St John's Church, Stratford, E15
Timeline (1840-1851)
St John's Church, Stratford, London E15

YearWhat Was Happening ?
« 1839At St John'sIn & Around StratfordIn The ChurchIn The World
1840 Charles Nicoll becomes curate of St John's. Stratford, and West Ham, are added to the Metropolitan Police District. Introduction of penny post

William Henry Harrison is elected president of the United States.
1841 Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, becomes Prime Minister

The first census to list every individual by name was taken.

The first issue of 'Punch' is published in London.
1842 Mines Acts forbade the employment of women and children in the mines

The Treaty of Nanking ends the 'Opium War', granting important trading rights in China to Britain.

Queen Victoria travels by train for the first time.
1843 Harry Rickards (external link), comedian and theatre proprietor, born in Stratford. The Tivoli Pleasure Gardens, Copenhagen, are opened for the first time.

House of Commons Select Committee on the Smoke Nuisance recommends all manufacturers be removed to a distance of 5 to 6 miles from city centres.
1844 August 20, Stratford becomes a Conventional District. Gerard Manley Hopkins (external link) born in The Grove, Stratford. Factory Act limited working hours for women and children in factories

Metropolitan Buildings Act.

James K. Polk is elected president of the United States.
1845 Stephen Perry of a London rubber company patents elastic bands.
1846 January 1st, The whole of Essex except the Deanery of Barking is transferred to the diocese of Rochester. Barking Deanery remains in London. Lord John Russell becomes Prime Minister
1847 Eastern Counties Railway works established in Stratford. Ten Hours Act: Cuts factory work day to ten hours for women and children

Education Act Improved teachers' pay and provided money for non-conformist schools
1848 Chartists bring two million signatures to London demanding political and social reforms.

Cholera epidemic kills 62,000 Britons.

The patent for the saxophone is awarded to Adolphe Sax.
1849 Walter Hunt invents the safety pin
1850
1851 » William Holloway becomes Perpetual Curate of St John's