January 1 Curacao is taken by English, until March, 1816 January 12 Gunpowder-ship explodes in Leiden, Netherlands, 150 die January 20 Napoleon convenes great Sanhedrin, Paris January 28 London's Pall Mall is 1st street lit by gaslight February 8 Napoleon defeats Russians in battle of Eylau February 9 French Sanhedrin convened by Napoleon February 10 U.S. Coast Survey authorized by Congress February 19 British squadron under Admiral Duckworth forces passage of Dardanelle February 19 Vice President Aaron Burr arrested in Alabama for treason; later found innocent February 24 17 die and 15 wounded in a crush to witness execution of Holloway, Heggerty and Elizabeth Godfrey in England March 2 Congress bans slave trade effective January 1, 1808 March 5 1st performance of Ludwig von Beethoven's 4th Symphony in B March 25 1st railway passenger service began in England March 25 British Parliament abolishes slave trade March 25 George Canning becomes British minister of Foreign affairs May 22 Former Vice President Aaron Burr is tried for treason in Richmond Virginia (acquitted) May 22 Townsend Speakman 1st sells fruit-flavored carbonated drinks in Philadelphia June 22 British board USS Chesapeake, a provocation leading to War of 1812 June 26 Lightning hits gunpowder warehouse in Luxembourg; 230 die June 28 British troops lands at Ensenada, Argentina July 7 France, Russia and Prussia sign Peace of Tilsit August 17 Robert Fulton's steamboat Clermont begins 1st trip up Hudson River September 1 Aaron Burr acquitted of charges of plotting to set up an empire September 4 Robert Fulton begins operating his steamboat September 14 Aaron Burr acquitted of a misdemeanor charge December 22 Congress passes Embargo Act, to force peace between Britain and France
