- Jan 1 Norway adopts Mid-European time
Emilio Aguinaldo
- Jan 5 Henry James' play "Guy Domville" opens in London
- Jan 5 Victor Trumper makes first-class debut for NSW 17 yrs 64 days
Event of Interest
Jan 5 French Captain Alfred Dreyfus, convicted of treason, publicly stripped of his rank; later exonerated
Alfred Dreyfus
- Jan 12 The National Trust is founded in Britain.
Event of Interest
Jan 13 Oscar Wilde's "Ideal Husband" premieres in London
Oscar Wilde
- Jan 15 Australian cricket spin bowler Albert Trott takes 8-43 on debut to end England's 2nd innings at 143 in 3rd Test in Adelaide; Australia wins by 382 in 4 days
- Jan 15 French fleet reaches Majunga, Madagascar
- Jan 17 French president Casimir-Perier resigns; Félix Faure installed.
- Jan 22 National Association of Manufacturers organized in Cincinnati
- Jan 25 New Haven Symphony Orchestra of Connecticut performs its first concert
Event of Interest
Jan 27 Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov's revival of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's ballet "Swan Lake" premieres in St. Petersburg
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Jan 29 King Koko's Kopermannen assault on Akassa Niger, 100's killed
- Jan 30 C J Eady (Tas) 1st Australian to score twin centuries (v Vic)
- Jan 30 SS Elbe sinks after collision in North Sea, 332 killed
- Jan 30 Tasmania beat Victoria for 1st F-C victory in 41 years
- Jan 31 Jose Martí & others leave NYC for invasion of Spanish Cuba