world's great art galleries, opens in Madrid. Initially, it has only 311 significant paintings. November 25 – A British expeditionary force reaches Ras Al Khaimah in the Persian Gulf, preparatory to the bombardment and invasion of the town, which led to the signing of the General Maritime Treaty of 1820 between the British and what were to become known as the Trucial States. December 14 – Alabama is admitted as the 22nd U.S. state. December 17 The Republic of Gran Colombia is formally established, with Simón Bolívar as its first president. The new astronomical observatory of Capodimonte in Naples starts operating. The astronomer Carlo Brioschi made the first observation by measuring the position of ⍺ Cassiopeiae. Date unknown Denis Johnson invents the kick scooter. The city of Fernandina de Jagua (later Cienfuegos) is founded in Cuba. A British Arctic expedition under William Parry, comprising HMS Hecla and HMS Griper, reaches longitude 112°51' W in the Northwest Passage, the furthest west which will be attained by any single-season voyage for 150 years. The African Slave Trade Patrol is founded, to stop the slave trade on the coast of West Africa. Births January–June January 1 – Arthur Hugh Clough, English poet (d. 1861) January 6 – Baldassare Verazzi, Italian painter (d. 1886) January 7 – Theresa Pulszky, European author (d. 1866) January 9 – William Powell Frith, English painter (d. 1909) February 8 Sidonija Rubido, Croatian singer (d. 1884) John Ruskin, English writer, artist, and social critic (d. 1900) February 11 – Samuel Parkman Tuckerman, American composer (d. 1890) February 14 – Christopher Latham Sholes, American inventor (d. 1890) February 20 – Alfred Escher, Swiss politician, railroad entrepreneur (d. 1882) February 22 – James Russell Lowell, American poet, essayist (d. 1891) March 3 – Gustave de Molinari, Belgian economist (d. 1912) March 14 – Erik Edlund, Swedish physicist, meteorologist (d. 1888) March 26 – Louise Otto-Peters, German women's rights movement activist (d. 1895) March 31 – Chlodwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst, Chancellor of Germany (d. 1901) April 4 – Queen Maria II of Portugal (d. 1853) April 11 – Charles Hallé, German pianist, conductor (d. 1895) April 18 Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Cuban revolutionary hero (d. 1874) Franz von Suppé, Austrian composer (d. 1895) April 23 – Edward Stafford, Scottish-New Zealand educator and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of New Zealand (d. 1901) April 28 – Ezra Abbot, American Biblical scholar (d. 1884) May