1847 - What happened in 1847 ?

January 1847

Monday 04:

Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the United States government.

Wednesday 13:

The Treaty of Cahuenga ends the Mexican-American War in California.

Saturday 16:

John C. Fremont is appointed Governor of the new California Territory.

Saturday 30:

Yerba Buena, California is renamed San Francisco.

February 1847

Friday 19:

The Donner Party is rescued. It is noted that some of the survivors seem to be remarkably well-fed considering their ordeal.

Monday 22:

5,000 American troops drive off 15,000 Mexican.

Tuesday 23:

In Mexico, American troops defeat Mexican general Antonio López de Santa Anna.

March 1847

Tuesday 09:

Mexican-American War: United States forces under General Winfield Scott invade Mexico near Vera Cruz.

Monday 29:

Mexican-American War: United States forces led by General Winfield Scott take Veracruz after a siege.

May 1847

Friday 07:

In Philadelphia, the American Medical Association (AMA) is founded.

July 1847

Saturday 24:

After 17 months of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 Mormon pioneers into Salt Lake Valley, resulting in the establishment of Salt Lake City.

Monday 26:

Liberia gains independence.

August 1847

Tuesday 24:

Charlotte Brontë finishes Jane Eyre.

September 1847

Monday 06:

Henry David Thoreau leaves Walden Pond and moves in with Ralph Waldo Emerson and his family in Concord, Massachusetts.

Saturday 11:

Stephen Foster's most memorable song, Oh! Susanna, is first performed at a saloon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Sunday 12:

Mexican-American War: The Battle of Chapultepec begins. U.S. Army deserters in the Saint Patrick's Battalion who fought alongside the Mexican army are hanged en masse for treason by the order of General Winfield Scott.

Monday 13:

Mexican-American War: Six teenage military cadets known as Niños Héroes die defending Chapultepec Castle in the Battle of Chapultepec. American General Winfield Scott captures Mexico City in the Mexican-American War.

Tuesday 14:

Mexican-American War: Winfield Scott captures Mexico City.

October 1847

Friday 01:

German inventor and industrialist Werner von Siemens founds Siemens AG & Halske.

November 1847

Monday 29:

Whitman Massacre Dr. Marcus Whitman, his wife Narcissa, and 15 others killed, beginning the Indian Wars.