Timeline October 1844

Events in October 1844 4

• 1844 Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation published Anonymous book on cosmic and biological evolution Robert Chambers anonymously published Vestiges, which argued that the universe and living things had developed over time through natural law. It became a sensational bestseller and caused fierce controversy. The book helped prepare the public for Darwin's On the Origin of Species fifteen years later.
• 1844 – 1900 Friedrich Nietzsche German philosopher Nietzsche challenged morality and religion, influencing existentialism and modern philosophy.
• 1844 The Great Disappointment Millerites' predicted Second Coming fails to occur Followers of the Baptist preacher William Miller expected Jesus Christ to return on 22 October 1844. When nothing happened, the movement fell apart. Groups that came out of it included the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
• 1844 Treaty of Whampoa France secures trading rights in China France and Qing China signed a commercial treaty aboard a French warship at Whampoa. It gave France trade and extraterritorial rights comparable to those granted to Britain and the United States. China also agreed to tolerate Catholic missionaries in the treaty ports.