- May 18
- Argentines begin revolution in Buenos Aires. [501.166]
- May 25
- Argentina declares independence from Napoleonic Spain. [1]
- June 23
- John Jacob Astor organizes Pacific Fur Company (Astoria, Oregon). [1]
- July
- In Shahbad, India, a large meteor falls, burning five villages. [521]
- July 20
- Colombia declares independence from Spain. [1]
- August 21
- In Örebro, Sweden, the Riksdag elects Jean Baptiste Bernadotte of France crown prince of Sweden. [7]
- September 15
- Father Hidalgo calls on parishoners to join the cause of independece of Mexico from Spanish rule, with a cry of "Grito de Dolores". [446.50]
- September 16
- Hidalgo leads the revolution for independence of Mexico from Spain. [1] [450.85]
- September 18
- Chile declares independence from Spain. [1]
- October 20
- Jean Baptiste Bernadotte arrives in Sweden, converts to the Lutheran faith, and is given the name Prince Karl Johan. [7]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- October 27
- US annexes West Florida from Spain. [1]
- December 3
- British retake Mauritius from the French. [1163.15]
- December 22
- British frigate Minotaur sinks, killing 480. [1]
1811
- January 8
- Louisiana slave revolt by Charles Deslondes at German Coast. [1]
- January 10
- Louisiana slaves rebel in two parishes. [1]
- February 2
- Russian settlers establish Fort Ross trading post, north of San Francisco, California. [1]
- February 11
- US President James Madison prohibits trade with Britain for third time in four years. [1]
- February 20
- Austria declares bankruptcy. [1]
- March 1
- Egyptian king Muhammad Ali Pasha oversees ceremonial murder of 500. [1]
- French Civil Code of Criminal law accepted by Netherlands Mamelukes in Cairo's Citadel. [1]
- March 21
- Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (Mexican freedom fighter) is captured by the Spanish. [446.50]
- April 12
- First US colonists on Pacific coast arrive at Cape Disappointment, Washington. [1]
- May 10
- England adopts paper money as currency during an economic crisis. [408.32] [492.32] [826.36]
- May 14
- Paraguay gains independence from Spain. [1] [5]
- May 16
- Peninsular War-Allies defeat French at Albuera. [1]
- July 5
- Venezuela is first South American country to gain independence from Spain. [1]
- July 11
- Italian scientist Amedeo Avogadro publishes his memoir about molecular content of gases. [5]
- July 30
- Death of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, executed by Spanish firing squad during Mexican War of Independence. [446.50] (July 31 [1])
- October 11
- The Juliana, the first steam-powered ferryboat, begins operation. [1]
- November 5
- El Salvador's first battle against Spain for independence. [1]
- November 11
- Cartagena, Colombia, declares independence from Spain. [1]
- December 16
- New Madrid, Missouri is the epicenter of a massive earthquake 7.2-8.1 magnitude, felt as far away as New York and Florida. Likely cause is overhead explosion of comet fragments, as the comet had been observed earlier. (By May 1812, one resident of Kentucky recorded 2000 separate tremors.) [1] [53] [275.88] [521] [819.213]
- December 26
- In Richmond, Virginia, a fire breaks out in a new theater, killing almost eighty, including Governor George Smith. [521]
1812
- January 9
- Swedish Pomerania (Germany) seized by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. [1]
- January 12
- First cargo arrives in New Orleans, Louisiana, by steam, from Natchez. [1]
- January 23
- In New Madrid, Missouri, USA, a magnitude 7.0 - 7.8 earthquake occurs, one of the largest earthquakes in the United States. [1] [53]
- February 7
- In New Madrid, Missouri, USA, a magnitude 7.4 - 8.2 earthquake occurs, the largest historical earthquake in Missouri. The town of New Madrid is destroyed. [1] [53]
- March 11
- Citizenship granted to Prussian Jews. [1]
- March 14
- Congress authorizes notes bearing 6 percent interest to finance impending war with Great Britain. [1] [482.38] [606.38] [786.28]
- March 15
- First Russian settlement in California, Russian River. [1]
- March 26
- In Venezuela, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurs, destroying 90 percent of the city of Caracas. 26,000 killed. [1] [53]
- April 5
- British storm Badajoz fortress, held by French and Spanish. [1]
- April 30
- (Eastern) Louisiana admitted as 18th US state. [1]
- May 11
- The Waltz dance is introduced into English ballrooms - most observers consider it disgusting and immoral. [1]
- June 12
- Napoleon's invasion of Russia begins. [1]
- June 16
- Britain raises the blockade of Europe. [614.140]
- June 18
- War of 1812 begins as US declares war against Britain. [1] [614.140] (June 1 [843.4])
- June 24
- Emperor and General Napoleon Bonaparte leads an army of about 650,000 across the Neman River to attack Russia. [1075.139] [1579.28]
- July 11
- US invades Canada (Detroit frontier). [1]
- July 12
- US forces led by General Hull invade Canada (War of 1812). [1]
- July 22
- Duke of Wellington defeats French at Battle of Salamanca, Spain. [1]
- August 1
- A rare tornado hits Westchester County, New York. [1]
- August 16
- (to August 18) Battle of Smolensk, 50,000 troops of Napoleon's Grand Army versus 60,000 Russians. Much of the city is set ablaze, as the Russian troops withdraw. [1075.142]
- US General William Hull surrenders Detroit and Michigan territory to a smaller force under British Major General Isaac Brock and Shawnee allies. [1429.10]
- August 17
- (to August 18) Battle of Polotsk, the right wing of the Russian army halts Napoleon's Grand Army, preventing advance on Saint Petersburg. [1075.142]
- August 19
- 44-gun frigate USS Constitution defeats British 38-gun frigate HMS Guerriere. The strength of the American ship causes British round cannonballs to bounce off the sides, leading to the ship's nickname "Old Ironsides". [1] [450.146]
- September 7
- Napoleon's Grand Army (130,000 men) battles the Imperial Russian Army 120,000 men) at Borodino, 70 miles west of Moscow. The French and allies lose 30-35,000 men, the Russians lose 39-45,000. [1075.142] [1579.28]
- September 14
- French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte enter Moscow, Russia. [1579.28]
- October 13
- Battle of Queenston Heights, Canada. [1]
- October 18
- Battle of Tarutino, Russian forces defeat Napoleon's troops under the command of Joachim Murat. [1075.146]
- October 19
- French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte begins his retreat from Moscow, Russia. [1]
- October 24
- Battle of Maloyaroslavets, small victory for Napoleon's forces. [1075.146]
- October 25
- US frigate United States captures British vessel Macedonian. [1]
- November 3
- Battle of Vyazma, Russian forces attack an opening in Napoleon's force, setting a full retreat in motion. [1075.146]
- November 29
- Napoleon's Grand Army crosses Berezina River in retreat from Russia. [1]
- December 2
- James Madison is re-elected President of US, with Elbridge Gerry as Vice-President. [1]
- December 4
- Peter Gaillard of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA patents a horse-drawn lawn mower. [1]
- December 8
- In Southern California, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs, destroying the San Juan Capistrano Church and damaging several mission buildings. Forty people attending church services are killed. [53]
- December 11
- First newspaper on Curaçao (Curaçao Gazette and Commercial Advertiser). [1]
- December 12
- The last French troops leave Russia. [1579.29]
- December 21
- In Santa Barbara Channel, California, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
1813
- January 22
- Americans capture Frenchtown, Canada. [1]
- March 3
- Prince Karl Johan of Sweden concludes an alliance with England. England cedes Guadeloupe island in West Indies to Sweden, and agrees to Sweden's demands on Norway. [7]
- March 8
- First concerto of Royal Philharmonic. [1]
- March 18
- David Melville, of Newport, Rhode Island, USA patents apparatus for making coal gas. [1]
- March 25
- First US flag flown in battle on the Pacific, frigate Essex. [1]
- April 27
- Americans under General Pike capture Toronto. [1]
- April 29
- May 25
- English Parliament prohibits circulation of all private tokens. [415.52] [496.32] (May 24 [628.28])
- May 27
- Americans capture Fort George, Canada. [1]
- June 6
- US invasion of Canada halted at Stoney Creek (Ontario). [1]
- June 24
- Battle of Beaver Dam: British and Indian forces defeat US forces. [1]
- July 9
- At Trachenberg palace in Silesia, over four days, a meeting is held including Swedish Prince Karl Johan, King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia, Tsar Alexander of Russia, and diplomats from Austria and England. They make plans for action against Napoleon in the autumn. The Trachenberg Plan is created, in which the three main armies would form a semi-circle to converge on Napoleon. Prince Karl Johan is given command of the Northern Army of 160,000 men with 30,000 Swedish soldiers. [7]
- July 31
- British invade Plattsburgh, New York. [1]
- August 14
- British warship Pelican attacks and captures US war brigantine Argus. [1]
- September 10
- US Navy Commodore Oliver H Perry defeats the British in the Battle of Lake Erie. [1] [546.36]
- October 5
- Battle of the Thames in Canada; Americans defeat British. [1]
- Death of Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames at Chatham, Ontario. [1076.10]
- October 16
- At Leipzig, over four days, allied forces converge on Napoleon's position, defeating him. Total forces number 320,000 Allies vs. 160,000 French. About 94,000 are killed or wounded. [7]
- October 20
- German Kingdom of Westphalia is abolished. [1]
- November 6
- Chilpancingo congress declares Mexico independent of Spain. [1]
- December 2
- Netherlands' Prince Willem Frederik accepts constitutional monarchy. [1]
- December 5
- Lübeck surrenders to allied armies. [1]
- December 11
- French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte signs Treaty of Valency for Ferdinand VII to return to Spain. [1157.91]
- December 18
- British take Fort Niagara in the War of 1812. [1]
- December 26
- Zamose, Modlin, Torgau surrender to allied armies. [1]
- December 29
- British burn Buffalo, New York, during the War of 1812. [1]
- December 30
- Danzig surrenders to allied armies. [1]
1814
- January 1
- Field marshal Blücher's troops cross the Rhine at Kaub. [1]
- January 14
- By the Treaty of Kiel, peace between Sweden and Denmark is concluded. Danish King Frederik cedes to the king of Sweden and his successors the kingdom of Norway. Denmark is to receive one million riksdaler and the province of Pomerania. Sweden is to pay Norway's per-capita share of Denmark's national debt. Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe islands are retained by Denmark. [1] [7]
- January 22
- First Knights Templar grand encampment in US held, New York City, New York. [1]
- February 1
- Volcano Mayon on Luzon, Philippines erupts killing 1,200. [1]
- February 11
- Norway's independence is proclaimed. [1]
- March 20
- Prince Willem Frederik becomes monarch of the Netherlands. [1]
- March 25
- Netherlands Bank is established. [1]
- March 30
- Britain and allies march into Paris, France, after defeating Napoleon. [1]
- April 5
- Netherlands Bank issues its first banknotes. [1]
- April 11
- Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France, abdicates the throne, and, in the Treaty of Fontainebleau, is banished to the Mediterranean island of Elba. [1] [129]
- April 26
- King Louis XVIII lands on Calais, from England. [1]
- May 4
- Bourbon reign restored in France. [1]
- May 5
- British attack Fort Ontario, Oswego, New York. [1]
- May 11
- Americans defeat British at Battle of Plattsburgh. [1]
- May 17
- Denmark cedes Norway to Sweden. [1]
- Norwegian constitution passed by constituent assembly at Eidsvoll. [1]
- May 29
- Joséphine, empress of France (1804-14), dies. [1]
- May 30
- In Paris, France, the Treaty of Paris is signed, bringing peace between Great Britain and her allies and France. France recognizes the Union of Norway and Sweden. The King of Sweden and Norway restores Guadeloupe to France, with England paying 24 million francs to Sweden as compensation. Mauritius and dependencies are ceded to Britain. [1] [7] [1163.15]
- July 3
- Americans capture Fort Erie, Canada. [1]
- July 5
- Americans defeat British and Canadians at Chippewa, Ontario. [1]
- July 18
- British capture Prairie du Chien (Wisconsin). [1]
- July 25
- Battle of Niagara Falls (Lundy's Lane); Americans defeat British. [1]
- August 8
- Peace negotiations between the US and Great Britain begin in Ghent, Belgium. [1]
- August 24
- Battle of Bladensburg; British beat Americans, march on Washington, DC, burn presidential residence and main Treasury building in retaliation for Americans burning of the Governor's residence at Fort York. President James Madison orders the building be white-washed to hide the black fire damage. [118.28] [431.60] [520.52] [910.44] [1078.1705] [1186.25]
- Death of British commander Sir Edward Pakenham, at Battle of Bladensburg. [118.33]
- September 11
- Battle of Lake Champlain, New York; Americans defeat British. [1]
- September 12
- Battle of North Point fought near Baltimore, Maryland during War of 1812; American citizens repel about 5000 British troops. [1] [437.88]
- September 13
- Start of two-day bombardment of Fort McHenry (USA) by British naval forces. [437.88]
- November 28
- The Times newspaper in London, England is printed by automatic, steam-powered presses for the first time. [5]
- December 24
- In Ghent, Belgium, a peace agreement is signed between the US and Great Britain. [1] [118.32] [843.18] [1078.1705]
|