Historical Events in January 1879

Music Premiere

Jan 1 Johannes Brahms' Violin Concerto in D major premieres in Leipzig

Sports History

Jan 2 Australian fast bowler Fred Spofforth dismisses 3 English batsmen with consecutive deliveries during the 3rd Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for Test cricket's first "hat-trick"

Jan 2 British battleship Thunder explodes in Gulf of Ismid, 9 die
Jan 2 Dr Benjamin Mays, named president of Atlanta Board of Education
Jan 9 Cheyenne prisoners led by Dull Knife revolt at Ft Robinson
Jan 9 Kirland Warbler discovered on Andros Island in Bahamas

Anglo-Zulu War

Jan 11 Anglo-Zulu War begins as British Lt-General Chelmsford invades Zululand in South Africa

Jan 16 January record 13" of snow falls in NYC (broken Jan 7, 1996)
Jan 20 British troops under Lord Chelmsford make camp at Isandlwana

Theater Premiere

Jan 21 Henrik Ibsen's play "Et Dukkehjem" (A Doll's House) premieres in Copenhagen

Jan 22 Zulu warriors attack British Army camp in Isandhlwana, South Africa
Jan 22 James Shields (D) elected US senator from Missouri after previously serving as US senator from Illinois & Minnesota

The British: 139. Zulu Warriors: 4,000. Let Battle Begin

Jan 22 Battle of Rorke's Drift: British garrison of 150 holds off 3,000-4,000 Zulu warriors. Eleven Victoria Crosses and a number of other decorations were awarded to the defenders.

Young officer Michael Caine awaits the attack of Zulu warriors in the 1964 movie

Jan 23 US National Archery Association forms in Crawfordsville, Indiana
Jan 25 The Bulgarian National Bank is founded

Battle of Interest

Jan 29 Custer Battlefield National Monument established in Montana

Jan 30 French President Patrice de Mac-Mahon resigns

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