American explorer Charles Wilkes discovered the Shackleton Ice Shelf in Antarctica.
Source
Iceland's first football club, Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkurv (Reykjavík Football Club), was founded.
The Battle of Fort Donelson ended, with nearly 14,000 Confederate soldiers surrendering.
Fidel Castro was sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba.
Winston Churchill fell ill with pneumonia.
The first known British check was written for the amount of £400.