Historical eventDecember 161811

1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes

The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes struck the Midwestern United States and made the Mississippi River appear to run backward.

Everything on December 16Original source

In context

When
Monday, December 16 1811215 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
19th century · 1810s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

Russia, Greece and some other countries used the Julian calendar into the early 20th century, so local records may show a date up to 13 days earlier.

At a glance

Dates: From 1811.

What happened

The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes struck the Midwestern United States and made the Mississippi River appear to run backward.

December 16 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 18111811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes
  2. 19921992 deportation of Hamas members
  3. 1997United Kingdom BSE outbreak
  4. 1997Dennō Senshi Porygon
  5. 2011Zhanaozen massacre
  6. 20122012 Delhi gang rape and murder
  7. 20132013 Metro Manila Skyway bus accident
  8. 2014Lindt Cafe siege
  9. 2014Pakistani Taliban
  10. 20222022 Batang Kali landslide
  11. 20242024 Abundant Life Christian School shooting

Also in 1811

  • July 9David Thompson (explorer)British explorer David Thompson posted a notice at the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers (in modern Washington state, U.S.), cl…
  • December 26Richmond, VirginiaSeventy-two people died when a theater in Richmond, Virginia, was destroyed by fire, becoming the worst urban disaster in American histor…
  • November 28Ludwig van BeethovenBeethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 premiered at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig.
  • July 30Miguel Hidalgo y CostillaMiguel Hidalgo y Costilla (depicted), a leader of the Mexican War of Independence, was executed by Spanish forces in Chihuahua City, Mexico.
  • November 7Tecumseh's WarTecumseh's War: American forces led by William Henry Harrison defeated the forces of Shawnee leader Tecumseh's growing confederation at t…
  • May 20Charles Marsh SchombergA British squadron under Charles Marsh Schomberg defeated a French force off Tamatave, Madagascar, that was attempting to reinforce the F…
  • February 19Peninsular WarPeninsular War: Outnumbered French forces under Édouard Mortier routed and nearly destroyed Spanish troops at the Battle of the Gebora ne…
  • May 16Peninsular WarPeninsular War: Allied British, Spanish, and Portuguese forces clashed with French troops at the Battle of Albuera fought south of Badajo…

Everything we record for 1811 →

Sources

Cite this page

“1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/1811-1812-new-madrid-earthquakes-1811-december-16, accessed October 29, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes happen?

December 16 1811 — 215 years ago, on a Monday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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