Richard Wagner's opera "Der fliegende Holländer" premieres in Dresden, Germany.
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What Happened in January?
Tragic deaths, ravaged cities, and great acts of heroism. Discover what happened this month in history and the defining moments that shaped the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The University of Notre Dame is founded in Indiana, United States.
The United States Congress establishes the Smithsonian Institution.
The Battle of the Sacramento River takes place during the Mexican-American War.
Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill in California by James W. Marshall as he sees shining flecks of gold in the tailrace of the sawmill he was building in partnership with John Sutter; The discovery unleashes the California Gold Rush and changed the course of California's and the nation's history.
The migration rapidly transformed the region, boosting the U.S. economy, accelerating California's statehood, and making San Francisco as a major city. The gold rush also caused displacement and harsh conditions for Native Americans. On December 5, 1848, President James K. Polk officially confirmed the discovery of gold during his annual address to Congress, this official confirmation ignited "gold fever" across the nation, leading to the massive migration in 1849. More
First gold nugget found in California starting the Gold Rush of 1849 - Public domain
Elizabeth Blackwell becomes the first woman in the United States to earn a medical degree.
Henry Clay presents the Compromise of 1850 to the U.S. Senate in an attempt to prevent a civil war over slavery.
The British East India Company conquers the Kingdom of Punjab.
The United Kingdom recognizes the independence of the Transvaal (South African Republic).
The first private mental health hospital in the United States, the Asylum for the Relief of Persons Deprived of the Use of Their Reason, opens in Philadelphia.
1853, January 4 - Solomon Northrup, who was born a free person of color in what is now Minerva, New York, legally regains his freedom after being kidnapped, sold into slavery and spending 12 years as a slave. Northrup was a farmer, laborer, and musician. He later wrote about his experiences in "Twelve Years a Slave." More
The San Francisco steamer sinks in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in a significant loss of life.
The first bridge over the Mississippi River opens in what is now Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Treaty of Neah Bay: Makah Reservation established in US Territory of Washington for Makah nation, preserving tribal rights but ceding over 300,000 acres to the US government. More
The Victoria Cross, the highest British military decoration, is established.
The Great Eastern ship is launched in England, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
The Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn is played for the first time at a wedding in Germany.
The Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts, collapses, resulting in the death of over 145 workers.
Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union before the American Civil War.
Kansas is admitted into the Union, becoming the 34th State