1840 CE

British colonists reach New Zealand, officially founding the settlement of Wellington. Māori chiefs assemble at Waitangi to discuss the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi. The Washingtonian movement for teetotalism is founded by a group of alcoholics in Baltimore, Maryland.

In the 1840s, the 19th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • 5 February — Māori chiefs assemble at Waitangi to discuss the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi.New Zealandsource
  • February 6 – The Treaty of Waitangi, granting British sovereignty in New Zealand, is signed.source
  • March 1 – Adolphe Thiers becomes prime minister of France.source
  • May 21 – New Zealand is declared a British colony.source
  • 30 May – Parliament considers petitions for Dutch to be made an official language, organised by Ferdinand Augustijn Snellaert and Jean-Baptist David.Belgiumsource
  • July 15 – The Austrian Empire, the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Russian Empire sign the Convention of London with the Sublime Porte, ruler of the Ottoman Empire.Germanysource
  • July 23 – The Province of Canada is created by the Act of Union, but not proclaimed until 10 February 1841.source
  • July 23 – Pedro II is declared "of age" prematurely, and begins to reassert central control in Brazil.source
  • July 23 — Act of Union. The Queen sanctions the union of Upper and Lower Canada. The United Canada Act allows larger government to borrow more money.Canadasource
  • August 1 – Remaining former slaves in the British Empire are released from apprenticeships under terms of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.source
  • October 7 – William II becomes King of the Netherlands.source
  • 16 October - Potchefstroom, Winburg and Natalia unifies as a single Boer republicSouth Africasource
  • November 7 – U.S. presidential election, 1840: William Henry Harrison defeats Martin Van Buren.United Statessource
  • Undated – Sydney City Council and Adelaide City Council are incorporated. A ratepayer required £1,000 worth of property to stand for election.Australiasource
  • Jaitpur State, founded in 1731, is disestablishedIndiasource

Conflict & Security

  • 13 January – The Battle of Yering occurs between Indigenous Australians of the Wurundjeri nation and the Border Police.Australiasource
  • February – The Rhodes blood libel is made against the Jews of Rhodes.source
  • March 19 - The Council House Fight results in the deaths of 35 Comanche and seven Texas Rangers/militia, ending any hopes for peace in the Texas–Indian wars.source
  • June 10 — Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are shot at.Canadasource
  • June 18 – Maria massacre: British brigantine Maria is wrecked off South Australia. All 26 passengers and crew make it to the shore but none survive the trek to safety over the following two weeks, most being massacred by Aboriginal Australians.source
  • August 19 – The Battle of the Barrier.source
  • September 10 – Ottoman and British troops bombard Beirut, and land troops on the coast, to pressure Egyptian Muhammad Ali to retreat from the country.source
  • September 30 – The French frigate Belle Poule arrives in Cherbourg, bringing back the remains of Napoleon from Saint Helena to France.source
  • October 8 – A firman (imperial decree) of Sultan Abdulmejid I replaces Bashir Shihab II as Emir of Mount Lebanon with Prince Bashir Chehab III (Bashir Qasim al-Chehab).source
  • October 11 – Maronite leader Bashir Shihab II surrenders to the Ottomans, and on October 14 goes into exile, initially in Malta.source
  • 11 October – the Lettsom raid in Melbourne, the mass-arrest and imprisonment of approximately 400 Wurundjeri, Woiworrung, Boonwurrung and Taungurung people (collectively known as the Kulin nation of Indigenous Australians).Australiasource
  • 11 October – Maronite leader Bashir Shihab II surrenders to the Ottomans (in alliance with the British) and on 14 October goes into exile, initially in Malta.United Kingdomsource
  • December 15 – The body of Napoleon is laid to rest in Les Invalides in Paris.source
  • Egyptian–Ottoman War (1839–41)source
  • First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–1842)source
  • Ragamuffin War: rebels of the Riograndense Republic refused an offer of amnesty by the Empire of Brazil, although it was clear that they had no chances of winningBrazilsource
  • Last remaining group of Cabanagem rebels, under leadership of Gonçalo Jorge de Magalhães, surrendersBrazilsource
  • Bundelkhand Agency oversees Jalaun's annexation in accordance with the doctrine of lapseIndiasource
  • Second Seminole War (1835–1842)United Statessource

Exploration & Expansion

  • 3 January — The Cuba arrives in Port Nicholson with a survey party to prepare for the New Zealand Company settlement.New Zealandsource
  • January 19 – Captain Charles Wilkes' United States Exploring Expedition sights what becomes known as Wilkes Land in the southeast quadrant of Antarctica, claiming it for the United States, and providing evidence that Antarctica is a complete continent.source
  • January 19 – Captain Charles Wilkes circumnavigates Antarctica, claiming what becomes known as Wilkes Land for the United States.United Statessource
  • 20 January - Dumont D'Urville discovers Adélie Land, Antarctica.Francesource
  • January 21 – Jules Dumont d'Urville discovers Adélie Land in Antarctica, claiming it for France.source
  • January 22 – British colonists reach New Zealand, officially founding the settlement of Wellington.source
  • 22 January – British colonists reach New Zealand. Official founding date of Wellington.United Kingdomsource
  • 29 January — Lieutenant-Governor Captain William Hobson arrives in the Bay of Islands. With Hobson are the members of the Executive Council, Colonial Secretary Willoughby Shortland, Colonial Treasurer George Cooper and Attorney-General Francis Fisher and the Legislative Council comprising the Executive Council and three Justices of the Peace.New Zealandsource
  • From 3–4 March 1840, Ayya Vaikundar's followers carry him to Swamithoppe from Thiruvananthapuram in a Vahana after encountering King Swathi ThirunalIndiasource
  • East India Company initiated the tea trade in ChittagongIndiasource
  • William Lloyd - The Narrative of a Journey from Cawnpoor to the Boorendo PassWalessource

Religion & Belief

  • 14 January – the first known baptisms by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Scotland take place in the River Clyde at Bishopton when Samuel Mulliner, a Scot who joined the church in Canada, baptizes Alexander and Jessie Hay. In May, Orson Pratt preaches from Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh.Scotlandsource
  • 16 January – The funeral of Frederick VI of Denmark takes place at Roskilde Cathedral.Denmarksource
  • 5 May - Thomas Carlyle gives the first lecture in the series On Heroes, Hero Worship and the Heroic in History.United Kingdomsource
  • 5 June - Joseph Brown is appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Roman Catholic District of Wales, being consecrated as a bishop on 28 October.Walessource
  • July 1 - Establishment of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of La Serena and the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Carlos de AncudChilesource
  • 28 July – first permanent presence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ireland when Mormon missionaries John Taylor, William Black and James McGuffie arrive to work in the Newry, Lisburn and Belfast areas. On 31 July Thomas Tait becomes the first convert baptised in Ireland, at Loughbrickland.Irelandsource
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Tiruchirappalli, is consecrated in Tamil NaduIndiasource
  • St Peter's School, the first Catholic school in New Zealand, opened in Kororāreka.New Zealandsource

Economy & Finance

  • 24 March — The first bank in New Zealand, the Union Bank, is opened in Britannia.New Zealandsource
  • National income – ₹7,560 millionIndiasource
  • Chawri Bazar, a specialized wholesale market of brass, copper, and paper products, is established in North DelhiIndiasource
  • Bewley's established as tea and coffee importers.Irelandsource
  • Samuel Kelly, started his business as a "grocers and commission coal merchant" on Queen's Quay, Belfast, that would go on to become John Kelly Limited.Irelandsource
  • Melhus Sparebank was established, it is one of Norway’s oldest savings banks.Norwaysource
  • Kockums Naval Solutions is founded.Swedensource

Technology & Infrastructure

  • January 10 – Uniform Penny Post is introduced in the United Kingdom.source
  • March 9 – The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad is completed, from Wilmington, North Carolina to Weldon, North Carolina. At 161.5 mi, it is the world's longest railroad.source
  • March 9 – The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad is completed from Wilmington, North Carolina to Weldon, North Carolina. At 161.5 miles, it was the world's longest railroad at the time.United Statessource
  • April – The Raleigh and Gaston Railroad is completed from Raleigh to near Weldon, North Carolina.source
  • May 1 – Britain issues the Penny Black, the world's first postage stamp; it becomes valid for the pre-payment of postage from May 6.source
  • May 6 — Postage stamps come into use.Canadasource
  • 4 June – Botanical Garden of Mechelen opens, with Joseph Van Hoorde as head gardener.Belgiumsource
  • 15 June — The New Zealand Advertiser and Bay of Islands Gazette begins publishing in Kororāreka. The newspaper publishes its last issue on 10 December 1840. It was suppressed because of anti-government tendencies.New Zealandsource
  • July 4 – The Cunard Line's 700-ton wooden paddlewheel steamer RMS Britannia departs from Liverpool, bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the first steam transatlantic passenger mail service.source
  • 4 July – the Cunard Line's 700-ton wooden paddle steamer RMS Britannia, launched by Robert Duncan & Company at Greenock on 5 February, departs from Liverpool bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the first steam transatlantic passenger mail service. Scottish marine engineer Robert Napier is a major partner in the venture and has supplied the ship's engine.Scotlandsource
  • July 21 – August Borsig's steam locomotive, the first built in Germany, competes against a Stephenson-built locomotive on the Berlin–Jüterbog railroad; the Borsig locomotive wins by 10 minutes.source
  • 8 October - Taff Vale Railway is officially opened, the first steam-worked passenger railway in Wales, running from Cardiff docks to Navigation House at Abercynon via the Cardiff station known in modern days as Queen Street. Public service begins the following day.Walessource
  • 2 November – Construction of The Causeway across the Swan River in Perth begins.Australiasource
  • December 21 – Stockport Viaduct is completed in North West England. It is one of the largest brick structures in Europe.source
  • Kajima, a construction company based in Japan, is founded in Edo (modern-day Tokyo).source
  • Jessop & Company completes construction of the first iron bridge in British India, Loha-ka-Pul over River Gomti at Lucknow, 1812–1840Indiasource

Science & Discovery

  • March 12 – Paweł Strzelecki reaches Australia's highest summit, Mount Kosciuszko.source
  • 3–9 July – The 2nd Scandinavian Scientist Conference is held in Copenhagen.Denmarksource
  • 11 August — Union Jack is flown over Akaroa.New Zealandsource
  • December 7 – David Livingstone leaves Britain for Africa.source
  • 8 December – David Livingstone leaves for Africa.United Kingdomsource
  • The first known photograph of Niagara Falls, a daguerreotype, is taken by English chemist Hugh Lee Pattinson.source
  • Peter Faber takes the first Danish photograph on record at Ulfeldts Plads in Copenhagen.Denmarksource
  • The largest recorded surface area of the Langjökull ice gap was recorded.Icelandsource
  • Lex Loci Report of October 1840 emphasised the importance and necessity of uniformity in the codification of Indian law, relating to crimes, evidences, and contract but it recommended that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims should be kept outside such codification.Indiasource
  • Samlade vitterhetsförsök by Ulrika Carolina WidströmSwedensource
  • Nyare dikter by Wilhelm von BraunSwedensource

Health & Medicine

  • 10 January – Uniform Penny Post introduced.Irelandsource
  • 1 March — Governor Hobson suffers a stroke.New Zealandsource
  • 9 April – The first election for the new City Council is held. Only 1929 citizens, out of a population of about 121,000, are able to participate in the election due to heavy restrictions on voting access.Denmarksource
  • April 15 – King's College Hospital opens in London.source
  • 23 July – Vaccination Act 1840 provides for free vaccination for the poor and prohibits variolation.United Kingdomsource
  • 7 August – Chimney Sweepers and Chimneys Regulation Act 1840 prohibits the employment of children under the age of 21 as chimney sweeps.United Kingdomsource
  • Undated – Aboriginals Fire Arm Regulation Act 1840 is enacted prohibiting 'Aboriginal Natives' of New South Wales from possessing fire arms or ammunition without the permission of a Magistrate.Australiasource
  • Metric system again mandatory across France.Francesource
  • The Cape Town Municipality is formed and has a population of 20,016, of which 10,560 are WhitesSouth Africasource

Crime & Justice

  • 1 January - Trial of Chartists John Frost, Zephaniah Williams and William Jones for their part in the Newport Rising of 1839 continues at Monmouth before Chief Justice Tindal. This is the first trial where proceedings are recorded in shorthand.Walessource
  • 16 January – Frost, Williams and Jones are all found guilty of high treason for their part in the Chartist riots, and are sentenced to death; the last time the sentence of hanging, drawing and quartering is passed in the UK, although following a nationwide petitioning campaign and direct lobbying of the Home Secretary by the Lord Chief Justice, it is commuted to transportation for life (Frost is eventually pardoned).United Kingdomsource
  • 16 January - Frost, Williams and Jones are all found guilty of high treason for their part in the Chartist riots, and are sentenced to death - the last time the sentence of hanging, drawing and quartering is passed in the United Kingdom, although following a nationwide petitioning campaign and, extraordinarily, direct lobbying of the Home Secretary by the Lord Chief Justice, it is commuted to transportation for life (and Frost is much later pardoned).Walessource
  • February 5 – Damascus Affair: The murder of a Capuchin friar and his Greek servant leads to a highly publicized case of blood libel, against the Jews of Damascus.source
  • July – last known great auk in the British Isles caught and later killed on the islet of Stac an Armin, St Kilda, Scotland.Scotlandsource
  • August 10 – Fortsas hoax: A number of book collectors gather in Binche, Belgium, to attend a non-existent book auction of the late "Count of Fortsas".source
  • 10 August – Culmination of the Fortsas hoax in Binche.Belgiumsource
  • 25 August – Two Ngarrindjeri men are hanged on the Coorong in front of their tribe after being convicted in a drumhead court-martial of the murders of all 26 crew and passengers of the Maria shipwreck, Major Thomas O'Halloran, South Australian Police Commissioner, presiding and passing sentence.Australiasource
  • Prison cell jails are introduced.Swedensource
  • Morianen, eller Holstein-Gottorpiska huset i Sverige by Magnus Jacob CrusenstolpeSwedensource

Disasters & Accidents

  • January 13 – The steamship Lexington burns and sinks in icy waters, four miles off the coast of Long Island; 139 die, only four survive.source
  • January 13–14 – The steamship Lexington burns and sinks in icy waters, 4 miles off the coast of Long Island; 139 die, only 4 survive.United Statessource
  • 1 April – Theatre Royal, Cork burns down.Irelandsource
  • 20 May – York Minster's nave roof is destroyed in an accidental fire.United Kingdomsource
  • 30 June – survivors of the Maria shipwreck are massacred by Aboriginal Australians on the Coorong.Australiasource
  • 30 September - The frigate Belle Poule arrives in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, returning the remains of Napoleon from Saint Helena. He is buried in Les Invalides.Francesource
  • 10 November – The boiler of an experimental steam locomotive named Surprise explodes near Bromsgrove station in Worcestershire, killing the driver, Thomas Scaife and fireman, Joseph Rutherford.United Kingdomsource
  • 18 November - The paddle steamer City of Bristol is wrecked at Llangennith, Gower, drowning about 22 people.Walessource

Climate & Environment

  • 6 April — George Clarke is appointed Protector of Aborigines by Governor Hobson.New Zealandsource
  • May 7 – Great Natchez Tornado: A massive tornado strikes Natchez, Mississippi during the early afternoon. Before it is over, 317 people are killed and 109 injured (the second deadliest tornado in U.S. history).source
  • May 7 – The Great Natchez Tornado: A massive tornado strikes Natchez, Mississippi during the early afternoon hours. Before it is over, 317 people are killed and 109 injured. It is the second deadliest tornado in U.S. history.United Statessource
  • November 4 – 1840 United States presidential election: William Henry Harrison defeats Martin Van Buren in a landslide.source
  • Approximate date – Volcanic eruption of Tinakula in the Solomon Islands causes the island to be depopulated.source
  • Crown Land (Encroachment) Ordinance vested all forests, wastes, unoccupied, and uncultivated lands to the crownIndiasource

Culture & Society

  • January 3 – One of the predecessor papers of the Herald Sun of Melbourne, Australia, The Port Phillip Herald, is founded.source
  • 3 January – The Melbourne newspaper The Herald is founded by George Cavenagh as The Port Phillip Herald.Australiasource
  • February 10 – Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom marries her cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.source
  • February 11 – Gaetano Donizetti's opera La fille du régiment premieres in Paris.source
  • March 4 – Alexander S. Wolcott and John Johnson open the world's first commercial photography portrait studio, their Daguerreian Parlor, on Broadway in Manhattan.source
  • March 4 – Alexander S. Wolcott and John Johnson open their "Daguerreian Parlor" on Broadway (Manhattan), the world's first commercial photography portrait studio.United Statessource
  • April 2 – The Washingtonian movement for teetotalism is founded by a group of alcoholics in Baltimore, Maryland.source
  • April 3 – Johnny Appleseed meets Abraham Lincoln, and plants apple trees in New York City.source
  • 18 April — The New Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectator prints its second issue in Britannia, becoming the first newspaper published in New Zealand. The first issue was printed in England the previous year. The paper publishes weekly, changing its name to The New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator a few months later.New Zealandsource
  • June 7 – On the death of Frederick William III of Prussia, he is succeeded on the throne of the Kingdom of Prussia (which he has ruled for more than 40 years) by his eldest son Frederick William IV.source
  • June 12–23 – The World Anti-Slavery Convention is organised by the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, at Exeter Hall in London, England. Arguments over the exclusion of women from the convention have important ramifications for the movement for women's suffrage in the United States.source
  • 27 June – The anointing of King Christian VIII at Frederiksberg Palace, the last such ceremony to take place in Denmark before it is abolished with the introduction of the Danish constitution in 1849.Denmarksource
  • June 28 — Queen Victoria is crowned.Canadasource
  • 15 August – foundation stone of the Scott Monument in Edinburgh is laid.Scotlandsource
  • September 16 – Joseph Strutt hands over the deeds and papers concerning the Derby Arboretum, which is to become England's first public park.source
  • The first English translation of Goethe's Theory of Colours by Charles Eastlake is published.source
  • The first Kodiyettru Thirunal is celebrated in Swamithope pathi in August/September while, according to Ayyavazhi doctrine, Ayya unified the Seven Virgins into himself as per their requestIndiasource
  • An eisteddfod is held at Liverpool.Walessource

Births

Deaths

  • January 6 – Fanny Burney, English novelist (born 1752)source
  • January 22 – Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, German anthropologist (born 1752)source
  • 28 January – Simeon Lord, merchant and magistrate (born in the United Kingdom) (born 1771)Australiasource
  • 24 April: Sveinn Pálsson, physician and naturalist.Icelandsource
  • April 25 – Siméon Denis Poisson, French mathematician, geometer, and physicist (born 1781)source
  • May 6 – Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, Russian aristocrat, priest (born 1770)source
  • May 6 – Francisco de Paula Santander, President of Colombia (born 1792)source
  • May 7 – Caspar David Friedrich, German artist (born 1774)source
  • May 26 – Sidney Smith, British admiral (born 1764)source
  • May 27 – Niccolò Paganini, Italian violinist, composer (born 1782)source
  • June 7 – King Frederick William III of Prussia (born 1770)source
  • July 23 – Carl Blechen, German painter, specializing in fantastic landscapes with demons and grotesque figures (born 1798)Germanysource
  • 7 September — Luís do Rego Barreto, military and colonial administrator (born 1777).Portugalsource
  • September 14 – Joseph Smith, Sr., American father of Joseph Smith, Jr. (born 1771)source
  • September 18 – Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, Constantinople-born French polymath (born 1783)source
  • September 20 – José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, first leader of independent Paraguay (born 1766)source
  • September 22 – Anne Lister, English landowner, diarist, mountaineer and traveller, "the first modern lesbian" (born 1791)source
  • December 11 – Emperor Kōkaku of Japan (born 1771)source