- February 2
- The Cardiff Giant (supposed petrified human) proves to be gypsum. [1]
- February 12
- Official proclamation sets April 15 as last day of grace for US silver coins to circulate in Canada. [1]
- February 22
- US naval commander Thomas Selfridge begins a survey of the Isthmus of Darien in Nicaragua, at Caledonia Bay, as potential site for a canal. [722.41]
- April 15
- Last day US silver coins are allowed to circulate in Canada at par with Canadian coins. [1] [618.77]
- April 16
- Vaudeville Theatre Strand opens in London, England. [1]
- May 12
- Manitoba becomes the fifth province of Canada. [1]
- May 25
- Irish Fenians raid Eccles Hill, Québec, Canada. [1]
- May 31
- E J DeSemdt patents asphalt pavement. [1]
- June 25
- Queen Isabella of Spain officially abdicates the throne. [1157.92]
- July 15
- France's Emperor Napoléon III mobilizes the army. [1838.50]
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- Hudson's Bay and Northwest Territories are transferred to Canada. [1]
- July 19
- France declares war on Prussia; the Franco-Prussian war begins. [1] [1838.9]
- July 30
- Staten Island ferry Westfield burns, killing 100. [1]
- August 2
- French troops enter German territory. [1838.50]
- August 28
- England's White Star Line launches the Oceanic ship; 420 feet long, 3807 tons. [274.11]
- September 2
- German Otto von Bismark captures the Sedan, capturing French Emperor Napoleon III and 83,000 French troops. [1] [497.56] [1838.50]
- September 4
- Third French republic proclaimed by Léon Gambetta in Paris as they overthrow their king. [1] [722.55]
- October 2
- Italy annexes Rome and the Papal States; Rome made Italian capital. [1] [5]
- October 20
- In Canada, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurs, centered between Montreal and Quebec in the Saint Lawrence Valley. The shock is felt over an area estimated to be at least a million square miles, including Sault Sainte Marie. [53]
- November 16
- Amadeo, Duke of Aosta, is elected King of Spain. [1157.92]
- December 22
- Jules Janssen flies in a balloon in order to study a solar eclipse. [1]
- December 24
- Giusseppi Verdi's "Aida" premieres at Cairo Opera, one year after the opening of the Suez Canal, for which it was commissioned. [1]
- December 26
- The 12.8-km long Fréjus Rail Tunnel through the Alps is completed. [5]
- Year
- In first full year of Suez Canal operation, under 500 ships passed through, far below expectations. [1842.260]
1871
- January 1
- Belgium disbands salt tax. [1]
- January 2
- King Amadeus I of Spain inaugurated at age 25. [1]
- January 3
- Oleomargarine patented by Henry Bradley, Binghamton, New York. [1]
- January 17
- First cable car patented, by Andrew S Hallidie (begins service in 1873). [1]
- January 18
- In occupied Paris, France, at the Palace of Versailles, Wilhelm I is proclaimed German emperor by the German princes. The second German Empire is proclaimed by Kaiser Wilhelm I and Bismarck. [1] [37] [650.92]
- January 28
- Paris, France, surrenders to Prussians. [1] [1838.54]
- February 20
- In Molokai, Hawaii, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. This earthquake causes severe damage on the islands of Lanai, Molokai, and Maui, and minor damage on Hawaii and Oahu. [53]
- March 2
- White Star Line's Oceanic ship makes its maiden voyage. [274.11]
- March 18
- Communards revolt in Paris, France. [1]
- March 26
- Paris Commune is founded. [1]
- March 29
- Albert Hall is opened by Queen Victoria in London. [1]
- April 10
- P.T. Barnum's The Greatest Show on Earth opens. [1101.633]
- April 14
- Canada sets denominations of currency as dollars, cents, and mills. [1]
- April 16
- German Empire ends all anti-Jewish civil restrictions. [1]
- April 30
- Apaches in Arizona surrender to white and Mexican adventurers; 144 die. [1]
- May 4
- New constitution of German Empire comes into force. [1185.449]
- May 8
- English-US treaty ends Alabama dispute. [1]
- May 10
- Peace of Frankfurt-am-Main concluded between France and Germany; France cedes Elzas. [1]
- May 21
- French regular troops attack Commune of Paris; 17,000 die. [1]
- May 28
- Paris, France, communards revolt put down. [1]
- June 13
- Hurricane kills 300 in Labrador. [1]
- June 27
- New coinage act in Japan defines new monetary unit, the yen, as 1.5 grams fine gold. [506.40] [1065.1534]
- June 30
- Guatemala revolts for agrarian reforms. [1]
- July 20
- British Columbia becomes 6th Canadian province. [1]
- July 25
- Carrousel patented by Wilhelm Schneider, in Davenport, Iowa, USA. [1]
- October 8
- Great Chicago Fire kills 200, destroys over 4 square miles (10 square km) of Chicago buildings, and original Emancipation Proclamation document. Three other major fires take place on the shores of Lake Michigan. (In 1944, the estate of Louis Cohn releases a letter claiming he knocked over a lantern in a barn while playing craps with friends.) [1] [80.147] [187.283] [565.104]
- November 10
- Journalist Henry Morton Stanley greets the missing British explorer Dr. David Livingstone in Ujiji near Lake Tanganyika with the words "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?". Livingstone had been missing for over five years. [1] [1393.14] (October 27 [129])
- November 21
- Moses Gale patents a cigar lighter. [1]
- December 12
- Jules Janssen discovers dark lines in solar corona spectrum. [1]
- December 27
- World's first cat show (Crystal Palace, London). [1]
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