29 January 1850

Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the U.S. Congress.

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of legislative measures passed by the United States Congress in an attempt to settle various sectional disputes between the Northern and Southern states. It was a response to the ongoing debate over the expansion of slavery into the newly acquired territories from the Mexican-American War.

Key provisions:

California’s Admission as a Free State: California was admitted to the Union as a free state, meaning that slavery was prohibited in its borders. This upset the balance between free and slave states, as it tilted the Senate in favor of the free states.

Territorial Status and Popular Sovereignty: The territories of New Mexico and Utah were organized without specific mention of slavery, and the principle of popular sovereignty was applied. This allowed residents of these territories to decide the slavery issue through popular vote, potentially leading to the expansion or prohibition of slavery based on the will of the settlers.

Slave Trade in the District of Columbia: The slave trade (but not slavery itself) was abolished in the District of Columbia, the nation’s capital. However, this was a symbolic gesture more than a significant practical change.

Stricter Fugitive Slave Law: A more stringent Fugitive Slave Act was enacted, requiring citizens to assist in the capture and return of escaped slaves to their owners. This provision angered many in the North who opposed slavery, as it compelled them to participate in the enforcement of a system they found morally objectionable.

Texas Boundary Adjustment: Texas ceded some of its western claims in exchange for federal assumption of its debt. This compromise was intended to address Texas’s financial difficulties and settle border disputes with the newly acquired territories.

16 December 1850

The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand.

The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph were two of the four ships that carried the first group of settlers to Canterbury, New Zealand, as part of the Canterbury Association’s planned colonization in the mid-19th century. The ships were not associated with the Canterbury Pilgrims, as the term “Canterbury Pilgrims” is more commonly used to refer to the group of English Puritans who sailed on the Mayflower to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620.

The Canterbury Pilgrims in New Zealand were part of the Canterbury Association’s settlement scheme, which aimed to establish an Anglican community in the South Island of New Zealand. The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph were among the first ships that arrived in Lyttelton, Canterbury, in December 1850, carrying the initial group of settlers. The other two ships that made up the First Four Ships were the Sir George Seymour and the Cressy.

These early settlers played a crucial role in the establishment of the Canterbury region and the city of Christchurch, contributing to the development of the agricultural and economic infrastructure of the area. The arrival of the First Four Ships is often considered a significant event in the history of European settlement in Canterbury,

18 March 1850

American Express is founded by Henry Wells and William Fargo.

When it comes to American Express, almost everyone is a fan. From Jerry Seinfeld to Beyonce, many celebrities have shown their love for the company. Before “Don’t Leave Home Without It” became a thing, the company started out on a different path.
Together We’ll Go Far

If you’re familiar with banks, you probably have someone using Wells Fargo. Henry Wells and William Fargo came from different upbringings. Wells worked on the farm as a kid while going to school. On the other side, Fargo ditched school entirely to deliver mail in his town.

As they got older, the two managed to work together on Western Express. At the time, this mailing service only delivered to Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, and St. Louis. Unfortunately, they couldn’t use railroads to help bring packages to their destinations. Since cars weren’t invented yet, wagons and steamboats had to be used. Over time, Fargo and Wells had their own separate mailing service companies. If that wasn’t enough, John Warren Butterfield threw their hat in the mail game.
Some Stiff Competition

With three services running simultaneously, things got a bit hectic. Certain packages couldn’t make it their destination because another company held down the area. No one involved wanted to become Ethan Hunt in this situation.

In 1850, all three men decided to combine their services to make one major package powerhouse. On March 18, 1850, Wells, Fargo, and Butterfield united to open up American Express.
Service For Everyone

Before the merger, all three companies predominantly serviced the Midwest. Something that was on the minds of Wells and Fargo was expanding the business to California. While the state only had around 93,000 residents, it still would’ve been financially beneficial.

Unfortunately, Butterfield rejected the idea, which led to Wells and Fargo starting Wells Fargo & Company. American Express eventually extended their services across the country. After becoming a money order business, it slowly evolved into the billion-dollar juggernaut it is today. Using that American Express card at Wells Fargo almost feels like old friends reuniting.

18 March 1850

American Express is founded by William Fargo and Henry Wells.

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Henry Wells was a nineteenth century man of vision. A shipper by trade, he believed the eastern portion of the United States was a wide open market, just waiting for someone to come along and claim it. In 1850, he did just that. With the help of several partners, including William Fargo, he launched the American Express Company and forever changed how goods were shipped. Wells began American Express as a shipping company, but over time with the introduction of Travelers Cheques, charge cards, and traveler services, his business ultimately changed the way people travel throughout the world.

While working at his messenger service, Wells met another like-minded young man named William G. Fargo. The two soon began an express partnership of their own that ran between New York and Michigan. Similar shipping businesses had popped up all over the East Coast and into the Midwest, and the competition soon became fierce. In order to survive and thrive, Wells and Fargo, along with several rival businesses, combined their operations and formed the American Express Company in March 1850. Wells was elected the new firm’s president, a post he held for the next eighteen years.

Wells and Fargo had high hopes for American Express, and wanted to branch out from the East Coast and midwestern states to the West Coast. Gold had been discovered in California and thousands were flocking West to seek their fortunes. The other business partners in American Express did not want to expand westward, and certainly not all the way to California. California, which had just been purchased by the United States from Mexico, seemed foreign and very far away to most New Yorkers. Wells and Fargo, however, were not deterred; instead they raised money for a new venture that would offer a host of services for gold miners and businessmen out West.

In 1852, with $300,000 in financial backing, Wells and Fargo created Wells, Fargo & Company for the purpose of providing express services to western cities. Wells decided to travel to California himself in 1853, just over six months after the new company began its business services. He was delighted with what he found in California, and he had first-hand proof that Wells, Fargo & Company had turned out to be an excellent business venture.