- Apr 2 Battle at Bamako: French assault on Fabous arm forces attack
- Apr 12 French troops under lt-colonel Borgnis-Desbordes occupy Bamako Senegal
- Apr 13 US prospector Alfred Packer convicted of manslaughter though accused of cannibalism
- Apr 14 Leo Delibes' opera "Lakmé" premieres in Paris
- Apr 16 Paul Kruger chosen as President of Transvaal
- Apr 23 John Heemskerk Abrahamszoon forms Dutch government
- Apr 24 28 Surinamers depart to Amsterdam World's Fair