What Happened In May 1840 In History

Historical Events for May, 1840

• 1st » The Penny Black, the first official adhesive postage stamp, is issued in the United Kingdom.
• 6th » The Penny Black postage stamp becomes valid for use in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
• 7th » The Great Natchez Tornado strikes Natchez, Mississippi killing 317 people. It is the second deadliest tornado in United States history.
• 20th » York Minster is badly damaged by fire.
• 22nd » The penal transportation known as transportation of United Kingdom known as British convicts to the New South Wales colony is abolished.

Famous Birthdays on May in 1840

• 7th » Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Russian composer and educator (d. 1893)
• 10th » Hadzhi Dimitar, Bulgarian warlord (d. 1868)
• 12th » Alejandro Gorostiaga, Chilean colonel (d. 1912)
• 13th » Alphonse Daudet, French author (d. 1897)

Famous Deaths for May 1840

• 6th » Francisco de Paula Santander, Colombian general and politician, 4th President of the Republic of the New Granada (b. 1792)
• 7th » Caspar David Friedrich, German painter (b. 1774)
• 26th » Sidney Smith (Royal Navy officer) called Sidney Smith, English admiral and politician (b. 1764)
• 27th » Niccolò Paganini, Italian violinist and composer (b. 1782)

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