Events January–March January 5 – The Treaty of the Dardanelles, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Ottoman Empire, is concluded. January 10 – Peninsular War – French Marshal Jean Lannes begins the Siege of Zaragoza. January 16 – Peninsular War – Battle of Corunna in Galicia (Spain): The British (under General Sir John Moore, who is killed) resist an attempt by the French (under Marshal Soult) to prevent them embarking. February 3 – The Illinois Territory is created from the western part of the Indiana Territory. February 8 – Franz I of Austria declares war on France. February 11 – Robert Fulton patents the steamboat in the United States. February 12 – Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln are born. February 17 – Miami University (Ohio) is established (by Act of February 2) on the township of land required to be set aside for it, under the conditions of the Miami Purchase in 1794. February 20 United States v. Peters: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that the power of the federal government is greater than any individual state. The Siege of Zaragoza ends as Jose Palafox surrenders. Over 60,000 have been killed, during the 60 day siege. February 25 – Battle of Valls: Spanish forces are defeated in Catalonia by Marshal Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr. February 27 – Action of 27 February 1809: Captain Bernard Dubourdieu captures HMS Proserpine. March 1 – The Embargo Act of 1807 is repealed in the United States; the Non-Intercourse Act replaces it. March 4 – James Madison is sworn in as the fourth President of the United States. March 13 – A military coup ousts Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden; he is confined in Gripsholm Castle. March 29 At the Diet of Porvoo, Finland's four Estates pledge allegiance to Alexander I of Russia, commencing the secession of the future Grand Principality of Finland from Sweden. The Emperor, in return, promises to retain and uphold former laws and privileges, as well as the dominant Lutheran religion. His pledge is later interpreted by the Finns as a confirmation of constitutional laws, which had, effectively, established Finland as a separate state in real union with the Russia. King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden abdicates after the Coup of 1809 and is later exiled. Peninsular War – First Battle of Porto: 8,000 Portuguese soldiers are killed in a rout after defeat