Year by year · 19th century

1838

1838 in world history: 8 events, 11 births, 11 deaths, 5 states founded and 3 that came to an end. 1,084 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 6 January

    Alfred Vail and Samuel Morse demonstrate their telegraph

    At the Speedwell Ironworks in New Jersey, Vail and Morse sent messages over two miles of wire using an early form of their code. Telegraph lines soon spread across America and the world.

    Telegraph

  2. 16 December

    Voortrekkers defeat a Zulu army at Blood River

    A laager of about 470 Voortrekkers repelled thousands of Zulu warriors sent by King Dingane at the Ncome River. The victory became a central symbol of Afrikaner nationalism.

  3. Battle

    Battle of Blood River

    The Battle of Blood River was fought on 16 December 1838 on the Ncome River in Natal between about 470 Voortrekkers under Andries Pretorius and a much larger army of King Dingane's Zulu.

ProfileState919 states with a known seat in 1838Open the atlas at 1838 →

In the profiles

Wars and longer events

Born in 1838 11

Died in 1838 11

States founded 5

States that came to an end 3

All years → The 19th century →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1838. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1838
MLA
“1838.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1838. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1838.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1838.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1838’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1838 (Accessed: ).