The 1870s

1871 155 years ago

The Connecticut Valley Railroad opens between Old Saybrook, Connecticut and Hartford, Connecticut in the United States.

The Valley Railroad, operating under the name Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is a heritage railroad based in Essex, Connecticut on tracks of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, whic…

The Connecticut Valley Railroad opens between Old Saybrook, Connecticut and Hartford, Connecticut in the United States.

1871 155 years ago

Seakle Greijdanus, Dutch theologian and scholar (died 1948)

Seakle Greijdanus was a Reformed theologian in the Netherlands, who first served in the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and later in the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (…

Seakle Greijdanus, Dutch theologian and scholar (died 1948)

1871 155 years ago

Emiliano Chamorro Vargas, President of Nicaragua (died 1966)

Emiliano Chamorro Vargas was a Nicaraguan military figure and politician who served as President of Nicaragua from 1 January 1917 to 1 January 1921. He was a member of the Conserva…

Emiliano Chamorro Vargas, President of Nicaragua (died 1966)

1871 155 years ago

Victor Grignard, French chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1935)

Francois Auguste Victor Grignard was a French chemist who won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the eponymously named Grignard reagent and Grignard reaction, both of which are i…

Victor Grignard, French chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1935)

1871 155 years ago

Christian Morgenstern, German author and poet (died 1914)

Christian Otto Josef Wolfgang Morgenstern was a German writer and poet from Munich. Morgenstern married Margareta Gosebruch von Liechtenstern on 7 March 1910. He worked for a while…

Christian Morgenstern, German author and poet (died 1914)

1871 155 years ago

The Staten Island Ferry Westfield's boiler explodes, killing over 85 people.

The Staten Island Ferry is a fare-free passenger ferry route operated by the New York City Department of Transportation. The ferry's single route runs 5.2 miles (8.4 km) through Ne…

The Staten Island Ferry Westfield's boiler explodes, killing over 85 people.

1871 155 years ago

Emperor Meiji orders the abolition of the han system and the establishment of prefectures as local centers of…

Emperor Meiji was Emperor of Japan from 30 January 1867 until his death in 1912. The Meiji Restoration proclaimed the Empire of Japan in 1868, beginning the Meiji era. During his r…

Emperor Meiji orders the abolition of the han system and the establishment of prefectures as local centers of…

1871 155 years ago

Emmett Dalton, American criminal (died 1937)

Emmett Dalton was an American outlaw, train robber and member of the Dalton Gang in the American Old West. Part of a gang that attempted to rob two banks in Coffeyville, Kansas, on…

Emmett Dalton, American criminal (died 1937)

1871 155 years ago

Frank Schlesinger, American astronomer and author (died 1943)

Frank Schlesinger was an American astronomer. His work concentrated on using photographic plates rather than direct visual studies for astronomical research.

Frank Schlesinger, American astronomer and author (died 1943)

1871 155 years ago

Denis Horgan, Irish shot putter and weight thrower (died 1922)

Denis Horgan was a champion Irish athlete and weight thrower, born in Banteer, County Cork, who competed mainly in the shot put.

Denis Horgan, Irish shot putter and weight thrower (died 1922)

1871 155 years ago

Walter Russell, American painter, sculptor, and author (died 1963)

Walter Bowman Russell was an American impressionist painter, sculptor, property developer, and author. Russell wrote extensively on topics relating to science, but his ideas did no…

Walter Russell, American painter, sculptor, and author (died 1963)

1871 155 years ago

Georges Rouault, French painter and illustrator (died 1958)

Georges-Henri Rouault was a French painter, draughtsman, and printmaker, whose work is often associated with Fauvism and Expressionism.

Georges Rouault, French painter and illustrator (died 1958)

1871 155 years ago

Clark Voorhees, American painter (died 1933)

Clark Greenwood Voorhees was an American Impressionist and Tonalist landscape painter and one of the founders of the Old Lyme Art Colony.

Clark Voorhees, American painter (died 1933)

1871 155 years ago

Stjepan Radić, Croatian lawyer and politician (died 1928)

Stjepan Radić was a Croat politician and the co-founder of the Croatian People's Peasant Party (HPSS), active in Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

Stjepan Radić, Croatian lawyer and politician (died 1928)

1871 155 years ago

Hermanus Brockmann, Dutch rower (died 1936)

Hermanus Gerardus "Herman" Brockmann was a Dutch coxswain who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics.

Hermanus Brockmann, Dutch rower (died 1936)

1871 155 years ago

Alajos Szokolyi, Hungarian hurdler, jumper, and physician (died 1932)

Alajos János Szokolyi was a Hungarian athlete, sports organizer, sports manager, archivist and physician.

Alajos Szokolyi, Hungarian hurdler, jumper, and physician (died 1932)

1871 155 years ago

William McDougall, English psychologist and polymath (died 1938)

William McDougall was an early 20th century psychologist who was a professor at University College London, University of Oxford, Harvard University and Duke University. He wrote a …

William McDougall, English psychologist and polymath (died 1938)

1871 155 years ago

William Henry Davies, Welsh poet and writer (died 1940)

William Henry Davies was a Welsh poet and writer, who spent much of his life as a tramp or hobo in the United Kingdom and the United States, yet became one of the most popular poet…

William Henry Davies, Welsh poet and writer (died 1940)

1871 155 years ago

Jacob Ellehammer, Danish mechanic and engineer (died 1946)

Jacob Christian Hansen-Ellehammer was a Danish inventor and aviation pioneer. He obtained a total of 59 Danish patents and worked with many different things, including amusement ma…

Jacob Ellehammer, Danish mechanic and engineer (died 1946)

1871 155 years ago

James Weldon Johnson, American author, journalist, and activist (died 1938)

James Weldon Johnson was an American writer and civil rights activist. He was married to civil rights activist Grace Nail Johnson. Johnson was a leader of the National Association …

James Weldon Johnson, American author, journalist, and activist (died 1938)

1871 155 years ago

Hubert Cecil Booth, English engineer (died 1955)

Hubert Cecil Booth was an English engineer, best known for having invented one of the first powered vacuum cleaners.

Hubert Cecil Booth, English engineer (died 1955)

1871 155 years ago

Marcel Proust, French novelist, critic, and essayist (died 1922)

Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust was a French novelist, literary critic, and essayist best known for his novel À la recherche du temps perdu, which was published in seve…

Marcel Proust, French novelist, critic, and essayist (died 1922)

1871 155 years ago

Doppo Kunikida, Japanese journalist, author, and poet (died 1908)

Doppo Kunikida was a Japanese author of novels and romantic poetry during the Meiji period, noted as one of the inventors of Japanese naturalism.

Doppo Kunikida, Japanese journalist, author, and poet (died 1908)

1871 155 years ago

John Maxwell, American golfer (died 1906)

John Riley Maxwell was an American golfer who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.

John Maxwell, American golfer (died 1906)