Events January–March January 1 – The Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (the Austrian civil code) enters into force in the Austrian Empire. January 19 – Peninsular War: The French-held fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo is stormed by the Anglo-Portuguese Army, under the Earl of Wellington. February 7 – The last New Madrid earthquake strikes New Madrid, Missouri, with an estimated moment magnitude of over 8. February 12 – Napoleon authorizes the usage of Mesures usuelles, the basis of the metric system. February 13 – The first Chilean newspaper Aurora de Chile deals with political philosophy, and stands in favor of the new national government. February 27 Argentine War of Independence: Manuel Belgrano raises the Flag of Argentina (which he designed) in the city of Rosario, for the first time. English poet Lord Byron gives his first address as a member of the British House of Lords, in defense of Luddite violence against industrialism, in his home county of Nottinghamshire. February 24 – Prussia and France sign the Treaty of Paris. March 14 – Prussia and Austria sign the Treaty of Paris. March 15 – Luddites attack the wool-processing factory of Frank Vickerman in West Yorkshire. March 16–April 6 – Siege of Badajoz (Peninsular War): The Anglo-Portuguese Army, under the Earl of Wellington, besieges Badajoz, Spain and forces the surrender of the French garrison. March 19 – The Cortes of Cádiz creates the first modern Spanish constitution. March 26 In the United States, the Boston Gazette prints a political cartoon coining the term Gerrymander, after former Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry's approval (on February 11) of legislation creating oddly shaped electoral districts, designed to help incumbents win re-election. The 1812 Caracas earthquake destroys Caracas, Venezuela. April–June April 4 – U.S. President James Madison enacts a 90-day embargo on trade with the United Kingdom. April 8 – The capital of Finland is moved from Turku to Helsinki, when Russia's Tsar Alexander I signs an edict moving the Government Council of the Grand Duchy of Finland. April 30 – Louisiana is admitted as the 18th U.S. state. May 11 – John Bellingham assassinates British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval, in the lobby of the British House of Commons. May 16 – Russian field marshal Mikhail Kutuzov signs the Treaty of Bucharest, ending the Russo-Turkish War (1806–12) and annexing Bessarabia to Imperial Russia. May 25 – Felling mine disaster: A mine explosion at the Felling colliery near Jarrow, England,