On February 17, 1812, the Frame Breaking Bill to deal with Luddite disturbances came before the British House of Commons for a second reading. The first reading took place on February 14, 1812. The legislation made machine or frame breaking capital offences. The debate of the House of Commons follows: FRAME BREAKING BILL. HC Deb [...]

Feb 16 1812: Byron to Hodgson On this day, Lord Byron writes to his friend Francis Hodgson. Byron opens the letter by referring to the fact that he has sent away the women which likely refers to Sarah Vaughan and another servant named Lucy. He writes in a rather morose self pitying away that is [...]

Definition: Kapellmeister- (pronounced [kaˈpɛl.ˌmaɪstɐ]) a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. On February 15 1812, François-Adrien Boieldieu writes to Tsar Alexander of Russia that he must resign his position as Kapellmeister. Boieldieu (December 16, 1775 – October 8,1834) was a French composer, mainly of operas, that was quite famous in the early [...]

In 1812, the capital of Ohio was Chillicothe, a former Shawnee settlement. On this day in 1812 the future site of Columbus was decided to be the new capital. From the Columbus Dispatch: The Ohio General Assembly voted on Feb. 14, 1812, to move the state capital to a nameless tract on the high ground [...]

As a special treat I’ve decided to summarize what we know about Tecumseh’s love interests over his life: This is an EXTREMELY controversial subject. Nobody really knows for sure, what is known was passed on orally through his descendants and these histories are at times contradictory when compared. According to most histories, he had 2 [...]

LONDON – Feb. 13, 1812 Samuel Whitbread brought a motion in the British House of Commons for production of the correspondence exchanged between the British and American governments. Whitbread was opposed to a war with the Americans. The motion was put to a vote and lost by an overwhelming majority. Whitbread was a passionate and [...]

On February 12, 1812, Major-General Isaac Brock writes to Colonel Baynes, the Adj.-General. in regards to the possible upcoming war and the Northwest thetre in specific. Detroit, Michilimacinac and Amherstburg are all adressed: YORK, February 12, 1812. The assurance which I gave, in my speech at the opening of the legislature, of England co-operating in [...]

More problems with Canada: Governor Tompkins of New York wrote to the Secretary of the Treasurer Gallatin about a recurring problem of fugitives from justice escaping into Canada. The Governor writes, in part, as follows: “Sir: I have the honor to send you the copy of a letter from Mr. Sailly relative to an occurrence [...]

Anne Prévost was the 17 year old daughter of George Prévost, overall commander of the British forces in the Canadas and Isaac Brock’s direct superior. On this day, Anne wrote the following in her journal: “February 10th: Captain C. returned from the United States. This was the second time my Father had sent him to [...]

On February 9, 1812, Emperor Alexander I of the Russian decreed to decorate 27 peasants for their heroic deeds against Napoleon’s invasion force. This medal was awarded just once, with only 27 medals made at the Saint Petersburg Mint. The obverse side of the medal featured Emperor Alexander`s profile, while the reverse side had a [...]