The 1890s

1896 130 years ago

Aleksey Lobanov-Rostovsky, Russian politician and diplomat, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Russia (born 1824)

Prince Aleksey Borisovich Lobanov-Rostovsky was a Russian statesman, probably best remembered for having concluded the Li-Lobanov Treaty with China, the Peace of Constantinople wit…

Aleksey Lobanov-Rostovsky, Russian politician and diplomat, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Russia (born 1824)

1896 130 years ago

Francis James Child, American scholar and educator (born 1825)

Francis James Child was an American scholar, educator, and folklorist, best known today for his collection of English and Scottish ballads now known as the Child Ballads. Child was…

Francis James Child, American scholar and educator (born 1825)

1896 130 years ago

Antônio Carlos Gomes, Brazilian composer (born 1836)

Antônio Carlos Gomes was a Brazilian composer notable for being the first New World composer whose work was accepted by Europe. He was the only non-European who was successful as a…

Antônio Carlos Gomes, Brazilian composer (born 1836)

1896 130 years ago

Pavlos Kalligas, Greek jurist and politician, Foreign Minister of Greece (born 1814)

Pavlos Kalligas was a Greek jurist, writer and politician. He served as a professor at the University of Athens; as Member and Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament; as cabinet minist…

Pavlos Kalligas, Greek jurist and politician, Foreign Minister of Greece (born 1814)

1896 130 years ago

Hippolyte Fizeau, French physicist and academic (born 1819)

Armand Hippolyte Louis Fizeau was a French physicist who, in 1849, measured the speed of light to within 5% accuracy. In 1851, he measured the speed of light in moving water in an …

Hippolyte Fizeau, French physicist and academic (born 1819)

1896 130 years ago

Ruling in the landmark decision Plessy v

The following landmark court decisions changed the interpretation of existing law in the United States. Such a decision may settle the law in more than one way:establishing a new l…

Ruling in the landmark decision Plessy v

1896 130 years ago

The St

The 1896 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado was a historic tornado that caused severe damage to downtown St. Louis, Missouri, East St. Louis, Illinois, and surrounding areas on Wedne…

The St

1896 130 years ago

An earthquake registering 8

The 1896 Sanriku earthquake was one of the most destructive seismic events in Japanese history. The 8.5 magnitude earthquake occurred at 19:32 on June 15, 1896, approximately 166 …

An earthquake registering 8

1896 130 years ago

A magnitude-8

The 1896 Sanriku earthquake was one of the most destructive seismic events in Japanese history. The 8.5 magnitude earthquake occurred at 19:32 on June 15, 1896, approximately 166 …

A magnitude-8

1896 130 years ago

Politician William Jennings Bryan made his Cross of Gold speech advocating bimetallism, considered one of the greatest…

William Jennings Bryan was an American lawyer, orator, and politician. He was a dominant force in the Democratic Party, running three times as the party's nominee for President of …

Politician William Jennings Bryan made his Cross of Gold speech advocating bimetallism, considered one of the greatest…

1896 130 years ago

A group including George Carmack and Skookum Jim Mason (pictured) discovered gold near Dawson City, Canada, setting…

George Washington Carmack was an American prospector in the Yukon. He was originally credited with registering Discovery Claim, the discovery of gold that set off the Klondike Gold…

A group including George Carmack and Skookum Jim Mason (pictured) discovered gold near Dawson City, Canada, setting…

1896 130 years ago

In the shortest recorded war in history, the Sultanate of Zanzibar surrendered to the United Kingdom after less than…

The Anglo-Zanzibar War was a military conflict fought between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate of Zanzibar on 27 August 1896. The conflict lasted between 38 and 45 minutes, mar…

In the shortest recorded war in history, the Sultanate of Zanzibar surrendered to the United Kingdom after less than…

1896 130 years ago

A group including George Carmack and Skookum Jim Mason discovered gold near Dawson City, Canada, setting off the…

George Washington Carmack was an American prospector in the Yukon. He was originally credited with registering Discovery Claim, the discovery of gold that set off the Klondike Gold…

A group including George Carmack and Skookum Jim Mason discovered gold near Dawson City, Canada, setting off the…

1896 130 years ago

Philippine Revolution: In the Battle of San Juan del Monte, the first real battle of the war, a Katipunan force…

The Philippine Revolution was a war of independence waged by the revolutionary organization Katipunan against the Spanish Empire from 1896 to 1898. It was the culmination of the 33…

Philippine Revolution: In the Battle of San Juan del Monte, the first real battle of the war, a Katipunan force…

1895

The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed

The Treaty of Shimonoseki , also known as the Treaty of Maguan in China or the Treaty of Bakan in Japan, was signed in Shimonoseki, Japan, on April 17, 1895, between the Empire of…

The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed

1895

Émile Levassor wins the world's first real automobile race

Émile Constant Levassor was a French engineer and a pioneer of the automobile industry and car racing in France.

Émile Levassor wins the world's first real automobile race

1895

German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin patents his navigable balloon.

Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin was a German general and later inventor of the Zeppelin rigid airships. His name became synonymous with airships and dominated long-distance flight unt…

German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin patents his navigable balloon.

1895

John Brallier becomes the first openly paid professional American football player, when he was paid US$10 by David…

John Kinport "Sal" Brallier was one of the first professional American football players. He was nationally acknowledged as the first openly paid professional football player when h…

John Brallier becomes the first openly paid professional American football player, when he was paid US$10 by David…

1895

Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world, sets sail from Boston, Massachusetts aboard th

Joshua Slocum was the first person to sail single-handedly around the world. He was a Nova Scotian-born, naturalised American seaman and adventurer, and a noted writer. In 1900 he …

Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world, sets sail from Boston, Massachusetts aboard th

1895

In Saint Petersburg, Russian scientist Alexander Stepanovich Popov demonstrates to the Russian Physical and Chemical Soc

Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd (Петроград) and later Leningrad (Ленинград), is the second-largest city in Russia, after Moscow, the nation's capital. It is situated …

In Saint Petersburg, Russian scientist Alexander Stepanovich Popov demonstrates to the Russian Physical and Chemical Soc

1895

Playwright, poet and novelist Oscar Wilde is convicted of "committing acts of gross indecency with other male persons" a

Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish author, poet and playwright. After writing in different literary styles throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular a…

Playwright, poet and novelist Oscar Wilde is convicted of "committing acts of gross indecency with other male persons" a

1895

The Republic of Formosa is formed, with Tang Jingsong as its president

The Republic of Formosa was a short-lived unrecognized state that existed on the island of Taiwan in 1895 during the interregnum between the formal cession of Taiwan by the Qing dy…

The Republic of Formosa is formed, with Tang Jingsong as its president

1895

Paris–Bordeaux–Paris, sometimes called the first automobile race in history or the "first motor race", takes place

The Paris–Bordeaux–Paris Trail race of June 1895 is sometimes called the "first motor race", although it did not fit modern competition where the fastest is the winner. It was a wi…

Paris–Bordeaux–Paris, sometimes called the first automobile race in history or the "first motor race", takes place

1895

Ove Arup, English-Danish engineer and businessman, founded Arup (died 1988)

Sir Ove Nyquist Arup was a British engineer with Danish heritage who founded Arup, a multinational corporation offering engineering, design, planning, project management, and consu…

Ove Arup, English-Danish engineer and businessman, founded Arup (died 1988)