Category Archives: 1840s

Former U.S. President John Quincy Adams dies 170 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1848)

1840s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'John Quincy Adams - Mini Biography'

(Wednesday, February 23, 1848, 7:20 p.m. local time) — John Quincy Adams, the 6th President of the United States (1825-1829), the 8th United States Secretary of State (1817-1825) and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (since 1831), died today in the Speaker’s Room inside the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., two days after suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage in the House chamber. Continue reading Former U.S. President John Quincy Adams dies 170 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1848) →

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends Mexican–American War 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1848)

1840s


Video: 'Documentary_The Mexican - American War' (Feb. 2, 1848 at 1:21:08)

(Wednesday, February 2, 1848) — The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed today at the main altar of the old Basilica of Guadalupe at Villa Hidalgo, now a neighborhood in northern Mexico City, ending the Mexican-American War after nearly two years of fighting. Continue reading Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends Mexican–American War 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1848) →

James W. Marshall discovers gold in California 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 24 1848)

1840s


Video: 'The Start of the California Gold Rush (1849)'

(Monday, January 24, 1848) — James W. Marshall, a foreman working for Sacramento pioneer John Sutter, found shiny metal today in the tailrace of a lumber mill Marshall was building for Sutter on the American River, near Coloma in northern California — a discovery that led to the California Gold Rush. Continue reading James W. Marshall discovers gold in California 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 24 1848) →

Iowa admitted to Union as 29th state 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 28 1846)

1840s


Video: 'Iowa - 50 States - US Geography'

(Monday, December 28, 1846) — Iowa, located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by the Mississippi River on the east and the Missouri River and the Big Sioux River on the west, became the 29th state in the Union today when President James K. Polk signed Iowa’s admission bill into law. Continue reading Iowa admitted to Union as 29th state 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 28 1846) →

William T.G. Morton demonstrates surgical anesthesia 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 16 1846)

1840s


Video: 'William T.G. Morton Biography'

(Friday, October 16, 1846, just after midnight local time) — Dentist William T. G. Morton demonstrated the effectiveness of ether as an anesthetic today by administering it to a patient undergoing jaw surgery before an audience of doctors at the operating theater of the Massachusetts General Hospital, or MGH.

Neptune identified as planet 170 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 23 1846)

1840s


Video: 'Top 10 AMAZING Facts About Neptune'

(Thursday, September 24, 1846, just after midnight local time) — Neptune, the eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun in the Solar System, was identified as a planet early this morning at the Berlin Observatory by German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle.

U.S. forces occupy Santa Fe in present-day New Mexico 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 18 1846)

1840s

(Thursday, August 18, 1846; during the Mexican-American War) — U.S. forces led by Gen. Stephen W. Kearny occupied Santa Fe today in present-day New Mexico, bringing nearly two and a half centuries of Spanish and Mexican rule to an end without firing a shot.

President Polk signs measure establishing Smithsonian Institution 170 years ago today (Aug 10 1846)

1840s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ben Stiller Gives you Introduction To The Smithsonian'

(Monday, August 10, 1846) — U.S. President James K. Polk signed the legislation today that established the Smithsonian Institution, a group of museums and research centers administered by the government of the United States “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” Continue reading President Polk signs measure establishing Smithsonian Institution 170 years ago today (Aug 10 1846) →

President John Tyler weds second wife in New York 170 years ago today (Jun 26 1844)

1840s, U.S. Presidents

(Wednesday, June 26, 1844) — U.S. President John Tyler, a 54-year-old widower, married Julia Gardiner, 24, today at the Church of the Ascension in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Gardiner became the 11th (and the youngest up to that time) First Lady of the United States.