Buchanan (1791-1868) is inaugurated as the 15th President of the U.S., and John C. Breckenridge (1821-1875) is inaugurated as the nation's 14th Vice President.

Government

Stamps: Perforated U.S. stamps appear (Previously people had to cut apart sheets of stamps).

Science

Yeast is discovered to be a living plant.

Science

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) proves that fermentation is caused by living organisms.

Science

In a letter to Asa Gray (1810-1888) , Charles Darwin (1809-1882) first outlines his theories of evolution and natural selection.

Medicine

Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910) founds her own New York Infirmary for Women and Children.

Medicine

Epidemics: One of the worst epidemics of influenza begins this year and spreads around the world in the next two years.

Inventions

George Pullman (1831-1897) invents the Pullman Sleeping Car for train travel.

Technology

Airplanes: Jean-Marie Le Bris (1817-1872), a French sea caption, tests a glider modeled after an albatross. This "artificial bird" makes one short glide, but on the second glide it crashes and Le Bris breaks his leg.

Education

Children’s Books: Thomas Hughes (1822-1896), writes "Tom Brown's Schooldays," making Arnold's Rugby the model for what Victorian schoolboys expected their schools to be like.

Education

Libraries: The Watkinson Library is founded as a “a library of reference” for the community of Hartford, Connecticut.

Education

The National Education Association is founded in Philadelphia for the purpose of advancing the professionalism of teaching.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) publishes "Madame Bovary."

Ideas

'The Atlantic Monthly' is founded.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy Hayes (1831-1889) takes great pleasure in her new sewing machine, a gift from her mother.

Lane, Harriet

Harriet Lane (1830-1903) is the first woman to have a federal steamship named after her.

Economics

E.G. Otis installs the first safety elevator.

Economics

The laying of the transatlantic cable begins.

Economics

A financial panic triggers a serious depression; thousands of businesses fail.

Daily Life

Central Park, in New York City, is designed.

Daily Life

Holidays: The first Mardi Gras pageant of decorated floats is held in New Orleans.

Daily Life

The American Chess Association is formed.

Sports

Baseball: Twenty-five teams form the first baseball association, the National Association of Baseball Players.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: The Married Women’s Property Bill passes in England.

Government

A treaty of peace, friendship, and commerce is signed between the U.S. and China.

Government

New State: Minnesota becomes the 32nd state in the U.S.

Government

Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) , 26th President of the United States, is born.

Government

Britain takes over the government of India from the East India Company.

Science

The cell is isolated by Berlin doctor Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902) , who calls it the basic unit of all life.

Inventions

Hamilton Smith (1862-1943) patents the rotary washing machine.

Inventions

Jean Lenoir (1822-1900) invents an internal combustion engine.

Education

Children’s Books: Rev. Frederic William Farrar (1831-1903), a schoolmaster, writes the moralistic tale "Eric," or "Little by Little," about a boy who goes bad.

Education

A chemistry department and research lab are established by Harvard University.

Arts and Letters

The first public concert is performed by the New York Symphony Orchestra.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: “The Courtship of Miles Standish” is published by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882).

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy and Rutherford Hayes’s third son, Rutherford Platt Hayes (1858-1927), is born on June 24 in Cincinnati.

Hayes, Lucy

Rutherford Hayes (1822-1893) is appointed to an unexpired term as city solicitor of Cincinnati in December.

Hayes, Lucy

The Hayes family has its first Christmas tree, decorated as a surprise by their German servants.

Lincoln, Mary

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) runs for the Senate from Illinois against incumbent Democrat Stephen Douglas (1813-1861); he loses, but the Lincoln-Douglas debates form a part of U.S. history.

Harrison, Caroline

Caroline and William Harrison’s first daughter, Mary Scott (1858-1930) is born on April 3.

Grant, Julia

Jesse Root Grant (1858-1934), son of Ulysses and Julia Grant, is born February 6.

Economics

The transatlantic cable is completed, allowing telegraphic communication between the U.S. and Britain; the service ends after a month because the signal is too weak.

Economics

Transportation: Stagecoach service and mail delivery begin between San Francisco and St. Louis.

Economics

Macy’s Department Store opens.

Discovery

Lake Tanganyika in East Africa is first discovered by Europeans.

Daily Life

Princess Victoria (1840-1901) of England (daughter of Queen Victoria) chooses Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” and Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” for her wedding, thus beginning a tradition.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: The first use of fingerprints as a means of identification occurs in India.

Sports

Baseball: The National Association of Baseball Players is organized.

Religion

Marie-Bernard Soubirous (1843-1879), later to become St. Bernadette of Lourdes, first sees a vision of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes in France.

Religion

The Ladies’ Christian Association, forerunner to the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), is founded in New York City.

Religion

Another religious revival begins in New York and Pennsylvania and sweeps across the country; religious conversions are many.

Social Issues

Slavery: Slaves are sold at very high prices because of high demand for cotton, and southerners begin to talk about reopening the slave trade.

Law

The Supreme Court upholds the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850; Georgia prohibits the deathbed manumission of slaves and rules that free blacks can be sold back into slavery; tensions between North and South escalate.

Government

New State: Oregon becomes the 33rd state in the U.S.

Government

President James Buchanan (1791-1868) rules that the New Mexico territory should become a reservation for American Indians.

Government

National Capital: The Senate moves into the enlarged north wing of the Capitol, where it remains, today.

War

The first iron-clad armored warship, Britain’s HMS Warrior, is launched.

Science

Botanist Almira Hart Lincoln Phelps (1793-1884) is the second woman elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Science

Charles Darwin’s (1809-1882) "Origin of the Species" is published.

Inventions

The first practical storage battery is invented.

Inventions

The steamroller is invented.

Education

The Cooper Union in New York City is established, primarily for adult education in the arts and sciences.

Arts and Letters

Opera: The opera "Faust" is performed.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Charles Dickens (1812-1870) writes "A Tale of Two Cities."

Arts and Letters

Women's Firsts: Harriet E. Wilson (1827-1863), author of "Our Nig," becomes the first African-American novelist published in the U.S.

Hayes, Lucy

Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893) is elected to his own two-year term as city solicitor in Cincinnati.

Hayes, Lucy

The Hayes home is enlarged, with quarters for servants and a brick kitchen with a new range.

Economics

Work is begun on the Suez Canal.

Economics

The first commercial oil well is brought in at Titusville, PA.

Discovery

The first large silver deposit found in the U.S., the Comstock Lode, is found in Nevada.

Daily Life

Big Ben, the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in London is started.

Sports

Baseball: The first intercollegiate baseball game in the U.S. is played by students from Amherst and Williams Colleges in Massachusetts.

Sports

The first national billiards champion wins a $15,000 prize.

Popular Culture

Daniel Emmett (1815-1904) writes “Dixie” and "Turkey in the Straw."

Popular Culture

Charles Blondin (1824-1897) walks across Niagara Falls on the tightrope; he is watched by 25,000 people.

Popular Culture

Wearing the body-hugging costume later named for him, Jules Leotard (1839-1870) performs the first flying trapeze act without a net at the Cirque Napoleon.

Reform

Abolition Movement: John Brown (1800-1859) seizes the armory at Harper’s Ferry to provide for his militia; he is later captured and hanged.

Politics

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) of Illinois becomes the first Republican to win the United States Presidency; he becomes the 16th President and Hannibal Hamlin (1809-1891) of Maine is elected as the 15th Vice President.

Politics

South Carolina secedes from the Union followed within two months by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.

Government

The U.S. Secret Service is established.

Government

Stamps: By 1860, almost all countries have postage stamps.

Science

The fact that the star Sirius is a double star is discovered.

Medicine

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) opens the world’s first school of nursing.

Inventions

The first practical gasoline engine is built.

Education

The first English language kindergarten is established in Boston by Elizabeth Peabody (1804-1894).

Education

Olympia Brown (1835-1926) becomes the first woman to study theology with men—at St. Lawrence University.

Arts and Letters

Literature: George Eliot(1819-1880) (Mary Ann Evans) publishes "The Mill on the Floss."

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: Dion Boucicault (1820-1890) begins promotion of "combination companies". The company and players would travel with scenery for 1 play.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy Hayes’s (1831-1889) boys suffer from mumps, whooping cough, and measles.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy Hayes (1831-1889) and her husband take a long trip, by riverboat, to Canada, by rail and boat to Boston, to New England and home by way of New York City. Total cost: $310.77.

Harrison, Caroline

Caroline Harrison (1832-1892) begins 30 years of serving on the board of managers of the Indianapolis Orphans’ Asylum.

Wilson, Ellen

Ellen Louise Axson (1860-1914), future first wife of President Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924), is born in Savannah, Georgia on May 15.

Harding, Florence

Florence Kling DeWolfe (1860-1924), future wife of President Warren G. Harding (1865–1923), is born in Marion, Ohio on August 15.

Arthur, Ellen

William Lewis Arthur (1860-1863), son of Chester Alan and Ellen Arthur, is born December 10.

Tyler, Julia

Pearl Tyler Ellis (1860-1947), daughter of John Tyler and his second wife Julia, is born June 20.

Economics

Slavery: Cotton shipments are at an all-time high (2 billion pounds a year), which gives the South extra incentives to keep slavery.

Economics

The first Pony Express riders make it from Missouri to California in 10 days.

Economics

Population: The population of the United States (1860) is 32 million.

Daily Life

Fashion: Bustles begin to take the place of hoop skirts in American women’s fashion.

Daily Life

History of Toys: A chemistry set for children is offered for sale for $5.00.

Sports

Boxing: The longest prizefight in American history is held in Maine; it lasts for 4 hours and 20 minutes.

Sports

Croquet is introduced to the U.S. from England; it becomes very popular.

Sports

Golf: The first British Open Golf Championship is held.

Popular Culture

Stephen Foster (1826-1864) composes “Old Black Joe.”

Social Issues

Native Americans: The U.S. Army's Fort Definace in New Mexico is attacked by 1,000 Navaho Indians; the Indians lose.

Social Issues

Immigration: Poland’s religious and economic conditions prompt immigration of approximately two million Poles by 1914.

Reform

Women's Suffrage Movement: Elizabeth Cady Stanton speaks to a meeting of the New York State Legislature on behalf of women’s suffrage.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Women are allowed to collect their own wages, to sue, and to inherit their husbands’ property in New York State; married women are allowed to be guardians of their children

Reform

Labor Movement: Six thousand shoemakers go on strike in Lynn, MA for higher wages; the companies grant higher wages but refuse to recognize the union.

Politics

Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) is elected President of the Confederate States of America.

Politics

Virginia secedes from the Union, followed within five weeks by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, thus forming an eleven state Confederacy with a population of 9 million.

Government

New State: Kansas becomes the 34th state in the United States.

Government

The United States introduces the passport system.

Government

Congress passes the first income tax in the U.S. to support the war.

Government

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) is inaugurated as the 16th President and Hannibal Hamlin (1809-1891) is inaugurated as the 15th Vice President.

War

Civil War; National Capital: The U.S. Capitol houses Union soldiers, providing medical attention and a place to sleep.

War

Civil War: The Union Army under Gen. Irvin McDowell (1818-1885) suffers a defeat at Bull Run 25 miles southwest of Washington.

War

Civil War: Pierre Beauregard (1813-1893) opens fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War begins.

War

Confederates invade New Mexico from Texas.The Confederate Territory of Arizona is declared with the capital at La Mesilla.

Inventions

Elisha Otis (1811-1861) patents elevator safety brakes, creating a safer elevator.

Inventions

Linus Yale (1821-1868) invents the Yale lock or cylinder lock.

Education

The first American doctor of philosophy degree is awarded by Yale University.

Education

Women's Colleges: Vassar College for women is founded in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: George Eliot (1819-1880) (Mary Ann Evans) writes "Silas Marner."

Arts and Letters

Literature: Charles Dickens (1812-1870) writes "Great Expectations."

Lincoln, Mary

The Lincolns (Abraham: 1809-1865 and Mary Todd: 1818-1882) move into the White House in March of 1861.

Hayes, Lucy

Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893) joins the 23rd Ohio Volunteer infantry as a Major.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy and Rutherford Hayes’s fourth son, Joseph Thompson (1861-1863), is born on December 21 in Cincinnati.

Harrison, Caroline

Caroline (1832-1892) and Benjamin (1831-1901) Harrison’s third child and second daughter dies at birth.

Roosevelt, Edith

Edith Kermit Carow (1861-1948), future wife of Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), is born in Norwich, Connecticut on August 6.

Taft, Helen

Helen Herron (1861-1943), future wife of President William Howard Taft [1909-1913] is born in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 2.

Economics

American Money: Gold payments are suspended; greenbacks become the national currency.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: Leland Stanford (1824-1893) hires Chinese laborers to help build the western part of the Central Pacific Railroad.

Economics

Transportation: Railroad History: There are 30,000 miles of railroad track in the U.S.

Economics

Telegraph wires are strung between San Francisco and New York.

Economics

Pencils are mass-produced in New York by Eberhard Faber.

Economics

American Money: Congress authorizes the United States Treasury to issue paper money for the first time in the form of non-interest bearing Treasury Notes called Demand Notes.

Daily Life

Daily weather forecasts are begun in Britain.

Popular Culture

Hot Air Balloons: A record balloon trip is made between Cincinnati, Ohio and the South Carolina coast is made in 9 hours.

Popular Culture

Wartime Music: “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” is written during the Civil War by Julia War Howe for the Union.

Popular Culture

Wartime Music: “Battle Cry of Freedom” is written during the Civil War by George F. Root for the Union.

Popular Culture

Wartime Music: “Dixie Land” is written during the Civil War by Daniel Emmett for the Confederate.

Government

Railroad History: President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) signs the Pacific Railway Act, which authorizes the construction of the first transcontinental railroad.

Government

The Homestead Act is passed, decreeing that any American may have 160 acres of land in the west free, if he lives on it for five years.

Government

President Lincoln (1809-1865) issues the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves "henceforth and forever free."

Government

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is created by Congress.

Government

The Medal of Honor is authorized by Congress.

Government

American Money: The Secretary of the Treasury is empowered by Congress to have notes engraved and printed, which is done by private banknote companies.

War

Civil War: The bloodiest battle of the Civil War occurs at Antietam; over 23,000 are killed or wounded.

War

Civil War: The Confederate Ironclad 'Merrimac' sinks two wooden Union ships then battles the Union Ironclad 'Monitor' to a draw. Naval warfare is thus changed forever, making wooden ships obsolete.

War

Civil War: Confederate surprise attack on Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's (1822-1885) unprepared troops at Shiloh on the Tennessee River results in a bitter struggle with 13,000 Union killed and wounded and 10,000 Confederates.

War

Civil War: 75,000 Federals under Gen. John Pope (1874-1937) are defeated by 55,000 Confederates under Gen. Stonewall Jackson (1824-1863) and Gen. James Longstreet (1821-1904) at the second battle of Bull Run in northern Virginia.

Science

The speed of light is successfully measured.

Medicine

The first children’s clinic is opened in New York City.

Inventions

The Gatling (a 10 barrel, automatic firing) gun is invented by R.J. Gatling (1818-1903).

Inventions

A timepiece for split-second timing—the chronograph—is invented.

Inventions

Jean Lenoir (1822-1900) makes a gasoline engine automobile.

Inventions

Alexander Parkes (1813-1890) invents the first man-made plastic.

Education

Children’s Books: Christina Rossetti''s (1830-1894) long fantasy, "Goblin Market," about two sisters'' struggle to resist the tempting fruits of the goblin men, was long categorized as a children''s fairy tale, but is increasingly reread as a major poem of its period.

Education

African American Education: One of the earliest and longest-lived freedmen’s schools, the Penn School on St. Helena Island, NC, is founded by Laura Matilda Towne (1825-1901).

Education

Women's Firsts: Geologist Florence Bascom (1862-1945) becomes the first woman to receive a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University; she goes on to teach at Bryn Mawr.

Education

The Morrill Land-Grant Act endows colleges of agriculture and industry.

Education

Women's Firsts: In Ohio, Mary Jane Patterson receives a degree from Oberlin, becoming the first black woman to graduate from an American college.

Arts and Letters

Literature; Victor Hugo (1802-1885) writes "Les Misérables."

Lincoln, Mary

The Lincolns’ son William Wallace (1850-1862) dies of typhoid fever at age 11 on February 20.

Harrison, Caroline

Benjamin Harrison (1831-1901) raises a regiment for the Union in the Civil War (1,000 men from Indiana) known as the 70th Indiana Regiment.

Van Buren, Hannah

Martin Van Buren (1782-1862), 8th President of the U.S., dies in Kinderhook, New York.

Tyler, Julia

John Tyler (1790-1862), 10th President of the U.S., dies in Richmond, Virginia.

Economics

1,000 guns a day are being produced by the Colt factory.

Economics

The first automobile with an internal combustion engine is constructed.

Economics

A process for concentrating fruit juice is patented.

Economics

American Money: Demand Notes are replaced by United States Notes.

Popular Culture

Julia Ward Howe's (1819-1910) poem, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" is published and later set to music. The music for "Taps" is also composed.

Government

President Lincoln (1809-1865) issues the final Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in territories held by Confederates and emphasizes the enlisting of black soldiers in the Union Army.

Government

New Mexico is divided in half, creating the Territory of Arizona.

Government

National Capital: The "Statue of Freedom" is place on top of the Capitol building and becomes the crowning feature of the dome.

Government

Congress establishes free mail delivery in cities.

Government

New State: West Virginia becomes the 35th state in the United States.

Government

President Lincoln (1809-1865) delivers the Gettysburg Address.

War

Civil War: The Union institutes a draft to recruit soldiers for the Civil War.

War

Civil War: The Battle of Gettysburg takes place.

War

Civil War: The tide of war turns against the South as the Confederates are defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.

Science

The National Academy of Sciences is founded in Washington, DC.

Education

Children’s Books: The Rev. Charles Kingsley’s (1819-1875) fairy tale "The Water-Babies" combines many of these enthusiasms in a tale of how a little chimney-sweep goes backward in evolution when he is wicked, and forwards when he does as he would be done by.

Arts and Letters

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910) adopts the pen-name, Mark Twain.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: Henry Wordsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) publishes the poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.”

Pierce, Jane

Jane Means Appleton Pierce (1806-1863), wife of Franklin Pierce (1804-1869), dies of tuberculosis in Andover, Massachusetts on December 2 at the age of 57.

Arthur, Ellen

William Lewis Arthur (1860-1863), son of Chester Alan and Ellen Arthur, dies July 7.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy and Rutherford Hayes’s fourth son, Joseph (1861-1863), dies of dysentery at the age of two on June 24.

Johnson, Eliza

Charles Johnson (1830-1863), son of Andrew and Eliza Johnson, dies April 4 in a horse accident.

Hayes, Lucy

Lucy Hayes (1831-1889), her four sons, and her mother go to West Virginia to be with Rutherford (1822-1893) and his regiment.

Economics

Transportation: The world''''s first underground railway service, London''''s Metropolitan line between Paddington and Farringdon, is opened.

Economics

Traveler’s Insurance Company is founded in Hartford, CT.

Economics

American Money: The design of U.S. currency incorporates a Treasury seal, the fine line engraving necessary for the difficult-to-counterfeit itaglio printing, intricate geometric lathe work patterns, and distinctive linen paper with embedded red and blue fibers.

Daily Life

Holidays: The first national Thanksgiving Day is proclaimed by President Lincoln (1809-1865) to be the fourth Thursday of November.

Daily Life

The first paper dress patterns are developed by Ebenezer Butterick (1826-1903).

Sports

The four-wheeled roller skate is patented by James Plimpton of New York.

Sports

Horse Racing: The Grand Prix horse race is first held in Paris.

Popular Culture

Stephen Foster (1826-1864) composes “Beautiful Dreamer.”

Religion

Olympia Brown (1835-1926) is ordained a minister by the Northern Universalists in Weymouth, MA.

Religion

The Seventh Day Adventist church was officially founded by Ellen G White, James White and Joseph Bates.

Social Issues

Native Americans: Kit Carson (1809-1868) begins resettling Navajo and Apache Indians on reservations by force.

Social Issues

Slavery: The Emancipation Proclamation delivered by President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) decrees that all slaves in Rebel territory are free on January 1, 1863.