1807 in the United Kingdom

Events from the year 1807 in the United Kingdom.

Incumbents

*Monarch - George III of the United Kingdom
*Prime Minister - William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville coalition (until 31 March), William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, Tory

Events

* 1 January - the island of Curaçao captured by Admiral Charles Brisbane. [cite book|title=The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|publisher=D. Appleton & co|author=Joel Munsell|year=1858]
* 28 January - Pall Mall, London becomes the first street with gas lighting.cite book|title=Penguin Pocket On This Day|publisher=Penguin Reference Library|isbn=0-141-02715-0|year=2006]
* March 25
** The Slave Trade Act becomes law abolishing the slave trade in the British Empire. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/abolition/|title=Abolition of the Slave Trade 1807 bbc.co.uk/history|accessdate=2007-09-11]
** The Swansea and Mumbles Railway, then known as the Oystermouth Railway, became the first passenger carrying railway in the world.
* 31 March - Duke of Portland asked to form a government following the collapse of the Ministry of all the Talents.
* May 4–June 9 - the Duke of Portland wins the general election.
* June - First Ascot Gold Cup held.cite book |last=Palmer |first=Alan & Veronica |year=1992 |title= The Chronology of British History|publisher= Century Ltd|location=London|pages= 242-243|isbn= 0-7126-5616-2]
* June 22 - Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, Royal Navy warship HMS "Leopard" attacked and boarded the American frigate USS "Chesapeake".
* July 5 - Disastrous attack on Buenos Aires.
* July 7-9 - Peace of Tilsit between France, Prussia and Russia. Napoleon and Russian Emperor Alexander I ally together against the British.
* July 13 - With the death of Henry Benedict Stuart, the last Stuart claimant to the throne, the movement of Jacobitism comes to an effective end.
*September 2 – September 7 - Battle of Copenhagen: Royal Navy bombards Copenhagen with fire bombs and phosphorus rockets to prevent Denmark from surrendering its fleet to Napoleon. 30% of the city was destroyed and 2000 citizens were killed.
* December 22 - The U.S. Congress passes the Embargo Act in response to the Orders in Council.

Unknown dates

* Potassium and sodium isolated by Sir Humphry Davy.
* Geological Society of London founded.

Publications

* Charles and Mary Lamb's children's book "Tales from Shakespeare". [cite web|url=http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/icons-timeline/1800-1820|title=Icons, a portrait of England 1800-1820|accessdate=2007-09-11]

Births

* October 8 - Harriet Taylor English philosophical writer (died 1858)

Deaths

* 5 January - Isaac Reed, Shakespearean editor (born 1742)
* 18 May - John Douglas, Anglican bishop (born 1721)
* 13 July - Henry Benedict Stuart, claimant to the throne of the United Kingdom (born 1725)
* 18 July - Thomas Jones, mathematician (born 1756)
* 14 September - George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, field marshal (born 1724)
* 21 December - John Newton, cleric and hymnist (born 1725)

References

ee also