Year by year · 19th century

1840

1840 in world history: 13 events, 10 births, 15 deaths, 2 states founded and 3 that came to an end. 1,084 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 10 January

    Uniform Penny Post introduced in Britain

    Rowland Hill's reform let a letter travel anywhere in Britain for one penny, paid by the sender. Letter volumes soared, and the Penny Black, the first adhesive stamp, followed in May.

  2. 6 February

    Treaty of Waitangi signed in New Zealand

    British officials and more than 40 Māori chiefs signed the treaty at Waitangi. Differences between its English and Māori texts over sovereignty remain central to New Zealand law and politics.

    New Zealand

  3. 10 February

    Queen Victoria marries Prince Albert

    Victoria married her cousin Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha at the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace. Her white wedding dress set a lasting fashion; Albert became her closest adviser.

  4. 1 May

    Britain issues the Penny Black, the first adhesive stamp

    The Penny Black went on sale, valid for postage from 6 May. Prepaid at a flat rate under Rowland Hill's reforms, it made letters affordable for ordinary people.

  5. 6 May

    Penny Black becomes valid for postage

    Britain's prepaid adhesive stamps could now be used on letters. Paying a flat penny in advance, rather than charging recipients by distance, made post cheap and predictable.

  6. 21 May

    William Hobson proclaims British sovereignty over New Zealand

    Following the Treaty of Waitangi, Lieutenant-Governor Hobson declared British sovereignty over the North Island by cession and the South Island by discovery. The treaty's meaning is still central to New Zealand law.

    New Zealand

  7. Crisis

    Rhine Crisis

    The Rhine Crisis of 1840 was a diplomatic confrontation in which the French government of Adolphe Thiers, humiliated in the Eastern Question, raised demands for the Rhine as France's eastern frontier.

  8. Event

    Act of Union 1840

    The Act of Union 1840 was a British statute that merged Upper Canada and Lower Canada into the single Province of Canada, proclaimed in February 1841.

ProfileState919 states with a known seat in 1840Open the atlas at 1840 →

In the profiles

Wars and longer events

Born in 1840 10

Died in 1840 15

States founded 2

States that came to an end 3

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1840. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1840
MLA
“1840.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1840. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1840.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1840.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1840’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1840 (Accessed: ).