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Births on October 3

Townsend Harris
1804Oct, 3

Townsend Harris

Townsend Harris, American merchant, politician, and diplomat, United States Ambassador to Japan (d. 1878)
Townsend Harris (October 4, 1804 – February 25, 1878) was an American merchant and politician who served as the first United States Consul General to Japan. He negotiated the "Harris Treaty" between the US and Japan and is credited as the diplomat who first opened Shogunate Japan to foreign trade and culture in the Edo period.

He was portrayed by John Wayne in the 1958 historical adventure drama film The Barbarian and the Geisha.

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Events on 1804

  • 14Feb

    First Serbian Uprising

    Karađorđe leads the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire.
  • 16Feb

    Stephen Decatur

    First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USS Philadelphia.
  • 11Jul

    Aaron Burr

    A duel occurs in which the Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr mortally wounds former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.
  • 12Jul

    Burr-Hamilton duel

    Former United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton dies a day after being shot in a duel.
  • 25Sep

    Lewis and Clark Expedition

    The Teton Sioux (a subdivision of the Lakota) demand one of the boats from the Lewis and Clark Expedition as a toll for allowing the expedition to move further upriver.