The year 1841 was marked by significant developments across the globe, spanning political transitions, scientific advancements, cultural expressions, and technological innovations. It was a particularly pivotal year for the United States, witnessing a presidential succession crisis and continued westward expansion.
Politics and World Affairs
March 4: William Henry Harrison is inaugurated as the 9th President of the United States.
April 4: President William Henry Harrison dies of pneumonia after only one month in office, marking the shortest presidential term in U.S. history. This leads to a constitutional crisis as Vice President John Tyler succeeds him. Harrison's death and Tyler's subsequent assumption of power set a precedent for presidential succession.
April 6: John Tyler is sworn in as the 10th President of the United States. Tyler's presidency would be marked by conflict with the Whig Party that had nominated him.
August 19: The Convention for the Suppression of the Slave Trade is signed by Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia, and France, agreeing to cooperate in suppressing the slave trade.
November: The First Opium War continues between Britain and China. Hong Kong is occupied by British forces.
Science and Technology
Michael Faraday's Discoveries: Michael Faraday continues his groundbreaking research in electromagnetism. While not a single breakthrough announced this year, he is actively developing new techniques and insights.
Advances in Photography: The Daguerreotype photographic process, still in its early stages, continues to improve and gain popularity, becoming more accessible.
Culture
Edgar Allan Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue: Edgar Allan Poe publishes Murders in the Rue Morgue in Graham's Magazine. Widely considered the first modern detective story, it establishes many conventions of the genre.
Publication of Thomas Hardy's "How I Built Myself a House." Thomas Hardy, then a young architect's apprentice, has his first published article in the magazine The Builder.
Richard Wagner Becomes Kapellmeister: Richard Wagner becomes Kapellmeister at the Court of Saxony in Dresden.
United States Specific Events
Preemption Act of 1841: Passed by the U.S. Congress, the Preemption Act allows "squatters" on federal lands to purchase up to 160 acres at $1.25 per acre before the land is offered for public sale. It encouraged westward expansion and promoted land ownership.
Founding of Fordham University: St. John's College, now Fordham University, is founded in New York City by the Catholic Diocese of New York.
Establishment of the Oregon Trail: Increased use of the Oregon Trail for westward expansion sees wagon trains becoming a more common sight.
The Creole Affair: Enslaved people being transported on the American brig Creole successfully mutiny and sail to Nassau, Bahamas, where they are granted asylum by British authorities. This incident intensifies tensions between the United States and Great Britain regarding slavery.