Timeline August 1846

Events in August 1846 4

• 1846 Wilmot Proviso introduced Proposal to ban slavery in land taken from Mexico Congressman David Wilmot proposed banning slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico. It never passed the Senate, but the fight over it deepened the sectional split that led to the Civil War.
• 1846 Smithsonian Institution established Congress founds a national institution of learning President Polk signed the act creating the Smithsonian Institution, funded by the bequest of the British scientist James Smithson. It grew into the world's largest complex of museums and research centres.
• 1846 Kearny occupies Santa Fe US Army takes New Mexico without a fight Stephen W. Kearny's Army of the West entered Santa Fe after the Mexican governor withdrew. Kearny declared New Mexico US territory and moved on toward California.
• 1846 Premiere of Mendelssohn's Elijah Oratorio first performed at the Birmingham Festival Felix Mendelssohn conducted the first performance of his oratorio Elijah at Birmingham Town Hall. The work was a huge success and became one of the most popular oratorios of the 19th century.