On This Day

January 1871 in History

Events in History

  • Jan 1 Belgium disbands salt tax
  • Jan 2 King Amadeus I of Spain inaugurated at 25
  • Jan 3 Oleomargarine patented by Henry Bradley, Binghamton, NY
  • Jan 16 Jefferson Long of Georgia sworn in as 2nd black congressman
  • Jan 17 1st cable car patented, by Andrew Smith Hallidie in the US (begins service in 1873)

The German Empire

Jan 18 Second German Empire proclaimed by Kaiser Wilhelm I and Otto von Bismarck

Otto von Bismarck
German Statesman Otto von Bismarck
  • Jan 19 1st Negro lodge of US Masons approved, New Jersey
  • Jan 26 US income tax repealed
  • Jan 28 Paris surrenders to Prussians
  • Jan 31 Millions of birds fly over western San Francisco, darkening the sky

Birthdays in History

  • Jan 7 Émile Borel, French mathematician and politician (d. 1956)
  • Jan 8 James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon, Irish unionist politician and the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland (1921-1940), born in Belfast, Ireland (d. 1940)
  • Jan 10 Enrica Freiin von Handel-Manzetti, Austrian poet & writer (Jesse & Maria), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1955)
  • Jan 12 Paul Guthnick, German astronomer

David Beatty

Jan 17 David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty and British Admiral of the Fleet during World War I (Battle of Jutland), born in Nantwich, England (d. 1936)

David Beatty
British Admiral of the Fleet David Beatty
  • Jan 26 Warner Fabian [Samuel H Adams], American journalist/writer (Average Jones)

Weddings in History

William McKinley

Jan 25 US President William McKinley (27) weds Ida Saxton (23) at the First Presbyterian Church in Canton

William McKinley
25th US President William McKinley

Deaths in History

  • Jan 10 Pierre A du Terrail, French writer, dies at 41
  • Jan 19 Henri Regnault, French painter, dies at 27
  • Jan 21 John J Rochussen, gov-general of Neth-Indies (1845-51), dies at 73
  • Jan 29 Philippe-Joseph Aubert de Gaspé, French Canadian writer, dies at 84

Historical Figures

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