On This Day

July 1840 in History

Events in History

  • Jul 4 The Cunard Line's 700 ton wooden paddle steamer RMS Britannia departs from Liverpool bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia on the first transatlantic crossing with a scheduled end
  • Jul 6 Christian Hebbel's "Judith" premieres in Berlin
  • Jul 15 Great Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia sign Quadruple Alliance
  • Jul 23 Union Act passed by British Parliament, uniting Upper & Lower Canada

Birthdays in History

  • Jul 1 Robert Stawell Ball, Irish mathematician and astronomer (Ball Screw), born in Dublin, Ireland (d. 1913)
  • Jul 12 Abraham Goldfaden, Russian-born Jewish poet and playwright (Shulamis), born in Starokostiantyniv, Russian Empire (d. 1908)
  • Jul 25 Flora Adams Darling, American writer and historian, founded Daughters of American Revolution, born in Lancaster, New Hampshire (d. 1910)
  • Jul 27 Ranald Slidell Mackenzie, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Westchester County, New York (d. 1889)

Deaths in History


Person of interestKarl Ferdinand von Graefe

Jul 4 Karl Ferdinand von Graefe, German surgeon who helped create modern plastic surgery dies at 53

Surgeon Karl Ferdinand von Graefe
Surgeon
Karl Ferdinand von Graefe
  • Jul 21 Moses Waddel, American educator, minister and bestselling author (Memoirs of the Life of Miss Caroline Elizabeth Smelt), dies at 70