Explore the major historical events, famous births, and notable deaths that occurred in the year 1831. This year saw 40 significant events. 2 notable figures were born. 2 notable figures passed away.
Slave plantation owner Charles Farquharson begins his diary at Prospect Hill Plantation, Watlings Island (San Salvador), the only plantation diary to survive from the Bahamas (ends Dec 1832) [1]
Soldier and future Confederate General Robert E. Lee (24) marries Mary Custis (22) at Arlington House, Arlington Virginia
"America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)" with lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith has its first public performance at Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts
Count Ioannis Antoniou Kapodistrias, sometimes anglicized as John Capodistrias, was a Greek statesman who was one of the most distinguished politicians and diplomats of 19th-century...
Michael Faraday (22 September 1791 – 25 August 1867) was an English chemist and physicist who contributed to the study of electrochemistry and electromagnetism.
Ecuador and Venezuela separate from Gran Colombia
"Spirit of the Times," the premier sports journal of the 19th century, begins publishing in New York City
First US building and loan association organized in Frankford, Pennsylvania
1st US railroad honeymoon trip, Mr & Mrs Pierson, Charleston, South Carolina
African Americans are forcibly deported from Portsmouth, Ohio
Jan van Speyk blows up his gunboat in Antwerp to avoid capture by the Belgian, killing about 30
The Constitution of Belgium (Dutch: Belgische Grondwet; French: Constitution belge; German: Verfassung Belgiens) dates back to 1831.
Sabagadis Woldu was a governor of Tigray Province of the Ethiopian Empire from 1822 to 1831.
1st practical US coal-burning locomotive makes 1st trial run in Pennsylvania
Polish revolutionaries defeat Russians in battle of Growchow
John Frazee becomes 1st US sculptor to receive a federal commission
The French Foreign Legion has had a long and unique history amongst the units of the French Army. It was historically formed of expatriate enlisted personnel led by French officers.
Bosniaks rebel against the Ottoman Empire in the Great Bosnian uprising
Mainzer Rijnvaart Convention ends
Broughton Suspension Bridge was an iron chain suspension bridge built in 1826 to span the River Irwell between Broughton and Pendleton, now in Salford, Greater Manchester, England.
Rear-Admiral of the Red Sir James Clark Ross (15 April 1800 – 3 April 1862) was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who explored both the North and South Poles.
National Congress selects Leopold von Saksen-Coburg as King of Belgium
2nd US national black convention (Philadelphia)
Admiral James C Ross reaches magnetic North Pole
Leopold I (Leopold George Christian Frederick; 16 December 1790 – 10 December 1865) was the first king of the Belgians, reigning from 21 July 1831 until his death in 1865. The youngest son of...
London Bridge across the Thames opens to traffic
Ten-Day Campaign begins; Dutch army occupies Belgium
Battle of Hasselt: Dutch army drives out the Belgians
First US steam engine train runs from Albany to Schenectady, NY
Hurricane hits Barbados, killing about 1,500 people
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north,...
William IV is crowned King of Great Britain at the age of 64, becoming the oldest person to assume the British throne, until King Charles in 2022
John Bull is a historic British-built railroad steam locomotive that operated in the United States.
The Gladiator is a tragic melodrama in five acts written by Robert Montgomery Bird originally starring Edwin Forrest. It first premiered on September 26, 1831, at the Park Theatre in New York City.
State of Gran Colombia disbands
Robert le diable (Robert the Devil) is an opera in five acts composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer between 1827 and 1831, to a libretto written in French by Eugène Scribe and Germain Delavigne.
The Erie Canal closes for the entire month due to cold weather
Former US President John Q Adams takes his seat as a member of House of Representatives
Louisiana and Arkansas are the first states to observe Christmas as a holiday
Norma is a tragedia lirica or opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with libretto by Felice Romani after the play Norma, ou L'infanticide (Norma, or The Infanticide) by Alexandre Soumet.
James Clerk Maxwell, Scottish physicist and mathematician, known for scottish physicist and mathematician, was born on 1831-06-13.
John Pemberton, American pharmacist, inventor of coca-cola, known for american pharmacist, inventor of coca-cola, was born on 1831-07-08.
Vicente Guerrero dies
Maria Szymanowska, Polish composer and pianist, known for polish composer and pianist, died on 1831-07-24.
Slave plantation owner Charles Farquharson begins his diary at Prospect Hill Plantation, Watlings Island (San Salvador), the only plantation diary to survive from the Bahamas (ends Dec 1832) [1]
Soldier and future Confederate General Robert E. Lee (24) marries Mary Custis (22) at Arlington House, Arlington Virginia
"America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)" with lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith has its first public performance at Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts
Count Ioannis Antoniou Kapodistrias, sometimes anglicized as John Capodistrias, was a Greek statesman who was one of the most distinguished politicians and diplomats of 19th-century...
Michael Faraday (22 September 1791 – 25 August 1867) was an English chemist and physicist who contributed to the study of electrochemistry and electromagnetism.
Ecuador and Venezuela separate from Gran Colombia
"Spirit of the Times," the premier sports journal of the 19th century, begins publishing in New York City
First US building and loan association organized in Frankford, Pennsylvania
1st US railroad honeymoon trip, Mr & Mrs Pierson, Charleston, South Carolina
African Americans are forcibly deported from Portsmouth, Ohio
Jan van Speyk blows up his gunboat in Antwerp to avoid capture by the Belgian, killing about 30
The Constitution of Belgium (Dutch: Belgische Grondwet; French: Constitution belge; German: Verfassung Belgiens) dates back to 1831.
Sabagadis Woldu was a governor of Tigray Province of the Ethiopian Empire from 1822 to 1831.
1st practical US coal-burning locomotive makes 1st trial run in Pennsylvania
Polish revolutionaries defeat Russians in battle of Growchow
John Frazee becomes 1st US sculptor to receive a federal commission
The French Foreign Legion has had a long and unique history amongst the units of the French Army. It was historically formed of expatriate enlisted personnel led by French officers.
Bosniaks rebel against the Ottoman Empire in the Great Bosnian uprising
Mainzer Rijnvaart Convention ends
Broughton Suspension Bridge was an iron chain suspension bridge built in 1826 to span the River Irwell between Broughton and Pendleton, now in Salford, Greater Manchester, England.
Rear-Admiral of the Red Sir James Clark Ross (15 April 1800 – 3 April 1862) was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who explored both the North and South Poles.
National Congress selects Leopold von Saksen-Coburg as King of Belgium
2nd US national black convention (Philadelphia)
Admiral James C Ross reaches magnetic North Pole
Leopold I (Leopold George Christian Frederick; 16 December 1790 – 10 December 1865) was the first king of the Belgians, reigning from 21 July 1831 until his death in 1865. The youngest son of...
London Bridge across the Thames opens to traffic
Ten-Day Campaign begins; Dutch army occupies Belgium
Battle of Hasselt: Dutch army drives out the Belgians
First US steam engine train runs from Albany to Schenectady, NY
Hurricane hits Barbados, killing about 1,500 people
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north,...
William IV is crowned King of Great Britain at the age of 64, becoming the oldest person to assume the British throne, until King Charles in 2022
John Bull is a historic British-built railroad steam locomotive that operated in the United States.
The Gladiator is a tragic melodrama in five acts written by Robert Montgomery Bird originally starring Edwin Forrest. It first premiered on September 26, 1831, at the Park Theatre in New York City.
State of Gran Colombia disbands
Robert le diable (Robert the Devil) is an opera in five acts composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer between 1827 and 1831, to a libretto written in French by Eugène Scribe and Germain Delavigne.
The Erie Canal closes for the entire month due to cold weather
Former US President John Q Adams takes his seat as a member of House of Representatives
Louisiana and Arkansas are the first states to observe Christmas as a holiday
Norma is a tragedia lirica or opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with libretto by Felice Romani after the play Norma, ou L'infanticide (Norma, or The Infanticide) by Alexandre Soumet.
James Clerk Maxwell, Scottish physicist and mathematician, known for scottish physicist and mathematician, was born on 1831-06-13.
John Pemberton, American pharmacist, inventor of coca-cola, known for american pharmacist, inventor of coca-cola, was born on 1831-07-08.