1804 CE

The Democratic-Republican-controlled United States Senate begins an impeachment trial against Federalist-partisan Supreme Court of the United States Justice Samuel Chase, on charges of political bias (he is acquitted by the United States Senate of all charges on March 1, 1805). The Democratic-Republican-controlled United States Senate begin an impeachment trial against Federalist-partisan Supreme Court of the United States Justice Samuel Chase (he was charged with political bias but was acquitted by the United States Senate of all charges on March 1, 1805). Coronation of Napoleon I: At the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, Napoleon crowns himself as the first Emperor of the French in a thousand years. Witnessing this, Simón Bolívar dedicates himself to liberating Venezuela from Spanish rule.

In the 1800s, the 19th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

January 1 – Haiti gains independence from France, becoming the first independent Black state in the New World.source
February 15 – New Jersey becomes the last of the northern United States to abolish slavery.source
February 20 – Hobart is established in its permanent location in Van Diemen's Land (modern-day Tasmania) as a British penal colony.source
March 21 – The Napoleonic Code is adopted as French civil law.source
21 March – The Napoleonic Code entered into force, forbidding privileges based on birth, allowing freedom of religion, and specifying that government jobs should go to the most qualifiedFrance source
25 April – The settlement of Uitenhage is establishedSouth Africa source
April 26 – Henry Addington resigns as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.source
26 April – Henry Addington resigns as Prime Minister.United Kingdom source
8 May – Lieutenant-Governor Collins establishes the settlement at Sullivan's Cove on the River Derwent.Australia source
May 10 – William Pitt the Younger begins his second term as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.source
10 May – William Pitt the Younger begins his second premiership as Prime Minister.United Kingdom source
May 18 – Napoleon Bonaparte is proclaimed Emperor of the French by the French Senate.source
June 15 – The Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified by New Hampshire, and arguably becomes effective (subsequently vetoed by the Governor of New Hampshire).source
15 June – The name "Hobart Town", after the Colonial Secretary Lord Hobart, is adopted as the name for the new colony at Sullivan's Cove.Australia source
July 27 – The Twelfth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reforms the way that candidates for President and Vice President are chosen, is ratified by Tennessee, removing doubt surrounding adoption.source
November 3 – The Treaty of St. Louis is signed by Quashquame and William Henry Harrison; controversy surrounding the treaty eventually causes the Sauk people to ally with the British during the War of 1812, and is the main cause of the Black Hawk War of 1832.source
November 20 – Said bin Sultan, Sultan of Muscat and Oman, starts to rule.source
November 30 – The Democratic-Republican-controlled United States Senate begin an impeachment trial against Federalist-partisan Supreme Court of the United States Justice Samuel Chase (he was charged with political bias but was acquitted by the United States Senate of all charges on March 1, 1805).United States source
December 3 – Thomas Jefferson defeats Charles C. Pinckney in the United States presidential election.source
December 3 – Thomas Jefferson defeats Charles C. Pinckney in the U.S. presidential election.United States source
The Nguyễn dynasty emperor Gia Long changes his country's official name from Đại Việt to Việt Nam.source

Conflict & Security

February 14 – The First Serbian uprising begins the Serbian Revolution. By 1817, the Principality of Serbia will have proclaimed self-rule from the Ottoman Empire, the first nation-state in Europe to do so.source
February 16 – First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USS Philadelphia at Tripoli to deny her further use by the captors.source
February 16 – First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate Philadelphia.United States source
February 22–April 22 – 1804 Haiti massacre, an ethnic cleansing with the goal of eradicating the white population on Haiti.source
March 4–March 5 – The Castle Hill convict rebellion breaks out in New South Wales, led by Irish convicts in Australia.source
4 March – The Castle Hill convict rebellion, also known as the Battle of Vinegar Hill, takes place: 200 convicts, mostly Irish, rebel. Fifty-one convicts are punished, and nine hanged.Australia source
July - September - Siege of Erivan (1804)Russia source
October 5 – Action of 5 October 1804: War between Spain and the United Kingdom is triggered by the battle between four British warships (Indefatigable, Medusa, Amphion and Lively) and four Spanish frigates (Medee, Fama, Clara and Mercedes), all carrying treasure and merchandise. Captain Graham Moore of Indefatigable informs Spanish Admiral Jose Bustamante of his orders to detain the treasure-laden ships and, "not receiving a satisfactory answer, an Action commenced"; La Mercedes is sunk and the other three ships surrender.source
December 12 – Spain declares war on the United Kingdom.source
12 December – Spain declares war on Britain.United Kingdom source
Russians return to Sitka and attack Kiksadi fort on Indian River. Russians lose the battle, but Natives are forced to flee. Baranov re-establishes trading post.Canada source
Delhi becomes a British possession though the King of Delhi remains in the city till 1857.India source
Russo-Persian War (1804–13) begins.Iran source
Godongwana, son of Chief Jobe of the AmaMthethwa, fails in an assassination plot and is exiled.South Africa source

Exploration & Expansion

April 4 – Samuel Taylor Coleridge sets sail on The Speedwell for the Mediterranean. In Malta, he obtains employment as a public official.source
May 14 – The Lewis and Clark Expedition departs from Camp Dubois and begins its historic journey by traveling up the Missouri River.source
May 14 – The Lewis and Clark Expedition departs from Camp Dubois near St. Louis and begins their journey by traveling up the Missouri River.United States source
June – James Cavanagh, a prisoner on the government vessel HMS Lady Nelson, Lieutenant James Symons, runs from the ship when it stops near the Cavalli Islands. He lives with Māori in the Bay of Islands, becoming one of the earliest recorded Pākehā Māori, but avoids any further European contact.New Zealand source
4 November – In a letter to Sir Joseph Banks, Matthew Flinders recommends that the newly discovered country, New Holland, be renamed "Australia" or "Terra Australis" (from the Latin "australis" meaning "of the south").Australia source
5 November – Lieutenant-Colonel William Paterson arrives at Outer Cove, leading the Buffalo, the Lady Nelson and two schooners, under instructions from London to form a settlement in the north of Van Diemen's Land.Australia source
December – Owen Folger Smith on board Honduras Packet 1800 ship, Captain Owen Bunker, discovers Foveaux Strait which he names Smith's Strait.New Zealand source
Matthew Flinders recommends that New Holland be renamed Australia (from the Latin australis meaning "of the south").source
1,400 American ships are fishing off Labrador and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.Canada source
Molotschna founded; largest Russian Mennonite colonyRussia source
A diverse group later called the Griqua migrates from the Cape to Klaarwater, north of the Orange River.South Africa source

Religion & Belief

6 January - Mathias Bonsach Krogh became the first Bishop of the Diocese of Hålogaland.Norway source
February 4 – The Sokoto Caliphate is founded in West Africa.source
March 7 – Thomas Charles is instrumental in founding the British and Foreign Bible Society.source
7 March – Thomas Charles is instrumental in founding the Bible Society.United Kingdom source
March 7 - Inauguration of the British and Foreign Bible Society, largely at the instigation of Thomas Charles.Wales source
August 11 – In reaction to Napoleon being proclaimed emperor of France, Francis II assumes the title of a hereditary emperor of Austria (as Francis I) in addition to his title as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. This latter title will become obsolete two years later when the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine instigated by Napoleon signals the end of the Holy Roman Empire.source
11 August – In reaction to Napoleon being proclaimed emperor of France, Francis II assumes the title of a hereditary emperor of Austria (as Francis I) in addition to his title as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Tis latter title will become obsolete two years later when the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine instigated by Napoleon signals the end of the Holy Roman Empire.Germany source
19 August – St Peter's Church, Aberdeen, is dedicated as the city's first purpose-built post-Reformation Roman Catholic church.Scotland source
24 September - Trondhjems amt was split into two, with the northern part becoming Nordre Trondhjems amt and the southern part becoming Søndre Trondhjems amt.Norway source
December 2 – Coronation of Napoleon I: At the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, Napoleon crowns himself as the first Emperor of the French in a thousand years. Witnessing this, Simón Bolívar dedicates himself to liberating Venezuela from Spanish rule.source
Moscow Armenian Cemetery foundedRussia source
Azariah Shadrach - Drws i'r Meddwl SegurWales source

Economy & Finance

Merger of the North West Company and XY Fur Companies. The XY Company is absorbed by the North West Company.Canada source
German Gerhard Bonnier begins a publishing business in Copenhagen (Denmark) by issuing Underfulde og sandfærdige kriminalhistorier, origin of the Swedish Bonnier Group.Germany source

Technology & Infrastructure

February 21 – Cornishman Richard Trevithick's newly built Penydarren steam locomotive operates on the Merthyr Tramroad, between Penydarren in Merthyr Tydfil and Abercynon in South Wales, following several trials since February 13, the world's first locomotive to work on rails.source
21 February – The Cornishman Richard Trevithick's newly built "Penydarren" steam locomotive operates on the Merthyr Tramroad between Penydarren Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil and Abercynon in South Wales, following several trials since 13 February, the world's first locomotive to work on rails.United Kingdom source
February 21 - The Cornishman Richard Trevithick's newly built "Penydarren" steam locomotive operates on the Merthyr Tramroad between the Penydarren Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil and Abercynon, following several trials since February 13, the world's first locomotive to work on rails. As a result of this achievement, Samuel Homfray wins a 1000 guineas wager with Richard Crawshay as to which of them could first build a steam locomotive for use in their works.Wales source
24 March – The settlement at the Hunter River, also known as the Coal River, is officially named Newcastle.Australia source
18 May – First French Empire established.France source
May 21 – Père Lachaise Cemetery a 118 acres cemetery in Paris, France, is opened.source
May – In an attempt to maintain a British monopoly of trade in Australian waters Governor King prohibits the construction of unauthorised boats of more than fourteen feet long in New South Wales.New Zealand source
14 September – lighthouse on Inchkeith, designed by Thomas Smith and Robert Stevenson, is first illuminated.Scotland source
Shimizu-gumi, predecessor of Shimizu Corporation, a major construction company in Japan, is founded in Kanda region, Edo (modern-day Tokyo).source
David Thompson works in Peace River country.Canada source
The first Agdenes Lighthouse was established.Norway source

Science & Discovery

April 5 – The High Possil meteorite, the first recorded meteorite to fall in Scotland in modern times, falls at High Possil.source
5 April – High Possil meteorite, the first recorded meteorite to fall in Scotland in modern times, falls at Possil.Scotland source
June 21 – Smithson Tennant announces the discovery of the elements iridium and osmium; three days later, William Hyde Wollaston reveals to the Royal Society that he is the formerly anonymous discoverer of palladium.source
September 1 – German astronomer K. L. Harding discovers the asteroid Juno.source
1 September – German astronomer K. L. Harding discovers the asteroid Juno.Germany source
6 October – HDMS Prinds Christian Frederik is launched from Orlogsværftet on Nyholm in Copenhagen.Denmark source
Dr Joseph Mason Cox publishes Practical Observations on Insanity; in which some suggestions are offered towards an improved mode of treating diseases of the mind, and some rules proposed which it is hoped may lead to a more humane and successful method of cure.United Kingdom source
Edward Davies - Celtic Researches on the Origin, Traditions and Languages of the Ancient BritonsWales source
The Cambrian is the first newspaper published in Wales.Wales source

Health & Medicine

14 May – Cork Street Fever Hospital, Dublin, opens in Cork Street, Dublin.Ireland source
16 September – A government-owned brewery is opened at Parramatta as a means of controlling the consumption of spirits.Australia source
World population reaches 1 billion people.source
Morphine is first isolated from the opium poppy by the German pharmacist, Friedrich Sertürner.source
German pharmacist Friedrich Sertürner first isolates morphine from opium, probably the first ever isolation of a natural plant alkaloid.Germany source
Hester Thrale - British Synonymy: or an attempt at regulating the choice of words in familiar conversationWales source

Crime & Justice

3 January – Hammersmith Ghost murder case.United Kingdom source
11 February – the last armed rebel group of the Society of United Irishmen, led by James Corcoran, is betrayed and killed or captured by yeomen near Enniscorthy.Ireland source
July 11 – Aaron Burr, Vice President of the United States, shoots former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton during a duel; Hamilton dies the next day.source
November 30 – The Democratic-Republican-controlled United States Senate begins an impeachment trial against Federalist-partisan Supreme Court of the United States Justice Samuel Chase, on charges of political bias (he is acquitted by the United States Senate of all charges on March 1, 1805).source
Locks are placed at Coteau, the Cascades and at Long Sault.Canada source
Murderer Bjarni Bjarnason from Sjöundá escaped from prison in Reykjavík. He was caught again two weeks later.Iceland source
Hólavallarskóli is moved to Bessastaðir.Iceland source
Frederik Christopher Trampe became county sheriff of West County.Iceland source
Marlborough White Horse cut in Wiltshire.United Kingdom source
Benjamin Heath Malkin - The Scenery, Antiquities, and Biography of South WalesWales source

Disasters & Accidents

January – HMS York founders on patrol off Scotland, apparently striking the Inchcape rock, with the loss of all 491 on board.Scotland source
April 2 – Forty merchantmen are wrecked when a convoy led by British frigate HMS Apollo runs aground off Portugal with considerable loss of life.source
2 April – Forty merchant vessels are wrecked when a convoy led by HMS Apollo runs aground off Portugal.United Kingdom source
October 8 – HMS Speedy sinks during a snowstorm.Canada source

Culture & Society

February 18 – Ohio University is chartered by the Ohio General Assembly.source
March 7 – John Wedgwood founds the Royal Horticultural Society.source
7 March – John Wedgwood founds the Royal Horticultural Society as the Horticultural Society of London. Another founding member, William Forsyth, dies on 25 July.United Kingdom source
March 10 – Louisiana Purchase, Three Flags Day: In St. Louis, a formal ceremony is conducted to transfer ownership of Louisiana Territory from France to the United States.source
March 10 – Last formalities of the Louisiana Purchase; in St. Louis, a ceremony is conducted to transfer ownership from France to the United States.United States source
March 17 – Friedrich Schiller's play Wilhelm Tell is first performed at Weimar, under the direction of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.source
17 March – Friedrich Schiller's play Wilhelm Tell, is first performed at Weimar, under the direction of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.Germany source
June 9 – Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E–flat is premiered in Vienna.source
9 June – Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E–flat premiered in Vienna.Germany source
October 8 – Jean-Jacques Dessalines holds his coronation as Jean-Jacques I, Emperor of Haiti.source
2 December – Coronation of Napoleon IFrance source
Imperial Kazan University establishedRussia source
John Galt's poem The Battle of Largs is published anonymously, the author's first published work.Scotland source
David Wilkie paints Pitlessie Fair and William Chalmers-Bethune, his wife Isabella Morison and their Daughter Isabella.Scotland source

Births

January 21 – Eliza Roxcy Snow, American poet (died 1887)source
February 29 – Carl von Rokitansky, Czech medical doctor and pathologist (died 1878)source
March 20 – Neal Dow, mayor of Portland, Maine and Father of Prohibition (died 1897)source
5 April – Matthias Schleiden, German botanist (died 1881)Germany source
29 May – Gottlieb Wilhelm Antonie van der Lingen, founder of the Paarl Gymnasium, is born in Cape TownSouth Africa source
June 1 – Mikhail Glinka, Russian composer (died 1857)source
June 1 – George Sand, French writer (died 1876)source
July 1 – George Sand, French novelist (died 1876)source
July 4 – Nathaniel Hawthorne, American writer (died 1864)source
July 20 – Richard Owen, English anatomist, paleontologist, and zoologist (died 1892)source
July 28 – Ludwig Feuerbach, German philosopher (died 1872)source
September 14 – John Gould, English ornithologist (died 1881)source
30 September (in England): Willoughby Shortland, colonial administratorNew Zealand source
5 October – Robert Campbell, politician (died 1859)Australia source
October 18 – Mongkut, Rama IV, King of Siam (died 1868)source
November 23 – Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States (died 1869)source
December 13 – Joseph Howe, Canadian politician (died 1873)source
December 21 – Benjamin Disraeli, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1868; 1874–1880) (died 1881)source

Deaths

January 4 – Charlotte Ramsey Lennox, British author and poet (born 1727)source
January 15 – Dru Drury, English entomologist (born 1725)source
February 6 – Joseph Priestley, British chemist (born 1733)source
February 7 – William Bingham, American Continental congressman, senator for Pennsylvania (born 1752)source
February 12 – Immanuel Kant, German philosopher (born 1724)source
March 13 – Damodar Pande, Prime Minister of Nepal (born 1752)source
March 21 – Louis Antoine, Duke of Enghien (executed) (born 1772)source
April 9 – Jacques Necker, French statesman (born 1732)source
July 12 – Alexander Hamilton, American statesman and Founding Father (killed in a duel) (born 1755 or 1757)source
July 12 – Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father of the United States, founder of the nation's financial system, founder of the Federalist Party, statesman (killed in a duel with Aaron Burr) (born 1755/1757, exact date is unknown)United States source
August 20 – Lewis and Clark Expedition: The Corps of Discovery, whose purpose is to explore the Louisiana Purchase, suffers its only death when Sergeant Charles Floyd dies, apparently from acute appendicitis.source
September 20 – Pierre Méchain, French astronomer (born 1744)source
October 29 – Sarah Crosby, the first female Methodist preacher (born 1729)source
1 November – Johann Friedrich Gmelin, German naturalist (born 1748)Germany source
November 18 – Philip Schuyler, general in the American Revolution, a United States senator from New York, father of Angelica Schuyler Church and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, father-in-law of Alexander Hamilton (born 1733)source
November 23 – Richard Graves, English writer (born 1715)source
27 December – George Barrington (born 1755), convict and police officerAustralia source
Anna Matyushkina, courtier (born 1722)Russia source