Category Archives: 1840s

‘A Christmas Carol’ novella by Charles Dickens first published in London 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1843)


Video: '19th December 1843: A Christmas Carol first published'

(Tuesday, December 19, 1843)A Christmas Carol, a novella by English author Charles Dickens, was first published today in London by Chapman & Hall. Continue reading ‘A Christmas Carol’ novella by Charles Dickens first published in London 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1843)

U.S. President William McKinley born in Niles, Ohio 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 29 1843)


Video: 'William McKinley: Building the American Century'

(Sunday, January 29, 1843)William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901, was born today in Niles, Ohio. Continue reading U.S. President William McKinley born in Niles, Ohio 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 29 1843)

Crawford Long becomes first physician to use anesthetic (ether) in surgery 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 #1842)


Video: 'Dr Crawford W.Long's Painless Operations'

(Wednesday, March 30, 1842, 2:42 p.m. local time) — Dr. Crawford Long of Jefferson, Georgia, today became the first physician to use anesthetic (ether) in surgery during an operation to remove a tumor from the neck of a patient, James M. Venable. Continue reading Crawford Long becomes first physician to use anesthetic (ether) in surgery 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 #1842)

John Tyler sworn-in as tenth president of the United States 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 6 1841)


Video: 'John Tyler: His Accidency (1841 - 1845)'

(Tuesday, April 6, 1841, noon local time) — U.S. Vice President John Tyler was sworn in today as the 10th President of the United States, two days after the death of President William Henry Harrison, becoming the first U.S. vice president to assume the office of president upon the death of his predecessor.
Continue reading John Tyler sworn-in as tenth president of the United States 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 6 1841)

William Henry Harrison becomes first U.S. president to die while in office 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1841)


Video: 'Experts Revealed The Real Reason Why William Henry Harrison Died After Less Than A Month In Of'

(Sunday, April 4, 1841, 12:30 a.m. local time) — U.S. President William Henry Harrison, 68, died early today at the White House, becoming the first United States president to die in office.
Continue reading William Henry Harrison becomes first U.S. president to die while in office 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1841)

U.S. Supreme Court frees Africans who seized control of slave ship and taken into slavery illegally 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 9 1841)


Video: 'A Legal Slave Uprising? | United States v. The Amistad'

(Tuesday, March 9, 1841) — The U.S. Supreme Court, in United States v. Schooner Amistad, ruled 7-1 in favor of a group of illegally enslaved Africans who were captured off the U.S. coast after seizing control of a Spanish schooner, La Amistad; the justices ruled that the Africans should be set free.
Continue reading U.S. Supreme Court frees Africans who seized control of slave ship and taken into slavery illegally 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 9 1841)

William Henry Harrison inaugurated as ninth president of the United States, John Tyler as tenth VP 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1841)


Video: 'William Henry Harrison's Farewell Address (Full Audiobook)'

(Thursday, March 4, 1841, approximately noon local time) — Former U.S. Senator William Henry Harrison of Ohio was inaugurated today as the ninth president of the United States at the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with Chief Justice Roger B. Taney administering the oath of office.
Continue reading William Henry Harrison inaugurated as ninth president of the United States, John Tyler as tenth VP 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1841)

William Henry Harrison defeats incumbent President Martin Van Buren in U.S. election 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1840 )


Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1840'

(Wednesday, December 2, 1840, during the United States presidential election, 1840) — Former U.S. Senator William H. Harrison of Ohio, a Whig, was elected as the ninth President of the United States today, defeating incumbent President Martin Van Buren of New York, a Democrat.
Continue reading William Henry Harrison defeats incumbent President Martin Van Buren in U.S. election 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1840 )

Former U.S. President James K. Polk dies 170 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 15 1849)


Video: '#11 James K Polk'

(Friday, June 15, 1849, a few minutes before 5:00 p.m. local time)James K. Polk, the 11th President of the United States (1845-1849) and 13th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1835-1839), died this evening in Nashville, only 103 days after leaving office. Continue reading Former U.S. President James K. Polk dies 170 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 15 1849)