Explore 216 historical events from 1840–1849.
Oscar Hammerstein I was a German-born businessman, theater impresario, and composer in New York City. His passion for opera led him to open several opera houses, and he rekindled o…
Oscar Hammerstein I, American businessman and composer (died 1919)
The Thornton Affair was a battle in 1846 between the military forces of the United States and Mexico 20 miles (32 km) west upriver from Zachary Taylor's camp along the Rio Grande. …
Thornton Affair: Open conflict begins over the disputed border of Texas, triggering the Mexican–American War
Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the Second…
The few remaining Mormons left in Nauvoo, Illinois, formally dedicate the Nauvoo Temple
The Cambridge Chronicle was a weekly newspaper that served Cambridge, Massachusetts. The newspaper was founded by Andrew Reid in May 1846. It ceased publication of its print editio…
The Cambridge Chronicle, America's oldest surviving weekly newspaper, is published for the first time in Cambridge, Mass
The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, was an invasion of Mexico by the United Stat…
Mexican–American War: American forces led by Zachary Taylor defeat a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first
Rita Cetina Gutiérrez was a 19th-century Mexican educator, writer, and feminist who promoted women's education in Mérida, Yucatán. She helped found a literary society, a periodical…
Rita Cetina Gutiérrez, Mexican poet, educator, and activist (died 1908)
Naim bey Frashëri, more commonly Naim Frashëri, was an Albanian historian, journalist, poet, translator, and one of the most prominent figures of the Albanian National Awakening. R…
Naim Frashëri, Albanian-Turkish poet and translator (died 1900)
Peter Carl Gustavovich Fabergé was a Russian goldsmith and jeweller. He is best known for creating Fabergé eggs made in the style of genuine Easter eggs, but using precious metals …
Peter Carl Fabergé, Russian goldsmith and jeweler (died 1920)
The Donner Party, sometimes called the Donner–Reed Party, was a group of American pioneers who migrated to California in a wagon train from the Midwest. Delayed by a multitude of m…
The Donner Party of pioneers departs Independence, Missouri for California, on what will become a year-long journey of h
The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, was an invasion of Mexico by the United Stat…
Mexican–American War: The United States declares war on the Federal Republic of Mexico following a dispute over the Amer
The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and p…
The Associated Press is formed in New York City as a non-profit news cooperative
The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, was an invasion of Mexico by the United Stat…
Mexican–American War: President Mariano Paredes of Mexico unofficially declares war on the United States
The California Republic, commonly known as the Bear Flag Republic, was a short-lived unrecognized breakaway state from Mexico, that existed from June 14 to July 9, 1846. It militar…
Bear Flag Revolt begins: Anglo settlers in Sonoma, California, start a rebellion against Mexico and proclaim the Califor
William Louis Marshall was an influential figure in the US Corps of Engineers.
William Louis Marshall, American general and engineer (died 1920)
Antonio Abetti was an Italian astronomer.
Antonio Abetti, Italian astronomer and academic (died 1928)
Philip Konrad Marheineke was a German Protestant theologian and church leader within the Evangelical Church in Prussia.
Philip Marheineke, German pastor and philosopher (born 1780)
Pope Gregory XVI was head of the Catholic Church and leader of the Papal States from 2 February 1831 to his death in June 1846. He had adopted the name Mauro upon entering the reli…
Pope Gregory XVI (born 1765)
Rodolphe Töpffer was a Swiss teacher, author, painter, cartoonist, and caricaturist. He is best known for his illustrated books, which are possibly the earliest European comics. He…
Rodolphe Töpffer, Swiss teacher, author, painter, cartoonist, and caricaturist (born 1799)
The Oregon Treaty was a treaty between the United Kingdom and the United States that was signed on June 15, 1846, in Washington, D.C. The treaty brought an end to the Oregon bounda…
The Oregon Treaty extends the border between the United States and British North America, established by the Treaty of 1
A conclave was held from 14 to 16 June 1846 to elect a new pope to succeed Gregory XVI, who had died in 1 June. Of the 62 members of the College of Cardinals, all but twelve attend…
The Papal conclave of 1846 elects Pope Pius IX, beginning the longest reign in the history of the papacy
The history of baseball in the United States dates to the 19th century, when boys and amateur enthusiasts played a baseball-like game by their own informal rules using homemade equ…
The first officially recorded, organized baseball game is played under Alexander Cartwright's rules on Hoboken, New Jers
Domenico Carlo Maria Dragonetti was an Italian double bass virtuoso and composer with a three string double bass. He stayed for thirty years in his hometown of Venice, Republic of …
Domenico Dragonetti, Italian bassist and composer (born 1763)
Jean-Baptiste Benoît Eyriès was a French geographer, author and translator, best remembered in the English speaking world for his translation of German ghost stories Fantasmagorian…
Jean-Baptiste Benoît Eyriès, French geographer and author (born 1767)
The Donner Party, sometimes called the Donner–Reed Party, was a group of American pioneers who migrated to California in a wagon train from the Midwest. Delayed by a multitude of m…
The Donner Party, an American pioneer group which became known for resorting to cannibalism when they became trapped in