Births on April 12

Nikolay Przhevalsky

Born on April 12, 1839

Nikolay Przhevalsky, Russian geographer and explorer (d. 1888)

Nikolay Mikhaylovich Przhevalsky (or Prjevalsky; April 12 [O.S. March 31] 1839 – November 1 [O.S. October 20] 1888) was a Russian Imperial geographer and a renowned explorer of Central and East Asia.

Although he never reached his ultimate goal, the holy city of Lhasa in Tibet, he traveled through regions then unknown to the West, such as northern Tibet (modern Tibet Autonomous Region), Amdo (now Qinghai) and Dzungaria (now northern Xinjiang). He contributed substantially to European knowledge of Central Asian geography.

He also described several species previously unknown to European science: Przewalski's horse, Przewalski's gazelle, and the Wild Bactrian camel, all of which are now endangered.

He was a mentor of his follower Pyotr Kozlov.

References

Nikolay Przhevalsky

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Events on 1839

3 Jun

First Opium War
In Humen, China, Lin Tse-hsü destroys 1.2 million kg of opium confiscated from British merchants, providing Britain with a casus belli to open hostilities, resulting in the First Opium War.
17 Jun

Edict of toleration
In the Kingdom of Hawaii, Kamehameha III issues the edict of toleration which gives Roman Catholics the freedom to worship in the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaii Catholic Church and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace are established as a result.
22 Jun

Treaty of New Echota
Cherokee leaders Major Ridge, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot are assassinated for signing the Treaty of New Echota, which had resulted in the Trail of Tears.
2 Jul

La Amistad
Twenty miles off the coast of Cuba, 53 rebelling African slaves led by Joseph Cinqué take over the slave ship Amistad.
23 Aug

First Opium War
The United Kingdom captures Hong Kong as a base as it prepares for war with Qing China. The ensuing three-year conflict will later be known as the First Opium War.

Births on April 12

Nikolay Przhevalsky

Born on April 12, 1839

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1839

First Opium War

Edict of toleration

Treaty of New Echota

La Amistad

First Opium War