1811 CE

The Carlton House Fête is held at the Prince Regent's London residence Carlton House to celebrate the establishment of the Regency era. The Carlton House Fête is held at Carlton House in London. A costly and extravagant event it celebrated the beginning of the Regency era. Inventor John Stevens' boat, the Juliana, begins operation as the first steam-powered ferry service, between New York City and Hoboken, New Jersey.

In the 1810s, the 19th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • 5 February - The Prince of Wales becomes Prince Regent.Walessource
  • March 28 – Henri Christophe is proclaimed King Henri I, turning the northern State of Haiti into the Kingdom of Haiti.source
  • May 14 – Paraguay declares independence from the Spanish Empire (recognised May 15).source
  • 4 July - The National Congress of Chile is established.Chilesource
  • July 5 – Venezuela declares its Independence from the Spanish Empire.source
  • 6 September – Sir John Cradock is appointed Governor of the Cape, tasked with implementing a more aggressive policy on the colony's eastern frontier.South Africasource
  • 17 September - Completion of The Cob embankment across Traeth Mawr by William Madocks is celebrated. His nearby model town of Tremadog is also completed by this year.Walessource
  • 8 October – Governor Cradock appoints Lieutenant-Colonel John Graham as special commissioner for military and civil affairs in the eastern frontier districts.South Africasource
  • October 17 – The silver deposits of Agua Amarga in Chile are discovered becoming, in the following years, instrumental for the Patriots to finance the Chilean War of Independence.source
  • October 26 – The Argentine Government declares freedom of expression for the press.source
  • November 17 – José Miguel Carrera, Chilean founding father, is sworn in as President of the executive Junta of the government of Chile.source
  • December 21 – The first Constitution of the Republic of Venezuela, after it declares its independence from Spain, goes into effect.source
  • Tensions between France and Russia increase, as Napoleon orders the seizing of the Duchy of Oldenburg. This will eventually lead to the Treaty of Paris(24 February 1812) and the following French invasion of Russia.Russiasource
  • Highland Clearances – the Marquess and Marchioness of Stafford begin mass expulsion of crofting tenants from their Highland estates to make way for sheep farming.Scotlandsource

Conflict & Security

  • January 8 – An unsuccessful slave revolt is led by Charles Deslondes, in St. Charles and St. James Parishes, Louisiana.source
  • January 17 – Mexican War of Independence – Battle of Calderón Bridge: A heavily outnumbered Spanish force of 6,000 troops defeats nearly 100,000 Mexican revolutionaries.source
  • January 22 – The Casas Revolt begins in San Antonio, Spanish Texas.source
  • January 26 – First Siege of Badajoz: French troops (17,000 men) under Marshal Jean-de-Dieu Soult begin the siege at the fortress of Badajoz.source
  • February 5 – British Regency: George, Prince of Wales becomes prince regent, because of the perceived insanity of his father, King George III of the United Kingdom.source
  • February 19 – Peninsular War – Battle of the Gebora: An outnumbered French force under Édouard Mortier routs and nearly destroys the Spanish, near Badajoz, Spain.source
  • March 1 – Citadel Massacre in Cairo: Egyptian ruler Muhammad Ali kills the last Mamluk leaders.source
  • March 5 – Peninsular War – Battle of Barrosa: A French attack fails, on a larger Anglo-Portuguese-Spanish force attempting to lift the Siege of Cádiz in Spain.source
  • March 13 – Battle of Lissa: The British fleet defeats the French.source
  • 16 March - Battle of Grimstad Bay.Norwaysource
  • 25 March – Battle of Campo MaiorPortugalsource
  • March 27 – Battle of Anholt: The British Navy defeats Denmark.source
  • 1 April - The Figueroa mutiny, a failed attempt to restore royalism, occurs.Chilesource
  • April 5–6 – Revolutionary riots occur in Buenos Aires.source
  • May 3–5 – Peninsular War – Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro: An Anglo-Portuguese Army under General Arthur Wellington defeats the French forces under Marshal André Masséna.source
  • May 16 – Peninsular War – Battle of Albuera: Spain, Portugal, and Great Britain defeat the French.source
  • May 18 – Battle of Las Piedras near Las Piedras, Banda Oriental: The independentists of Uruguay gain their first victory.source
  • May 18-June 10 - Second Siege of Badajoz (1811)Spainsource
  • June 15 – The Klågerup riots erupt in Sweden.source
  • November 4 – Luddite uprisings, in which workers destroy industrial machines, begin in northern England and the Midlands. According to one historian, "The first attack on textile machines by men who used the name 'General Ludd' and called themselves his followers, was on the night of 4th November 1811 in the village of Bulwell, four miles north of Nottingham, when a small band of men gathered in the darkness and marched to the home of a master weaver called Hollingsworth," then destroyed six of his weaving machines.source
  • November 7 – Battle of Tippecanoe: American troops led by William Henry Harrison defeat the Native American spiritual leader Tenskwatawa, also known as The Prophet (Chief Tecumseh's brother).source
  • November 7 – Battle of Tippecanoe: American troops led by William Henry Harrison defeat the Native American chief Tecumseh.United Statessource
  • December – The Fourth Cape Frontier War begins and lasts until March 1812. The conflict involved British colonial forces and the Xhosa people.South Africasource
  • U.S. President James Madison, in his message to Congress, says: "We have seen the British Cabinet not only persist, in refusing satisfaction demanded for the wrongs we have already suffered, but it is extending to our own waters that blockade, which is become a virtual war against us, through a stoppage of our legitimate commerce."Canadasource
  • Mikhail Kutuzov and his army defeat the Turkish troops of Laz Aziz Ahmed Pasha in the Battle of Rusçuk.Russiasource

Exploration & Expansion

  • 16 May – The Earl of Caledon issues a proclamation to establish circuit courts in the Cape Colony. These courts, composed of two members from the Court of Justice, were designed to hear both civil and criminal cases in the outlying districts of Swellendam, George, Uitenhage, Graaff-Reinet, and Tulbagh. The system introduced public trials and the use of oral (viva voce) testimony for the first time at the Cape. According to legal historian H.J. Erasmus, this extended legal protection to Khoikhoi laborers and other "black employees". This led to the notable "Black Circuit" in 1812, where numerous charges were brought against white colonists on behalf of Khoikhoi servants.South Africasource
  • July 9 – British explorer David Thompson posts a notice at the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers (in modern-day Washington), claiming the area for the United Kingdom.source
  • July 14 – David Thompson reaches the mouth of the Columbia River, finding Fort Astoria under construction.source
  • 7 October – The Frederick, Captain Bodie, leaves Port Jackson to go whaling and then return to London. Captain Bodie has agreed with Samuel Marsden to return Ruatara, Te Pahi's son and 2 other Māori to New Zealandied Marsden gives Ruatara 2 saws, some other tools and some seed wheat to take with him. After provisioning at North Cape the Frederick goes whaling for 6 months. (see 1812)New Zealandsource
  • December 2 – Reverend Samuel Marsden sends the first commercial shipment of wool from New South Wales to England.source
  • 2 December – Reverend Samuel Marsden sent the first commercial shipment of wool from New South Wales to England.Australiasource
  • 15 December – The King George, Captain Lasco Jones, leaves Port Jackson to go whaling with 2 Māori among the crew. (see 1812)New Zealandsource
  • The Red River Colony is founded in Manitoba, Canada.source
  • British-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and cartographer David Thompson follows Columbia to Pacific and finishes charting entire length of the river.Canadasource
  • William Price Hunt, leading Astor's overland party, explores Snake River Valley and much of future Oregon Trail.Canadasource
  • Approximate date – John Paton begins his own yarn spinning business in Alloa.Scotlandsource
  • Richard Fenton - A Tour in Quest of GenealogyWalessource

Religion & Belief

  • 22 February – Editor Leigh Hunt and his publisher brother John, defended by Henry Brougham, are cleared of seditious libel over a September 1810 article in their newspaper, The Examiner, criticising flogging in the Army.United Kingdomsource
  • 18 June – The Welsh Calvinistic Methodists leave the established Church of England by ordaining their own ministers in Bala, North Wales.United Kingdomsource
  • 19 June - The first Methodist Association for the ordination of new ministers is held at Llandeilo. Thomas Charles plays a leading role. The Presbyterian Church of Wales thus secedes from the Church of England.Walessource
  • July 11 – The Russian Empire removes Anton II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, from his office, placing a Russian-appointed bishop at the head of the Georgian church.source
  • The Kuban Cossack Choir is founded as the Black Sea Host Singing Chorus.Russiasource
  • The Kazan Cathedral finishes construction.Russiasource
  • The Dutch Reformed congregation in Caledon is established, making it the eighth oldest congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa.South Africasource
  • Thomas Evans (Tomos Glyn Cothi) - Cyfansoddiad o HymnauWalessource
  • Thomas Charles - Biblical Dictionary, vol. 4Walessource

Economy & Finance

Technology & Infrastructure

  • 1 February – Bell Rock Lighthouse begins operation off the coast of Scotland.United Kingdomsource
  • March 22 – The Commissioners' Plan for Manhattan is presented.source
  • March 22 – The Commissioners' Plan of 1811 for Manhattan is presented.United Statessource
  • June – Walter Scott buys the farm at Abbotsford near Galashiels and commences building his future residence, Abbotsford House.Scotlandsource
  • 20 August - Thomas Sheasby resigns as engineer of the Aberdare Canal, to be replaced by George Overton. As part of the canal works, a free-standing metal rail bridge is built at Robertstown, Aberdare - the first of its kind in the world.Walessource
  • October 11 – Inventor John Stevens' boat, the Juliana, begins operation as the first steam-powered ferry service, between New York City and Hoboken, New Jersey.source
  • October 11 – Inventor John Stevens' boat, the Juliana, begins operation as the first steam-powered ferry (service between New York, New York, and Hoboken, New Jersey).United Statessource
  • 1 December – During a tour of Van Diemen's Land, Governor Macquarie gave directions for the layout of Hobart. There was a central square and seven streets named Macquarie, Liverpool, Argyle, Elizabeth, Murray, Harrington and Collins.Australiasource
  • John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company establishes a post at mouth of the Columbia River.Canadasource
  • The Governor of the Cape orders that cast-iron pipes be laid in the principal streets of Cape Town, including Orange, Long and Strand Streets, to replace the existing wooden pipe system for the city's water supply.South Africasource

Science & Discovery

  • 1 February – John Oxley is appointed Surveyor-General of New South Wales.Australiasource
  • March 25 – The Great Comet of 1811 is discovered by Honoré Flaugergues.source
  • 25 March – The Great Comet of 1811 is discovered by Honoré Flaugergues.Francesource
  • 27 May – second national Census. In Scotland the count is carried out by schoolmasters.Scotlandsource
  • 8 September – The first known landing on Rockall is made by a party from HMS Endymion.United Kingdomsource
  • 26 October – HDMS Najaden is launched at Nyholm in Copenhagen.Denmarksource
  • Iodine was discovered by French chemist Bernard Courtois.source
  • Edinburgh Astronomical Institution established.Scotlandsource
  • Great Comet of 1811 visible overhead through the fall.United Statessource
  • John Williams (ed.) - Gwaith Prydyddawl ... W. WilliamsWalessource

Health & Medicine

  • 27 May – The second national Census reveals that the population of England and Wales has increased in ten years by over a million to 10.1 million.United Kingdomsource
  • October 23 – José Gervasio Artigas and 16,000 orientales leave the Banda Oriental del Uruguay, to go into exile.source

Crime & Justice

  • 21 November – German poet Heinrich von Kleist shoots his terminally ill lover Henriette Vogel and then himself, on the shore of the Kleiner Wannsee near Potsdam.Germanysource
  • Johann Nepomuk Hummel – 12 German Dances and Coda for Redout-DeutscheGermanysource
  • 7–19 December – Ratcliff Highway murders in London.United Kingdomsource
  • Peter Roberts - Brut Tysilio (English translation)Walessource

Disasters & Accidents

  • July 9 – The Great Podil fire breaks out in Kiev, Ukraine.source
  • July 26 – Forest fires break out in the Tyrol region of Switzerland, reportedly destroying 64 villages and hamlets.source
  • 4 December – Royal Navy frigate HMS Saldanha is driven in a gale onto rocks in Lough Swilly with no survivors from the estimated 253 aboard.Irelandsource
  • 4 December – Royal Navy frigate HMS Saldanha is driven in a gale onto rocks in Lough Swilly in Ireland with no survivors from the estimated 253 aboard.United Kingdomsource
  • December 26 – The Richmond Theatre fire in Virginia kills 72 people, including the Governor of Virginia, George William Smith, and the president of the First National Bank of Virginia, Abraham B. Venable.United Statessource
  • The Bolshoi Theatre burns down.Russiasource
  • The Great Podil fire burns large portions of Kiev, causing more than 2,000 homes to be lost.Russiasource
  • Sinking of a new colliery on the Brora Coalfield is begun.Scotlandsource

Climate & Environment

  • June 10 – A volcanic eruption briefly creates Sabrina Island (Azores).source
  • 10 June – A volcanic eruption, observed from Royal Navy sloop HMS Sabrina, creates Sabrina Island (Azores) which on 4 July is claimed for Britain; a few months later it sinks beneath the sea.United Kingdomsource
  • December 16 – The New Madrid earthquake in the Mississippi Valley, near New Madrid, reverses the course of the river for a while. Other earthquakes along the fault occur on January 23, 1812 and February 7, 1812.source
  • December 16 – The New Madrid earthquake in Mississippi Valley near New Madrid reverses the course of the river for a while. Other earthquakes along the fault occur on January 23, 1812, and February 7, 1812.United Statessource

Culture & Society

  • 9 January – the first women's golf tournament in Scotland takes place at the links of the Musselburgh Golf Club.Scotlandsource
  • 23 April – The Earl of Caledon proclaims George as a new magisterial district, named in honour of the reigning British monarch, King George III.South Africasource
  • 29 May - The Society for the Welfare of Oslo is founded.Norwaysource
  • June 19 – The Carlton House Fête is held at the Prince Regent's London residence Carlton House to celebrate the establishment of the Regency era.source
  • 19 June – The Carlton House Fête is held at Carlton House in London. A costly and extravagant event it celebrated the beginning of the Regency era.United Kingdomsource
  • July 14 – Italian scientist Amedeo Avogadro publishes his memoir about the molecular content of gases.source
  • August 3 – Jungfrau, the third highest summit in the Bernese Alps, is first ascended.source
  • September – Nathan of Breslov leads the first annual Rosh Hashana kibbutz (pilgrimage) of Breslov Hasidim, to the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman, Ukraine.source
  • The first novel by Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, was published.source
  • Forstbotanischer Garten Tharandt establishedGermanysource
  • Rasmus Rask publishes his first book, Introduction to the Icelandic or Old Norse Language, which he published in Danish.Icelandsource
  • Kildare Place Society (formally, The Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in Ireland) founded as a non-denominational organisation by a group of Dublin philanthropists.Irelandsource
  • Mikhail Speransky implements more reforms in the Russian government.Russiasource

Births

  • January 6 – Charles Sumner, American senator, civil rights activist (died 1874)source
  • 27 January – João Crisóstomo de Abreu e Sousa, prime minister (died 1895)Portugalsource
  • February 3 – Horace Greeley, American journalist, editor, and publisher (died 1872)source
  • February 13 – François Achille Bazaine, French general (died 1888)source
  • February 15 – Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, Argentinian politician, writer and father of education (died 1888)source
  • May 11 – Chang and Eng Bunker, Siamese twins and sideshow performers (died 1874)source
  • 20 May (in England): Alfred Domett, 4th premier of New ZealandNew Zealandsource
  • June 14 – Harriet Beecher Stowe, American author, abolitionist (died 1896)source
  • July 13 – George Gilbert Scott, British architect (died 1878)source
  • July 18 – William Makepeace Thackeray, British novelist (died 1863)source
  • August 11 – Judah P. Benjamin, Cabinet officer of the Confederate States (died 1884)source
  • August 31 – Théophile Gautier, French writer (died 1872)source
  • September 19 – Orson Pratt, American religious leader (died 1881)source
  • September 30 – Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, German empress (died 1890)source
  • October 22 – Franz Liszt, Hungarian composer, pianist (died 1886)source
  • October 25 – Évariste Galois, French mathematician (died 1832)source
  • November 4 – Infante Sebastian of Portugal and SpainSpainsource
  • Date unknown - José Manuel Eguiguren Urrejola (died 1883)Chilesource

Deaths

  • January 23 - Pedro Caro, 3rd Marquis of la RomanaSpainsource
  • February 9 – Nevil Maskelyne, English Astronomer Royal (born 1732)source
  • 26 February - Mateo de Toro Zambrano (born 1727)Chilesource
  • March 12 – Judah Leib Ben-Ze'ev, Galician Jewish modern Hebrew philologist, lexicographer, Biblical scholar and poet (born 1764)source
  • March 14 – Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (born 1735)source
  • April 4 – Mary Woffington, Irish socialite (born 1729)source
  • May 28 – Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, British minister (born 1742)source
  • June 19 – Samuel Chase, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (born 1741)source
  • July 29 – William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire (born 1748)source
  • July 30 – Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, leader of the Mexican War of Independence (born 1753)source
  • July 30 – Mexican War of Independence: Priest and military leader Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla is executed as a rebel, by the Spanish government of New Spain.source
  • 3 August – Sebastiaan Cornelis Nederburgh, Dutch statesman and former Commissioner-General for the Dutch East India Company at the Cape (1792–1793), dies in the Netherlands. (born 1762)South Africasource
  • August 12 – Sir John Acton, 6th Baronet, Prime Minister of Naples (born 1736)source
  • August 31 – Louis Antoine de Bougainville, French navigator, military commander (born 1729)source
  • September 8 – Peter Simon Pallas, German zoologist (born 1741)source
  • 8 September – Peter Simon Pallas, German zoologist (born 1741)Germanysource
  • September – Ulrich Jasper Seetzen, German explorer (born 1767)source
  • November 21 – Heinrich von Kleist, German writer (suicide) (born 1777)source