1840-1850 1841 William H. Harrison, "Old Tippecanoe," becomes 9th President on Mar 4. Catches cold at inauguration and dies Apr 4--one month after taking office. John Tyler becomes 10th President on Apr 6. 1841 Russia sells Fort Ross in California to John Sutter. 1844 Samuel F. B. Morse opens telegraphic link between Baltimore and D.C. 1845 Florida admitted as 27th state on Mar 3. 1845 James K. Polk becomes 11th President on Mar 4. 1845 U.S. Naval Academy opens at Annapolis, Maryland. 1845 Texas annexed triggering war with Mexico. Admitted: 28th state, Dec 29. 1845 Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) dies, goes to big orchard in the sky. 1846 Large crack in Liberty Bell gets too bad to permit ringing. 1846 Smithsonian Institution founded with gift from estate of James Smithson. 1846 Potato famine in Ireland. Many flee to America for survival. 1846 Iowa admitted as 29th state on Dec 28. 1847 Brigham Young leads his followers into Salt Lake City, Utah, area. 1847 American troops fight their way into the Halls of Montezuma in Mexico. 1848 Wisconsin admitted as 30th state on May 29. 1848 Treaty of 1848 gains CA, NM, AZ, NV, UT, parts of CO and WY for the Union. 1848 Cornerstone laid for the Washington Monument. 1849 Zachary Taylor becomes 12th President on Mar 4. Dies Jul 9, 1850. 1849 Gold discovered at Sutter's mill in California. Gold-rush begins.