Events January–March January 18–January 23 – War of 1812: The Battle of Frenchtown is fought in modern-day Monroe, Michigan between the United States and a British and Native American alliance. January 24 – The Philharmonic Society (later the Royal Philharmonic Society) is founded in London. January 28 – Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is published anonymously in London. January 31 – The Assembly of the Year XIII is inaugurated in Buenos Aires. February – War of 1812 in North America: General William Henry Harrison sends out an expedition to burn the British vessels at Fort Malden by going across Lake Erie via the Bass Islands in sleighs, but the ice is not hard enough, and the expedition returns. February 3 – Argentine War of Independence: José de San Martín and his Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers gain a largely symbolic victory against a Spanish royalist army in the Battle of San Lorenzo. February 7 – Napoleonic Wars: Action of 7 February 1813 – The French frigate Aréthuse (1812) and the British ship engage in battle in the Îles de Los on the Guinea Coast; both ships retire unbeaten. February 9 – Prussia abolishes the canton system. February 11 – War of 1812: Construction begins on Fort Meigs in Ohio, under the command of General William Henry Harrison. Major Amos Stoddard assumes command of its artillery. March 4 Napoleonic Wars: The French garrison evacuates Berlin, leaving Russian troops able to reach and take the city without a fight. Cyril VI of Constantinople is elected Ecumenical Patriarch. James Madison is sworn in for a second term as President of the United States. March 17 – Napoleonic Wars: Prussia declares war on France, and introduces the Iron Cross military award (backdated to March 10). March 28 – 1813–1814 Malta plague epidemic spreads from Egypt. March 29 – Mexican War of Independence: Battle of Rosillo Creek – The Republican Army of the North defeats the Spanish Royalist Army in modern-day Bexar County, Texas. April–June April 8 – War of 1812: Colonel James Ball arrives at Fort Meigs with 200 dragoons. April 27 – War of 1812: Battle of York – United States troops raid and destroy but do not hold the capital of Upper Canada, York (modern-day Toronto). May 1–9 – War of 1812: Fort Meigs is first besieged, by British allied forces under General Henry Proctor and Chief Tecumseh. May 2 – Napoleonic Wars: