Explore the major historical events, famous births, and notable deaths that occurred in the year 1850. This year saw 56 significant events. 5 notable figures were born. 2 notable figures passed away.
Senator Henry Clay drafts the Compromise of 1850 to defuse tensions between slave states and free states over territories won during the Mexican–American War
French writer and playwright Honoré de Balzac marries Ewelina Hańska in Berdyczów, Ukraine
American Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman (30) weds Eleanor Boyle Ewing in Washington, D.C., until her death in 1888
Poet Alfred Tennyson (40) weds Emily Sellwood (36)
First public demonstration of ice made via refrigeration by Florida physician John Gorrie
American composer Stephen Foster (24) weds Jane Denny McDowell (20) at Trinity Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Robert McClure sights the fabled Northwest Passage for the first time, from Banks Island towards Melville Island
Human history in California began when indigenous Americans first arrived some 13,000 years ago.
British blockade Piraeus, Greece, to enforce mercantile claims
Alta California becomes a daily paper, 1st such in Calif
1st German language daily newspaper in US published, NYC
D.D. Parmelee patents the first key-driven adding machine in New Paltz, NY
Original Washington's farewell address manuscript sells for $2,300
California () is a state in the Western United States that lies on the Pacific Coast.
Salt Lake County is located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 1,185,238, making it the most populous county in Utah.
The Menai Strait (Welsh: Afon Menai, lit. 'River Menai') is a strait which separates the island of Anglesey from Gwynedd, on the mainland of Wales.
Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania opens, 2nd female medical school in the US
The California gold rush (1848–1855) was a gold rush in California, which began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California.
Henry Wells & William Fargo form American Express in Buffalo
SS Royal Adelaide sinks in storm; 200 die
US population hits 23,191,876 (Black population: 3,638,808 (15.7%))
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 827,526 in 2024.
Los Angeles (often referred to by its initials, LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California.
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 827,526 in 2024.
Paul Julius Reuter sets up carrier-pigeon service, using 40 pigeons to carry stock market prices between Aachen and Brussels
The mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of the San Francisco city and county government.
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 827,526 in 2024.
The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States, in 1836.
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose.
Third great fire of early San Francisco, starts in a bakery chimney
Paddle-wheeler "G P Griffith" burns off Mentor, Ohio, killing 206 people
The Church of Greece, part of the wider Greek Orthodox Church, is one of the autocephalous churches which make up the communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
At least 626 ships lie at anchor around San Francisco Bay
Benjamin Lane patents gas mask with a breathing apparatus
Scottish explorer Edward Eyre reaches Albany, Western Australia
The Dutch Second Chamber accepts the establishment of Provincial States
John Wisden bowls out all 10 South batsmen in the North vs. South match at Lord's
Harvard Observatory takes 1st photograph of a star (Vega)
17th Postmaster General: Nathan K. Hall of New York takes office
Gold is discovered in the Rogue River in Oregon
Hawaii is an island state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two non-contiguous U.S.
California () is a state in the Western United States that lies on the Pacific Coast.
The California Statehood Act, officially An Act for the Admission of the State of California into the Union and also known as the California Admission Act, is the federal legislation that admitted...
12 Victoria is a large asteroid located in the main belt. It was the twelfth known asteroid, discovered on 13 September 1850 by English astronomer John R.
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 827,526 in 2024.
In the United States before 1865, a free state was a state in which slavery and the internal or domestic slave trade were prohibited, while a slave state was one in which they were legal.
The Catholic dioceses in Great Britain are organised by two separate hierarchies: the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and the Catholic Church in Scotland.
The US Navy abolishes flogging as a punishment
Knickerbocker Engine Co Number 5 organizes
The National Women's Rights Convention was an annual series of meetings that increased the visibility of the early women's rights movement in the United States.
1st Hawaiian fire engine
The Punctation of Olmütz treaty is signed between Prussia and Austria; Prussia abandons the Erfurt Union and accepts the revival of the German Confederation
Ships the Charlotte-Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand
Hawaiian post office established
The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) provides fire protection and first responder emergency medical services to the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor...
Rangoon, Burma, destroyed by fire
Edward Smith, British merchant navy officer, known for british merchant navy officer, was born on 1850-01-27.
Samuel Gompers, American british-american labor union leader, known for british-american labor union leader, was born on 1850-01-27.
Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish novelist and poet, known for scottish novelist and poet, was born on 1850-11-13.
Tomáš Masaryk, Czech founding father of czechoslovakia, known for founding father of czechoslovakia, was born on 1850-03-07.
Victoriano Huerta is born
Madame Tussaud, French wax museum founder, known for french wax museum founder, died on 1850-04-16.
Zachary Taylor dies
Senator Henry Clay drafts the Compromise of 1850 to defuse tensions between slave states and free states over territories won during the Mexican–American War
French writer and playwright Honoré de Balzac marries Ewelina Hańska in Berdyczów, Ukraine
American Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman (30) weds Eleanor Boyle Ewing in Washington, D.C., until her death in 1888
Poet Alfred Tennyson (40) weds Emily Sellwood (36)
First public demonstration of ice made via refrigeration by Florida physician John Gorrie
American composer Stephen Foster (24) weds Jane Denny McDowell (20) at Trinity Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Robert McClure sights the fabled Northwest Passage for the first time, from Banks Island towards Melville Island
Human history in California began when indigenous Americans first arrived some 13,000 years ago.
British blockade Piraeus, Greece, to enforce mercantile claims
Alta California becomes a daily paper, 1st such in Calif
1st German language daily newspaper in US published, NYC
D.D. Parmelee patents the first key-driven adding machine in New Paltz, NY
Original Washington's farewell address manuscript sells for $2,300
California () is a state in the Western United States that lies on the Pacific Coast.
Salt Lake County is located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 1,185,238, making it the most populous county in Utah.
The Menai Strait (Welsh: Afon Menai, lit. 'River Menai') is a strait which separates the island of Anglesey from Gwynedd, on the mainland of Wales.
Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania opens, 2nd female medical school in the US
The California gold rush (1848–1855) was a gold rush in California, which began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California.
Henry Wells & William Fargo form American Express in Buffalo
SS Royal Adelaide sinks in storm; 200 die
US population hits 23,191,876 (Black population: 3,638,808 (15.7%))
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 827,526 in 2024.
Los Angeles (often referred to by its initials, LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California.
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 827,526 in 2024.
Paul Julius Reuter sets up carrier-pigeon service, using 40 pigeons to carry stock market prices between Aachen and Brussels
The mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of the San Francisco city and county government.
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 827,526 in 2024.
The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States, in 1836.
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose.
Third great fire of early San Francisco, starts in a bakery chimney
Paddle-wheeler "G P Griffith" burns off Mentor, Ohio, killing 206 people
The Church of Greece, part of the wider Greek Orthodox Church, is one of the autocephalous churches which make up the communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
At least 626 ships lie at anchor around San Francisco Bay
Benjamin Lane patents gas mask with a breathing apparatus
Scottish explorer Edward Eyre reaches Albany, Western Australia
The Dutch Second Chamber accepts the establishment of Provincial States
John Wisden bowls out all 10 South batsmen in the North vs. South match at Lord's
Harvard Observatory takes 1st photograph of a star (Vega)
17th Postmaster General: Nathan K. Hall of New York takes office
Gold is discovered in the Rogue River in Oregon
Hawaii is an island state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two non-contiguous U.S.
California () is a state in the Western United States that lies on the Pacific Coast.
The California Statehood Act, officially An Act for the Admission of the State of California into the Union and also known as the California Admission Act, is the federal legislation that admitted...
12 Victoria is a large asteroid located in the main belt. It was the twelfth known asteroid, discovered on 13 September 1850 by English astronomer John R.
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 827,526 in 2024.
In the United States before 1865, a free state was a state in which slavery and the internal or domestic slave trade were prohibited, while a slave state was one in which they were legal.
The Catholic dioceses in Great Britain are organised by two separate hierarchies: the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and the Catholic Church in Scotland.
The US Navy abolishes flogging as a punishment
Knickerbocker Engine Co Number 5 organizes
The National Women's Rights Convention was an annual series of meetings that increased the visibility of the early women's rights movement in the United States.
1st Hawaiian fire engine
The Punctation of Olmütz treaty is signed between Prussia and Austria; Prussia abandons the Erfurt Union and accepts the revival of the German Confederation
Ships the Charlotte-Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand
Hawaiian post office established
The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) provides fire protection and first responder emergency medical services to the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor...
Rangoon, Burma, destroyed by fire
Edward Smith, British merchant navy officer, known for british merchant navy officer, was born on 1850-01-27.
Samuel Gompers, American british-american labor union leader, known for british-american labor union leader, was born on 1850-01-27.
Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish novelist and poet, known for scottish novelist and poet, was born on 1850-11-13.
Tomáš Masaryk, Czech founding father of czechoslovakia, known for founding father of czechoslovakia, was born on 1850-03-07.
Victoriano Huerta is born