- 1849 – In New York City, James Knox Polk becomes the first serving President of the United States to have his photograph taken.
- 1852 – Great Ormond St Hospital for Sick Children, the first hospital providing in-patient beds specifically for children in the English-speaking world, is founded in London.
- 1855 – Texas is linked by telegraph to the rest of the United States, with the completion of a connection between New Orleans and Marshall, Texas.
- 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell applies for a patent for the telephone, as does Elisha Gray.
- 1899 – Voting machines are approved by the U.S. Congress for use in federal elections.
- 1924 – The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company changes its name to International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).