1847 in the United States
Centuries:	18th century – 19th century – 20th century
Decades:	1820s  1830s  – 1840s –  1850s  1860s
Years:	1844 1845 1846 – 1847 – 1848 1849 1850
Flag:	29 stars (1847 – 1848)

Events from the year 1847 in the United States.

Contents 1 Events 1.1 January–March 1.2 April–June 1.3 July–September 1.4 October–December 1.5 Undated 1.6 Ongoing 2 External links

[edit] Events

[edit] January–March

• January 4 – Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the U.S government.
• January 13 – The Treaty of Cahuenga ends the fighting in the Mexican-American War in California.
• January 16 – John C. Fremont is appointed Governor of the new California Territory.
• January 17 – Saint Anthony Hall is founded at Columbia University, New York City,New York.
• January 30 – Yerba Buena, California is renamed San Francisco.
• February 5 – A rescue effort, called the First Relief, leaves Johnson's Ranch to save the ill-fated Donner Party. These California bound emigrants became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada in the winter of 1846–1847, and some had resorted to cannibalism to survive.
• February 22 – Mexican-American War – The Battle of Buena Vista: 5,000 American troops under General Zachary Taylor use their superiority in artillery to drive off 15,000 Mexican troops under Antonio López de Santa Anna, defeating the Mexicans the next day.
• March 1 – The state of Michigan formally abolishes the death penalty.
• March 9 – Mexican-American War: United States forces under General Winfield Scott invade Mexico near Veracruz.
• March 29 – Mexican-American War: United States forces led by General Winfield Scott take Veracruz after a siege.

[edit] April–June

• May 7 – In Philadelphia, the American Medical Association (AMA) is founded.
• June 1 – Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America is founded at New York University.

[edit] July–September

• July 1 – The United States issues its first postage stamps.
• July 24 – After 17 months of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 Mormon pioneers into Salt Lake Valley, resulting in the establishment of Salt Lake City.
• July 29 – The Cumberland School of Law is founded at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. At the end of 1847 only 15 law schools exist in the United States.
• August 12 – U.S. troops of General Winfield Scott begin to advance along the aqueduct around Chalco and Xochimilco lakes in Mexico
• August 20 – US troops defeat Mexican troops in Valencia, Mexico

[edit] October–December

• October 31 – Theta Delta Chi is founded at Union College.

[edit] Undated

• The North Carolina General Assembly incorporates the railroad town of Goldsborough, and the Wayne county seat is moved to the new town.

[edit] Ongoing

• Mexican-American War (1846–1848)

[edit] External links

• Media related to 1847 in the United States at Wikimedia Commons