1810 CE

25 – May Revolution: Armed citizens of Buenos Aires expel the Viceroy and establish a provincial government for Argentina (the Primera Junta). Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros is removed. Battle of La Bisbal: A Spanish division led by Henry O'Donnell (also known as Enrique José O'Donnell) and supported by an Anglo-Spanish naval squadron led by Francis William Fane and Charles William Doyle surprises an Imperial French brigade commanded by François Xavier de Schwarz. A peace treaty in Haiti confirms its division between the northern State of Haiti, ruled autocratically by the gen de couleur Henri Christophe, and the southern Republic, ruled by mulatto Alexandre Pétion.

In the 1810s, the 19th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

January 1 – Major-General Lachlan Macquarie officially becomes Governor of New South Wales.source
1 January – Lachlan Macquarie is sworn in as Governor of New South Wales.New Zealand source
February 17 – Napoleon I decrees that Rome would become the second capital of the French Empire.source
4 April – The County of Roepstorff is established by Christian Alexander Roepstorff from the manors of Einsidelsborg and Kørup.Denmark source
April 19 – Venezuela achieves home rule: Vicente Emparán, Governor of the Captaincy General of Venezuela, is removed by the people of Caracas, and Supreme Junta is installed. Venezuela is the first South American state to proclaim independence from Spain.source
April – Kaumualii receives an assurance of the continued independence of the Kingdom of Hawaii.source
June 7 – Argentina's new junta publishes the country's first newspaper, the Gazeta de Buenos-Ayres, edited by Mariano Moreno.source
July 9 – Russia acquires Sukhumi through a treaty with the Abkhazian dukes, and declares a protectorate over the whole of Abkhazia.source
July 20 – First Republic of New Granada: Patria Boba: A junta of seven patriots, led by José Acevedo y Gómez, assemble in Bogotá in the Viceroyalty of New Granada (modern-day Colombia), to declare its independence from the Spanish Empire, the first South American nation to break away from Spain as the third oldest independent republic state after Haiti.source
August 6 – The city of Santa Cruz de Mompox, in modern-day Colombia, declares independence from the Spanish Empire.source
September 16 - The Mexican War of Independence begins with the "Grito de Dolores", as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and fellow rebels take up arms against the Spanish colonial authorities.Spain source
September 18 – Chile forms its First National Junta, which is the country's first step towards its independence.source
18 September - The Government Junta of Chile (1810) is established.Chile source
September 23 – The Republic of West Florida declares independence from Spain.source
September 26 – A new Act of Succession is adopted by the Riksdag of the Estates, and Jean Baptiste Bernadotte becomes heir to the Swedish throne.source
October 27 – The United States annexes the Republic of West Florida.source
November 2 – A peace treaty in Haiti confirms its division between the northern State of Haiti, ruled autocratically by the gen de couleur Henri Christophe, and the southern Republic, ruled by mulatto Alexandre Pétion.source
Loyalist colonel Edward Jessup lays out a townsite in Upper Canada's Augusta Township, which would grow into Prescott, Ontario.Canada source
Frederik Christopher Trampe is replaced as Governor of Iceland by Ísleifur Einarsson, Johan Carl Thuerecht von Castenschiold, Rasmus Frydensberg and Stefán Þórarinsson.Iceland source
Guillermo Castro – soldier, rancher, and magistrate, was born near Coyote, Alta CaliforniaMexico source
State Council (Russian Empire)Russia source

Conflict & Security

January – A Governor declares that, in case of hostilities, a force of regulars, adequate for the defence of Canada, will cooperate with the Militia.Canada source
February 13 – After seizing Jaén, Córdoba, Seville and Granada, Napoleonic troops enter Málaga under the command of General Horace Sebastiani.source
28 February – The convict ship Ann (second ship of the name), Captain Charles Clarke, arrives in Port Jackson with Samuel Marsden, William Hall, John King, and Ruatara. Ruatara stays with Marsden twice over the next 18 months, his attempt to reach New Zealand having failed. The news of the Boyd massacre delays Marsden's plans for a mission in New Zealand until 1814.New Zealand source
April 30 - Battle of the Cherek RiverRussia source
May 1 – Macon's Bill Number 2 becomes law in the United States, intending to motivate Britain and France to stop seizing American vessels during the Napoleonic Wars.source
May 1 – Macon's Bill Number 2 becomes law, intending to motivate Britain and France to stop seizing American vessels during the Napoleonic Wars.United States source
July 9 – Napoleon I dissolves the Kingdom of Holland, ruled by his younger brother Louis Bonaparte, and annexes the country into the French Empire.source
July 10 - Peninsular War: Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo: French forces (28,000 men) under Marshal André Masséna take the fortified city of Ciudad Rodrigo on route into Portugal.source
July 24 – Paraguay governor Bernardo de Velasco and the Cabildo of Asunción declare their loyalty to Ferdinand VII of Spain and break up their relationship with Buenos Aires.source
August 2 – In Quito, Ecuador, 200 citizens are slaughtered in the Royal barracks and the surrounding streets by royalist troops.source
August 20–27 – Battle of Grand Port: The French defeat a Royal Navy frigate squadron attempting to blockade a harbour on Isle de France (Mauritius).source
August 27 – Peninsular War: Siege of Almeida: French forces under André Masséna capture the fortified city of Almeida before the advance toward Lisbon.source
September 14 - Battle of La Bisbal: A Spanish division led by Henry O'Donnell (also known as Enrique José O'Donnell) and supported by an Anglo-Spanish naval squadron led by Francis William Fane and Charles William Doyle surprises an Imperial French brigade commanded by François Xavier de Schwarz.Spain source
September 16 – Grito de Dolores: Miguel Hidalgo, a Catholic priest from Guanajuato, incites the revolt that becomes the Mexican War of Independence.source
September 16 – Grito de Dolores: Miguel Hidalgo, a Catholic priest from Dolores, Guanajuato, incites the revolt that becomes Mexico's Independence War.Mexico source
September 22 – Manuel Belgrano prepares his invasion to the Provincia del Paraguay.source
September 27 - Peninsular War: Battle of Bussaco: Anglo-Portuguese forces under General Arthur Wellington repel several attacks of the French invasion force (65,000 men) under André Masséna at Bussaco. Wellington is forced to withdraw to the Lines of Torres Vedras after Masséna's troops outflank his positions. The French lose 522 dead and 3,612 wounded. The allied losses are 200 dead and 1,001 wounded.source
27 September - Thomas Picton serves with distinction under Wellington at the Battle of Bussaco.Wales source
November 17 – Anglo-Swedish War (1810–12): Sweden declares war on the United Kingdom.source
November 29–December 3 – Invasion of Isle de France: British forces force the French to surrender Isle de France (Mauritius).source
December 20 – Manuel Belgrano crosses the Paraná River to Itapúa Department, starting his invasion of Paraguay.source
Ching Shih and Cheung Po Tsai surrender their pirate fleet to the Chinese government.source
Amadou Lobbo initiates his jihad, in present-day Mali.source
Shaka is appointed chief of the army of the AmaMthethwa.South Africa source

Exploration & Expansion

January 4 – Australian seal hunter Frederick Hasselborough discovers Campbell Island, in the Subantarctic.source
10 January – The sealer Sydney Cove, Captain Charles McLaren, lands a sealing gang on Stewart Island.New Zealand source
27 March – The Governor Bligh, Captain Chace, leaves Port Jackson with supplies for the Experiment. When it is discovered that the Leith party has already returned to Port Jackson Captain Chace decides to return via Foveaux Strait, where it collects (around June) the sealing gang left by the Fox in October 1809.New Zealand source
May 3 – Lord Byron swims across the Hellespont in Turkey.source
3 May – Lord Byron swims across the Hellespont in Turkey.United Kingdom source
July 11 – Frederick Hasselborough discovers Macquarie Island, in the subantarctic.source
September 8 – The Tonquin sets sail from New York Harbor, with 33 employees of John Jacob Astor's newly created Pacific Fur Company on board. After a six-month journey around the tip of South America, the ship arrives at the mouth of the Columbia River, and Astor's men establish the fur-trading town of Astoria.source
September 8 – The Tonquin sets sail from New York Harbor with 33 employees of John Jacob Astor's newly created Pacific Fur Company on board. After a 6-month journey around the tip of South America, the ship arrives at the mouth of the Columbia River and Astor's men establish the fur-trading post of Fort Astoria.United States source
Palm oil sales from West Africa to Britain reach 1,000 tons.United Kingdom source
Western Cherokees establish themselves between the White River and the Arkansas River in what is now Arkansas.United States source
Etcher Charles Norris settles in Tenby.Wales source
Richard Fenton - Historical Tour through PembrokeshireWales source

Religion & Belief

14 April - James Cotton, precentor of Bangor Cathedral, marries Mary Anne, daughter of Henry Majendie, Bishop of Bangor.Wales source
24 October - The foundation stone of the Moel Famau Jubilee Tower is laid.Wales source
5 November - Jean Baptiste Bernadotte is formally adopted by Charles XIII.Sweden source
Council of Ministers of RussiaRussia source
Edinburgh Theological College founded to train clergy for the Scottish Episcopal Church.Scotland source
Johan Olof Wallin inducted to the Swedish Academy.Sweden source
Rev. Dr. William Pearson establishes Temple Grove School at East Sheen, perhaps the earliest preparatory school in the country.United Kingdom source

Economy & Finance

25 March – the Commercial Bank of Scotland is founded in Edinburgh by John Pitcairn, Lord Cockburn and others.Scotland source
June 23 – John Jacob Astor forms the Pacific Fur Company.source
30 November - The Norwegian Government commission was dissolved.Norway source
Commissioners of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues established by merging the former offices of Surveyor General of Woods, Forests, Parks, and Chases and Surveyor General of the Land Revenues of the Crown into a three-man commission.United Kingdom source

Technology & Infrastructure

8 January – The Derwent Star and Van Diemen's Land Intelligencer, Australia's second newspaper and the first in Van Diemen's Land, begins publication.Australia source
May 10 – Rev. Henry Duncan opens the world's first commercial savings bank, in Ruthwell, Scotland.source
10 May – Rev. Henry Duncan opens the world's first commercial savings bank in Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire.Scotland source
November 26 – Brewer and businessman John Molson asks the colonial government for the exclusive right to construct and navigate steam-boats, on the Saint Lawrence River, for 15 years.Canada source
Friedrich Krupp establishes a steel foundry in Essen.Germany source
The construction of Lade Mansion in Trondheim is finished.Norway source
The Saint Petersburg main military engineering school becomes the first engineering higher learning institution in the Russian Empire, after the addition of officers' classes, and the application of a five-year term of teaching.Russia source
Rocky Point Manor is built in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.United States source
Hafod Copperworks opens in the Lower Swansea valley.Wales source

Science & Discovery

June – Nicolas Appert publishes L'art de conserver pendant plusieurs années toutes les substances animales ou végétales, the first description of modern food preservation using airtight containers.source
20 October - Jean Baptiste Bernadotte arrives in Sweden.Sweden source
Chlorine named by Humphry Davy.United Kingdom source

Health & Medicine

October – King George III of the United Kingdom is deemed permanently insane.source
October – King George III recognised as insane.United Kingdom source
Dominique Larrey makes the first ambulances.France source

Crime & Justice

March – Le Canadien of Quebec is suppressed, for "seditious utterances." Soldiers, led by a magistrate, seize the plant and apprehend the printer. Warrants to arrest Bedard, Taschereau, Papineau, Viger and others are issued. The Governor asks: "During the fifty years you have been under British rule, has one act of oppression, one instance of arbitrary imprisonment, of violation of property, or of the rights of conscience ever occurred?"Canada source
3 May – The Brothers collects two men it had dropped in 1809 on islands on what is now the Dunedin coast at Port Daniel (Otago Harbour), including William Tucker. Tucker is sent to look for other sealers from the Brothers at Stewart Island. It is probably at this time, on the shores of Foveaux Strait, that he steals the Māori preserved head that he later sells in Sydney, thus inaugurating the retail trade of such items.New Zealand source
15 June – Radical journalist William Cobbett is found guilty of treasonous libel for an article in his Political Register critical of the flogging of militiamen and sentenced to two years' in Newgate Prison.United Kingdom source
November/December – The Sydney Cove, Captain Charles McLaren, anchors in Otago Harbour. The theft of a red shirt and other articles by local chief Te Wahia sparks what becomes known as the Sealers' War or the War of the Shirt, which lasts until 1823. One of her sealers kills Te Wahia which incenses Māori. The Sydney Cove flees south and one of her crew, James Caddell, is captured by Māori at the Clutha mouth.New Zealand source
4,500 chests of opium are sold in China.source
York magistrate Alexander Wood is embroiled in a gay sex scandal.Canada source
Ministry of Police of the Russian EmpireRussia source
Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick - History and Antiquities of the County of CardiganWales source
Ann Hatton - Cambrian PicturesWales source

Disasters & Accidents

10 November – Paisley canal disaster: A pleasure craft capsizes on the newly-completed first section of the Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal with the loss of 84 lives.Scotland source
10 November – Paisley canal disaster in Scotland: A pleasure craft capsizes with the loss of 84 lives.United Kingdom source
19 December – Frigates HMS Nymphe and HMS Pallas are wrecked near Dunbar.Scotland source
December 22 – British ship of the line HMS Minotaur is wrecked on Texel in the West Frisian Islands with the loss of 500 lives.source
22 December – Eight crew of the Hoylake life-boat in the Mersey estuary are drowned on service; HMS Minotaur is wrecked on Texel in the West Frisian Islands with the loss of 500 lives.United Kingdom source
December 27 – Chartered British East Indiaman Elizabeth is wrecked off Dunkirk with the loss of more than 360 lives, many of them lascar seamen.source
27 December – Chartered East Indiaman Elizabeth is wrecked off Dunkirk with the loss of more than 360 lives.United Kingdom source
14-15 July - Large parts of the town of Mandal burns down.Norway source

Climate & Environment

16 July - Governor Francisco Antonio García Carrasco is forced to resign.Chile source
14 December – The UK's strongest ever recorded tornado strikes Portsmouth with a top wind speed of 213 to 240 mph (T8 (F4) rating).United Kingdom source
Monach Islands abandoned for the first time, due to overgrazing.Scotland source

Culture & Society

1 January – Lachlan Macquarie sworn in as governor of New South Wales.Australia source
7 January - The newly elected heir to the throne, Charles August, arrives in Sweden.Sweden source
11 January - Prince Frederik of Hesse is appointed Steward of Norway.Norway source
January 12 – The marriage of Napoleon I and Joséphine is annulled.source
3 March - Launch of the Carmarthen Journal, the oldest surviving newspaper in Wales.Wales source
March 11 – Napoleon I marries Marie-Louise of Austria by proxy in Vienna.source
April 2 – Emperor Napoleon I of France marries Marie-Louise of Austria in person in Paris.source
April 27 – Beethoven composes his famous piano piece, Für Elise.source
May 16 – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe publishes his book Zur Farbenlehre (Theory of Colours).source
May 18–25 – May Revolution: Armed citizens of Buenos Aires expel the Viceroy and establish a provincial government for Argentina (the Primera Junta). Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros is removed.source
June 4 – The Society in Dedham for Apprehending Horse Thieves is founded in Dedham, Massachusetts.United States source
August 21 – Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, Marshal of France, is elected Crown Prince of Sweden, by the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates.source
October 12 – First Oktoberfest: Bavarian royalty invites the citizens of Munich to join the celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.source
12 October – First Oktoberfest: Bavarian royalty invites the citizens of Munich to join the celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.Germany source
Jane Porter's historical novel about William Wallace, The Scottish Chiefs, is published.Scotland source
General Union of Spinners organises strike action to raise wages in the smaller cotton centres to the Manchester level.United Kingdom source

Births

January 3 – Antoine Thomson d'Abbadie, Irish-French geographer (died 1897)source
29 January – Ernst Kummer, German mathematician (died 1893)Germany source
23 February - Matías Cousiño (died 1863)Chile source
24 February: (in England): William Mason, architect.New Zealand source
March 1 – Frédéric Chopin, Polish composer, pianist (died 1849)source
March 2 – Pope Leo XIII (born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci) (died 1903)source
May 23 – Margaret Fuller, American journalist, literary critic and feminist (died 1850)source
May 31 – Horatio Seymour, 18th Governor of New York, 1868 Democratic Party Presidential Nominee (died 1886)source
June 8 – Robert Schumann, German composer and pianist (died 1856)source
July 5 – P. T. Barnum, American showman (died 1891)source
August 10 – Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, 1st Prime Minister of Italy (died 1861)source
August 24 – Theodore Parker, American preacher, Transcendentalist, and abolitionist (died 1860)source
August 28 - Jaime Balmes, priest and philosopher (died 1848)Spain source
August 29 – Juan Bautista Alberdi, Argentinian politician, writer and Constitution main promoter (died 1884)source
September 29 – Elizabeth Gaskell, British novelist (died 1865)source
November 26 – William Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong, English engineer, inventor of the Hydraulic accumulator (died 1900)source
December 7 – Theodor Schwann, German physiologist (died 1882)source
December 11 – Alfred de Musset, French poet (died 1857)source

Deaths

January 20 – Benjamin Chew, Chief Justice of colonial Pennsylvania (born 1722)source
January 20 – Benjamin Chew, Chief Justice of colonial Pennsylvania (born 1722)United States source
January 21 - Mariano Álvarez de Castro, military governor (born 1749)Spain source
February 20 – Tyrolean rebel leader Andreas Hofer is executed.source
February 22 – Charles Brockden Brown, American novelist (born 1771; tuberculosis)source
February 24 – Henry Cavendish, British scientist (born 1731)source
March 7 – Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood, British admiral (born 1750)source
14 March – Ludwig Timotheus Spittler, German historian (born 1752)Germany source
24 March – David Collins, Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania (born in the United Kingdom) (born 1756)Australia source
May 9 – Benjamin Lincoln, major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (born 1733)source
May 21 – Chevalier d'Eon, French-born diplomat, spy, soldier and transvestite (born 1728)source
July 6 – Andrianampoinimerina, ruler of Madagascar (born 1745)source
July 19 – Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Prussia (born 1776)source
August 26 – Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires, French officer in Spanish colonial military service (executed) (born 1753)source
September 13 – William Cushing, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (born 1732)source
October 16 - Nachman of Breslov chassidic master (born 1772)source
November 2 – Princess Amelia of the United Kingdom, Member of the British Royal Family (born 1783)source
December 2 – Philipp Otto Runge, German painter (born 1777)source