1842
Treaty of Nanking
Signed on the deck of HMS Cornwallis on the Yangtze, this was the first of the "unequal treaties"…
Ether Used as Anesthetic by Crawford Long
In Jefferson, Georgia, Dr. Crawford Long administered sulfuric ether to James Venable before excising a neck tumor - the first surgical use of modern…
Retreat From Kabul Ends
William Nott's British column finally reentered Kabul, burned the central bazaar in revenge, and withdrew.
Mormon Migration Prelude
In Nauvoo, Illinois, Joseph Smith preached a theology of new revelation and old covenant, built a temple on a bluff over the Mississippi, and collected…
Want 1842 in context? Print the whole 19th century as a one-sheet timeline chart.
Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1842?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1842. The most significant is Treaty of Nanking: Signed on the deck of HMS Cornwallis on the Yangtze, this was the first of the "unequal treaties".
What era was 1842 part of?
1842 falls within the Industrial Age (1801-1900). Steam, empire, and the unmaking of the old order.
Which regions saw notable events in 1842?
The events from 1842 span East Asia, North America and Central Asia.