What Happened in July 1808

Historical Events

  • Jul 2 Simon Fraser completes his trip down Fraser River, British Columbia, lands at Musqueam
  • Jul 15 French marshal Joachim Murat becomes King of Naples

French History

Jul 20 Napoleon decrees all French Jews must adopt a fixed family name

Sultan Mahmud II

Jul 28 Mahmud II succeeds Mustafa IV as sultan of the Ottoman Empire


Famous Birthdays

  • Jul 8 Mindon, King of Burma (1853-1878) penultimate ruler of the Konbaung dynasty and founder of Mandalay, born in Burma (d. 1878)
  • Jul 9 Alexander William Doniphan, American lawyer and soldier, born in Mason County, Kentucky (d. 1887)
  • Jul 10 Solomon Northup, American abolitionist and author (12 Years a Slave), born in Minerva, New York (or 10 Jul 1807) (d. 1863)
  • Jul 15 Henry Cole, English Inventor and civil servant, 1st director of the V&A Museum, promoter of 1851 Great Exhibition, born in Bath, England (d. 1882)
  • Jul 15 Henry Edward Manning, English Roman Catholic Cardinal (Archbishop of Westminster 1865-92), born at Copped Hall, Totteridge, England (d. 1892)
  • Jul 21 Simion Bărnuţiu, Romanian philosopher and politician, born in Bocșa, Sălaj, Ottoman Empire (d. 1864)
  • Jul 28 Charles Lucas, British cellist composer, publisher, and educator (Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, 1859-66), born in Salisbury, England (d. 1869)
  • Jul 31 Frederick Crouch, English-born composer, born in London, England (d. 1896)

Famous Deaths

  • Jul 20 François-Hippolyte Barthélémon, French composer, dies at 66
  • Jul 29 Selim III, Turkish sultan (1789-1808) poet and composer, assassinated at 46