1808

Events

   * January 1 - Importation of slaves into the United States is banned
   * February 11 - Anthracite coal first burned as fuel, experimentally.
   * February - Russia issues an ultimatum to Sweden, to join France Denmark
     and Russia and attacks Finland.
   * March 26 - Charles IV of Spain abdicates in favor of his son, Ferdinand
     VII
   * April 6 - John Jacob Astor incorporates the American Fur Company.
   * May 3 - The fortress of Sveaborg is lost by Sweden to Russia, during
     the Finnish War.
   * November - Swedish troops evacuate Finland. Tsar Alexander I of Russia
     proclaims Finland a part of Russia.
   * November - James Madison defeats Charles C. Pinckney in U.S.
     presidential election
   * Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Mustafa IV (1807-1808) to
     Mahmud II (1808-1839)
   * December - Napoleon invades Spain

Births

   * January 27-David Friedrich Strauss, German Theologians
   * February 5 - Carl Spitzweg, painter (+ 1885)
   * February 26 - HonorŽ Daumier, painter, illustrator, lithograph and
     sculptor (+ 1879)
   * October 6 - King Frederick VII of Denmark

Deaths

   * March 13 - King Christian VII of Denmark
   * May 18 - Elijah Craig, important to the invention of bourbon whiskey

Heads of states

   * Denmark
        o Christian VII King of Denmark and Norway (1766-1808)
        o Frederick VI King of Denmark (1808-1839), and king of Norway
          (1808-1814)
   * France - NapolŽon I Emperor of France (1804-1814)
   * Ottoman Empire
        o Mustafa IV Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1807-1808)
        o Mahmud II Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1808-1839)
   * Prussia - Frederick William III King of Prussia (1797-1840)
   * Spain
        o Charles IV King of Spain (1788-1808)
        o Joseph Bonaparte King of Spain (1808-1813)
   * Russia - Alexander I Tsar of Russia (1801-1825)
   * United States - Thomas Jefferson third President of the United States
     (1801-1809)