1840
Treaty of Waitangi
On a lawn in the Bay of Islands, some forty Maori chiefs signed a treaty with the British Crown - in Maori translation that said rather less than the English…
Penny Post Begins
Rowland Hill's reform of the British postal system made a uniform penny stamp carry a letter anywhere in the kingdom.
Elphinstone's Retreat Prelude
In Kabul, the British garrison spent an unhappy winter as the emir's subjects muttered in the bazaars.
Penny Black Stamp Issued
The world's first adhesive postage stamp went on sale in Britain - a small black square with Queen Victoria's profile.
Napoleon's Return From St. Helena
Louis-Philippe, hoping to borrow glory, had Napoleon's remains dug up on St. Helena and brought back to Paris in a frigate.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1840?
Saeculum lists 5 events from 1840. The most significant is Treaty of Waitangi.
What era was 1840 part of?
1840 falls within the Industrial Age (1801-1900). Steam, empire, and the unmaking of the old order.
Which regions saw notable events in 1840?
The events from 1840 span Oceania, Europe and Central Asia.