1847 CE

E. H. Booth & Co. Ltd, which becomes the northern England supermarket chain Booths, is founded when tea dealer Edwin Henry Booth, 19, opens a shop called "The China House" in Blackpool. E. H. Booth & Co. Ltd, which becomes the Northern England supermarket chain Booths, is founded when 19-year-old tea dealer Edwin Henry Booth opens a shop called "The China House" in Blackpool. Augustus Short, the first Anglican bishop of Adelaide, South Australia arrives from England.

In the 1840s, the 19th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

January 13 – The Treaty of Cahuenga ends fighting in the Mexican–American War in California.source
January 13 – The Treaty of Cahuenga ends the fighting in the Mexican–American War in California.Mexico source
January 16 – John C. Frémont is appointed Governor of the new California Territory.source
March 1 – Faustin Soulouque is elected President of Haiti.source
March 4 – The 30th United States Congress is sworn into office.source
March — Treaty of Canton, the first treaty made between Sweden-Norway and the Chinese EmpireChina source
May 8 – Bahrain's ruler, Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, signs a treaty with the British to prevent and combat the slave trade in the Arabian Gulf.source
May 31 – Second Treaty of Erzurum: the Ottoman Empire cedes Abadan Island to the Persian Empire.source
8 June – Partial legislative elections.Belgium source
29 June – Convention of GramidoPortugal source
July 26 – The nation of Liberia, founded as a haven for freed African-American slaves, becomes independent.source
July 28 – The Liberian constitution is approved by the constitutional convention.Liberia source
Diplomatic relations are established with Italy.Colombia source
Treaty of Bhyrowal (1847): The British and Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu signed a treaty, establishing the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.India source
Harry Smith claims land between the Orange and Vaal rivers for Britain but restricts white settlement, except in Griqualand.South Africa source

Conflict & Security

February 22 – Mexican–American War: Battle of Buena Vista – 5,000 American troops under General Zachary Taylor use their superiority in artillery to drive off 15,000 Mexican troops under Antonio López de Santa Anna, defeating the Mexicans the next day.source
March 9 – Mexican–American War: United States forces under General Winfield Scott invade Mexico near Veracruz.source
March 9 – Mexican–American War: United States forces under General Winfield Scott invade Mexico near Veracruz in the first large-scale amphibious assault conducted by U.S. military forces.United States source
March 29 – Mexican–American War: United States forces under General Winfield Scott take Veracruz after a siege.source
April 16 – New Zealand Wars: A minor Māori chief is accidentally shot by a junior British Army officer in Whanganui on New Zealand's North Island, triggering the Wanganui Campaign (which continues until July 23).source
July 12 – A riot occurs in Woodstock, New Brunswick, between Catholics and members of the Orange Order that results in up to ten deaths.source
August 12 – Mexican–American War: U.S. troops of General Winfield Scott begin to advance along the aqueduct around Lakes Chalco and Xochimilco in Mexico.source
August 20 – Mexican–American War – Battle of Churubusco: U.S. troops defeat Mexican forces.source
September 14 – Mexican–American War: U.S. general Winfield Scott enters Mexico City, marking the end of organized Mexican resistance.source
October 5 – Liberian general election, 1847Liberia source
October 23 – 65 immigrants die in a week at Pointe St. Charles neighbourhood of Montreal.Canada source
November 3–29 – Sonderbund War: In Switzerland, General Guillaume-Henri Dufour's Federal Army defeats the Sonderbund (an alliance of seven Catholic cantons) in a civil war, with a total of only 86 deaths.source
November 17 – The Battle of Um Swayya Spring takes place near a spring in Qatar, after a Bahraini force under Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Deputy Ruler of Bahrain defeats the Al Binali tribe. The chief of the Al Binali, Isa bin Tureef, is slain in battle with over 70 fatalities from his side.source
17 November – The first fencibles move to Onehunga.New Zealand source
December 21 – Emir Abdelkader surrenders to the French in Algeria.source
Annexation of Punjab (1847): The British East India Company annexed Punjab after the First Anglo-Sikh War.India source
The AmaXhosa Resistance rejects British peace terms, but avoids direct warfare. The British then destroy homes, cattle, and crops to force a surrender.South Africa source
Sir Stephen Glynne, 9th Baronet, loses his Flintshire seat to Edward Lloyd-Mostyn for the second time.Wales source

Exploration & Expansion

March 28 – The Massachusetts Donation of 1847 for Ireland sails from Boston on USS Jamestown.United States source
12 April – the Massachusetts Donation of 1847 arrives at Cork on USS Jamestown.Ireland source
20 June – Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert shopping arcade opened in Brussels.Belgium source
5 August – The Ramilles arrives in Auckland with the first fencibles. They are initially housed at the Auckland Barracks.New Zealand source
August 27 — Hong Xiuquan returned to the Thistle Mountains from Hua County, the God Worshipers numbered over 2,000. At this time, most God Worshippers were peasants and miners.China source
23 November – the Otago Association ship Philip Laing sets sail from Greenock carrying settlers, mostly from the Free Church of Scotland, bound for Port Chalmers in New Zealand.Scotland source
American Methodist Episcopal Society (North) entered the field of ChinaChina source
Jeweler Cartier established in Paris.France source

Religion & Belief

May – The congregations of the United Secession Church unite with most of those of the Relief Church to form the United Presbyterian Church.Scotland source
July 24 – After 17 months of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 Mormon pioneers into Salt Lake Valley, resulting in the establishment of Salt Lake City in what becomes Utah.source
16 September – The Band of Hope is established to promote teetotalism among young people by Rev. Jabez Tunnicliff in Leeds.United Kingdom source
27 September – Premonstratensians return to Postel Abbey.Belgium source
December 14 – Emily Brontë and Anne Brontë publish Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey, respectively, in a 3-volume set under the pen names of Ellis Bell and Acton Bell in England.source
28 December - Augustus Short, the first Anglican bishop of Adelaide, South Australia arrives from England.Australia source
The Presbyterian Church of England founded and resolved to establish a mission in China. The Rev. William Chalmers Burns went first to Hong Kong and then to AmoyChina source
Robert Gray is ordained as the first Bishop of Cape Town in Westminster Abbey, London.South Africa source
John Mills (Ieuan Glan Alarch) - Y Salmydd EglwysigWales source
Morris Williams (Nicander) - Llyfr yr HomiliauWales source

Economy & Finance

June – E. H. Booth & Co. Ltd, which becomes the northern England supermarket chain Booths, is founded when tea dealer Edwin Henry Booth, 19, opens a shop called "The China House" in Blackpool.source
June – E. H. Booth & Co. Ltd, which becomes the Northern England supermarket chain Booths, is founded when 19-year-old tea dealer Edwin Henry Booth opens a shop called "The China House" in Blackpool.United Kingdom source
November - The piano manufacturer Brødrene Hals was founded.Norway source
December – The Christmas cracker is first marketed by Tom Smith of London.United Kingdom source
Cartier, a luxury brand in France, is founded.source
The perfume and cosmetic company Antoinette W Nording is founded by Antoinette Nording.Sweden source
Panic of 1847: A crisis in the banking sector prompted largely by the collapse of Railway Mania. On 25 October the Bank Charter Act 1844 is suspended.United Kingdom source

Technology & Infrastructure

January 4 – Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the U.S. government.source
January 4 – Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol, the Colt Walker, to the U.S. government for the Texas Rangers.United States source
June 26 – The first passenger railway wholly within modern-day Denmark opens, from Copenhagen to Roskilde.source
July 1 – The United States issues its first postage stamps.source
1 July – Opening of the Exposition des produits de l'industrie nationale in Brussels.Belgium source
October 12 – German inventors and industrialists Werner von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske found Siemens & Halske to develop the electrical telegraph.source
12 October – German inventors and industrialists Werner von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske found Siemens & Halske to develop the electrical telegraph.Germany source
October 18 – Telegraph Line from Quebec to London, Canada West, complete.Canada source
November 10 – The first brew of Carlsberg beer is finished in Copenhagen.source
10 November – The first beer is brewed at J.C. Jacobsen's new Carlsberg brewery on Valby Hill in Copenhagen.Denmark source
The North Carolina General Assembly incorporates the railroad town of Goldsborough, and the Wayne county seat is moved to the new town.source
The first railway line completed in India between Bombay and Thane came to fruition on April 16, 1853, although the proposal and planning phase began earlier in 1847. This railway line covered a distance of approximately 21 miles (34 kilometers).India source
Sugar cane plantations are started in Natal.South Africa source
Aurore Storckenfeldt open the Storckenfeldtska skolan.Sweden source

Science & Discovery

March – The first known publication of the classic joke "Why did the chicken cross the road?" occurs in The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine.source
8 April - John Jones (Shoni Sguborfawr) is transferred from Norfolk Island to Tasmania.Wales source
13 August – John Russell Hind makes the first British discovery of an asteroid, from London, 7 Iris. On 18 October he discovers 8 Flora.United Kingdom source
Colombia Adopts The Decimal System.Colombia source
Publishers Simms & McIntyre of Belfast introduce their Parlour Library of fiction reprints.Ireland source
R. M. Ballantyne returns to Edinburgh from Canada.Scotland source
Thomas Guthrie publishes A Plea for Ragged Schools in Edinburgh.Scotland source
Jenny Lind returns to Sweden with a great tour.Sweden source
Reports of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the state of education in WalesWales source

Health & Medicine

1 January – The UK's first Medical Officer of Health is appointed, Dr. William Henry Duncan in Liverpool.United Kingdom source
January 30 – Lord Elgin, Governor, arrives at Montreal.Canada source
February 5 – A rescue effort, called the First Relief, leaves Johnson's Ranch to save the ill-fated Donner Party of California-bound migrants who became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada earlier this winter. Some have resorted to survival by cannibalism.source
May – typhus epidemic of 1847 among Irish emigrants arriving by ship in Canada.Ireland source
September 1 – Lord Elgin visits the Irish fever sheds at Windmill Point, Montreal, during the typhus epidemic of 1847.Canada source
15 September – The first hospital in Wellington is opened in Thorndon.New Zealand source
November 4–8 – James Young Simpson discovers the anesthetic properties of chloroform and first uses it, successfully, on a patient, in an obstetric case in Edinburgh.source
Welfare in Sweden takes its first step with the introduction of the 1847 års fattigvårdförordning.source
The first permanent hospital in Auckland opens in Grafton Gully.New Zealand source
4–8 November – James Young Simpson discovers the anaesthetic properties of chloroform and first uses it, successfully, on a patient, in an obstetric case in Edinburgh.Scotland source
Poor Care Regulation of 1847 replace the Beggar Regulation of 1642 and reorganize the poor relief system. Rotegång is banned for children.Sweden source

Crime & Justice

18 January – Brottslingarne by Emelie Flygare Carlén on Mindre teatern in Stockholm.Sweden source
March 1 – The state of Michigan formally abolishes the death penalty.source
6 April – Law on "offences against the king" provides for prison sentences from 6 months to 3 years and fines of between 300 and 3000 francs for threats and insults against the head of state.Belgium source
24 May – Hittebarnet by August Blanche on Djurgårdsteatern in Stockholm.Sweden source
13 December – Mor och döttrar eller Namnförvexlingen by Jeanette Stjernström in Mindre teatern in Stockholm.Sweden source
22 December – The art collector Robert Vernon presents the Vernon Gift of artworks to the National Gallery. This forms the basis of the Gallery's collection of British paintings, many of which are now in the Tate Britain.United Kingdom source
Antoine Wiertz, La Belle RosineBelgium source
Charles Lees paints The Golfers.Scotland source

Disasters & Accidents

14 January – All thirteen members of the Point of Ayr life-boat crew are drowned when it capsizes off Rhyl.United Kingdom source
14 January - All thirteen members of the Point of Ayr lifeboat crew are drowned when it capsizes off Rhyl.Wales source
5 March – An explosion at The Oaks in the Barnsley seam in Yorkshire kills 73 men and boys.United Kingdom source
April 25 – The Exmouth 1818 brig, carrying Irish emigrants from Derry bound for Quebec, is wrecked off Islay, with only three survivors from more than 250 on board.source
28 April – the brig Exmouth carrying emigrants from Derry bound for Quebec is wrecked off Islay with only three survivors from more than 250 on board.Ireland source
14 July – Faversham guncotton explosion kills 18.United Kingdom source
December 20 – British Royal Navy steam frigate HMS Avenger is wrecked on the Sorelle Rocks in the Mediterranean Sea with the loss of 246 lives and only eight survivors.source
20 December – Royal Navy steam frigate HMS Avenger is wrecked on the Sorelle Rocks in the Mediterranean Sea with the loss of 246 lives and only eight survivors.United Kingdom source

Climate & Environment

February 5 – A rescue effort, called the First Relief, leaves Johnson's Ranch to save the ill-fated Donner Party. These California bound emigrants became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada in the winter of 1846–1847, and some have resorted to cannibalism to survive.United States source
February–September – soup kitchens system established under the Temporary Relief Act ("Soup Kitchen" or "Burgoyne's" Act); famine at its height.Ireland source
24 March (starting 12 midday) – National Day of Fast and Humiliation for the Great Famine is held across the UK by royal proclamation.Ireland source
24 March – (Starting 12 midday) – National Day of Fast and Humiliation for the Great Famine (Ireland) is held across the UK by royal proclamation.United Kingdom source
May 8 – The Nagano earthquake leaves more than 8,600 people dead in Japan.source
October – The last volcanic eruption of Mount Guntur in West Java occurs.source
The Great Famine continues in Ireland.source
Ongoing – Great Famine. This summer's potato crop is free from blight, but inadequate due to small area sown. The British Relief Association is founded and raises money throughout England, the United States and Australia, with the help of the "Queen's Letters", two letters from Queen Victoria appealing for money to relieve the distress in Ireland. A group of Native American Choctaw is among those contributing to the relief effort. The Central Relief Committee of the Society of Friends (Quakers) also assists, but there are claims of "Souperism" (the provision of food in combination with proselytization) by other Protestant sectarian groups.Ireland source
Ongoing – Great Famine (Ireland): this summer's potato crop is free from blight, but inadequate due to the small area sown. The British Relief Association is founded and raises money throughout England, the United States and Australia to relieve distress, with the help of the "Queen's Letters", two letters from Queen Victoria appealing for assistance.United Kingdom source

Culture & Society

January 17 – St. Anthony Hall fraternity is founded at Columbia University, New York City.source
January 17 – Saint Anthony Hall is founded at Columbia University in New York City.United States source
January 30 – Yerba Buena, California, is renamed San Francisco.source
February 25 – State University of Iowa is founded in Iowa City, Iowa.source
March 14 – Verdi's opera Macbeth premieres at the Teatro della Pergola, in Florence, Italy.source
April 5 – The world's first municipally-funded civic public park, Birkenhead Park in Birkenhead on Merseyside, England, is opened.source
April 15 – The Lawrence School, Sanawar is established in India.source
May 7 – In Philadelphia, the American Medical Association (AMA) is founded.source
May – The Architectural Association School of Architecture is founded in London.source
June 1 – The first congress of the Communist League is held in London.source
June 9 – Radley College, an English public school, is founded near Oxford as a High Anglican institution.source
1 July - "Treachery of the Blue Books": Publication of a government report ("blue book") on education in Wales containing opinions hostile to Welsh culture.Wales source
15 July - St Peter's College, Adelaide is founded by members of the Anglican Church of Australia.Australia source
July 29 – The Cumberland School of Law is founded at Cumberland University, in Lebanon, Tennessee. At the end of this year, only 15 law schools exist in the United States.source
12–17 July – The 5th Scandinavian Scientist Conference is held in Copenhagen. The opening banquet is held in the Rotal Mansion in Roskilde.Denmark source
August – Yale Corporation establishes the first graduate school in the United States, as Department of Philosophy and the Arts (renamed Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1892).source
17 September - The National Statistics Institute (Chile) is established.Chile source
October 19 – Charlotte Brontë publishes Jane Eyre under the pen name of Currer Bell in England.source
October 31 – Theta Delta Chi is founded as a social fraternity at Union College, Schenectady, New York.source
Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar's Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert completedBelgium source
Founding of the Bethune School (1847): The school was established in Calcutta (now Kolkata) to promote women's education.India source
The Åhlinska skolan is founded in Stockholm by Karin Åhlin and her sisters.Sweden source

Births

February 11 – Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor (died 1931)source
March 3 – Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-born Canadian inventor (died 1922)source
March 14 – Castro Alves, Brazilian poet (died 1871)source
March 18 – William O'Connell Bradley, American politician from Kentucky (died 1914)source
April 10 – Joseph Pulitzer, Hungarian-born journalist, newspaper publisher (died 1911)source
May 7 – Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (died 1929)source
13 July - Princess Leopoldina of Brazil, daughter of Emperor Pedro IIBrazil source
July 20 – Max Liebermann, German painter, printmaker (died 1935)source
20 July - Jose Maria Quijano Wallis (Died 1922)Colombia source
September 5 – Jesse James, American outlaw (died 1882)source
September 12 – Wacław Mayzel, histologist (died 1916)Poland source
September 29 – Kamal-ol-molk, Iranian artist.Iran source
October 1 – Annie Besant, English women's rights activist, writer and orator (died 1933)source
October 2 – Paul von Hindenburg, German field marshal, President of Germany (died 1934)source
November 8 – Bram Stoker, Irish author of the Gothic novel Dracula (died 1912)source
November 26 – Dagmar of Denmark, empress of Tsar Alexander III of Russia (died 1928)source
November 30 – Afonso Pena, Brazilian president (died 1909)source
December 9 – George Grossmith, English comic writer and performer (died 1912)source

Deaths

March 3 – Charles Hatchett, English chemist (born 1765)source
March 9 – Mary Anning, British paleontologist (born 1799)source
April 30 – Archduke Charles of Austria, Austrian general (born 1771)source
May 14 – Fanny Hensel, German composer, pianist (born 1805)source
May 15 – Daniel O'Connell, Irish politician who promoted the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 (born 1775)source
May 29 – Emmanuel de Grouchy, Marquis de Grouchy, French marshal (born 1766)source
June 11 – Sir John Franklin, British explorer (born 1786)source
June 11 – Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil (born 1845)source
July 7 – Thomas Carpenter, American glassmaker (born 1752)source
16 July - José Ignacio Zenteno (born 1786)Chile source
July 28 – Jan Nepomucen Głowacki, realist painter (born 1802)Poland source
September 13 – Nicolas Oudinot, French marshal (born 1767)source
October 2 – Vasil Aprilov, Bulgarian educator, merchant and writer (born 1789)source
October 22 – Negus Sahle Selassie of Shewa (born c. 1795)source
November 4 – Felix Mendelssohn, German composer (born 1809)source
December 14 – Dorothy Ann Thrupp, British psalmist (born 1779)source
Miguel Acuña, medical practitioner, (Born 1788)Colombia source
Full date unknown – John B. Gripon, signatory of the Liberian Declaration of Independence, (born 1809 in the United States)Liberia source