What Happened in 1820

European Scientists Discover Salicin as the Active Ingredient in Willow Bark that Treats Arthritis

It wasn't until more than 2000 years later, in the early 1820s, that European scientists began to scientifically study what the chemical compound... Read more

Lee Enters Alexandria Academy

Lee's father died when Lee was eleven years old, leaving the family deeply in debt. When Lee was three years old, his older half-brother, the heir... Read more

Maine is the 23rd State Admitted to the Union

On March 15, 1820, Maine became the twenty-third state in the Union. Originally a province of Massachusetts, Maine is noted for its picturesque... Read more

The Treaty Of Doak's Stand Is Signed

The Treaty of Doak's Stand (7 Stat. 210, also known as Treaty with the Choctaw) was signed on October 18, 1820 (proclaimed on January 8, 1821)... Read more

A 20-Ton Sperm Whale Sinks the Whaling Ship Essex

On 20 November, The Essex sighted a school of whales, and all three boats set off in pursuit. But Chase had bad luck again, as a whale immediately... Read more