Discovery of Antarctica
Charts a long stretch of Antarctic coastline later associated with Wilkes Land, strengthening the case for Antarctica as a continent
Historical events in 1840
88 historical records
January 18403 historical events
Invention of Stamp
Intoduces the Penny Post to Britain
Birth of Sophia Jex-Blake
Birth of Sophia Jex-Blake
February 18404 historical events
Birth of John Boyd Dunlop
Birth of John Boyd Dunlop
Marriage
Albert is voted ล30,000 pa, they only have a 2 day honeymoon
Marriage
Marries Victoria, his 1st cousin, at St James Palace
Marriage
Marries Albert of Saxe-Coburg, Albert is voted ล30,000 pa, they have a 2 day honeymoon
April 18402 historical events
First de Theux Government
The First de Theux Government ends in Brussels, concluding this period as head of the Belgian government.
Second Joseph Lebeau Government
Begins the Second Joseph Lebeau Government in Brussels and serves as head of the Belgian government.
May 18402 historical events
Leaves Russia on his way to London
Leaves Russia on his way to London
Gladstone lambasts Palmerston's Opium War and said that he felt in dread
Gladstone lambasts "Palmerston's Opium War" and said that he felt "in dread of the judgments of God upon England for our national iniquity towards China"
June 18403 historical events
Visit to Woolwich
Disembarks from the Dutch steamer, "Cyclops". Arrives in Britain for the 1st time in 25 years
Acts as host to Emperor Nicholas I
Acts as host to Emperor Nicholas I
Visit to London
Pays a visit to Queen Victoria
July 18404 historical events
Convention of London
Accepts hereditary rule in Egypt while surrendering most territories gained from the Ottoman Empire.
Travels in Icaria", the
Publication of "Travels in Icaria", the 1st "communist"
Travels in Icaria
Publication of "Travels in Icaria", the 1st "communist"
communist
Publication of "Travels in Icaria", the 1st "communist"
August 18404 historical events
Liberal Party
Antonio Leocadio Guzman and his allies founded the Liberal Party to oppose the governing conservative establishment.
Bath-Bristol Railway Section Opens
The Great Western section between Bristol and Bath opens, using Brunel's broad gauge and associated masonry structures.
Bristol Temple Meads Opens
Opens his original Bristol Temple Meads terminus.
Original Bristol Terminus
Trains begin running from Brunel's Bristol station toward Bath.
September 18402 historical events
Swindon Railway Works
Daniel Gooch proposes locomotive works at Swindon and Brunel supports creation of a major railway centre there.
Death of Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia
Dies after ruling Paraguay for decades as supreme dictator.
October 18402 historical events
Birth of Michael Logue
Michael Logue is born in County Donegal and later becomes the first Archbishop of Armagh to enter the College of Cardinals.
Screw Propulsion Report Submitted
Brunel submits a detailed report recommending screw propulsion instead of paddle wheels for the new Great Britain.
December 18403 historical events
Burial
Interred at Les Invalides
Wootton Bassett-Chippenham Section Opens
Another section of Brunel's Great Western main line opens between Wootton Bassett and Chippenham.
SS Great Britain
Brunel orders SS Great Britain to be redesigned for screw propulsion instead of paddle wheels.
Der Condor
Publication of "Der Condor"
Siege of Acre
Holds out against the Turks during the Egyptian rebellion to Turkish war
Organisation Du Travail
Publication of "Organisation Du Travail"
Foreign Secretary of France
Appointed Foreign Minister
Minister of War
Appointed Minister of War, 3rd term
President of the Council
Appointed President of the Council, 3rd term
Arrest of Napoleon III
Arrested & condemned to imprisonment at the fortress of Ham
Arrest of Napoleon III
Imprisoned in Ham
Minister of Public Instruction
Cousin serves as Minister of Public Instruction and influences French educational policy.
Coup
Propagandist in Boulogne-sur-Mer for the failed attempt by Louis-Napoleon to regain the throne
Coup
Stages a failed coup at Boulogne-sur-Mer. Failed military coup in Boulogne-sur-Mer
Succession
Succeeds as King of Prussia
Nelson Column Construction
Construction begins on Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square.
Nelson's Column
Designs Nelson's Column for Trafalgar Square.
Sordello
Publication of "Sordello"
Birmingham and Gloucester Railway
The Birmingham and Gloucester Railway opens a route through the Lickey Incline.
Ross Expedition
Commands HMS Terror as second-in-command of Ross's Antarctic expedition
Governor
Appointed Governor of South Australia
Auckland
Gives a commission to William Hobson to sail for the East Indies, which Hobson ultimately rewarded in the naming of his new town Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Birth of Victoria
Birth of Victoria, 1st child of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert, the Princess Royal
Plot
Edward Oxford fires a shot at Victoria
Observatory Management And Observing Procedures Standardised
Airy strengthened systematic routines for observing recording and reducing astronomical results. The measurements helped reduce uncertainties in celestial reference positions.
Archimedes Screw Trials Studied
Brunel studies Francis Pettit Smith's screw-propelled Archimedes during trials and demonstrations at Bristol.
Bath Avon Railway Bridge
The crossing carries the Great Western Railway through the city.
Bath Spa Skew Bridge
Designs the skew bridge immediately west of Bath Spa station.
Bourton Church Bridge Completed
A Brunel-designed accommodation bridge is completed on the Challow to Wootton Bassett section of the Great Western Railway.
By Brook Culvert Completed
Brunel's stone culvert over By Brook is completed as part of the Great Western route through the Box area.
Cheltenham and Great Western Union Bridge
The limestone bridge uses Brunel's characteristic elliptical arch.
Clifton Chain Contract Awarded
The Copperhouse Foundry at Hayle receives the contract to manufacture suspension chains for Brunel's Clifton bridge.
Dorchester Street Railway Bridge
The structure carries Brunel's Great Western route through central Bath.
Gatehampton Viaduct
Completes the original Gatehampton Viaduct across the River Thames.
Great Britain Screw Conversion Approved
The steamship directors accept Brunel's recommendation and approve converting the vessel to screw propulsion.
Highnams Farm Bridge
Designs a Great Western Railway bridge near Saltford.
Kemble Railway Bridge
Designs an accommodation bridge south of Kemble for the railway.
Keynsham Railway Crossing
The bridge forms part of Brunel's Bristol-to-Bath railway section.
Moulsford Thames Crossing
The viaduct forms part of the pioneering Great Western main line.
Moulsford Viaduct
Completes the original Moulsford Viaduct across the Thames.
River Chew Bridge
Designs the Great Western Railway crossing over the River Chew.
Saltford GWR Bridge
The masonry structure belongs to the pioneering Bristol-Bath section.
St James Railway Bridge
Completes the skew railway bridge over the Avon at Bath.
Thames Railway Crossing
The elegant masonry crossing carries Brunel's broad-gauge railway.
Twerton Railway Works
The structure incorporates arches, railway facilities and workers' accommodation.
Twerton Viaduct Completed
Completes the long Twerton Viaduct for the Great Western Railway.
Twerton Worker Housing Integrated into Viaduct
Brunel incorporates railway facilities and workers' dwellings into the long masonry viaduct at Twerton.
Sawmill Extensions Support Naval Timber Work
Expanded workshop areas integrated additional sawing and associated maintenance equipment. The design reduced manual operations between manufacturing stages.
Capture of Zhoushan
Following the orders of Lord Palmerston, a British expedition blockades the Mouth of Pearl River and moves north to take Zhoushan. Led by Gordon Bremer in the Wellesley, they captured the empty city after an exchange of gunfire with shore batteries that caused only minor casualties
Siege of Canton
An expeditionary force of British Indian army troops aboard 15 barracks ships, four steam-powered gunboats and 25 smaller boats reached Canton from Singapore. The marines were headed by James Bremer. Bremer demanded the Qing Government compensate the British for losses suffered from interrupted trade
Siege of Guangzhou
Palmerston sends 16 British warships to Guangzhou
Siege of Guangzhou
Palmerston sends 16 British warships to Guangzhou
Birth of Peter Tchaikovsky
Birth of Peter Tchaikovsky
A Hero of Our Time
"A Hero of Our Time", classic of Russian realism
Agreement on Support Turkey & defend the Bosphorous
Russia & Britain agree to support Turkey & defend the Bosphorous
Unification
Persuades Boer settlers in Transvaal to unite with Natal
President of Spain
Appointed President of the Provisional Government
Provisional Government
Appointed President of the Provisional Government
Regency
General Espartero is appointed Regent
Birth of Murad V
Birth of Murad V, son of Abd al-Majid
Reballion of Egypt
Egypt rebels against Turkish rule
Siege of Acre
A combined British & Turkish fleet recaptures Acre from the Egyptians