1839
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
- The Hagdale Quarry on Unst, at that time the largest chromite deposit worked in Britain, was opened.
- Edward Standen, based in Oxford, begins to promote Shetland Knitwear
October
- Author John Spence was born.
December
- 28th
The Iho, a brig, in ballast, of and for Riga, Russia (now Latvia), from London, England foundered in the West Bight of Skaw, Unst. All of the crew were saved.
