Year

1845

4 sourced events from this year.

Events

1845 Timeline

All Years

1845

Culture 19th Century North America

Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven Published

In the 1840s, Edgar Allan Poe struggled as a writer and editor in New York amid personal hardships including poverty and the illness of his wife. His poem about a grieving narrator haunted by a raven had been composed earlier but found its first public airing with the author's name attached. On January 29, 1845, it appeared in the New York Evening Mirror. The publication quickly drew widespread attention for its rhythmic language and eerie atmosphere. Poe's fame rose sharply as the work was reprinted and praised in literary circles across the United States and Europe.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas

1845

Science 19th Century North America

Scientific American Publishes First Issue

In mid-19th century New York, inventor and editor Rufus Porter sought to create a publication focused on new inventions, patents, and scientific developments amid rapid industrialization. The first issue of Scientific American appeared on August 28, 1845, as a four-page weekly newspaper printed at 11 Spruce Street. It emphasized reports from the U.S. Patent Office, engravings of machinery, and practical innovations, quickly establishing itself as a key source of information on emerging technologies. The magazine evolved from its weekly format into a monthly publication and remains the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States.

Event Detail Free Speech Atlas

1845

Military 19th Century North America

U.S. Naval Academy Established in Annapolis

By the mid-nineteenth century, the United States Navy faced challenges in training officers amid growing maritime responsibilities and incidents like the Somers mutiny that highlighted the need for formal education. Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft advocated for a dedicated shore-based institution to replace inconsistent shipboard apprenticeship. On October 10, 1845, the Naval School opened at Fort Severn in Annapolis, Maryland, with an initial class of fifty midshipmen and seven professors. The curriculum combined academic studies in mathematics, navigation, and languages with practical seamanship. Within five years the school was redesignated the United States Naval Academy, establishing a permanent model for professional naval officer education.

Event Detail US Military Atlas

1845

Politics 19th Century North America

Texas Admitted as 28th U.S. State

After winning independence from Mexico in 1836, the Republic of Texas sought annexation by the United States amid ongoing border disputes and economic pressures. President John Tyler pushed a joint resolution through Congress in early 1845, which incoming President James K. Polk signed into law on December 29, 1845, formally admitting Texas as the 28th state. The move incorporated a vast territory with its own distinct political traditions and a large slaveholding population. Mexico viewed the annexation as a hostile act, severing diplomatic relations and setting the stage for war the following year. Texas formally transferred governmental authority to the United States in February 1846.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas