1877 CE

The University of Tokyo is officially established in Japan. Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878): Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire. The Cabinet decides to declare war on Russia if it occupies Constantinople in the Russo-Turkish War.

In the 1870s, the 19th century.

1877 at a glance

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Who led every country in 1877 →

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

January 1 – Queen Victoria is proclaimed Empress of India by the Royal Titles Act 1876, introduced by Benjamin Disraeli, the prime minister of the United Kingdom .source
January 4 - Land tax reform is implemented.Japan source
10 January – German federal election, 1877Germany source
March 2 – Compromise of 1877: The 1876 United States presidential election is resolved with the selection of Rutherford B. Hayes as the winner, even though Samuel J. Tilden won the popular vote on November 7, 1876.source
March 4 – Romualdo Pacheco of California takes office as the first Latino to serve in the United States Congress.United States source
April 12 – Theophilus Shepstone annexes the Transvaal Republic as a British colony, in preparation for confederation. Resistance to British rule begins.South Africa source
May 16 – 16 May 1877 crisis in France: Parliament passes a no-confidence motion against the government appointed by President MacMahon.source
May 21 (May 9 O.S.) – By a speech in the Parliament of Romania by Mihail Kogălniceanu, the country declares itself independent from the Ottoman Empire (recognized in 1878 after the end of the Romanian independence war).source
9 July – Law on secret ballot introduces use of voting booths at Belgian polling stations.Belgium source
20 July – Arthur Kennedy becomes Governor of QueenslandAustralia source
September 22 – Treaty 7 is concluded between several mainly Blackfoot First Nations tribes and the Canadian Confederation, at the Blackfoot Crossing of the Bow River, settling the Blackfoot on Indian reserves in what will become southern Alberta.source
Charles Alphonse Pantaléon Pelletier appointed Minister of Agriculture and called to the Senate of CanadaCanada source
The Treaty of Waitangi ruled a "simply nullity" in "Wi Parata v the Bishop of Wellington"New Zealand source

Conflict & Security

January 8 – Great Sioux War of 1876: Battle of Wolf Mountain – Crazy Horse and his warriors fight their last battle with the United States Cavalry in Montana.source
January 29 – The Satsuma Rebellion, a revolt of disaffected samurai in Japan, breaks out against the new imperial government; it lasts until September, when it is crushed by a professionally led army of draftees.source
January 29-September 24 - Satsuma RebellionJapan source
February 17 – Major General Charles George Gordon of the British Army is appointed Governor-General of the Sudan.source
February 19-April 12 - Siege of Kumamoto CastleJapan source
15 March to 4 April – 1877 Australia v England series is playedAustralia source
April 12 – The United Kingdom annexes the South African Republic, violating the Sand River Convention of 1852, causing the First Boer War.source
April 24 – The Compromise of 1877 forces federal troops to withdraw from the Southern United States. This is the latest date disputed by historians when the Reconstruction Era ended and when the Gilded Age started.source
April 24 – Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878): Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire.source
May 5 – Great Sioux War of 1876: Sitting Bull leads his band of Lakota into Canada, to avoid harassment by the U.S. Army under Colonel Nelson Miles.source
May 5 – Indian Wars: Sitting Bull leads his band of Lakota into Canada to avoid harassment by the United States Army under Colonel Nelson Miles.United States source
May 6 – Chief Crazy Horse of the Oglala Sioux surrenders to U.S. troops in Nebraska.source
June 17 – American Indian Wars: Battle of White Bird Canyon – The Nez Perce defeat the U.S. Cavalry at White Bird Canyon, in the Idaho Territory. This begins the Nez Perce War.source
July 16 – Great Railroad Strike of 1877: Riots by Baltimore and Ohio Railroad railroad workers in Baltimore lead to a sympathy strike and rioting in Pittsburgh, and a full-scale worker's rebellion in St. Louis, briefly establishing a communist government, before U.S. president Rutherford B. Hayes calls in the armed forces.source
July 19 – Russo-Turkish War: The first battle in the siege of Plevna is fought.source
21 July – the Cabinet decides to declare war on Russia if it occupies Constantinople in the Russo-Turkish War.United Kingdom source
July 30 – Russo-Turkish War: The Turkish army and its allies destroy the Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora and massacre the inhabitants.source
July 30 – Russo-Turkish War: The second battle in the siege of Plevna is fought.source
August 9 – American Indian Wars: Battle of the Big Hole – Near Big Hole River, Montana, a small band of Nez Perce people who refuse government orders to move to a reservation, clash with the United States Army. The army loses 29 soldiers, and the Indians lose 89 warriors, in an Army victory.source
September 1 – The Battle of Lovcha, third battle in the siege of Plevna, is fought. Russian forces successfully reduce the Ottoman fortress at Lovcha.source
September 5 – American Indian Wars: Oglala Sioux chief Crazy Horse is bayoneted by a United States soldier, after resisting confinement in a guardhouse at Fort Robinson in Nebraska.source
December 9 – The fourth battle of the Russo-Turkish War is fought, concluding the siege of Plevna.source
December 13 – Serbia restates its previous declaration of war against Turkey.source
Refugee Lakota enter Canada near the end of the Great Sioux WarCanada source
Provisional Russian Administration in BulgariaRussia source
3rd Army Corps (Russian Empire)Russia source

Exploration & Expansion

3 January - The clipper Champion of the Seas is abandoned off Cape HornChile source
1 April – A settlement on Thursday Island was established for the refueling of steam shipsAustralia source
Native reservations for the Tswana people are established in Griqualand West.South Africa source
June 30 – The British Mediterranean fleet is sent to Besika Bay.source
23 August – the Merchandise Marks Act obliges exporters to indicate the place of manufacture of their goods.United Kingdom source
Manzo Nagano was the first official Japanese immigrant into CanadaCanada source
Jowaki Expedition against the Afridi tribe.India source
An England XI under the leadership of James Lillywhite tours in January and February. None of the fixtures were first class, and all the home sides field teams of between 18 and 22 players. The team went on to Australia to play the first ever Test matches. ItineraryNew Zealand source
Ex-President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant tours his ancestral Scotland.Scotland source

Religion & Belief

January 20 – The Constantinople Conference ends, with Ottoman Turkey rejecting proposals of internal reform and Balkan provisions.source
30 April – the Diocese of St Albans is founded within the Church of England from part of the Diocese of Rochester. St Albans Abbey, which is undergoing extensive restoration at this time, is elevated to become St Albans Cathedral and on 12 June Thomas Legh Claughton is enthroned first Bishop of St Albans, an office he holds until 1890.United Kingdom source
The Cape Government establishes the Council of Education following the dramatic increase in the number of educational facilities, such as mission schools, on the eastern Cape frontier.South Africa source
10 July – Consecration of new Merthyr Synagogue, the oldest surviving synagogue building in Wales.Wales source
July – The serial publication of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is concluded, in The Russian Messenger.source
E. Van Hoecke-Peeters, Jesuit house in OostakkerBelgium source
William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog) – Helyntion Bywyd Hen DeiliwrWales source

Economy & Finance

14 March – Trade agreement with Romania signed in Brussels.Belgium source
24 April – six Scotch whisky distilleries combine to form Distillers Company.Scotland source
Sir Wilfrid Laurier is appointed Canadian Minister of Inland RevenueCanada source
German company Blohm+Voss is founded.Germany source
East India Loan Act (British statute)India source
Depression of 1873–79 (1873–1879)United States source
Jesse Boot takes over the family shop in Nottingham, the foundation of Boots the chemists.United Kingdom source

Technology & Infrastructure

March 4 – Emile Berliner patents the microphone in the United States.source
March 15 – English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1876–77: The first Test cricket match is held between England and Australia.source
April 15 – First telephone line installed between Boston and Somerville, Massachusetts.United States source
June 20 – Alexander Graham Bell installs the world's first commercial telephone service in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.source
15 August – Opening to passengers of the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways from Dinas to Tryfan Junction and Bryngwyn.Wales source
4 November - Inauguration of the Maria Pia Bridge, in Porto.Portugal source
1 December – The Aarhus–Ryomgård section of the Grenaa Line railway is opened.Denmark source
8 December – Telegraph line between Western Australia and South Australia completed, linking Western Australia to the east coast by telegraphy for the first time, via Adelaide.Australia source
Woosung Road railway purchased and dismantled by Viceroy of Liangjiang Shen BaozhenChina source
First suspension bridge in India was opened in Punalur, Travancore (now in Kerala).India source
In February and March Whythes & Jackson Limited, contracted by the Natal government for the construction of the line from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, takes delivery of two construction locomotives appropriately named Durban and Pietermaritzburg.South Africa source

Science & Discovery

August 12 – American astronomer Asaph Hall discovers Deimos, the outer moon of Mars.source
August 18 – Asaph Hall discovers Phobos, the inner moon of Mars.source
November 21 – Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, a machine that can record sound, considered his first great invention. Edison demonstrates the device for the first time on November 29.source
November 21 – Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, a machine that can record sound, considered Edison's first great invention. Edison demonstrates the device for the first time on December 6.United States source
Louis Melsens becomes the second person to receive the Guinard Prize by the Brussels Academy, a Belgian award, given every 5 years since 1872, to the scientist who has written the best work or created the best invention to improve the material or intellectual position of the working class.Belgium source
Robert Louis Stevenson's first published works of fiction appear in magazines.Scotland source
A breed register for the Clydesdale horse is established.Scotland source
A publication about birth control. View original copy.United Kingdom source
Publication date of Edward Lear's Laughable Lyrics (actually issued December 1876).United Kingdom source

Health & Medicine

May – Sophia Jex-Blake qualifies as a Licentiate of the King’s and Queen’s College of Physicians of Ireland (LKQCPI).Ireland source
12 July – Prison Act 1877 transfers responsibility for provision of prisons from counties to the Home Office.United Kingdom source
Joseph Parry resigns from his position as Professor of Music at University of Wales, Aberystwyth.Wales source

Crime & Justice

2 March - The Helga de la Brache affair is completed by a conviction of the de la Brache after her exposure.Sweden source
June 21 – The Molly Maguires are hanged at Carbon County Prison, in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania.source
12 August – Six houses are washed away when Lønstrup is hit by a thunderstorm and torrential rain.Denmark source
August 17 – Arizona blacksmith F.P. Cahill is fatally wounded by Billy the Kid. Cahill dies the next day, becoming the first person killed by the Kid.United States source
Léon Herbo, portrait of the sculptor Julien Dillens, winner of the 1877 Prix de RomeBelgium source
Augustine Tuillerie - Le Tour de la France par deux enfantsFrance source
Wellington Cup winner: Guy FawkesNew Zealand source
Wick Harbour breakwater is washed away in a storm for a second time.Scotland source
Richard Davies (Mynyddog) – Y Trydydd CynnigWales source

Disasters & Accidents

June 20 – The Great Fire of Saint John, New Brunswick had destroyed over 80 hectares (200 acres) and 1,612 structures including eight churches, six banks, fourteen hotels, eleven schooners and four wood boats.Canada source
11 September – Ships Avalanche and Forrest collide off Portland, Victoria, only 3 of the 107 passengers are savedAustralia source
11 September – collision of two outward bound sailing ships, Shaw, Savill Line's Avalanche, bound from London to Wellington, New Zealand, and the North American Forest Queen, in ballast for New York, off the Isle of Portland; over 120 persons die from both ships with only 12 survivors.United Kingdom source
October 22 – The Blantyre mining disaster in Scotland kills 207 miners.source
22 October – Blantyre mining disaster: Scotland's worst-ever mining accident kills over 200.Scotland source
22 October – Blantyre mining disaster kills 207, Scotland's worst-ever mining accident.United Kingdom source
3 December – the original Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute is burned down.Scotland source
Closure of lead mine at Loggerheads, Denbighshire.Wales source

Climate & Environment

May 9 – Iquique Earthquake and tsunami: An earthquake of at least magnitude 8.5 M s occurs on the west coast of South America, killing 2,541 around the Pacific Rim.source
May 9 - 1877 Iquique earthquake (magnitude 8.5)Bolivia source
9 May - 1877 Iquique earthquakeChile source
Cape and British involvement when tribal dispute erupts between the Gcaleka and the Fingo peoples of the eastern Cape frontier leads to the 9th Cape Frontier War which ends the following year.South Africa source
June 26 – The eruption of the volcano Cotopaxi in Ecuador causes severe mudflows that wipe out surrounding cities and valleys, killing 1,000.source
July 1 – An F4 tornado touches down near Gap, Pennsylvania, and moves towards Chester County. A woman is killed near Ercildoun; a man is killed near Parkesburg; and possibly a third person dies. 4 homes are destroyed at Parkesburg and 20 buildings are destroyed at Ercildoun. 10 or more homes are leveled in Chester County.source
Shandong Famine Relief Committee was established with the participation of diplomats, businessmen, and Protestant and Roman Catholic missionaries to combat the famineChina source
Northern Chinese Famine of 1876–79China source

Culture & Society

7 January – The weekly Illustreret Familie Journal, now Familie Journalen, is published for the first time.Denmark source
February 28 – University of Manitoba founded.Canada source
March 4 – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake debuts in Moscow.source
March 24 – For the only time in history, The Boat Race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge is declared a "dead heat" (i.e., a draw).source
March – The Nineteenth Century magazine is founded in London.source
April 10 – The first human cannonball act in the British Isles, and perhaps the world, is performed by 17-year-old Rossa Matilda Richter ("Zazel") at the London Royal Aquarium.source
April 12 – The University of Tokyo is officially established in Japan.source
25 April - The local newspaper Agder Flekkefjords Tidende was first published.Norway source
May 8–11 – At Gilmore's Gardens in New York City, the first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is held.source
17 May – Victorian Football Association founded.Australia source
June 15 – Henry Ossian Flipper becomes the first African American cadet to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy.source
July 9–19 – The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club stages the first Wimbledon Championships in lawn tennis. English cricketer Spencer Gore becomes first Wimbledon gentlemen's singles champion (the only event held).source
19 August – Plantin-Moretus Museum opens to the public.Belgium source
November 14 – Henrik Ibsen's first contemporary realist drama The Pillars of Society is premièred at the Odense Teater.source
November 22 – The first college lacrosse game is played between New York University and Manhattan University.source
November 22 – The first college lacrosse game is played between New York University and Manhattan College.United States source
December 16 – The premiere of Bruckner's Symphony No. 3 is given by the Vienna Philharmonic. Many of the audience walk out.source
December 30 – The premiere of Brahms' Symphony No. 2 is given by the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Hans Richter.source
Celebrations in darbars are held in India now that Queen Victoria is Empress of India.India source
The following rugby clubs were formed: Athletic (Wellington), Waverley, Merivale, Leeston, Southbridge, Rakaia, and Otago University.New Zealand source

Births

January 22 – Hjalmar Schacht, German economist, politician and banker (died 1970)source
February 4 – Eddie Cochems, father of the forward pass in American football (died 1953)source
February 17 – Isabelle Eberhardt, Swiss explorer, writer (died 1904)source
17 February – Isabelle Eberhardt, explorer and author (died 1904 in Algeria)Switzerland source
February 21 - Enrique Mosconi, military engineerArgentina source
March 18 – Edgar Cayce, American psychic (died 1945)source
May 27 – Isadora Duncan, American dancer (died 1927)source
July 2 – Hermann Hesse, German-born writer, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1962)source
August 1 – George Hackenschmidt, Estonian strongman, professional wrestler (died 1968)source
August 1 – Mohammad Ali Foroughi, Iranian writer and politician.Iran source
August 22 – Ananda Coomaraswamy, Ceylonese Tamil philosopher (died 1947)source
September 25 – Plutarco Elías Calles, Mexican general and President of Mexico, 1924–1928; known as Jefe Maximo ("Maximum Boss") from 1928 to 1934 (died 1945)source
October 21 – Oswald Avery, Canadian-American physician, medical researcher (died 1955)source
2 November - Teixeira de Pascoaes, poet (died 1952)Portugal source
November 9 – Muhammad Iqbal, Islamic philosopher and poet, one of the founding fathers of All-India Muslims League (died 1938)source
November 15 – William Hope Hodgson, English author (died 1918)source
November 17 – Frank Lahm, Brigadier General USAF, airship pilot, early military aviator trained by the Wright brothers (died 1963)source
December 3 – Richard Pearse, New Zealand airplane pioneer (died 1953)source

Deaths

January 1 – Karl von Urban, Austrian field marshal (suicide) (born 1802)source
January 4 – Cornelius Vanderbilt, American entrepreneur (born 1794)source
May 30 – Yakub Beg of Yettishar dies having been poisoned in Korla.source
20 July - Federico Errázuriz Zañartu (born 1825)Chile source
August 29 – Brigham Young, American Mormon leader (born 1801)source
August 30 – Raphael Semmes, American and Confederate naval officer (born 1809)source
September 3 – Adolphe Thiers, French historian, politician (born 1797)source
September 5 – Crazy Horse, American Oglala Lakota chief (born 1840-45)source
13 September - Alexandre Herculano, novelist, historian (born 1810)Portugal source
September 17 – Henry Fox Talbot, English photographer (born 1800)source
September 24 – Battle of Shiroyama in Kagoshima, Japan: The Imperial Japanese Army annihilates heavily outnumbered rebel samurai under Saigō Takamori (who is killed), ending the Satsuma Rebellion.source
September 24 – Saigō Takamori, Japanese samurai (born 1828)source
October 3 – James Roosevelt Bayley, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Newark, New Jersey, and eighth Archbishop of Baltimore (born 1814)source
October 29 – Nathan Bedford Forrest, American Confederate Civil War General, first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan (born 1821)source
October 30 - Colonel Cândido José dos Santos Brochado is murdered near Freitas by a slave, during a trip to Sabará, in the Province of Minas Gerais.Brazil source
November 1 – Oliver P. Morton, American politician (born 1823)source
December 31 – Gustave Courbet, French painter (born 1819)source
31 December – Gustave Courbet, French painter (born 1819 in France)Switzerland source