January 3
January 3
Herman Melville sails for the South Seas
On January 3 1841, writer Herman Melville ships out on the whaler Acushnet to the South Seas. Melville was born in New York City in 1819. A childhood bout of…
A Year In History: 1841
This Year in History:
1841
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
January 20
January 20
Hong Kong ceded to the British
During the First Opium War, China cedes the island of Hong Kong to the British with the signing of the Chuenpi Convention, an agreement seeking an end to the first…
February 24
February 24
John Quincy Adams begins arguments in Amistad case
On February 24, 1841, former President John Quincy Adams begins to argue the Amistad case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. A practicing lawyer and member of the House…
March 9
March 9
Supreme Court rules on Amistad slave ship mutiny case
At the end of a historic case, the U.S. Supreme Court rules, with only one dissent, that the enslaved Africans who seized control of the Amistad slave ship had been…
April 4
April 4
First detective story is published
Edgar Allan Poe’s story, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” first appears in Graham’s Lady’s and Gentleman’s Magazine. The tale is generally considered to be the first detective story. The…
April 4
April 4
President Harrison dies—32 days into office
President William Henry Harrison dies after serving only 32 days in office on this day in 1841. Harrison holds the unfortunate presidential record of shortest term in office. Ironically, the…
April 6
April 6
John Tyler is inaugurated as 10th president
On April 6, 1841, John Tyler is sworn in as president. Tyler was elected as William Harrison’s vice president earlier in 1841 and was suddenly thrust into the role of…
August 17
August 17
President Tyler is burned in effigy outside White House
On August 17, 1842, protesters burn an effigy of President John Tyler a short distance from the White House. Their actions came in response to Tyler’s veto of a second…
