January 1 Michigan is 1st state to abolish capital punishment January 1 Netherlands Haarlem's Current newspaper starts publishing January 3 California town of Yerba Buena renamed San Francisco January 9 1st San Francisco newspaper published (California Star) January 14 Conspiracy in New Mexico against US January 15 1st Swedish magazine in U.S., Skandinavia, published in New York City January 24 1,500 New Mexican Indians and Mexicans defeated by U.S. Col Price January 30 Yerba Buena renamed San Francisco February 4 1st U.S. telegraph co established in Maryland February 22 Battle of Buena Vista: U.S. troops beat Mexican army February 23 Battle of Buena Vista Mexico; Zachary Taylor defeats Mexicans February 25 State University of Iowa is approved February 28 U.S. defeats Mexico in battle of Sacramento March 1 Michigan becomes 1st English-speaking jurisdiction to abolish the death penalty (except for treason against the state) March 3 Post Office Department authorized to issue postage stamps March 7 U.S. General Scott occupies Vera Cruz Mexico March 10 1st money minted in Hawaii March 17 "Macbeth" opera premieres in Florence March 18 1st Dutch public telegram March 25 Pope Pius IX encyclical "On aid for Ireland" April 14 Persia and Osmaanse sign 2nd Treaty of Erzurum April 28 George B. Vashon becomes 1st black to enter New York State Bar May 4 New York State creates a Board of Commissioners of Emigration May 5 American Medical Association organized (Philadelphia) May 7 American Medical Association organizes in Philadelphia May 8 Robert Thompson patents rubber tire May 31 Rotterdam-Hague Railway opens June 3 Rotterdam-Hague Railway opens June 10 Chicago Tribune begins publishing June 14 Robert von Bunsen invents the Bunsen burner June 22 Doughnut created June 27 NY and Boston linked by telegraph wires July 1 1st U.S. postage stamps go on sale, 5 cents Franklin and 10 cents Washington, New York City July 2 Envelope bearing 1st U.S. 10 cents stamps, still exists today July 10 Urbain J J Leverrier and John Couch Adams, codiscoverers of Neptune meet for 1st time at home of John Herschel July 20 German astronomer Theodor discovers Comet Brorsen-Metcalf July 24 Brigham Young and his Mormon followers arrive at Salt Lake City, Utah July 24 Rotary-type printing press patents by Richard March Hoe, New York City July 26 Liberia declares independence from American Colonization Society July 26 Moses Garrish Farmer builds 1st miniature train for children to ride August 24 Charlotte Bronte finishes manuscript of "Jane Eyre" September 8 U.S. under General Scott defeat Mexicans at Battle of Molino del Rey September 10 1st theater opens in Hawaii September 11 1st singing of Stephen Fosters "Susanna" (in Pittsburgh) September 13 American-Mexican war: U.S. General Winfield Scott captures Mexico City September 14 U.S. Marines under General Scott enter Mexico City (halls of Montezuma) September 16 United Shakespeare Company buys his home in Stratford-upon-Avon October 1 Maria Mitchell discovers a non-naked-eye comet October 16 Charlotte Bronte's book "Jane Eyre" published October 20 Little William Nelman poisons his grandpa November 21 Steamer "Phoenix" is lost on Lake Michigan, kills 200 November 25 Opera "Marta" is produced (Vienna) November 26 Alfred de Mussets "Un Caprice," premieres in Paris November 28 Bologna: church San Francisco dei Minori Conventuali initiated with premier of Rossini's Tantum ergo November 29 Indians kill Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, 11 settle in Walla Walla Ore December 3 Frederick Douglass publishes 1st issue of his newspaper "North Star"
