Events of 1808

January - March

• January 1 - Importation of slaves into the United States is banned; this is also the earliest day under the United States Constitution that an amendment could be made restricting slavery.
• January 12 - The organizational meeting that led to the creation of the Wernerian Natural History Society, a former Scottish learned society, was held in Edinburgh.
• January 22 - The Bragança Portuguese Royal Family arrives in Brazil, running away from the French army.
• 26 January - Rum Rebellion: On the twentieth anniversary of the foundation of the colony of New South Wales, disgruntled military officers of the New South Wales Corps (the "Rum Corps") overthrow and imprison Governor William Bligh and seize control of the colony.
• February - Russia issues an ultimatum to Sweden, to join France, Denmark and Russia and attacks Finland.
• February 2 - French troops occupy Papal States (Vatican).
• February 6 - Ship Topaz (from Boston April 5, 1807 hunting seals) rediscovers Pitcairn Islands: only one HMS Bounty mutineer was still alive, Alexander Smith (John Adams).
• February 11 - Anthracite coal first burned as fuel by Jesse Fell in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Discovery leads to use of coal as key fuel source of America's industrial revolution.
• February 21 - Russian troops cross border to Finland without declaration of war - the Finnish War begins
• March 2 - Russian troops occupy Helsinki and threaten Sveaborg
• March 8 - Empire of the Brazil. With the arrival of the portuguese royal family in Brazil (1808), the colony was called New Portugal.
• March 11 - Russian troops occupy Tampere
• March 2 - The inaugural meeting of the Wernerian Natural History Society, a former Scottish learned society, was held in Edinburgh.
• March 22 - Russian troops occupy Turku
• March 26 - Charles IV of Spain abdicates in favor of his son, Ferdinand VII

April - June