1789
Washington is inaugurated as
the first President of the
United Sates.
The Bastille is stormed in
Paris, initiating the French Revolution.

1791
The first Ten Amendments to
the U.S. Constitution,
The Bill of Rights, are ratified.

1793-95
Spain wars against
revolutionary France,
but is defeated and forced into alliance with France.

1800
Napoleon conquers Spain and regains Louisiana territory.

1803
Napoleon agrees to purchase
of Louisiana Territory by U.S.

1808
Napoleon invades Spain and names his brother Joseph Bonaparte King of Spain.

1815
Battle of Waterloo,
Napoleonis defeated.

1818
"Savannah" becomes the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean (26 days).

1825
First public steam railway opens in England.

1833
Abolition of slaves in British possessions.

1845
Republic of Texas annexed to USA.

1848
Discovery of gold in California.

1861-1865
American Civil War.

1806
At the age of fourteen,
Rossini composes his first opera, Demetrio e Polibio; however,
it was not produced until 1812.

1807
Rossini enters Liceo Musicale
in Bologna, but soon leaves
due to financial difficulties.

1812
La Pietra del Paragone, Rossini's first substantial success, is introduced at La Scala and is given fifty times in its first season.

1816
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE premiered at the Teatro Argentina on February 26.

1817
Cenerentola (Cinderella) premieres January 25
at Teatro Valle in Rome.

1822
Rossini marries Isabella Colbran.

1824
Rossini's popularity grows so great that Charles X of France offers him a ten-year contract to write and produce a new opera every other year.

1829
William Tell, the only opera composed under the
contract with Charles X, premieres at the Paris Opera
on August 3. Rossini ceases composing operas.

1830-1850
Rossini's life is complicated by illness and prolonged legal battles with Charles X.

1855
Shortly after his wife dies, Rossini marries life-long love Olympe Pelissier.

1868
Rossini dies in Passy, France on November 13.

1786
The Marriage of Figaro
premieres in Vienna and is a tremendous success in Prague the following year.

1790
The first musical competition in the U.S. takes place.

1791
The Magic Flute opens, Vienna. Mozart dies
three months later at the
age of thirty-five.

1801
German Ludwig van Beethoven composes Moonlight Sonata for piano.

1805
Beethoven composes Fidelio, his first and only complete opera.

1813
Philharmonic Society is
founded in London.

1822
Accordion invented in Germany.

1827
Beethoven dies.

1838
Romeo and Juliet
by Berlioz premieres.

1840
The Daughter of the Regiment by Donizetti premieres.

1851
Verdi's Rigoletto
premieres in Venice.

1853
William Steinway begins
making pianos in New York.

1858
Birth of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini.

1867
Johann Strauss the Younger composes the famous waltz, The Blue Danube.