1839

1839 was a year marked by geopolitical realignments and cultural innovation. In Europe and North America, political developments and social movements continued to reshape regional orders, while advances in technology and communication began to alter daily life.

The Treaty of London (April 19) recognized Belgium's independence and neutrality, formalizing a status promised by the Great Powers after the Belgian Revolution of 1830. In Asia, the First Opium War began when China resisted the British opium trade; fighting and naval actions started in 1839 and would continue into 1842, reshaping regional dynamics and colonial relations.

In science and culture, Louis Daguerre's daguerreotype was publicly announced in 1839 as the first practical photographic process, initiating commercial photography within a few years. The invention marked a turning point in visual culture and documentation.

In North America, the Latter Day Saints established Nauvoo, Illinois, as a gathering place for members led by Joseph Smith, following migrations from Missouri. The year thus connected political diplomacy, imperial conflict, and the early stages of modern media and religious movements.