    __notoc__ year 1847 (mdcccxlvii) was a common year starting on friday (link will display the full calendar) of the gregorian calendar and a common year starting on wednesday of the 12-day slower julian calendar. == events == === january&ndash;march === * january 4 &ndash; samuel colt sells his first revolver pistol to the u.s government. * january 13 &ndash; the treaty of cahuenga ends the fighting in the mexicanâamerican war in california. * january 16 &ndash; john c. frÃ©mont is appointed governor of the new california territory. * january 17 &ndash; st. anthony hall is founded at columbia university, new york city, new york. * january 30 &ndash; yerba buena, california is renamed san francisco. * february 5 &ndash; a rescue effort, called the first relief, leaves johnson's ranch to save the ill-fated donner party. these california bound emigrants became snowbound in the sierra nevada in the winter of 1846â47, and some had resorted to cannibalism to survive. * february 22 &ndash; mexicanâamerican war &ndash; the battle of buena vista: 5,000 american troops under general zachary taylor use their superiority in artillery to drive off 15,000 mexican troops under antonio lÃ³pez de santa anna, defeating the mexicans the next day. * march 1 ** the state of michigan formally abolishes the death penalty. ** faustin soulouque is elected the president of haiti. * march 4 &ndash; the 30th united states congress is sworn into office. * march 9 &ndash; mexicanâamerican war: united states forces under general winfield scott invade mexico near veracruz. * march 14 &ndash; verdi's opera macbeth premieres at teatro della pergola in florence, italy. * march 29 &ndash; mexicanâamerican war: united states forces led by general winfield scott take veracruz after a siege. === april&ndash;june === * april 5 &ndash; the world's first municipally-funded civic public park, birkenhead park in birkenhead on merseyside in england, is opened. * april 15 &ndash; the lawrence school, sanawar is established. * april 16 &ndash; new zealand wars: a minor mÄori chief is accidentally shot by a junior british army officer in whanganui on new zealand's north island, triggering the wanganui campaign which continues until july 23. * april 25 &ndash; the brig exmouth carrying irish emigrants from derry bo
1847