1840 - What happened in 1840 ?

January 1840

Friday 03:

One of the Herald Sun of Melbourne, Australia's predecessor papers The Port Phillip Herald is founded by George Cavanaugh.

Monday 13:

The steamship Lexington burns and sinks four miles off the coast of Long Island with the loss of 139 lives.

Sunday 19:

Captain Charles Wilkes circumnavigates Antarctica, claiming what became known as Wilkes Land for the United States.

Monday 20:

Willem II becomes King of the Netherlands.

Wednesday 22:

British colonists reach New Zealand.

February 1840

Thursday 06:

Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, founding document of New Zealand.

Monday 10:

Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom marries Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

Tuesday 11:

Gaetano Donizetti's opera La Fille du Régiment receives its first performance in Paris.

March 1840

Sunday 01:

Adolphe Thiers becomes prime minister of France.

April 1840

Monday 27:

Foundation stone for new Palace of Westminster, London, laid by wife of Sir Charles Barry.

May 1840

Friday 01:

The Penny Black postage stamp is put on sale in the United Kingdom.

Thursday 07:

The Great Natchez Tornado strikes Natchez, Mississippi, killing 317 people. It is the second deadliest tornado in U.S. history.

Friday 22:

The transporting of British convicts to the New South Wales colony is abolished.

July 1840

Saturday 04:

The Cunard Line's 700 ton wooden paddle steamer RMS Britannia departs from Liverpool bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia on the first transatlantic passenger cruise.

October 1840

Wednesday 07:

Willem II becomes King of the Netherlands.

Wednesday 14:

Maronite leader Bashir II surrenders to the British forces and goes into exile in Malta.