Historical Society founded. 1805 – Yellow fever epidemic occurs, during which as many as 50,000 people are said to have fled the city. 1807 – College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York established. 1808 – Roman Catholic Diocese of New York established (later elevated to an archdiocese) 1809 Abyssinian Baptist Church established. Irving's fictional History of New York published. 1810 – Scudder's American Museum in business. 1811 May 19: Close to 100 buildings burn down on Chatham Street. Commissioners' Plan of 1811 lays out the Manhattan grid between 14th Street and Washington Heights. 1812 – New York City Hall built. 1816 – American Bible Society founded. 1817 New York Stock & Exchange Board established. Staten Island Ferry established. 1818 Lyceum of Natural History established. Brooks Brothers first opens on Catherine and Cherry Streets in Lower Manhattan. 1819 – Yellow fever epidemic occurs. 1820 – Apprentices' Library established. 1821 September 3: Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane causes a storm surge of 13 ft in one hour, leading to widespread flooding south of Canal Street, but few deaths are reported. The hurricane is estimated to have been a Category 3 event and to have made landfall at Jamaica Bay. African Grove theatre founded. 1822 Last major outbreak of yellow fever in the city occurs. Fulton Fish Market established. 1823 – The Night Before Christmas poem first published anonymously. It's unknown who wrote it. 1824 May 15: The boiler of steamship Aetna explodes as the ship is en route in New York Harbor. At least 10 passengers are killed, and many more seriously injured. 1825 Labor strike by United Tailoresses Society. Juvenile House of Refuge begins operating. Population: 166,136. Up the Hudson River, Erie Canal begins operating. 1826 – Lord & Taylor clothier in business. 1827 July 4: Independence Day parade marks the end of slavery and full emancipation in New York. Delmonico's cafe in business. 1828 – American Institute of the City of New York founded. 1829 – Workingmen's Party organized. 1830 – Sociedad Benéfica Cubana y Puertorriqueña formed. 1831 – University of the City of New York incorporated. 1832 – Cholera pandemic reaches North America. It breaks out in New York City on June 26, peaks at 100 deaths per day during July, and finally abates in December. More than 3500 people die in the city, many in the lower-class neighborhoods, particularly Five Points. Another 80,000 people, one third of