Historical eventMay 11 1820

HMS Beagle

HMS Beagle (pictured), the ship that would take Charles Darwin on his voyage, was launched.

In context

When: Thursday, May 11 1820206 years ago
Category: Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era: 19th century · 1820s
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.

Dates: From 1820.

HMS Beagle (pictured), the ship that would take Charles Darwin on his voyage, was launched.

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

January 11Great Savannah Fire of 1820A conflagration in Savannah, Georgia, destroyed more than 400 buildings and caused millions of dollars in damages.
March 3United States CongressThe U.S. Congress passed the Missouri Compromise, which balanced the admission of Missouri as a slave state with that of Maine as a free…
November 20Essex (whaleship)The American whaleship Essex sank 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km) west of the western coast of South America after it was attacked by a s…
March 6Missouri CompromiseThe Missouri Compromise is signed into law by United States President James Monroe. The compromise allows Missouri to enter the Union as…
February 6American Colonization SocietyThe first ship of the American Colonization Society departed from New York for West Africa with 86 African-American emigrants aboard to f…
April 8Venus de MiloThe Venus de Milo (pictured), an ancient Greek statue of a woman with its arms missing, was discovered on the island of Milos.
February 4Chilean War of IndependenceChilean War of Independence: Chilean forces captured the city of Valdivia.

“HMS Beagle”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/hms-beagle-1820-may-11, accessed October 29, 2026.

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May 11 1820 — 206 years ago, on a Thursday.

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

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