What Happened in 1847 — Events, Births & Deaths

Westward expansion of the United States: John C. Frémont is appointed Governor of the new California Territory.

Yerba Buena, California is renamed San Francisco, California.

The first group of rescuers reaches the Donner Party.

Mexican–American War: The first large-scale amphibious assault in U.S. history is launched in the Siege of Veracruz.

Mexican–American War: United States forces led by General Winfield Scott take Veracruz after a siege.

American victory at the battle of Cerro Gordo opens the way for invasion of Mexico.

A riot occurs in Woodstock, New Brunswick, between Catholics and members of the Orange Order that results in up to ten deaths.

After 17 months of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 Mormon pioneers into Salt Lake Valley, resulting in the establishment of Salt Lake City.

Richard March Hoe, American inventor, patents the rotary-type printing press.

Mexican–American War: Six teenage military cadets known as Niños Héroes die defending Chapultepec Castle in the Battle of Chapultepec. American troops under General Winfield Scott capture Mexico City in the Mexican–American War.

Slavery is abolished in the Swedish colony of Saint Barthélemy.

The novel Jane Eyre is published in London.

Sir James Young Simpson, a Scottish medical doctor, discovers the anaesthetic properties of chloroform.

The passenger ship Stephen Whitney is wrecked in thick fog off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 92 of the 110 on board. The disaster results in the construction of the Fastnet Rock lighthouse.

The Sonderbund is defeated by the joint forces of other Swiss cantons under General Guillaume-Henri Dufour.

Missionaries Dr. Marcus Whitman, his wife Narcissa, and 15 others are killed by Cayuse and Umatilla Indians, causing the Cayuse War.

Jefferson Davis is elected to the U.S. Senate.