1847

Arthur Anderson, Liberal, elected as the first MP for Orkney and Shetland not from the land-owning class
An estimated 1,051,547 cod & ling were caught, yielding 35,161 cwts cured & dried fish. 8,120 cwts were exported to Ireland, 7,822 cwts to Europe, 19,219 cwts were consumed in England & Scotland.

July

16th
Robert Bruce (1) of Burravoe, the first Laird Bruce of Burravoe, married, (second), Janet, daughter of John Williamson.

An unidentified vessel, registered in Dunrossness, and operating as a packet boat for Dunrossness was wrecked at an unspecified location, with the loss of six lives.

22nd
The Hunter, sloop/packet boat, of and from Lerwick, probably for Mid Yell, carrying a general cargo and twelve persons, comprising crew and passengers, wrecked near Stoal, Ay Wick, East Yell, four people were saved, eight souls were lost.

The Isabella (1847), a sloop, laden with a general cargo, of and from Lerwick, and possibly for Leith, Scotland, assumed lost with all hands at an unknown point between Sumburgh Head and Fair Isle.
An unidentified vessel, laden with a cargo of tar wrecked at Gossabrough, East Yell.

19th
The Clarendon from Leith lost on Fetlar.
The Harmonie, a barque, laden with a cargo of fish, of Bergen, Norway, for Venice and Trieste, Italy wrecked on the Ness of Queyon, Otters Wick, East Yell. Eleven of the crew were saved, one was lost.
A vessel Catherine (1847), or part name Catherine (1847), laden with a cargo of timber staves, presumed wrecked with the loss of all hands in the vicinity of Voe, Dunrossness, as a result of wreckage being washed ashore.