Year

1847

6 sourced events from this year.

Events

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1847

Military 19th Century Latin America & Caribbean

Battle of Buena Vista Begins in Mexican-American War

During the Mexican-American War, U.S. forces under General Zachary Taylor advanced into northern Mexico while Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna marched a larger army northward from central Mexico to counter them. On February 22, 1847, Santa Anna's approximately 15,000 troops positioned themselves around the outnumbered American force of about 5,000 at Angostura Pass near Buena Vista hacienda in Coahuila. Taylor rejected a surrender demand, and fighting erupted that afternoon with artillery exchanges and infantry probes on the rugged terrain. The battle continued into the next day with fierce hand-to-hand combat and cavalry charges. American artillery and defensive stands ultimately forced a Mexican withdrawal despite heavy losses on both sides.

Event Detail US Military Atlas

1847

Culture 19th Century North America

Brigham Young Leads Pioneers into Salt Lake Valley

After Joseph Smith's murder in 1844, Brigham Young guided thousands of Latter-day Saints westward from Nauvoo, Illinois, seeking a remote homeland free from persecution. An advance company of 148 pioneers, including three women and two children, traveled more than 1,300 miles across plains and mountains. Most reached the valley by July 22, but Young, slowed by mountain fever, entered on July 24 in Wilford Woodruff's carriage. Surveying the arid landscape around the Great Salt Lake, he reportedly affirmed it as the right place for settlement. The group immediately began plowing fields, diverting water from City Creek, and laying out plans for what became Salt Lake City. Within years, irrigation transformed the desert into productive farmland supporting rapid growth.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas

1847

Politics 19th Century Sub-Saharan Africa

Liberia Declares Independence from American Colonization Society

By the mid-19th century, the American Colonization Society had resettled thousands of freed African Americans and their descendants in West Africa to escape U.S. racial oppression. The colony of Liberia, established south of Sierra Leone, grew under settler governance amid tensions with indigenous populations. On July 26, 1847, the settlers issued a Declaration of Independence and adopted a constitution modeled on the U.S. document, proclaiming the Republic of Liberia. Joseph Jenkins Roberts was elected the first president the following year. Britain quickly recognized the new nation, though the United States delayed formal diplomatic ties until 1862 due to domestic politics. This made Liberia the first modern republic in Africa founded by formerly enslaved people.

Event Detail

1847

Military 19th Century Latin America & Caribbean

U.S. Forces Capture Chapultepec Castle

As part of the Mexican-American War, U.S. General Winfield Scott advanced on Mexico City after victories at Veracruz and Cerro Gordo. Chapultepec Castle, serving as a military academy and fortress on a hill overlooking key approaches, stood as the final major obstacle. American artillery bombarded the position on September 12 and into the 13th before infantry assaults, including U.S. Marines, stormed the walls. Mexican defenders, including young cadets, fought fiercely but surrendered the castle by mid-morning. The capture opened the gates to Mexico City.

Event Detail US Military Atlas

1847

Military 19th Century Latin America & Caribbean

U.S. Forces Capture Mexico City

The Mexican-American War began in 1846 over territorial disputes following U.S. annexation of Texas. In March 1847, General Winfield Scott launched an amphibious landing at Veracruz and advanced inland through a series of victories against Mexican forces. On September 14, 1847, Scott’s army entered Mexico City, raising the American flag over the National Palace in the Hall of Montezuma. The occupation effectively ended major combat operations, though scattered resistance continued. The war concluded with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, which transferred vast territories to the United States.

Event Detail US Military Atlas

1847

Culture 19th Century Europe

Charlotte Brontë Publishes Jane Eyre

Victorian England in the 1840s featured rigid class structures and limited opportunities for women writers, who often published under male pseudonyms. Charlotte Brontë, one of three literary sisters from a Yorkshire parsonage, drew on personal experiences of boarding school hardships and governess work. On October 19, 1847, her novel Jane Eyre appeared under the name Currer Bell through Smith, Elder & Co. The story follows an orphaned governess navigating love, independence, and social prejudice. It achieved immediate commercial and critical success.

Event Detail Free Speech Atlas