Key Events in American History: 1851

President: Millard Fillmore

VP: vacant

Date, Event

Jan 23rd Coin flip determines name of Portland, OR (vs. Boston)

Mar 3rd Congress authorizes the production of 3 cent silver pieces

April Nathaniel Hawthorne publishes 'House of the Seven Gables'

May - Aug Great Flood of 1851 severely damages much of Midwest including Iowa & Nebraska

May 3rd Another large fire destroys 2,500 buildings in San Francisco ($7 million in damages)

Jun 9th San Francisco organizes a Vigilance Committee

Sep 17th Treaty of Ft. Laramie is signed surrendering many Indian lands to the US government

Sep 18th New York Times is founded

Nov 14th Moby Dick by Herman Melville is published in the U.S.

Dec 24th Fire destroys 2/3rds the books in the Library of Congress

Western Union Company is formed

California Gold Rush continues (1848-1855)

California produces $60 million in gold

Jul 21st Sam Bass (Outlaw)

Aug 14th John Henry "Doc" Holliday (Dentist/Gambler)

Nov 6th Charles Dow (Journalist)

Jan 27th John James Audubon (Ornithologist/Naturalist)

Jul 10th Louis Jacques-Mande Daguerre (Inventor/Photographer)