1807 CE

Chesapeake–Leopard affair: British Royal Navy fourth rate HMS Leopard attacks and boards United States Navy frigate USS Chesapeake off Norfolk, Virginia, seeking deserters. This act of British aggression plays a role in the run-up to the War of 1812. Nicéphore Niépce is awarded a patent by Emperor Napoleon for the Pyréolophore, the world's first internal combustion engine, after it successfully powers a boat upstream on the river Saône in France. Nicéphore Niépce is awarded a patent by Napoleon for the Pyréolophore, the world's first internal combustion engine, after it successfully powers a boat upstream on the river Saône.

In the 1800s, the 19th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

January 7 – The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland issues an Order in Council prohibiting British ships from trading with France or its allies.source
17 January - Henry George Grey is appointed as acting Governor of the Cape.South Africa source
February 17 – Henry Christopher is elected first President of the State of Haiti, ruling the northern part of the country.source
February 23 – The Slave Trade Act is passed in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom by an overwhelming majority.source
March 2 – The United States Congress passes the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves "into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States ... from any foreign kingdom, place, or country" (to take effect January 1, 1808).source
March 2 – The U.S. Congress passes an act to "prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States....from any foreign kingdom, place, or country" (to take effect January 1, 1808).United States source
May 4 – Treaty of Finckenstein was signed between Iran and France.Iran source
May 29 – Selim III, Ottoman Emperor since 1789, is deposed in favour of his nephew Mustafa IV.source
June 9 – The Duke of Portland is chosen as Prime Minister after the United Kingdom general election.source
July 7–9 – The Treaties of Tilsit are signed between France, Prussia and Russia. Napoleon and Russian Emperor Alexander I ally together against the British. The Prussians are forced to cede more than half their territory, which is formed into the Duchy of Warsaw in their former Polish lands, and the Kingdom of Westphalia in western Germany. The Free City of Danzig is also formed (established July 21 by Napoleon).source
July 7 and 9: Treaties of Tilsit end warRussia source
November 29 – Portuguese Queen Maria I and the Court embark at Lisbon, bound for Brazil. Rio de Janeiro becomes the Portuguese capital.source
December 17 – Napoleonic Wars: France issues the Milan Decree which confirms the Continental System (i.e. no European country is to trade with the United Kingdom).source
December 22 – The United States Congress passes the Embargo Act, a trade embargo on all foreign nations.source
Election of Ezekiel Hart in Trois-Rivières during a by-election on April 11.Canada source
7–9 July – The Treaties of Tilsit are signed between France, Prussia and Russia. Napoleon and Russian Emperor Alexander I ally together against the British. The Prussians are forced to cede more than half their territory, which is formed into the Duchy of Warsaw in their former Polish lands, and the Kingdom of Westphalia in western Germany. The Free City of Danzig is also formed (established 9 September by Napoleon).Germany source
Captain Abraham Bristow returns to the Auckland Islands on the Sarah and formally claims them in the name of King George III. He also releases pigs on the islands.New Zealand source
Porsgrunn is granted limited city status. Full city status is granted in 1842.Norway source

Conflict & Security

January - French occupation of Swedish Pomerania.Sweden source
February 3 – Napoleonic Wars and Anglo-Spanish War: Battle of Montevideo – The British Army captures Montevideo from the Spanish Empire, as part of the British invasions of the Río de la Plata.source
February 7 – Napoleon leads the forces of the French Empire in an invasion of the Russian Empire, and begins fighting at the Battle of Eylau against Russian and Prussian forces.source
February 8 – Battle of Eylau: Napoleon fights a hard but inconclusive battle against the Russians under Bennigsen.source
March–2 July – Siege of KolbergGermany source
April 4–12 – Froberg mutiny: The British suppress a mutiny at Fort Ricasoli, Malta, by men of the irregularly-recruited Froberg Regiment.source
May 24 – Siege of Danzig ends after 6 weeks with Prussian and Russian defenders capitulating to French forces.source
June 5–6: Battle of Guttstadt-DeppenRussia source
June 10 – The Battle of Heilsberg ends in a draw.source
June 14 – Battle of Friedland: Napoleon decisively defeats Bennigsen's Russian army.source
June 22 – Chesapeake–Leopard affair: British Royal Navy fourth rate HMS Leopard attacks and boards United States Navy frigate USS Chesapeake off Norfolk, Virginia, seeking deserters. This act of British aggression plays a role in the run-up to the War of 1812.source
June 22 – The Chesapeake–Leopard affair: The British warship HMS Leopard captures and boards the USS Chesapeake.United States source
July 5 – A disastrous British attack is mounted against Buenos Aires, during the second failed invasion of the Río de la Plata.source
12 August - Start of the Gunboat War between Denmark-Norway and the United Kingdom.Norway source
29 August – The Battle of Køge, also known as the 'Clogs Battle', between British troops besieging Copenhagen and Danish militia raised on Zealand ends in British victory.Denmark source
November 24 – Battle of Abrantes, Portugal: The French under Jean-Andoche Junot take the town.source
December 5–11 – Napoleonic Wars: Raid on Griessie – A British Royal Navy squadron attacks the Dutch port of Griessie on Java in the Dutch East Indies, eliminating the last Dutch naval force in the Pacific and concluding the Java campaign of 1806–1807.source
Battle of Hingakaka between two factions of Māori people, the largest battle ever fought in New Zealand, and the last fought there without firearms. In 1807 or 1808 is fought the Battle of Moremonui, first of the Musket Wars.source
Coup d'état of Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien by Pengiran Digadong Ayah.source
Trade with Denmark and Norway ends due to the invasion of the British during the Napoleonic Wars and their capture of the neutral Danish fleet at Copenhagen, they had credible intel that Napoleon using the Continental System was going to seize that fleet and invade Great Britain.Iceland source
Either this year or early 1808, Ngāpuhi are defeated at the battle of Moremonui near Maunganui Bluff. Although armed with a few muskets the Ngā Puhi are ambushed by Murupaenga, leader of Ngāti Whātua, who successfully takes advantage of the time taken to reload the muskets. The fighting chief of Ngāpuhi, Pokaia, is killed as are two of Hongi Hika's brothers. After this Hongi becomes the war leader of Ngāpuhi.New Zealand source

Exploration & Expansion

8 February – Lieutenant Thomas Laycock explores Van Diemen's Land, finding the Clyde RiverAustralia source
February 10 – The Survey of the Coast (renamed the United States Coast Survey in 1836 and the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1878) is established; work begins on August 3, 1816.source
February 10 – The United States Coast Survey is established; work begins on August 3, 1816.United States source
17 April – The Richard and Mary, Captain Leikins arrives in England with (Maa-)Tara, son of Te Pahi, aboard. He meets Sir Joseph Banks.New Zealand source
21 October – The British sail away with the Danish naval fleet (17 ships of the line, 12 frigates, 8 brigs, 35 smaller vessels and 81 transport ships) after destroying the ships under construction at the Holmen Naval Base.Denmark source
29 October – The exiled Louis XVIII of France arrives at Great Yarmouth with his entourage. It is only on 2 November that they receive permission to go ashore .United Kingdom source
October – The General Wellesley, Captain David Dalrymple, arrives in the Bay of Islands. George Bruce and his wife Te Atahoe (daughter of Te Pahi) go on board but are not returned to shore. The General Wellesley then heads for Penang via Fiji. After numerous deprivations George Bruce and Te Atahoe (aka Mary Bruce) are finally returned to Port Jackson in January 1810 where Mary dies shortly after.New Zealand source
The Embargo Act aims at keeping US ships out of European conflicts.Canada source
Highland Clearances – clearance of crofting tenants from the Highland estates of the Marchioness and her husband the Marquess of Stafford to make way for sheep and other farming begins at Farr and Lairg.Scotland source

Religion & Belief

July 13 – With the death of Henry Benedict Stuart, the last Stuart claimant to the throne of the United Kingdom, Jacobitism comes to an effective end.source
13 July – with the death at Frascati of Cardinal Henry Benedict Stuart, the last Stuart claimant to the British throne, the movement of Jacobitism comes to an effective end.Scotland source
13 July – With the death at Frascati of Cardinal Henry Benedict Stuart, the last Stuart claimant to the throne, the movement of Jacobitism comes to an effective end.United Kingdom source
September 7 – Robert Morrison, the first Protestant missionary to China, arrives in Guangzhou (Canton).source
22 December – The U.S. Congress passes the Embargo Act, a trade embargo on all foreign nations, largely in response to the British Orders in Council of 1807.United Kingdom source
December (approximate) – Welsh Wesleyan preachers make their first visit to Brecon.Wales source
Old Karasjok Church was built.Norway source
The religious publisher Oliphant, Anderson and Ferrier is established as booksellers Oliphant and Brown by William Oliphant in Edinburgh.Scotland source
Anthem y Saint... gan Evan Dafydd (collection of hymns)Wales source

Economy & Finance

January 20 – The Sierra Leone Company, faced with bankruptcy because of the imminent abolition of the slave trade in British colonies, petitions the British government for purchase and transfer of its property to the Crown; Parliament approves the transfer on July 29, and it takes effect on January 1, 1808.source
20 January – The Sierra Leone Company, faced with bankruptcy because of the imminent abolition of the slave trade in British colonies, petitions the British government for purchase and transfer of its property to the Crown; Parliament approves the transfer on 29 July, and it takes effect on 1 January, 1808.United Kingdom source
March 25 – The United Kingdom Slave Trade Act becomes law abolishing the slave trade in most of the British Empire with effect from 1 May (slavery itself is abolished in British colonies in 1833).source
25 March – The Slave Trade Act becomes law, abolishing the slave trade throughout the British Empire with effect from 1 May (slavery itself is abolished in British colonies in 1833).United Kingdom source
Millburn distillery is established as the Inverness Distillery by a Mr. Welsh.Scotland source
The publisher A & C Black is founded by Adam and Charles Black in Edinburgh.Scotland source

Technology & Infrastructure

March 25 – The Swansea and Mumbles Railway in South Wales, at this time known as the Oystermouth Railway, becomes the first passenger-carrying railway in the world.source
25 March – The Swansea and Mumbles Railway, at this time known as the Oystermouth Railway, becomes the first passenger carrying railway in the world.United Kingdom source
25 March – Opening of the world's first fare-paying passenger railway – the horse-drawn Oystermouth Railway between Oystermouth and Mumbles.Wales source
July 20 – Nicéphore Niépce is awarded a patent by Emperor Napoleon for the Pyréolophore, the world's first internal combustion engine, after it successfully powers a boat upstream on the river Saône in France.source
20 July – Nicéphore Niépce is awarded a patent by Napoleon for the Pyréolophore, the world's first internal combustion engine, after it successfully powers a boat upstream on the river Saône.France source
August 17 – The North River Steamboat, Robert Fulton's first American steamboat, leaves New York City for Albany on the Hudson River, inaugurating the first commercial steamboat service in the world.source
17 August – Robert Stevenson and his workmen set out to begin construction of the Bell Rock Lighthouse from Arbroath in the Smeaton.Scotland source
August 17 – The Clermont, Robert Fulton's first American steamboat, leaves New York City for Albany, New York, on the Hudson River, inaugurating the first commercial steamboat service in the world.United States source
23 August – The first dry cleaning business is opened in Sydney by Englishman Robert Davidson.Australia source
In the spring John Colter joins Manuel Lisa at the Platte River who winters on Yellowstone River at the mouth of the Bighorn River.Canada source
David Thompson crosses Rockies and builds a trading post at headwaters of Columbia River. NWC Upper Kootenay House is built by David Thompson.Canada source

Science & Discovery

March 29 – H. W. Olbers discovers the asteroid Vesta.source
October 6 – English chemist Humphry Davy electrochemically isolates potassium from potash.source
James Hogg, Thomas Mouncey Cunningham and others publish the poetry collection The Forest Minstrel, and Hogg publishes The Mountain Bard.Scotland source
The post of Regius Professor of Zoology in the University of Glasgow is established as the Regius Chair of Natural History by King George III, Lockhart Muirhead being the first holder.Scotland source
Undated – Potassium and sodium isolated by Sir Humphry Davy.United Kingdom source
Peter Bailey Williams – Trysorfa GwybodaethWales source

Health & Medicine

10 February – Former Governor Philip Gidley King leaves New South Wales.New Zealand source
April – Governor Bligh issues a proclamation that South Sea Islanders (including Māori) are not to be taken to England and £20 bond is to be deposited for any that are brought into Port Jackson. This is ignored by most ship's captains.New Zealand source
The use of fulminate in firearms is patented by the Rev. Alexander John Forsyth.Scotland source

Crime & Justice

February 19 – Burr conspiracy: In Alabama, former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr is tried for conspiracy, but acquitted.source
February 19 – Burr conspiracy: Former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr is arrested on charges of treason. He is accused of plotting to annex parts of Louisiana and Mexico to become part of an independent republic.United States source
April 1–3 – Great Sortie of StralsundGermany source
18 May – exiled Irish rebel Michael Dwyer is acquitted of a charge of conspiring to mount an Irish insurrection against British rule in New South Wales (Australia), but subsequently stripped of his free settler status.Ireland source
May 22 – A grand jury indicts former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr for treason.source
May 22 – A grand jury indicts Aaron Burr for treason.United States source
September 1 – Former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr is acquitted of treason. He had been accused of plotting to annex parts of Louisiana and Mexico, to become part of an independent republic.source
September 27 – Napoleon purchases the Borghese art collection, including the Antinous Mondragone, and brings it to Paris.source
27 September – Napoleon purchases the Borghese art collection, including the Antinous Mondragone, and brings it to Paris.France source
9 October - Overkriminalretten is established. It was Norway's highest court until 1815, when the Supreme Court of Norway was established.Norway source
October 30 – El Escorial Conspiracy: Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias is arrested for conspiring against his father Charles IV of Spain.source
November – The Santa Anna drops a sealing gang, including Ruatara, at the Bounty Islands.New Zealand source
Le Petit Oracle des Dames 42 card deck and booklet are published in Paris by the widow of Gueffier.source
William Taitt of the Dowlais Company brings a libel action against Samuel Homfray. Damages of £500 are awarded.Wales source

Disasters & Accidents

18 April – Harwich ferry disaster: 60 to 90 soldiers and their families drown when a boat capsizes off Landguard Fort.United Kingdom source
20 November – sinking of the Rochdale and the Prince of Wales: The British troopships Rochdale (brig) and Prince of Wales (packet ship) sink in a storm in Dublin Bay with the loss of around 400 lives.Ireland source
29 December – The Royal Navy ship of the line HMS Anson runs aground on Loe Bar, Cornwall, with around sixty people drowned, inspiring Henry Trengrouse to invent a rocket apparatus for saving life from shipwrecks and passage of the Burial of Drowned Persons Act 1808 to ensure respectful burial of drowned sailors.United Kingdom source
The British ship Leopard searches the U.S. Chesapeake for deserters, kills some of the crew and takes Radford, who is hanged. Pending satisfaction, the United States close their ports to British ships, though reparation is tendered.Canada source

Culture & Society

April 14 – African Institution holds its first meeting in London; it is intended to improve social conditions in Sierra Leone.source
6 May – Mozart's Don Juan is performed in Copenhagen for the first time, with Édouard Du Puy in the title role.Denmark source
22 May - Du Pré Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon, is appointed Governor of the Cape.South Africa source
May 31 – Primitive Methodism originates in an All Day of Prayer at Mow Cop, in the north midlands of England.source
31 May – Primitive Methodism originates in an All Day of Prayer at Mow Cop in north Staffordshire.United Kingdom source
September 13 – Beethoven's Mass in C major, Op. 86, is premiered, commissioned by Nikolaus I, Prince Esterházy, and displeasing him.source
29 September – The world's oldest international football stadium, the Racecourse Ground, opens in Wrexham for horse racing; it will not host football games until 1872.Wales source
October 9 – Prussian Reform Movement: Serfdom is abolished by the October edict.source
9 October – Prussian Reform Movement: Serfdom is abolished by the October edict.Germany source
21 October – foundation stone of the Nelson Monument, Edinburgh, on Calton Hill, is laid.Scotland source
November 13 – The Geological Society of London is founded.source
Horse racing was introduced to Quebec, following the arrival of Sir James Craig. The first race took place in July 1807.Canada source
The oldest monument in Norway; Olavsstøtta is erected.Norway source

Births

January 19 – Robert E. Lee, American Confederate general (died 1870)source
February 10 – Lajos Batthyány, 1st Prime Minister of Hungary (died 1849)source
February 27 – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet (died 1882)source
March 1 – Wilford Woodruff, American religious leader (died 1898)source
March 14 – Josephine of Leuchtenberg, Queen of Sweden and Norway (died 1876)source
May 28 – Louis Agassiz, Swiss-born zoologist and geologist (died 1873)source
June 16 – John Westcott, American surveyor and politician (died 1888)source
July 4 – Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian patriot (died 1882)source
August 11 – David Rice Atchison, American politician (died 1886)source
August 18 – Charles Francis Adams Sr., American historical editor, politician and diplomat (died 1886)source
September 7 – Henry Sewell, 1st Premier of New Zealand (died 1879)source
7 September (in England): Henry Sewell, first Premier of New ZealandNew Zealand source
October 8 – Harriet Taylor, English philosophical writer (died 1858)source
October 29 – Anđeo Kraljević, Herzegovinian Catholic bishop (died 1879)source
16 November – Eduard von Fransecky, Prussian general (died 1890)Germany source
16 November: Jónas Hallgrímsson, poet, writer and naturalist.Iceland source
December 17 – John Greenleaf Whittier, American Quaker poet and abolitionist (died 1892)source
Karol_Antoniewicz jesuit and missionaryPoland source

Deaths

February 5 – Pasquale Paoli, Corsican patriot, military leader (born 1725)source
April 10 – Duchess Anna Amalia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, regent of Weimar and Eisenach (born 1739)source
May 10 – Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, French soldier (born 1725)source
May 17 – John Gunby, Maryland soldier in the American Revolutionary War (born 1745)source
July 13 – Henry Benedict Stuart, Italian-born cardinal, Jacobite claimant to the British throne (born 1725)source
5 August – Jeanne Baret French explorer, naturalist, botanist (born 1740)source
September 2–7 – Battle of Copenhagen: The British Royal Navy bombards Copenhagen with fire bombs and phosphorus rockets, to prevent the Dano-Norwegian navy from surrendering to Napoleon; 30% of the city is destroyed, and 2,000 citizens are killed.source
September 14 – George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, British field marshal (born 1724)source
November 2 – Louis Auguste Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, Prime Minister of King Louis XVI of France (born 1730)source
November 5 – Angelica Kauffman, Swiss painter (born 1741)source
November 8 – Darejan Dadiani, Georgian queen consort (born 1738)source
November 24 – Joseph Brant, Mohawk military and political leader (born 1743)United States source
November 26 – Oliver Ellsworth, American founding father and 3rd Chief Justice of the United States (born 1745)source
December 19 – Friedrich Melchior, Baron von Grimm, German writer (born 1723)source
19 December – Friedrich Melchior, Baron von Grimm, German writer (born 1723)Germany source
December 21 – John Newton, English cleric, hymnist (born 1725)source
Zofia Dmuszewska actor and opera singerPoland source
Mikhail Kheraskov, poet and playwright (born 1733)Russia source