March – Balzac's novel Le Père Goriot is first published in book form.
July 28 – In Paris, the assassination of Louis Philippe I is attempted by Giuseppe Marco Fieschi using a home-made volley gun. Eighteen are killed but the King escapes with a minor wound.
August – The September Laws ban all criticism of Louis Philippe and regulate publications and the theatre.
The French word for their language changes to français, from françois.