A battle at sea between USS Constitution and British HMS Guerriere occurred 400 miles off Nova Scotia.
US President James Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain, marking the beginning of the War of 1812.
John Bellingham was sentenced to death for assassinating Spencer Perceval, the British Prime Minister.
Louisiana became the 18th state to join the United States of America.
Up to 20,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Caracas, Venezuela.
