What happened in 1838

17 events　North America 4, Europe 8, Asia 1, Africa 3, Oceania 1

Highlights of 1838

Jun 10OceaniaMyall Creek massacre: 28 Indigenous Australians are killed.
Nov 3AsiaThe Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce is founded (renamed The Times of India in 1861).
Nov 27North AmericaPastry War: Mexico is invaded by French forces.
Dec 16AfricaBattle of Blood River: The Boers win a decisive victory over the Zulus.
North AmericaDuke University is established in North Carolina.
EuropeThe Pitcairn Islands become a Crown colony of the United Kingdom, and women there are the first in the world to be granted and maintain women's suffrage.

Jul 4In the United States, the Iowa Territory is formally established, following the signing of a bill by President Martin Van Buren on June 12. In addition to Iowa, which will become a state on December 28, 1846, the Territory also includes most of what will become the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Robert Lucas, former Governor of Ohio, takes office as the first Territorial Governor.
Oct 5Killough massacre, believed to be both the largest and last Native American attack on white settlers in East Texas. 18 casualties are either killed or carried away.
Nov 27Pastry War: Mexico is invaded by French forces.
Duke University is established in North Carolina.

Mar 31The first installment of Nicholas Nickleby, the new novel by Charles Dickens, is released as the opener of a 20-part serialization in London.
Jun 28The coronation of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom takes place at Westminster Abbey in London.
Aug 6The Polytechnic Institution, predecessor of the University of Westminster and Britain's first polytechnic, opens in Regent Street, London.
Sep 18The Anti-Corn Law League is established in Britain by Richard Cobden.
Oct 1First Carlist War – Battle of Maella: Supporters of Infante Carlos María Isidro of Spain are victorious.
Nov 16Austria: Moravia opens the final section of Emperor Ferdinand Northern Railway (Rajhrad–Brno) for exhibition (preliminary) use.
DecFirst Anglo-Afghan War: British and Presidency armies set out from Punjab in support of Shah Shujah Durrani's claim to the throne of Afghanistan.
The Pitcairn Islands become a Crown colony of the United Kingdom, and women there are the first in the world to be granted and maintain women's suffrage.

Nov 3The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce is founded (renamed The Times of India in 1861).

Feb 6Boer explorer Piet Retief and 60 of his men are massacred by King Dingane kaSenzangakhona of the Zulu people, after Retief accepts an invitation to celebrate the signing of a treaty, and his men willingly disarm as a show of good faith.
Feb 17Weenen massacre: Zulu impis massacre about 532 Voortrekkers, Khoikhoi and Basuto around the site of Weenen in South Africa.
Dec 16Battle of Blood River: The Boers win a decisive victory over the Zulus.