Events in year of 1802
- 01-25Napoleon elected President of Italian (Cisalpine) Republic
- 01-26Congress passes an act calling for a US Capitol library
- 01-29John Beckley of Virginia appointed 1st Librarian of Congress
- 02-021st leopard exhibited in US, Boston (admission 25 cents)
- 02-08Simon Willard patents banjo clock
- 03-16Law signed to establish US Military Academy (West Point, NY)
- 03-16US army Corps of Engineers established (2nd time)
- 03-25France, Netherlands, Spain and England signs Peace of Amiens
- 03-27Treaty of Amiens-French Revolutionary War ends
- 04-08French Protestant church becomes state-supported and -controlled
- 05-03Washington DC incorporates as a city
- 06-09US Academy at West Point founded
- 07-04US Military Academy officially opens (West Point, NY)
- 07-071st comic book "The Wasp, " is published
- 08-02Napoleon declared "Counsel for Life"
- 08-07Napoleon orders re-instatement of slavery on St. Domingue (Haiti)
- 10-101st non indian settlement in Oklahoma
- 12-02English sell Suriname to Dutch
People born in year of 1802
- 01-03Feliks Ostrowski: Composer
- 01-06Ion Heliade-Radulescu: Romania -- Author / Novelist / writer (Gramatica)
- 01-13Eduard von Bauernfeld: Vienna, Austria -- Comedic playwright
- 01-19[Jean] Silvain van de Weyer: 1st Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs (1831)
- 01-22Richard Upjohn: United States -- Gothic architect (Trinity Chapel, NY)
- 01-31Jan C J van Speijk: Dutch naval hero
- 02-02Jean-Baptiste JD Boussingault: French chemist
- 02-04Mark Hopkins: United States -- Educator / philosopher (Williams College)
- 02-11Lydia Maria Child: United States -- Author / abolitionist (Juvenile Miscellany)
- 02-20Charles-Auguste de Beriot: Belgian violinist / composer
- 02-21George Douglas Ramsey: Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1882
- 02-26Victor Hugo: France -- Author (Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables)
- 02-27William George Frederick Cavendish Bentinck: Lord George Bentinck
- 03-16George Archibald McCall: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1868
- 03-24Jacob van Lennep: Attorney / Dutch MP
- 04-01Hubert Reis: Composer
- 04-04Dorothea Dix: United States -- Aroused interest in treatment of mental inmates
- 04-12Francois MP Liberman: French relig leader (Congregation of Heart)
- 04-27Abraham Louis Niedermeyer: Composer
- 05-06Friedrich Wilhelm Schirmer: Artist
- 05-15Isaac Ridgeway Trimble: Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1888
- 05-31Cesare Pugni: Composer
- 06-02Adrian van der Hoop, Jr.: Dutch poet / critic
- 07-01Gideon Welles: Secretary of the Navy (Union), died in 1878
- 07-03Joseph Labitzky: Composer
- 07-09Thomas Davenport: Invented 1st coml electric motor
- 07-12Charles-Louis Hanssens: Composer
- 07-15John Barnett: Composer
- 07-21David Hunter: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1886
- 07-24Ira Aldridge: Famous African
People died in year of 1802
- 01-14Marie Allard: French ballerina, dies at 59
- 01-27Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg: Composer, dies at 42
- 03-07Johann Georg Witthauer: Composer, dies at 50
- 03-29Frederic Thieme: Composer, dies at 51
- 06-28Johann J Angel: German Author / director, dies at 60
- 07-22Marie-Francois-Xavier Bichat: A founder of histology
- 07-28Giuseppe Sarti: Italian Composer (Il er pastore, Ifigenia), dies at 72
- 08-03Henry DFL: Prince of Prussia / General / diplomat
- 08-10Aepinus [Franz UT Hoch]: German Physician / physicist, dies at 77
- 08-23Corona Elizabeth Wilhelmine Schroter: Composer, dies at 51
- 10-22Samuel Arnold: English composer, dies at 62
- 10-29Jacques-Philippe Lamoninary: Composer, dies at 95
- 11-07Johann Georg Joseph Spangler: Composer, dies at 50
- 11-12Charles van Poucke: Flemish sculptor, dies at 62
- 12-31Francis Lewis: Welsh / US Merchant / signer (Declaration of Independence), dies at 89
- 12-31Hugo Franz Karl Alexander von Kerpen: Composer, dies at 53
Events in year of 1803
- 01-11Monroe and Livingston sail for Paris to buy New Orleans; they buy Louisiana
- 02-04William Dunlap, adapts French melodrama "Voice of Nature"
- 02-14Apple parer patented by Moses Coats, Downington, Penn
- 02-24Supreme Court 1st rules a law unconstitutional (Marbury vs. Madison)
- 02-251,800 sovereign German states unite into 60 states
- 02-27Great fire in Bombay, India
- 03-01Ohio becomes 17th state
- 03-031st impeachment trial of a federal judge, John Pickering, begins
- 03-19Johann von Schillers "Die Braut von Messina, " premieres in Weimar
- 04-01French law rules the use of intention
- 04-30US doubles in size through Louisiana Purchase ($15 million)
- 05-16Peace of Amiens ends
- 05-17John Hawkins and Richard French patent the Reaping Machine
- 05-18Britain declares war on France after Napoleon Bonaparte continues interfering in Italy and Switzerland
- 05-221st public library opens (Connecticut)
- 08-091st horses arrive in Hawaii
- 09-23Battle of Assaye-British-Indian forces beat Maratha Army
- 10-20US Senate ratifies Louisiana Purchase
- 11-18Battle of Vertieres, in which Haitians defeat French
- 11-29Dessalines and Christophe declare St. Domingue (Haiti) independent
- 11-30Spain cedes her claims to Louisiana Territory to France
- 12-20Louisiana Purchase formally transferred from France to US for $27M
People born in year of 1803
- 01-03Douglas William Jerrold: London, England -- Author / playwright / wit (Punch Magazine)
- 01-06Henri Herz: Composer
- 01-09Christopher Gustavus Memminger: Secy Treas (Confederacy) died in 1888
- 01-29James Outram: Butterley Hall, Derbyshire, England -- General
- 02-02Albert Sidney Johnston: Gen (Confederate Army), died in 1862
- 02-15John Augustus Sutter: Swiss / US colonist (New Helvetia Ca, Sutter Mill)
- 02-20Friedrich Theodor Frohlich: Composer
- 03-14F G Klopstock: Writer
- 03-22Anthonie Waldrop: Dutch painter / lithographer
- 04-02Franz Paul Lachner: Composer
- 04-07Flora Tristan: Writer
- 04-14Friedrich von Amerling: Austrian painter
- 04-18Charles F Pahud de Montagnes: Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies (1856-61)
- 04-21Levin Minn Powell: Commander (Union Navy), died in 1885
- 04-27Alfred Julius Becher: Composer
- 05-07Johan Peter Cronhamm: Composer
- 05-08Joseph Napoleon Ney Moskova: Composer
- 05-12Justus Freiherr von Liebig: German chemist (agricultural chemics)
- 05-17Robert Smith Surtees: Novelist
- 05-24Charles LJL Bonaparte: Corsican / French Prince of Canino / Musignano
- 06-02Michail I Glinka: Russian composer
- 06-04Gabriel James Rains: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1881
- 06-24George James Webb: Composer
- 07-20Jakob Zeugheer: Composer
- 07-20Thomas Lovell Beddoes: English poet
- 07-23Johann Vesque von Puttlingen: Composer
- 07-24Alexander Jackson Davis: United States -- Architect (gothic revivalist)
- 07-31John Ericsson: United States -- Inventor (screw propeller) / shipbuilder-USS Monitor
- 08-15James Douglas: Father of British Columbia
- 09-01Jacobus T Abels: Dutch painter
People died in year of 1803
- 01-02Ignaz Franz von Beecke: Composer, dies at 69
- 01-26Georg von Pasterwiz: Composer, dies at 72
- 02-03Pedro R de Campomanes: Spanish economist / lawyer / literary, dies at 79
- 02-16Jan V clav Stich: Bohemian composer, dies at 56
- 02-18J W L Gleim: Writer
- 02-21Edward Despard: Last person drawn and quartered in England
- 03-14Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock: German poet, dies at 78
- 03-17Candido Jose Ruano: Composer, dies at 42
- 04-02Hieronymus van Alphen: Dutch attorney / Poet (church hymns), dies at 56
- 06-08Joannes Natalis Paquot: Belgian priest / historian, dies at 80
- 06-22Wilhelm Heinse: Writer
- 06-24Matthew Thornton: Irish / US Physician / signer (Declaration of Independence), dies at 88
- 07-14Esteban Salas y Castro: Composer
- 07-23Arthur Wolfe: 1st viscount Kilwarden / Chief Justice of Ireland, murdered
- 08-18James Beattie: Scottish Poet / philosopher (Essay on Truth), dies at 67
- 08-28Charles L Fournier: Flemish writer / painter
- 09-05Francois Devienne: Composer, dies at 44
- 09-09Armand-Emmanuel Trial: Composer, dies at 32
- 09-13John Barry: 1st American commodore
- 09-17Franz Xaver Sussmayr: Composer
- 09-20Robert Emmet: Irish nationalist, executed
- 09-30Charles Broche: Composer, dies at 51
- 10-02Samuel Adams: US revolutionary (Boston Massacre-Tea Party), dies at 81
- 10-08Vittoria A Alfieri: Italian Earl / writer (Filippo), dies at 54
- 11-03Henri Moreau: Composer, dies at 75
- 11-05Ch de Laclos: Writer
- 11-22Bernardus Bosch: Dutch vicar / patriot, dies at 57
- 12-18Johann G von Herder: German philosopher / Theologist / poet, dies at 59
Events in year of 1804
- 01-01Haiti gains independence from France (National Day)
- 01-05Ohio legislature passes 1st laws restricting free blacks movement
- 01-30Mungo Park leaves England seeking source of Niger River
- 01-31British vice-admiral William Blighs fleet reaches Curacao
- 02-15New Jersey becomes last northern state to abolish slavery
- 02-16Lt Stephen Decatur raids Tripoli Harbor and burns Navy frigate "Philadelphia" after pirates seized it
- 02-181st US land-grant college, Ohio University, Athens Ohio, chartered
- 02-23Conspirators against Napoleon, for restoration of Louis XVIII
- 02-25Jefferson nominated for President at Democratic-Republican caucus
- 02-26Vice-admiral William Bligh ends siege of Fort Amsterdam, Willemstad
- 03-21French civil Code of Napoleon adopted
- 03-26Congress orders removal of Indians east of Mississippi to Louisiana
- 03-26Territory of Orleans organizes in Louisiana Purchase
- 03-28Ohio passed law restricting movement of Blacks, 1804
- 03-29Thousands of Whites massacred in Haiti
- 04-22Gioacchino Rossini (12) performs in Imola
- 04-2831 English ship sail Suriname river demand transition colony
- 05-06Suriname sold to English (until Feb, 1816)
- 05-14Lewis and Clark set out from St. Louis for Pacific Coast
- 05-16Senate and Tribune declare Napolean leader of France
- 05-17Lewis and Clark begin exploration of Louisiana Purchase
- 05-18Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed Emperor of France
- 05-21Lewis and Clark Expedition begins
- 06-1512th amendment ratified; deals with manner of choosing President
- 08-25Alice Meynell becomes 1st woman jockey (England)
- 09-2512th amendment to US constitution, regulating judicial power
- 10-02England mobilizes to protect against French invasion
- 10-09Hobart Tasmania founded
- 11-18Palver Purim 1st celebrated to commemorate miraculous escape
- 11-30Impeachment trial of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase begins
People born in year of 1804
- 01-12Hippolyte Monpou: Composer
- 01-14John Park: Composer
- 01-16Karl August Krebs: Composer
- 02-02Leopold Eugen Mechura: Composer
- 02-05Johan Ludvig Runeberg: Finland -- Poet
- 02-06Ragnerus L van Andringa de Kempenaer: Dutch officer / swindler
- 02-17Samuel Read Anderson: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1883
- 03-17James Bridger: Scout / fur trader / mountain man par excellance
- 03-20Neal Dow: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1897
- 03-30Salomon Sulzer: Composer
- 04-04Joseph Fischhof: Composer
- 04-23Guillaume Nerenburger: Belgian General (Triangulatie of Belgium)
- 04-24Thomas Oliver Selfridge: Comm (Union Navy)
- 05-05Jacob Kats: Flemish writer (Earthly Paradise)
- 05-12Robert Baldwin: (L) help establish government in Canada (or 1904)
- 05-16Elizabeth Palmer Peabody: Educator / founder (US kindergarten)
- 05-17Ottho G Heldring: Dutch vicar / Reformer (Heldring Institutions)
- 05-22John William [Turk] Livingston: Commander (Union Navy), died in 1885
- 05-31Jeanne-Louise Farrenc: Composer
- 06-01Mikhail Ivan Glinka: Novosspaskoye, Russia -- Composer (Jota Aragonesa)
- 06-03Richard Cobden: West, Sussex -- Founder (Anti-Corn-Law League)
- 06-06Petter Conrad Boman: Composer
- 06-08Jan Baptist van Son: Dutch politician (RC)
- 06-24Stephan L Endlicher: Austrian priest / Botanist
- 07-01George Sand: France -- Novelist (Valentine, Le Figaro)
- 07-04Nathaniel Hawthorne: Massachusetts, United States -- Author (House of 7 Gables, Scarlet Letter)
- 07-14Ludwig A Benedek: Austrian General
- 07-20Richard Owen: British zoologist
- 07-21Victor Schoelcher: Guadeloupe -- Abolished french slavery
- 07-25Carlo Boncompagni di Mombello: Italian Minister of Education
People died in year of 1804
- 01-04Charlotte Lennox: English Novelist (The Female Quixote)
- 02-06Joseph Priestley: Engl / US Theologist / philosopher / chemist, dies at 70
- 02-12Immanuel Kant: German philosopher (Zum ewigen Frieden), dies at 79
- 02-17Christian Ernst Graf: Composer, dies at 80
- 03-01Wolfgang Nicolaus Haueisen: Composer, dies at 63
- 03-04Karl Leopold Rollig: Composer
- 03-07John Wedgwood: Founder (Royal Horticulture Society)
- 03-16Francisco Marquis Albergati Capacelli: Italian playwright, dies at 75
- 03-20Ignaz Malzat: Composer, dies at 47
- 04-09Jacques Necker: Fiancier / statesman
- 04-28Hans Gram: Composer, dies at 49
- 05-24Simon Style: Fries medical / writer, dies at 73
- 06-03Jean-Engelbert Pauwels: Composer, dies at 35
- 06-16Johann Adam Hiller: Composer, dies at 75
- 07-11Alex Hamilton: Killed by VP Aaron Burr in pistol duel near Weehawken
- 07-12Alexander Hamilton: Secretary of Treasury, dies in pistol duel
- 07-25William Forsyth: English gardening expert (Forsythia)
- 08-17Barbara Hec: Organized 1st Methodist church in US
- 08-20Charles Floyd: Only fatality of the Lewis & Clark Expedition
- 11-02Armand-Gaston Camus: French Chairman of Council of 500, dies at 64
- 11-05Elizabeth "Betje" Wolff-Bekker: Poetess (Sara Burgerhart), dies at 66
- 11-14Agatha "Aagje" Blanket: Literary (Sara Burgerhart), dies at 62
- 11-19Pietro Alessandro Guglieli: Italian opera composer, dies at 75
- 12-19Mary Bright: British Prime Minister Rockingham