The 1890s

1891 135 years ago

The International Electrotechnical Exhibition opens in Frankfurt, Germany, featuring the world's first long-distance tra

The 1891 International Electrotechnical Exhibition was held between 16 May and 19 October on the disused site of the three former Westbahnhöfe in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The ex…

The International Electrotechnical Exhibition opens in Frankfurt, Germany, featuring the world's first long-distance tra

1891 135 years ago

Harold Jeffreys, English mathematician, geophysicist, and astronomer (died 1989)

Sir Harold Jeffreys, FRS was a British geophysicist who made significant contributions to mathematics and statistics. His book, Theory of Probability, which was first published in …

Harold Jeffreys, English mathematician, geophysicist, and astronomer (died 1989)

1891 135 years ago

Nicola Sacco, Italian-American anarchist (died 1927)

Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Italian immigrants and anarchists, controversially accused of murdering Alessandro Berardelli and Frederick Parmenter, a guard and a payma…

Nicola Sacco, Italian-American anarchist (died 1927)

1891 135 years ago

Sergei Prokofiev, Russian pianist, composer, and conductor (died 1953)

Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor who later worked in the Soviet Union. As the creator of acknowledged masterpieces across numerous music …

Sergei Prokofiev, Russian pianist, composer, and conductor (died 1953)

1891 135 years ago

Edward Wilfred Taylor, British businessman (died 1980)

Edward Wilfred Taylor was a British manufacturer of optical instruments.

Edward Wilfred Taylor, British businessman (died 1980)

1891 135 years ago

Lillian Estelle Fisher, American historian of Spanish America (died 1988)

Lillian Estelle Fisher was one of the first women to earn a doctorate in Latin American history in the U.S. She published important works on Spanish colonial administration; a biog…

Lillian Estelle Fisher, American historian of Spanish America (died 1988)

1891 135 years ago

Tadeusz Peiper, Polish poet and critic (died 1969)

Tadeusz Peiper was a Polish poet, art critic, theoretician of literature and one of the precursors of the avant-garde movement in Polish poetry. Born to a Jewish family, Peiper con…

Tadeusz Peiper, Polish poet and critic (died 1969)

1891 135 years ago

Eppa Rixey, American baseball pitcher (died 1963)

Eppa Rixey Jr., nicknamed "Jephtha", was an American baseball player who played 21 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball from 1912 to 1…

Eppa Rixey, American baseball pitcher (died 1963)

1891 135 years ago

Harry McShane, Scottish engineer and activist (died 1988)

Harry McShane was a Scottish socialist, and a close colleague of John Maclean.

Harry McShane, Scottish engineer and activist (died 1988)

1891 135 years ago

Mahmoud Mokhtar, Egyptian sculptor and academic (died 1934)

Mahmoud Mukhtar was an Egyptian sculptor. He attended the College of Fine Arts in Cairo upon its opening in 1908 by Prince Yusuf Kamal, and was part of the original "Pioneers" of t…

Mahmoud Mokhtar, Egyptian sculptor and academic (died 1934)

1891 135 years ago

Mikhail Bulgakov, Russian novelist and playwright (died 1940)

Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov was a Russian and Soviet novelist and playwright. His novel The Master and Margarita, published posthumously, has been called one of the masterpieces …

Mikhail Bulgakov, Russian novelist and playwright (died 1940)

1891 135 years ago

Hjalmar Dahl, Finnish journalist, translator and writer (died 1960)

Hjalmar Karl Emil Dahl was a Swedish-speaking Finnish journalist, translator and author.

Hjalmar Dahl, Finnish journalist, translator and writer (died 1960)

1891 135 years ago

Fritz Feigl, Austrian-Brazilian chemist and academic (died 1971)

Fritz Feigl was a Jewish Austrian-born chemist. He taught at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Fritz Feigl, Austrian-Brazilian chemist and academic (died 1971)

1891 135 years ago

Napoleon Zervas, Greek general and politician (died 1957)

Napoleon Zervas was a Hellenic Army officer and resistance leader during World War II. He organized and led the National Republican Greek League (EDES), the second most significant…

Napoleon Zervas, Greek general and politician (died 1957)

1891 135 years ago

Rudolf Carnap, German-American philosopher and academic (died 1970)

Paul Rudolf Carnap was a German philosopher who was active in Europe before 1935 and in the United States thereafter. He was a major member of the Vienna Circle and an advocate of …

Rudolf Carnap, German-American philosopher and academic (died 1970)

1891 135 years ago

Oswald Boelcke, German captain and pilot (died 1916)

Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke was a German professional soldier and pioneering flying ace credited with 40 aerial victories during World War I. Boelcke is honored as the father of the G…

Oswald Boelcke, German captain and pilot (died 1916)

1891 135 years ago

Johannes R

Johannes Robert Becher was a German politician, novelist, and poet. He was affiliated with the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) before World War II. He was part of the literary ava…

Johannes R

1891 135 years ago

Pär Lagerkvist, Swedish novelist, playwright, and poet, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1974)

Pär Fabian Lagerkvist was a Swedish author who received the 1951 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Pär Lagerkvist, Swedish novelist, playwright, and poet, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1974)

1891 135 years ago

William F

William Foxwell Albright was an American archaeologist, biblical scholar, philologist, and expert on ceramics. He is considered "one of the twentieth century's most influential Ame…

William F

1891 135 years ago

Claude Champagne, Canadian violinist, pianist, and composer (died 1965)

Claude Champagne was a French Canadian composer, teacher, pianist, and violinist.

Claude Champagne, Canadian violinist, pianist, and composer (died 1965)

1891 135 years ago

Jaan Kärner, Estonian poet and author (died 1958)

Jaan Kärner was an Estonian poet and writer. He is known especially for his nature poetry. Many of his poems were set to music by Estonian composers of choral music. Kärner also wr…

Jaan Kärner, Estonian poet and author (died 1958)

1891 135 years ago

Takijirō Ōnishi, Japanese admiral and pilot (died 1945)

Takijirō Ōnishi was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II who came to be known as the father of the kamikaze.

Takijirō Ōnishi, Japanese admiral and pilot (died 1945)

1891 135 years ago

Nathaniel Woodard, English priest and educator (born 1811)

Nathaniel Woodard was a priest in the Church of England. He founded 11 schools for the middle classes in England whose aim was to provide education based on "sound principle and so…

Nathaniel Woodard, English priest and educator (born 1811)

1891 135 years ago

Joseph Leidy, American paleontologist and author (born 1823)

Joseph Mellick Leidy was an American paleontologist, parasitologist, and anatomist.

Joseph Leidy, American paleontologist and author (born 1823)