1837 | Political Events
Political Events
Britain's William IV dies at Windsor Castle outside London June 20 at age 71 after a 7-year reign. The king's widow, Caroline Adelaide of Saxe-Coburg Meiningen, 44, is devastated (she married him in 1818 and is credited with having turned a middle-aged rake into a respectable [if dull] gentleman). William is succeeded by an 18-year-old niece, a granddaughter of George III, who will reign until 1901 as Queen Victoria. Mrs. Fitzherbert, mistress to the late George IV, has died with all the rites of Roman Catholicism Easter Monday at age 80.
Salic law forbids female succession in Hanover and that kingdom is separated from Britain. The Hanoverian crown passes to George III's eldest surviving son, the duke of Cumberland; he will reign until 1851 as Ernst August, and his son will reign as George V until Prussia annexes Hanover in 1866.
Novelist Benjamin Disraeli stands for election to Parliament as the Conservative candidate for Maidstone, Kent and wins the seat, having twice stood (and lost) as the independent radical candidate for High Wycombe and stood without success 2 years ago as Conservative candidate for Taunton. Having speculated wildly in South American mining shares in 1825, Disraeli lost so heavily that he was left deeply in debt and turned to writing as a way of resurrecting his fortunes, but although he will marry a rich widow in 1839 he will not be free of debt until well past middle age. Now 32, he champions the interests of landlords but is hooted down for his mannerisms and flamboyant dress when he makes his maiden speech; silenced, he says, "I will sit down now, but the time will come when you will hear me."
French forces in Algeria sign the Treaty of Tafna with the emir Abdul-Qadar (Abdulkader), who has gained support from Algerians incensed at the French use of violence (see 1836). General Bugeaud has returned to France; the treaty leaves the French with only a few ports, increases the territory controlled by Abdul-Qadar, and makes him master of the interior of Oran and the Titteri. Within 2 years Abdul-Qadar will have established an Algerian nation whose subjects will be taxed on an equal basis by an administration of officials on fixed salaries. Fielding an army of about 2,000 regulars, the emir will fortify interior towns, selling surplus crops to buy arms in Britain and elsewhere as his cavalry uses hit-and-run tactics to maintain pressure on the French (see 1841).
Japan's shÅgun Ienari Tokugawa resigns at age 64 after a 44-year rule marked by widespread disturbances produced in part by Ienari's efforts to reform government and improve education. Ienari has had 40 mistresses, half of his 54 children have died in infancy, and he is succeeded by his son Ieyoshi, 45, who will rule until 1853 as sentiment grows for restoration of imperial power and demands increase that Japan open her ports to foreign trade.
Michigan enters the Union January 26 as the 26th state.
President Jackson recognizes the Republic of Texas on his last full day in office (March 3) after approval by Congress.
The Texas Rangers have their beginnings at Waco, where Anson Darnell, Starrett Smith, and Jacob Gross establish Fort Fisher.
Congress increases Supreme Court membership March 3 from seven justices to nine.
Chile's dictator Diego Portales dies by an assassin's hand while reviewing his troops at Valparaiso June 6 at age 43.
Uruguay's president Manuel Ceferino Oribe resigns in October, moves to Buenos Aires with his supporters, and receives a military commission from the Argentine dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas (see 1836; 1842).
A French-Canadian rebellion against British rule begins under the leadership of Louis (Joseph) Papineau, 51, and William Lyon Mackenzie, 42. Speaker of the legislative assembly of Lower Canada, Papineau is charged with high treason, escapes to the United States, and is declared a rebel after some riots and fighting in the Montreal area. Mackenzie attacks Toronto December 5, is repulsed, flees across the border December 13, seizes Navy Island in the Niagara River, and proclaims a provisional government, but he will be arrested in the United States early next year. The U.S. steamboat Caroline supplies the rebels, but Canadian troops who have crossed the Niagara River kill one of the passengers December 29, set the steamboat afire, and cast her adrift just above the falls (see Durham, 1838).