--Art--

Birth of French composer Berlioz.

Louisiana Purchase

Lewis and Clark begin expedition to search for Northwest passage.

Napoleon Bonaparte declares himself Emperor of Europe.

Beethoven is infuriated by his hero's betrayal of democracy, rips off and burns the title page of his "Bonaparte Symphony." His new title is "Eroica," "in memory of a hero."

Beethoven's first three middle string quartets (Op. 59, Razumovsky) are published. Beethoven's Eroica (Third) Symphony first performed.

Birth of American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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Beethoven's Fifth and Sixth (Pastoral) Symphonies premiere on one program.

Birth of American president Abraham Lincoln, English naturalist Charles

Darwin, and German composer Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.

Beethoven's Harp Quartet (Op. 74) - the fourth of the middle quartets - published.

Birth of Polish/French pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin, German composer, and critic Robert Schumann.

Beethoven's Serioso Quartet (Op. 95) - the fifth of the middle quartets - published.

Birth of Hungarian composer and piano virtuoso Franz Liszt.

Beethoven's Emperor piano concerto first performed.

Birth of English novelist Charles Dickens.

The U.S. declares war on Britain.

Napoleon retreats from Moscow.

Fairy tales published by The Brothers Grimm.

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