Events in year of 1849
- 01-23Mrs Elizabeth Blackwell becomes 1st woman Physician in US
- 01-23Patent granted for an envelope-making machine
- 01-31Corn Laws abolished in Britain
- 02-04University of Wisconsin begins in 1 room with 20 students
- 02-09Roman Republic declared
- 02-181st regular steamboat service to California starts (or 02 / 28)
- 02-281st boat load of gold rush prospectors arrives in SF from east coast
- 03-03Gold Coinage Act authorizes $20 Double Eagle gold coin
- 03-03Home Dept (Interior Dept), forms
- 03-03Minnesota Territory is organizes
- 03-03Territory of Minnesota organizes
- 03-03US Department of the Interior established by Congress
- 03-05Zachary Taylor sworn in as 12th President
- 03-09Carl Nikolais opera "Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, " premieres
- 03-10Abraham Lincoln applies for a patent; only US President to do so
- 03-121st gold seekers arrive in Nicaragua en route to California
- 03-23Battle of Novara (King Charles Albert vs. Italian Republic)
- 03-27Joseph Couch patents steam-powered percussion rock drill
- 03-28Dutch Princess Marianne and Prince Albert of Prussia separate
- 03-29Britain formally annexs Punjab after defeat of Sikhs in India
- 03-31Colonel John W Geary arrives as 1st postmaster of San Francisco
- 04-10Safety pin patented by Walter Hunt (NYC); sold rights for $100
- 04-13Hungarian Republic proclaimed
- 04-16Opera "Il Profeta, " premieres in Paris
- 05-10Pack destroys Astor Place opera house in NYC (22 killed)
- 05-12Willem Alexander PFL crowned King Willem III in Amsterdam
- 05-15Philadelphia Turngemeinde founded
- 05-17Fire destroy Centrum in St. Louis, Missouri
- 05-22Abraham Lincoln patents a buoying device
- 05-28Princess WFLC Marianne and Albrecht of Prussia separate
People born in year of 1849
- 01-11Oskar Lassar: German dermatologist (bath house)
- 01-18Edmund Barton: 1st Prime Minister of Australia (1900-03)
- 01-22August Strindberg: Sweden -- Dramatist / Novelist (Apologia)
- 02-04Jean Richepin: French poet / writer (Les Chansons de Gueux)
- 02-17Selwyn Image: Bodiam, Sussex -- Painter
- 02-18Alexander L Kielland: Norwegian writer / politician (Garman og Worse)
- 03-03Jacques Oppenheim: Dutch lawyer
- 03-16James E Smith: Became father at 100 with woman 64 years younger
- 04-13Enrique Jose Varona: Cuban sociologist / psychologist
- 04-21Oskar Hertwig: Germany -- Embryologist - discovered fertilization
- 04-25Felix Klein: German mathematician (Evanston Colloquium)
- 05-03Jacob Riis: Denmark -- Reporter (NY Tribune, New York Evening Sun)
- 05-05Hambletonian: Chester, New York -- Greatest standardbred horse
- 05-06Wyatt Eaton: Artist
- 05-27"Blind" Tom Bethune: Pianist / composer
- 06-02Paul-Albert Besnard: French painter / graphic artist (La femme)
- 06-08Juliaan Dillens: Flemish sculptor (Anspach Monument)
- 06-09Joseph Vezina: Composer
- 06-22Stephen C Massett: Opens at courthouse as 1st pro entertainer
- 06-27Harriet Hubbard Ayers: Beauty cream maufacturer and expert / columnist
- 06-29Sergei J Witte: Netherlands -- Russian count / Premier Russia
- 07-12William Osler: Canada -- Physician / author (circulatory system)
- 07-15Moritz Heuzenroeder: Composer
- 07-19F A Alphonse Aulard: French historian
- 07-22Emma Lazarus: Jewish poet ("New Colossus"-base of Statue of Liberty)
- 07-23Geza Zichy: Composer
- 08-12Abbott Handerson Thayer: Painter / naturalist
- 08-18Benjamin Louis Paul Godard: Composer
- 08-29Titus A J van Asch van Wijck: Dutch Governor Suriname (1891-97)
- 08-30Joseph Mallaby Dent: Dutch publisher
People died in year of 1849
- 01-09Jan Kops: Dutch agriculturist / vicar, dies at 83
- 01-16Wilhelm M L de Wette: German theologist, dies at 69
- 02-08France Preseren: Slovenian Poet (Sonetni Venec), dies at 48
- 02-08Francois-Antoine Habeneck: Composer, dies at 68
- 02-09Corneille Vander Planken: Composer, dies at 76
- 02-13Christian Rummel: Composer, dies at 61
- 02-15Pierre F Verhulst: Belgian Mathematician (logistic curve), dies at 44
- 02-22Alexander Ernst Fesca: Composer, dies at 28
- 03-17Willem II Frederik GL: King of the Netherlands (1840-49), dies at 56
- 03-28Stephan L Endlicher: Austrian priest / botany, dies at 44
- 04-03Juliusz Slowacki: Pol Poet (Father of the Plague-Patient), dies at 39
- 05-10Katsushika Hokusai: Japanese painter, dies at 89
- 05-11Carl Otto Ehrenfried Nicolai: Composer, dies at 38
- 05-11Otto Nicolai: German Composer / conductor, dies at 39
- 05-25Andreas Michiels: Dutch Military gov of West Sumatra, dies in battle at 52
- 06-03Francois de Paule Jacques Raymond de Fossa: Composer, dies at 73
- 06-10Friedrich Wilhelm Michael Kalkbrenner: Composer, dies at 63
- 06-15James Knox Polk: 11th President (1845-1849), dies at 53 in Nashville, Tennessee
- 07-28Charles Albert: King of Sardinia (1831-49)
- 08-02Mehemet Ali: British Viceroy to Egypt
- 08-12Abraham AA "Albert" Gallatin: Minister of Finance (1801-14), dies at 88
- 08-26Jacques-Fereol Mazas: Composer, dies at 66
- 09-03Earnest Freiherr von Feuchtersleben: Austria writer / physician
- 10-07Edgar Allen Poe: Poet (Raven), dies in Baltimore at 40
- 11-13William Etty: English Painter (nudist), dies at 62
- 12-14Conradin Kreutzer: Composer, dies at 69
Events in year of 1850
- 01-05California Exchange opens
- 01-20Investigator, 1st ship to effect northwest passage, leaves England
- 01-22Alta California becomes a daily paper, 1st such in California
- 01-261st German-language daily newspaper in US published, New York City
- 01-29Henry Clay introduces a comprise bill on slavery to US Senate
- 02-05Adding machine employing depressible keys patented, New Paltz, New York
- 02-18California Legislature creates 9 Bay Area counties
- 03-07Daniel Webster endorses Compromise of 1850
- 03-121st US $20 gold piece issued
- 03-18Henry Wells and William Fargo forms American Express in Buffalo
- 03-31US population hits 23,191,876 (Black population: 3,638,808 (15.7%))
- 04-01San Francisco County Government established
- 04-04City of Los Angeles incorporated
- 04-15City of San Francisco incorporated
- 04-25Paul Julius Reuter, use 40 pigeons to carry stock market prices
- 05-01John Geary becomes 1st SF mayor
- 05-11Work starts on 1st brick building in San Francisco
- 05-27Mormon Temple in Nauvoo Illinois destroyed by tornado
- 06-04Empire Engine Company No 1 organized
- 06-04Self deodorizing fertilizer patented in England
- 06-06Levi Strauss made his 1st blue jeans
- 06-10Millard Fillmore sworn-in as President of US (replacing Taylor)
- 06-17Paddle-wheeler "G P Griffith" burns off Mentor Ohio (206 die)
- 06-19Swedish / Norwegian crown Prince Charles weds Dutch Princess Wilhelmina
- 06-29British ex-premier sir Robert Peel falls off his horse
- 07-01At least 626 ships lie at anchor around SF Bay
- 07-02Benjamin Lane patents gas mask with a breathing apparatus
- 07-07Scottish explorer Edward Eyre reaches Albany, W-Australia
- 07-12Dutch 2nd Chamber accepts establishment of Provincial States
- 07-141st public demonstration of ice made by refrigeration
People born in year of 1850
- 01-05Theodoor Verstraete: Flemish painter / etcher
- 01-06Eduard "Ede" Bernstein: German marxist (New Era)
- 01-06Franz Xaver Scharwenka: German pianist / composer (Mataswintha)
- 01-11J C Arthur: Lowville, New York -- Botanist (studied rusts)
- 01-11Philipp la Renotiere von Ferrary: Famous philatelist
- 01-13Leon Francis Victor Caron: Composer
- 01-14Jean de Reszke [Jan Mieczyslaw]: Polish tenor
- 01-15Mihail Eminesco [Eminovici]: Romanian poet (Samanul Dionis)
- 01-15Sonya Kurtovsky Kovalevsky: Mathemetician (Academy of Science)
- 01-17Alexander Sergeyevich Taneyev: St. Petersburg, Russia -- Composer
- 01-27Samuel Gompers: Dutch / US 1st President (American Federation of Labor)
- 01-29Ebenezer Howard: London, England -- Pioneer of garden cities
- 01-29Lawrence Hargrave: Inventor (box kite)
- 02-02Carel V Gerritsen: Dutch free thinker
- 02-12Amaat Vyncke: Flemish Missionary (Flemish Flag)
- 02-17Anton Urspruch: Composer
- 02-17Ludwig Bonvin: Composer
- 02-18George Henschel: Composer
- 02-27Henry Edwards Huntington: United States -- Railroad exec
- 02-28Hermann Schell: German theologist / philosopher (Gott und Geist)
- 03-05Daniel Brink Towner: Composer
- 03-09Alexandre Luigini: Composer
- 03-13Emilio Serrano y Ruiz: Composer
- 03-26Edward Bellamy: Author (Looking Backward)
- 04-08William Henry Welch: United States -- Pathologist (founded John Hopkins)
- 04-09Herman Zumpe: Composer
- 04-15John Munroe Longyear: United States -- Capitalist / bank president
- 04-16Herbert Baxter Adams: United States -- Historian (American Historical Association)
- 04-19Edward John Gregory: Painter / engraver
- 04-19Theo Mann-Bouwmeester: Dutch actress (Pink Bernd, Hedda Gabler)
People died in year of 1850
- 01-01Raphael G Kiesewetter: Austria musicologist, dies at 76
- 01-22Vincenzo Pallotti: Italian saint, dies at 54
- 01-26Francis Jeffrey: Baron Jeffrey, judge / literary critic
- 01-27J Gottfried Schadow: German Sculptor / cartoonist / writer, dies at 85
- 01-27Philipp Roth: Composer, dies at 70
- 03-19Adalbert Gyrowetz: Composer, dies at 87
- 03-27Wilhelm Bear: German banker / astronomer (Moon Map), dies at 53
- 03-31John Calhoun: Dies at 68
- 04-03Vaclav Jan Krtitel Tomasek: Organist / pianist / composer, dies at 75
- 04-07William Lisle Bowles: English Poet (14 Sonnets), dies at 87
- 04-09William Prout: Physician / chemist
- 04-16Marie [Gresholtz] Tussaud: Maker of wax figures
- 04-23William Wordsworth: Poet, dies at 80
- 04-24Louis Alexandre Piccinni: Composer, dies at 70
- 05-09Louis-Joseph Gay-Lussac: Chemist / physicist
- 05-24Jane Porter: Novelist (Scottish Chiefs), dies at 74
- 06-04Willem F Mauritius HK: Prince of Orange, dies at 74
- 06-12Jean V Constant de Rebecque: Swiss / Dutch army leader, dies at 77
- 06-18Antoni Weinert: Composer, dies at 99
- 07-02Robert "Bobbie" Peel: British Prime Minister / founder London Police, dies at 62
- 07-09Sajjid Ali Mohammed Bab: Persian founder of Babism
- 07-09Zachary Taylor: 12th President (1849-50), dies in White House at 65
- 07-19[Sarah] Margaret Fuller Ossoli: US feminist / revolutionary
- 07-19Giovanni Ossoli: Italian Marquis / revolutionary, drowned
- 07-28Stefano Pavesi: Composer, dies at 71
- 08-04Frantisek Tucek: Composer, dies at 68
- 08-17Jose Francisco de San Martin: South American revolutionary hero
- 08-18H de Balzac: Writer, dies at 51
- 08-22Nikolaus Lenau: Writer, dies at 48
- 10-02Sarah Biffin / Beffin: Limbless miniature painter
Events in year of 1851
- 01-01City of Glasgow steamer inaugurates Philadelphia-Liverpool line
- 01-15Gen Arista replaces Mexican President Herrera
- 01-28Northwestern University (Chicago) chartered
- 01-31Gail Borden announces invention of evaporated milk
- 02-15Black abolitionists invade Boston courtroom rescueing a fugitive slave
- 03-03Congress authorizes smallest US silver coin (3 cent piece)
- 03-07Poll tax levied on Russo-Polish Jews entering Austrian Galicia ends
- 03-21Yosemite Valley discovered in California
- 04-23Canada issues its 1st postage stamps
- 05-01Great Exhibition opens in Chrystal Palace London
- 05-03Most of SF destroyed by fire; 30 die
- 05-041st major SF fire
- 05-06Dr John Gorrie patents a "refrigeration machine"
- 05-06Linus Yale patents Yale-lock
- 05-06New slave regulations go into effect in Suriname
- 05-06San Francisco Chamber of Commerce starts
- 05-15Rama IV, [Phra Chomklao Chaoyuhua], King of Thai (1851-68), crowned
- 05-18Amsterdam-Nieuwediep telegraph connection linked
- 06-021st US alcohol prohibition law enacted (Maine)
- 06-031st baseball uniforms worn, New York Knickerbockers wear straw hat, white shirt and blue long trousers
- 06-09San Francisco Committee of Vigilance forms (1st time)
- 06-15Jacob Fussell, Baltimore dairyman, sets up 1st ice-cream factory
- 07-13John F Loudon discovers tin on East Indian Island of Billiton
- 07-23Treaty of Traverse des Sioux signed by Sioux Indians and US
- 07-24Window tax abolished in Britain
- 07-28Total solar eclipse captured on a daguerreotype photograph
- 08-12Isaac Singer patents sewing machine
- 08-22Gold fields discovered in Australia
- 09-18New York Times starts publishing (2 cents a copy)
- 10-011st Hawaiian stamps issued
People born in year of 1851
- 01-09Giuseppi Gallignani: Composer
- 01-19David Starr Jordan: New York, United States -- Biologist / university President (Leland Stanford)
- 01-19Johannes C Kapteyn: Dutch astronomer
- 01-25Arne Garborg: Norwegian playwright (Bondestudentar)
- 01-25Jan Blockx: Belgium -- Opera composer (Sea Bride Princess of Herberg)
- 01-27Rafael Obligado: Argentina -- Writer (Santos Vega)
- 02-03Johannes B van Heutsz: Lieutenant General / Governor-General Dutch East Indies
- 03-15Jozef Surzynski: Composer
- 03-27Ruperto Chapi y Lorente: Composer
- 04-07Otto Adolf Klauwell: Composer
- 04-09C E Arthur Wichmann: German / Dutch geologist (Netherlands Indies)
- 04-12Emil Liebling: Composer
- 04-16Ernst Josephson: Sweden -- Artist
- 05-20Emile Berliner: Germany -- Inventor (flat phonograph record)
- 05-20Rose Hawthorne Lathrop: United States -- Nun / Daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne
- 05-23Antoni Stolpe: Composer
- 06-12Oliver Joseph Lodge: England, United Kingdom -- Early radio pioneer
- 06-21Daniel Carter Beard: United States -- Organized 1st boy scout troop
- 07-07Lillien Jane Martin: Psychologist, founded Gerontology Clinic
- 07-08Arthur J Evans: English archaeologist (Crete)
- 07-11Millie & Christine: North Carolina, United States -- Siamese twins
- 07-19Hendrik J Jut: Dutch murderer (head of Jut)
- 08-03Isabella Caroline Somerset: Temperance leader
- 08-13John Lincoln Clem: Drummer (Union volunteers), died in 1937
- 08-15[Georgette A] Helena Amelung: Dutch actress (Scapegoat)
- 08-17Henry Drummond: Scottish geologist / evangelist
- 08-19Frans Schollaert: Belgian Premier (1908-11)
- 08-25[Willem] Alexander KHF: Prince of Orange / Netherlands
- 09-04John Dillon: Irish nationalist / British Lower house member
- 09-13Walter Reed: US Army Surgeon ( proved mosquitoes transmit yellow fever)
People died in year of 1851
- 01-12Johan Herman Koekkoek: Painter, dies at 72
- 01-21Gustav Albert Lortzing: Composer, dies at 49
- 01-24Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini: Italian composer, dies at 76
- 01-27John James Audubon: Conservationist (Audubon Society), dies at 65
- 01-27Karl Moser: Composer, dies at 77
- 02-01Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley: Novelist (Frankenstein), dies at 53
- 02-16Anne Nagell van Ampsen: Dutch politician, dies at 95
- 02-20Josef Alois Ladurner: Composer, dies at 81
- 02-25Ferdinand Simon Gassner: Composer, dies at 53
- 03-04Michael Henkel: Composer, dies at 70
- 03-06Alexander Aliabiev: Composer, dies at 63
- 04-08John Parry: Composer, dies at 75
- 04-09Antoine-Charles Glachant: Composer, dies at 80
- 05-17Jean E "Adrian" van Bevervoorde: Journalist (Treason), dies at 31
- 05-23Lucas Pieter Roodbaard: Architect, dies at 69
- 05-24Stanko Vraz [Jakob Frass]: Slavic Poet (Grammatica), dies at 40
- 07-04Martin-Joseph Mengal: Composer, dies at 67
- 07-05Juanita: Mexican, lynched by California gold diggers
- 07-17Beni Egressy: Composer, dies at 37
- 08-19Gioseffo Catrufo: Composer, dies at 80
- 10-31Peter II Petrovic Njegos: Bishop of Montenegro (1830-51), dies at 37
- 11-18Ernst August: Duke of Cumberland / King of Hanover (1837-51), dies at 80
- 11-20Wenzel Sedlak: Composer, dies at 75
- 12-19J M William Turner: British Painter (Rain, Steam & Speed), dies at 76