General
Population: 1.17 Billion*
- Entertainment: Writers include Hans Christian Andersen Tales Told for Children, William Wordsworth (poems), Robert Browning Paracelsus, BUlwer-Lytton,
JP Kennedy (Revolutionary War novel), William Gilmore Simms (Indian novel), FG Dahlmann (history of politics), Charles G Finney (religious revivals),
David Friedrich Strause (life of Jesus), de Toqueville's Democracy in America
Art includes Constable "The Valley Farm", Corot "Hagar in the Desert", expression "Art for Art's sake" by Victor Cousin
Music includes Donizetti,
- Science: Halley's comet (Mark Twain born)
Sedgwick names Cambrian system and Murchison names Silurian
- Technology: First efforts to propel railroad vehicles by electric batteries and electric traction
Charles Chubb patents burglar-proof safe
Samuel Colt takes out English patent for single-barreled pistol and rifle
Earliest negative photograph taken in England by William Henry Fox Talbot – of Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire
- Deaths: Architect John Nash, Chief Justice John Marshall, Reformer William Cobbett, Humanist Wilhelm von Humboldt, Poet August von Platen, Composer Vincenzo Bellini,
Francis I of Austria, Statesman Christian Bunther von Bernstorff, Man of letters William Cobbett, Poet Felicia Hemans, Poet James Hogg,
Forger William Henry Ireland, Comedian Charles Mathews, Artist A.J. Gros, Writer Aleksandr Pushkin killed in duel,
Africa
- South Africa: Boers trek to Natal begins - Great Trek to 1837 – found Transvaal
Americas
- General: Quake and tsunami in Talcahuano
- Chile: Earthquake and tsunami
- Mexico: War begins in Texas region
- Nicaragua: Volcanic eruption of Cosegüina
Asia
- India: English language made the medium of instruction
Europe
- Austria: Ferdinand I - eldest son of Emperor Francis II made Emperor of Austria
- Finland: Start of freeze until 1850 – kills 137,000
- German States: Edict of German Federal Diet bans books of "Young Germany" writers including Heine Borne and Gutzkow
First German railroad line opens between Nuremberg and Furth (in Bavaria)
- Great Britain: Municipal Corporation Act revolutionizes borough government
End of Sir Robert peel's first term as Prime Minister
- Holy Roman Empire: (Austria) Francis II made last Emperor as Francis I dies
- Luxembourg: Created as it leaves union with Netherlands
- Portugal: Maria Christina II reigns
Middle East
- Afghanistan: Dost Mohammed begins rule until 1863
Pacific
- Australia: Melbourne founded