Year by year · 19th century

1804

1804 in world history: 21 events, 17 births, 8 deaths, 5 states founded and 5 that came to an end. 1,149 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 1 January

    Haiti declares independence from France

    Jean-Jacques Dessalines proclaimed the independence of Haiti at Gonaïves after more than a decade of revolution. It became the first state founded by formerly enslaved people and the second independent nation in the Americas.

    French EmpireJean-Jacques DessalinesHaiti

  2. 16 February

    Stephen Decatur burns the captured USS Philadelphia at Tripoli

    Lieutenant Decatur and a small crew slipped into Tripoli harbour and set fire to the frigate, captured by the Barbary state. Nelson is said to have called it the most daring act of the age.

    Tripoli

  3. 21 February

    Trevithick's steam locomotive makes the first railway journey

    Richard Trevithick's locomotive hauled ten tons of iron and some 70 men along the Penydarren tramway in South Wales. It was the first working railway journey by a steam locomotive.

  4. 10 March

    Upper Louisiana formally passes to the United States

    In a ceremony at St Louis, the Spanish flag was lowered and the French tricolour raised, then the next day replaced by the Stars and Stripes. It completed the transfer of the Louisiana Purchase.

    United StatesLouisiana

  5. 18 May

    French Senate proclaims Napoleon Emperor of the French

    A decree of the Senate made First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte hereditary emperor. He crowned himself in Notre-Dame in December, in the presence of Pope Pius VII.

    NapoleonConsul

  6. 11 July

    Aaron Burr mortally wounds Alexander Hamilton in a duel

    Vice President Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton at Weehawken, New Jersey; Hamilton died the next day. The death of the first Treasury Secretary ended Burr's political career.

  7. 2 December

    Napoleon crowns himself emperor at Notre-Dame

    In the presence of Pope Pius VII, Napoleon placed the imperial crown on his own head and then crowned Josephine. The ceremony proclaimed a new hereditary monarchy born of the Revolution.

    Napoleon

  8. Treaty

    Treaty of Elaznauri

    The Treaty of Elaznauri was signed in April 1804 by Solomon II of Imereti, under Russian military pressure, at Elaznauri in Imereti.

  9. Battle

    Battle of Tabkin Kwotto

    The Battle of Tabkin Kwotto, fought in June 1804, was the first major victory of the followers of Usman dan Fodio over the army of Yunfa, ruler of Gobir.

  10. Event

    Hijra of Usman dan Fodio

    The Hijra of Usman dan Fodio was the migration of the reformer and his followers to Gudu in 1804, modelled on the Prophet Muhammad's hijra.

ProfileState969 states with a known seat in 1804Open the atlas at 1804 →

In the profiles

  • Sokoto CaliphateUsman dan Fodio makes his hijra to Gudu and declares jihad against the Hausa kings
  • Habsburg MonarchyFrancis II proclaims himself hereditary Emperor of Austria
  • Austrian EmpireFrancis II proclaims himself hereditary Emperor of Austria
  • Kingdom of ImeretiSolomon II accepts Russian protection by the Treaty of Elaznauri
  • Hausa kingdomsUsman dan Fodio’s followers defeat Gobir at Tabkin Kwotto

Wars and longer events

Born in 1804 17

Died in 1804 8

States founded 5

States that came to an end 5

All years → The 19th century →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1804. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1804
MLA
“1804.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1804. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1804.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1804.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1804’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1804 (Accessed: ).