References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 April 30.

1890 January 2 Alice Sanger becomes first female White House staffer. [1] Record 19'2" alligator shot in Louisiana by E A McIlhenny. [1] January 3 First US college-level dairy school opens at University of Wisconsin. [1] January 7 Death of Maria Luise Augusta Katharina in Berlin, Germany; Empress of the German Reich after 1871 as the wife of Wilhelm I. [1] [37] Hans Matthison-Hansen composer, dies at 82. [1] W B Purvis patents fountain pen. [1] January 10 Edward Macdowell's "Lancelot and Elaine" premieres. [1] Death of Johann Joseph Ignaz von Döllinger in Munich, Germany; Roman Catholic priest, professor of canon law, church historian. [37] Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Sapientiae Christianae. [1] January 14 Francesco D'Arcais composer, dies at 59. [1] January 17 Death of Salomon Sulzer in Vienna, Austria, at age 85; chief cantor in Vienna, composer, "the father of modern synagogue music". [1] [37] January 18 Amadeus I FM king of Spain (1870-73), dies at 44. [1] January 20 Franz Paul Lachner composer, dies at 86. [1] January 21 First issue of Propria Cures, Amsterdam student-weekly newspaper. [1] January 22 José Marti forms La Liga (Union of Cuban exiles) in New York City, New York. [1] January 25 National Afro-American League forms in Chicago. [1] Nellie Bly beats Phileas Fogg's time around world by 8 days (72 days). [1] [5] United Mine Workers of America forms. [1] January 30 Karl Merz composer, dies at 53. [1] February 3 Christophorus H D Buys Ballot Dutch meteorologist, dies at 72. [1] February 10 Around 11 million acres, ceded to US by Sioux Indians opens for settlement. [1] February 18 Julius Andrássy Sr earl/premier of Hungary (1867-71), dies at 66. [1] February 20 Amsterdam Theater destroyed by fire. [1] February 27 D Needham and P Kerrigan box 100 rounds (6 hours 39 minutes), San Francisco; match is draw. [1] March 1 First US edition of Sherlock Holmes (Study in Scarlet) published. [1] March 4 The longest bridge in the United Kingdom, the Forth Bridge (railway) (1,710 ft) opens in Scotland. [5] March 13 Henry Wylde composer, dies at 67. [1] March 18 First US state naval militia organized (Massachusetts). [1] March 20 General Federation of Womens' Clubs founded. [1] German emperor Wilhelm II fires republic chancellor Otto Von Bismarck. [1] March 21 Austrian Jewish communities are defined by law. [1] March 22 Désiré de Haerne Belgian priest/Congressional leader, dies at 85. [1] March 24 Start of Sherlock Holmes "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge" (BG). [1] April 2 Marinus Campbell bibliographer, dies at 70. [1] April 6 French troops under Captain Archinard occupy Segu, West-Sudan. [1] April 8 Junius Morgan philanthropist, dies at 76. [1] April 11 Ellis Island designated as an immigration station. [1] April 14 Pan American Day-first conference of American states (Washington DC). [1] April 17 John Barnett composer, dies at 87. [1] April 18 New York Commission of Emigration ends, closing Castle Clinton. [1] April 19 Henry Morton Stanley is inaugurated in Brussels. [1] April 26 Henry Morton Stanley inaugurated in London. [1] April 27 French troops under Captain Archinard occupy Oussébougou West Sudan. [1] May 2 Territory of Oklahoma created. [1] May 6 Hubert Leonard composer, dies at 71. [1] Mormon Church renounces polygamy [1006-Truth Restored (Morman pub)]. [1] May 12 Louisiana legalized prize fighting. [1] May 13 Lord Salisbury offers Germany Helgoland in exchange for Zanzibar, Uganda and Equatoria. [1] May 17 Clyde Fitch's "Beau Brummel" premieres in New York City. [1] Comic Cuts, first weekly comic paper, published in London, created by Alfred Harmsworth. [1] [55.42] Pietro Costanzi's opera "Rustic Chivalry" premieres in Rome. [1] May 24 Caprivi succeeds Bismarck on as chancellor of Germany. [1] Geo Train and Sam Wall circle world in record 67 days, Tacoma-Tacoma. [1] Tivoli Theater of Varities opens in London. [1] May 28 Viktor Ernst Nessler composer, dies at 49. [1] June 7 The Comic Cuts weekly paper introduces the first true comic strip. [55.42] June 9 The opera "Robin Hood" is produced (Chicago). [1] June 13 Eagle Ave in the Bronx is cut out and named. [1] July 2 Sherman Antitrust Act prohibits industrial monopolies. [1] July 3 Idaho admitted as 43rd US state. [1] July 13 John C Fremont declared Republic of California, dies at 76. [1] July 15 A Charlois discovers asteroid #294 Felicia. [1] July 20 Snow and hail in Calais, ME. [1] July 29 Vincent Van Gogh dies in Auvers, France. [1] August 6 First use of electric chair in US, John Hart, in New York for murder. [1] Cy Young pitches and wins first game. [1] August 8 Daughters of the American Revolution organizes. [1] August 16 Alexander Clark, journalist/lawyer, named minister to Liberia. [1] September 19 Turkish frigate "Ertogrul" burns off of Japan, kills 540. [1] September 25 US Congress establishes Yosemite National Park (California). [1] Start of the Sherlock Holmes adventure "Silver Blaze" (BG). [1] September 26 US stops minting $1 and $3 gold coin and 3-cent piece. [1] October 1 Yosemite National Park established. [1] October 6 Mormon Church outlaws polygamy. [1] October 9 Start of Sherlock Holmes adventure "The Red-Headed League". [1] October 11 First 100 yard dash under 10 seconds (John Owens 9-4/5 secs, Washington DC). [1] Daughters of the American Revolution founded. [1] October 15 Alabama Penny Savings Bank organizes in Birmingham. [1] Funny Cuts weekly comic paper first released by Alfred Gray, with full front-page strip cartoon. [55.42] October 18 John Owen is first man to run 100 yd dash in under 10 seconds. [1] October 23 The opera "Prince Igor" is produced (Saint Petersburg). [1] November 4 Great Britain proclaims Zanzibar as a protectorate. [1] November 20 Pope Leo XIII encyclical On slavery in the missions. [1] November 27 First signal box for San Francisco Police Department goes into operation. [1] December 4 Willem III Dutch king, buried. [1] Willem III, Dutch king, buried. [1] December 5 Berlioz' opera "Les Troyens" premieres in Karlsruhe. [1] December 10 Ludolf Sloet van de Beele Governor-General (Net India 1861-66), dies at 84. [1] December 15 Sitting Bull Hunkpapa-Sioux chief (Little Big Horn), killed by US Army. [1] December 16 Negro Methodist Episcopal Church founded in Jackson Tennessee. [1] December 18 Lugards expedition to Mengo/Kampala, Uganda. [1] December 19 Start of Sherlock Holmes "The Adventure of The Beryl Coronet" (BG). [1] December 21 Niels Vilhelm Gade Danish composer, dies at 73. [1] Pim Mulier first and only trip to "Alvesteddetocht". [1] December 22 Harry Pollitt chairman British communist (1956-60), dies. [1] December 26 Heinrich Schliemann German archaeologist (Trojan War), dies at 86. [1] King Mwanga of Uganda signs contract with East Africa Company. [1] December 29 Big Foot Sioux Indian chief, dies at Wounded Knee. [1] US 7th Cavalry massacre 200+ captive Sioux at Wounded Knee South Dakota; Indian "war" in the west. [1] December 31 Ellis Island (New York City, New York) opens as a US immigration depot. [1] 1891 January 1 French troops occupy Nioro, West-Sudan, 3000 killed. [1] King Pakketvaart sails to Netherlands Indies. [1] January 5 Guillaume L Baud Dutch minister of Colonies (1848-49), dies at 89. [1] January 7 Carl Gottfried Wilhelm Taubert composer, dies at 79. [1] January 8 Fredrik Pacius composer, dies at 81. [1] January 11 Georges-Eugène Haussmann French senator/baron, dies at 81. [1] January 16 Clement-Philibert-Leo Delibes composer, dies at 54. [1] Leo Delibes French ballet composer (Lakmé), dies at 54. [1] January 17 Johannes Josephus Hermanus Verhulst composer, dies at 74. [1] January 20 David Kalakahua emperor of Hawaii, dies. [1] January 21 Calixa Lavallee composer, dies at 48. [1] January 23 Boudouin prince of Belgium/count of Flanders, dies at 21. [1] January 26 Nicholaus Otto auto pioneer (internal combustion engine), dies. [1] Oscar Wilde's "Duchess of Padua" premieres in New York City, New York. [1] January 27 Mine explosion kills 109 at Mount Pleasant Pennsylvania. [1] January 31 Ernest Meissonier French painter/etcher/sculptor, dies at 75. [1] February 6 First great train robbery by Dalton Gang (Southern Pacific #17). [1] February 7 Great Blizzard of 1891 begins. [1] February 9 First shipment of asparagus arrives in San Francisco from Sacramento. [1] Johan B Jongkind Dutch/French painter (Winter View), dies at 71. [1] February 13 David Dixon Porter US Rear Admiral (Union Army-Civil War), dies at 77. [1] February 14 William Tecumseh Sherman Union Civil War General (captured Atlanta), dies at 71. [1] February 18 Captain Archinard's army fights with Nyamina of Niger in West-Sudan. [1] February 24 French troops under Captain Archinard occupy Diéna West Sudan. [1] February 26 First buffalo purchased for Golden Gate Park. [1] Henrik Ibsens "Hedda Gabler" premieres in Oslo. [1] March 3 US Congress creates Office of Superintendent of Immigration (Treasury Department). [1] US Congress creates US Courts of Appeal. [1] March 17 British Steamer "Utopia" sinks off Gibraltar killing 574. [1] Napoleon JKP Bonaparte Fren prince/member National Convention, dies at 68. [1] March 18 Britain is linked to the continent by Telephone. [1] March 21 A Hatfield marries a McCoy, ends long feud in West Virginia; it started with an accusation of pig-stealing and lasted 20 years. [1] March 23 First jazz concert is held at Carnegie Hall. [1] March 29 Georges-Pierre Seurat French painter (Pointillism), dies at 31. [1] April 1 London-Paris telephone connection opens. [1] Painter Gauguin leaves Marseille for Tahiti. [1] The Wrigley Company is founded in Chicago, Illinois. [5] April 7 Nebraska introduces the 8 hour work day. [1] P[hineas] T Barnum US circus promoter (Barnum and Bailey), dies at 80. [1] April 11 Eight-year old Jewish tailor's daughter disappears in Greece, rumour spreads that she was a Christian girl ritually killed by Jews. [1] April 15 Stephen Albert Emery composer, dies at 49. [1] April 17 Jules Eugene Abraham Alary composer, dies at 77. [1] April 22 In Fatfield, Durham, England, Harold Jeffreys is born. [53] April 23 Jews are expelled from Moscow Russia. [1] April 24 Count Helmuth K B von Moltke Prussian General/fieldmarshal, dies. [1] Start of Sherlock Holmes adventure "Final Problem". [1] April 25 President Benjamin Harrison visits San Francisco. [1] May 4 Sherlock Holmes "dies" at Reichenbach Falls. [1] May 5 Carnegie Hall opens in New York City with Tchaikovsky as guest conductor. [1] May 6 Conductors on London General Omnibus Company go on strike. [1] May 7 Battle in Bunyoro: Captain F Lugard stops Muslim rebellion, 300 killed. [1] May 8 Helena Petrovina Blavatsky Russian theosophist, dies. [1] May 12 Riot against tax increase in Paramaribo Suriname. [1] May 15 British Central African Protectorate (now Malawi) is established. [1] Jules Massenets opera "Griselde" premieres in Paris France. [1] Operations begin at Philips and Company in Holland. [1] Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Rerum novarum. [1] May 16 George A Hormel and Company introduce Spam. [1] May 19 Rice Institute, which became Rice University, is chartered. [1] May 22 First motion picture shown to National Federation of Women's Clubs. [1] May 23 Ignace Xavier Joseph Leybach composer, dies at 73. [1] May 26 Frederick Bowen Jewson composer, dies at 67. [1] May 31 Work on trans-Siberian railway begins. [1] June 11 A Charlois discovers asteroid #311 Claudia. [1] June 29 100 degrees F (San Francisco, CA). [1] July 5 Hail kills 6 horses in Rapid City, South Dakota. [1] July 7 Travelers cheque patented. [1] July 8 61 degrees F, the highest temp for July 1891, in Baltimore and Philadelphia. [1] Future president Harding marries Florence K DeWolfe in Marion Ohio. [1] August 4 George Washington Williams dies at 41 in Blackpool England. [1] August 19 William Huggins describes astronomical application of spectrum. [1] August 24 Thomas Edison patents the motion picture camera. [1] [5] September 3 Cottonpickers organize union and stage strike in Texas. [1] John Stephens Durham, named minister to Haiti. [1] September 14 "Empire State Express" train goes from New York City to East Buffalo, a distance of 436 miles, in a record 7H6M. [1] October 6 Charles Stewart Parnell leader of the Irish party, dies. [1] October 12 Astronomical Society of France is inaugurated. [1] October 20 First International 6 day bike race (New York MSG) begins. [1] October 25 First International 6 day bike race (New York MSG) ends. [1] October 28 In Mino-Owari, Japan, an approximate magnitude 8 earthquake occurs. Over 7,000 deaths. The earthquake caused damage over a 4200 square mile area. 130,000 houses were destroyed. [1] [53] November 10 First Woman's Christian Temperance Union meeting held (in Boston). [1] December 2 52ndUS Congress (1891-93) convenes. [1] December 5 Pedro II of Alcantara emp of Brazil (1831-89), dies. [1] December 7 52ndUS Congress (first to appropriate $1 billion) holds first session. [1] December 11 Johan C J van Schagen Dutch poet/writer (Narrenwijsheid), dies. [1] December 17 Msiri king of Garanganja (Katanga), dies in battle. [1] Omer Bodson Belgian captain, dies in battle. [1] December 19 First Negro Catholic priest ordained in US, Charles Uncles, Baltimore. [1] December 20 Strongman Louis Cyr withstands the pull of four horses. [1] December 23 Holger Simon Paulli composer, dies at 81. [1] December 26 Birth of Jean Galtier-Boissière French writer/cartoonist/journalist. [1] December 28 Alfred Cellier composer, dies at 47. [1] December 29 Edison patents "transmission of signals electrically" (radio). [1] Leopold Kronecker German mathematician, dies at 68. [1] 1892 January 1 Ellis Island becomes reception center for new immigrants. [1] January 2 George B Airy English astronomer/writer, dies at 90. [1] January 5 First successful auroral photograph made. [1] January 7 Mine explosion kills 100, Krebs OK-blacks trying to help rescue white survivors, driven away with guns. [1] Tewfik Pasja viceroy of Egypt, dies at 39. [1] January 8 John Heykamp old-catholic archbishop of Utrecht, dies at 67. [1] January 10 Heinrich Ludwig Egmont Dorn composer, dies at 91. [1] January 11 Hawaiian Historical Society founded. [1] Paul Gauguin marries a 13-year-old Tahitian girl. [1] William D McCoy of Indiana appointed US minister to Liberia. [1] January 13 Charles Albert White composer, dies at 62. [1] January 16 Imakita Kosen Zen teacher/abbot of Engagkuji monastery, dies. [1] January 17 Alexandre Levy composer, dies at 27. [1] January 21 John Couch Adams English co-discoverer of Neptune, dies. [1] January 24 Battle at Mengo, Uganda French missionaries attack British missionaries. [1] January 30 Bobby Abel carries his bat for 132* for England in SCG Test. [1] Captain Lugard occupies Uganda's King Mwanga's hide out. [1] February 1 Mrs William Astor invites 400 guests to a grand ball at her mansion thus beginning the use of the "400" to describe the socially elite. [1] February 2 Bottle cap with cork seal patented by William Painter (Baltimore). [1] Johnny Briggs takes a hat-trick, England vs Australia SCG. [1] February 3 Russia closes down Yeshiva of Volozhin. [1] February 7 In Verkhoyansk, Russia, an Asian record cold temperature of -90 degrees F is recorded. [54] February 11 Erik Anthon Valdemar Siboni composer, dies at 63. [1] February 16 Henry Walter Bates naturalist/explorer (South America), dies. [1] The opera "Werther" is produced (Vienna). [1] February 20 Hermann Kopp German chemist (Law of Kopp), dies at 74. [1] February 22 "Lady Windermere's Fan" by Oscar Wilde premieres at Saint James Theater (London). [1] February 23 First college student government established, Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania. [1] February 24 In Imperial Valley, California, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurs. At the old Carrizo station in San Diego County, all adobe buildings were destroyed. [53] February 25 James Barrie's "Walker London" premieres in London. [1] February 29 Britain and US sign treaty on seal hunting in Bering Sea. [1] March 1 Archibald Scott Scottish chemist, dies at 60. [1] March 3 First cattle tuberculosis test in US made, Villa Nova Pennsylvania. [1] March 10 Otto van Raised Governor-General of Netherland Indies (1884-88), dies at 69. [1] March 15 First escalator patented by inventor Jesse W Reno (New York City, New York). [1] New York State unveils automatic ballot booth (voting machine). [1] March 20 Arthor Goring Thomas composer, dies at 41. [1] March 26 Anton Wallerstein composer, dies at 78. [1] Walt Whitman poet, dies in Camden New Jersey at 72. [1] March 29 William Bowman English anatomist, dies at 75. [1] March 31 Adolf Rzepko composer, dies at 66. [1] April 2 Willem J d'Ablaing van Giessenburg Dut baron/genealogist, dies at 79. [1] April 12 George C Blickensderfer patents portable typewriter. [1] April 15 General Electric Company forms and is incorporated in New York. [1] [5] April 21 Black Longshoremen strike for higher wages in Saint Louis Mo. [1] April 22 Edouard-Victoire-Antoine Lalo composer, dies at 69. [1] April 28 First performance of Antonin Dvorák's overture "Carneval". [1] May 1 US Quarantine Station opens on Angel Island, San Francisco Bay. [1] Willem A Scholten manufacturer (potatoes), dies at 89. [1] May 2 Wilhelm Rust composer, dies at 69. [1] May 5 Jan Nepomuk Skroup composer, dies at 80. [1] May 6 Ernest Guiraud composer, dies at 54. [1] May 13 Jean Alexander Ferdinand Poise composer, dies at 63. [1] May 15 Arthur Hodister British ivory seller (Heart of Darkness), murdered. [1] May 16 John Banvard painted world's largest painting (3 mile canvas), dies. [1] Theodoor J Canneel Flemish painter, dies at 74. [1] May 17 György Klapka Hungarian general/parliament leader, dies at 72. [1] May 19 Charles Brady King invents pneumatic hammer. [1] National Society of Colonial Dames of America founded. [1] May 20 George Sampson patents clothes dryer. [1] Triple Alliance between Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary forms. [1] May 21 Ruggiero Leoncavallo's opera "I Pagliacci" premieres in Milan. [1] May 22 Dr Washington Sheffield invents toothpaste tube. [1] May 28 Sierra Club forms by John Muir in San Francisco, for conservation of nature. [1] May 29 Baha'u'llah [Mirza HA Noeri] Persian founder (Bahá'í), dies at 74. [1] June 18 Macademia nuts first planted in Hawaii. [1] July 6 Striking steelworkers in Homestead, Pa fire on scabs, killing 7. [1] July 8 American Psychological Association organized, Worcester, Massachusetts [1] July 10 First concrete-paved street built (Bellefountaine, Ohio). [1] August 4 Sunday school teacher Lizzie Borden arrested in Fall River, Massachusetts [1] August 13 Baltimore Afro-American forms. [1] August 16 Birth of Harold Foster cartoonist (created "Prince Valiant"). [1] September 7 James J Corbett kayos John L Sullivan in round 21 at New Orleans. [1] September 8 First appearance of "The Pledge of Allegiance" (Youth's Companion). [1] September 9 Almalthea, 5th moon of Jupiter, discovered by EE Barnard at Lick. [1] September 14 AP Giannini marries Clorinda Cuneo. [1] September 26 First public appearance of John Philip Sousa's band (New Jersey). [1] October 5 Dalton Gang ends in shoot-out in Coffeyville, Kansas bank holdup. [1] October 18 First commercial long-distance phone line opens (Chicago-New York). [1] October 25 Caroline Harrison President Benjamin Harrison's wife, dies at 60. [1] November 8 Grover Cleveland (Democrat) elected President. [1] December 1 ? de Bruyne Belgian sergeant in Congo, murdered. [1] Joseph Lippens Belgian lieutenant in Congo, murdered. [1] December 3 William Bonaparte grandson of Lucien, dies. [1] December 5 Anti-semite Hermann Ahlwardt elected to Germany's Reichstag. [1] December 6 E Werner von Siemens German industrialist (Siemens AG), dies at 75. [1] December 15 Charles Balmer composer, dies at 75. [1] December 18 Anton Bruckner's 8th Symphony, premieres. [1] The Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg holds the first performance of Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker. [1] [5] Richard Owen English zoologist (Dinosaurus), dies at 88. [1] December 20 Phileas Fogg completes around world trip, according to Verne. [1] Pneumatic automobile tire patented, Syracuse New York. [1] December 26 The opera "Cristoforo Colombo" is produced (La Scala). [1] December 27 Foundation Stone of the Cathedral of Saint John laid (New York City, New York). [1] December 30 Dr Miles V Lynk, physician, publishes first Black medical journal. [1]