Key Events in American History: 1850

President: Zachary Taylor (until July 9th); Millard Fillmore thereafter

VP: Millard Fillmore until July 9th; vacant thereafter

Date, Event

Jan 29th Henry Clay proposes the Compromise of 1850

Mar 16th Nathaniel Hawthorne publishes the Scarlet Letter

Mar 19th American Express is founded by Henry Wells & William Fargo

June 14th Fire destroys 300 buildings in San Francisco ($5 million in losses)

Jul 9th Zachary Taylor dies in office from cholera/dysentery

Sep 9th California is admitted as the 31st state

Sep 9th New Mexico Territory is formed

Sep 9th Utah Territory is formed

Sep 29th Millard Fillmore appoints Brigham Young as the first governor of Utah Territory

Nov 14th Charles Dickens publishes 'David Copperfield'

Population in San Francisco is 100,000

Levi Strauss begins operations in San Francisco

Colt begins production of the 1851 Navy revolver

P.T. Barnum signs Jenny Lind to a 2 year contract to perform in the U.S. for $130,000

Isaac Singer invents the sewing machine

June 5th Pat Garrett (Lawman)

Sep 5th Jack Daniel (Distiller/Businessman)

Nov 13th Robert Louis Stevenson (Novelist, "Treasure Island", "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde")

Apr 23rd William Wordsworth (Poet)

Jul 9th Zachary Taylor (12th President)