What Happened in August 1846

Historical Events

  • Aug 5 Oregon territory divided between US & Britain at 49th parallel
  • Aug 10 US Act of Congress passes establishing the Smithsonian Institution, now world's largest museum and research complex

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Aug 14 Henry David Thoreau jailed for refusing to pay taxes

Naturalist/Pacifist Henry David Thoreau
Naturalist/Pacifist
Henry David Thoreau
  • Aug 14 The Cape Girardeau meteorite, a 2.3 kg chondrite-type meteorite strikes near the town of Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.
  • Aug 17 Commodore Robert F Stockton, US Navy, annexes California
  • Aug 18 General Stephen W Kearney's US forces capture Santa Fe, New Mexico

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Aug 26 Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio "Elijah" premieres at the Birmingham Festival in England

Composer and Pianist Felix Mendelssohn
Composer and Pianist
Felix Mendelssohn
  • Aug 26 W A Bartlett appointed 1st US mayor of Yerba Buena (San Francisco)

Famous Birthdays

  • Aug 4 Silas Gamaliel Pratt, composer
  • Aug 16 Justus van Maurik, Dutch author and cigar manufacturer, born in Amsterdam (d. 1904)
  • Aug 19 Luis Martín, Spanish Superior-General of the Society of Jesus (d. 1906)
  • Aug 22 Amalie Skram, Norwegian author (Hellemyrsfolket), born in Bergen, Norway (d. 1905)
  • Aug 23 Alexander Milne Calder, Scottish-American sculptor, born in Aberdeen, Scotland (d. 1923)
  • Aug 25 Louise J Gautier, French poetess

Famous Weddings

  • Aug 16 Opera Composer (The Barber of Seville) Gioacchino Rossini marries 2nd wife Olympe Pélissier in Paris

HeartWedding of Interest

Aug 30 Author and Christian pioneer Ellen G. White (18) weds preacher James Springer White (25) in Portland, Maine

Christian Pioneer Ellen G. White
Christian Pioneer
Ellen G. White

Famous Deaths

  • Aug 1 Peter Ritter, German cellist and composer, dies at 83
  • Aug 7 Johann Christian Heinrich Rinck, composer, dies at 76
  • Aug 25 Giuseppe Acerbi, Italian traveller and naturalist, dies at 73
  • Aug 27 Franciszek Ścigalski, Polish composer, dies at 64
  • Aug 27 Gottfied Wilhelm Fink, German composer, dies at 63