Key Events in American History: 1847

President: James K. Polk

VP: George M. Dallas

Date, Event

  • Jan 14th Samuel Colt sells his first revolver to the US government
  • Jan 16th John Fremont appointed Governor of CA territory
  • Jan 19th Charles Bent, Governor of the New Mexico territory is scalped & assassinated in the Taos Revolt
  • Jan 30th Yerba Buena is renamed San Francisco
  • Feb 19th Donner party discovered in Sierra Nevada
  • July 1st U.S. issues its first postage stamps
  • July 24th Brigham Young leads Mormon pioneers into Salt Lake Valley & establishes Salt Lake City
  • Nov 29th Whitman Massacre by Cayuse Indians begins the Cayuse War

    • Ongoing

  • Mexican American War continues (1846-1848)

    • Births

  • Feb 11th Thomas A. Edison (Inventor)
  • Mar 3rd Alexander Graham Bell (Inventor)
  • Sep 5th Jesse James (Outlaw)

    • Deaths

  • Nov 4th Felix Mendelssohn (Composer)