1844

1844 was 27 years before the founding of the City of Birmingham and the 25th year of Alabama statehood.

Events

• Construction of Shelby Furnace began.

Works

• The Sacred Harp

Buildings

• St Clair County Courthouse

Individuals

• Nicholas Cobbs became the first Episcopal Bishop of Alabama.
• Baylis Grace became Jefferson County Sheriff.
• Joseph Riley Smith married Margaret Harvie Jordan.
• Michael Tuomey was appointed state geologist for South Carolina.

Births

• January 5: Benjamin Roden, businessman
• February 29: Frank O'Brien, civic leader and Mayor of Birmingham
• May 23: A. B. Loveman, merchant
• June 10: Mortimer Jordan, Jr, physician
• November 16: James Bowron, businessman
• December 25: N. F. Thompson, industrial promoter
• Mary Gordon Duffee, historian
• Henry, possible inspiration for the legend of John Henry

Context

In 1844, the Dominican Republic gained independence from Haiti. Samuel Morse made the first public demonstration of his telegraph. The Great Flood of 1844 struck the Missouri River and Mississippi River. George Williams founded the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in London. Charles Goodyear received a patent for vulcanization. James K. Polk defeated Henry Clay in the U.S. presidential election.

Notable births in 1844 included Aaron Montgomery Ward, Ludwig Boltzmann, Henri Rousseau, Mary Cassatt, `Abdu'l-Bahá, Edward Carpenter, Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Lueger, and Karl Benz. Notable deaths included King Charles XIV John of Sweden, Thomas Charles Hope, Thomas Campbell, Hyrum Smith, Joseph Smith Jr, and John Dalton.

1840s

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