Events in year of 1870
- 01-02Construction of Brooklyn Bridge begins
- 01-03Brooklyn Bridge construction begins; completed May 24, 1883
- 01-08US mint at Carson City, Nevada begins issuing coins
- 01-10Georgia legislature reconvenes
- 01-10John D Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil
- 01-16Virginia becomes 8th state readmitted to US after Civil War
- 01-20"City of Boston" vanishes at sea with all 177 aboard
- 01-20Hiram R Revels elected to fill unexpired term of Jefferson Davis
- 01-23173 Blackfoot (140 women & children) killed in Montana by US Army
- 01-25Soda fountain patented by Gustavus Dows
- 01-26Virginia rejoins US
- 01-271st sorority (Kappa Alpha Theta) (DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana)
- 01-27After accepting 15th amendment, VA is readmitted to Union
- 01-27Manitoba and Northwest Territories incorporated
- 02-02Cardiff Giant (supposed petrified human) proved to be gypsum
- 02-02Mark Twain, 34, marries Olivia Langdon in Elmira, New York
- 02-0315th Amendment (Black suffrage) passed
- 02-051st motion picture shown to a theater audience, Philadelphia
- 02-09US Army establishes US National Weather Service
- 02-10City of Anaheim incorporates (1st time)
- 02-12Official proclamation sets April 15 as last day of grace for US silver coins to circulate in Canada
- 02-15Ground broken for Northern Pacific Railway near Duluth, Minnesota
- 02-17Esther Morris appointed 1st female judge
- 02-17Mississippi becomes 9th state readmitted to US after Civil War
- 02-23Mississippi is readmitted to US
- 02-25Hiram Revels, is sworn in as 1st black member of Congress (Sen-R-MS)
- 02-261st NYC subway line opens (pneumatic powered)
- 03-07Cin Red Stockings, 1st pro BB team, begin 8-mo tour of Midwest and East
- 03-14California legislature approves act making Golden Gate Park possible
- 03-17Mass legislature authorizes incorporation of Wellesley Female Seminary
People born in year of 1870
- 01-02Ernst Barlach: Writer
- 01-03Henry Eichheim: Composer
- 01-03Henry Handel Richardson: Australia -- Novelist (Richard Mahoney)
- 01-08Miguel Primo de Rivera Orbaneja: Dictator of Spain (1923-30)
- 01-09Joseph B Strauss: Civil Engineer / builder (Golden Gate Bridge)
- 01-13Henryk Opienski: Polish composer / conductor (St Moniuszko)
- 01-15Johan Peter Koch: Danish officer / explorer (Greenland)
- 01-16Wilhelm Normann: German chemist (hardening of oils)
- 01-18Berend Modderman: Printer (Drukkers yearbook)
- 01-20Guillaume Jean Joseph Nicolas Lekeu: Composer
- 01-22Charles Arnold Tournemire: Composer
- 02-03Ada Negri: Italian poet / author (Il Libro di Mara)
- 02-07Alfred Adler: Austria -- Psychiatrist (Inferiority Complex)
- 02-10Fritz Klimsch: German sculptor / painter
- 02-13Leopold Godowsky: Lithuania -- Virtuoso pianist / composer
- 02-20Pieter Cornelis Boutens: Holland, Netherlands -- Mystic poet / Scholar (Verzen)
- 02-27Louis Coerne: Composer
- 03-05[B] Franc[lin] Norris: United States -- Writer (McTeague, Octopus)
- 03-06Oscar Straus: Vienna, Austria -- Composer (Ein Walzertraum)
- 03-10Alfred Kastner: Composer
- 03-20Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck: Prussian General / politician (East Africa)
- 04-04George A Smith: Salt Lake City, Utah -- 8th President of Mormon church
- 04-07Gustav Landauer: German socialist
- 04-07Joseph Ryeland: Belgian composer / Baron
- 04-17Ray Stannard Baker: United States -- Journalist (Puliter Prize 1940)
- 04-20Simeon Roncal: Composer
- 04-28Hermann Suter: Composer
- 04-30Franz Lehar: Operetta composer (Naughty Marietta)
- 05-06Amedos Peter Giannine: San Jose, California -- Founded Bank of America
- 05-06John McClutcheon: Cartoonist (Pulitzer Prize-1931)
People died in year of 1870
- 01-07Karl Schwencke: Composer, dies at 72
- 01-11Adolf Ganz: Composer, dies at 73
- 01-26Cesare Pugni: Composer, dies at 67
- 02-11Jacob M de Kempenaer: Dutch Minister of Internal Aff (1848-49), dies at 76
- 02-11Leopold Eugen Mechura: Composer, dies at 66
- 02-26Wyatt Outlaw: Black leader of Union League in NC, lynched
- 03-09Theodore Labarre: Composer, dies at 65
- 03-10Isaak-Ignaz Moscheles: Composer, dies at 75
- 03-18Joaquin y Garbayo Gaztambide: Composer, dies at 48
- 04-01Patrick Gass: Sgt of Lewis & Clark Expedition, dies at 98
- 04-08Charles-Auguste de Beriot: Belgian violinist / composer, dies at 68
- 04-16Anatoli O Demidov: Russian ruler of Donato / traveller
- 04-19Andreas Schelfhout: Painter / etcher / lithographer, dies at 83
- 04-19Camille Marie Stamaty: Composer, dies at 59
- 04-19William Henry Havergal: Composer, dies at 77
- 05-14Ramon Vilanova y Barrera: Composer, dies at 69
- 05-30Gustave Vogt: Composer, dies at 89
- 06-08Johann Gottlob Topfer: Composer, dies at 78
- 06-09Charles Dickens: English writer (David Copperfield), dies at 58
- 06-09Erik Drake: Composer, dies at 82
- 06-20Jules de Goncourt: Writer, dies at 39
- 07-08John D Zocher, Jr.: Architect (Soestdijk Palace), dies at 79
- 07-21Josef Strauss: Austrian Composer (Dynamids), dies at 42
- 08-14David [James] Glasgow Farragut: Admiral
- 08-16Ludvig Anton Edmund Passy: Composer, dies at 80
- 08-18Felix Salm-Salm: Prussian / US prince / Brigadier General, dies in battle
- 09-02Charles Victor Arthur Saint-Leon: Composer, dies at 48
- 09-11Eugenio Lucas y Padilla: Spanish poet, dies at about 46
- 09-27Henry TP Comstock: Canadian silver prospector, dies at 50
- 10-20Michael William Balfe: Composer (Bohemian Girl), dies at 62
Events in year of 1871
- 01-01Belgium disbands salt tax
- 01-02King Amadeus I of Spain inaugurated at 25
- 01-03Oleomargarine patented by Henry Bradley, Binghamton, New York
- 01-16Jefferson Long of Georgia sworn in as 2nd black congressman
- 01-171st cable car patented, by Andrew S Hallidie (begins service in 1873)
- 01-182nd German Empire proclaimed by Kaiser Wilhelm I and Bismarck
- 01-191st Negro lodge of US Masons approved, New Jersey
- 01-26British Rugby Union forms
- 01-26US income tax repealed
- 01-28Paris surrenders to Prussians
- 01-31Millions of birds fly over western SF, darkens sky
- 02-01Jefferson Long of Georgia is 1st black to make an official speech in House of Reps (opposing leniency to former Confederates)
- 02-09Federal fish protection office authorized by Congress
- 02-27Meeting of Alabama claims commission
- 02-282nd Enforcement Act gives federal control of congressional elections
- 03-01J Milton Turner named Minister to Liberia
- 03-03Congress changes Indian tribes status from independent to dependent
- 03-03Congress establishes the civil service system
- 03-161st fertilizer law enacted
- 03-17National Association of Professional Base-Ball players organized
- 03-18Communards revolt in Paris
- 03-21Journalist Henry M Stanley begins his famous expedition to Africa
- 03-22William Holden of NC becomes 1st Governor removed by impeachment
- 03-26Paris Commune founded
- 03-271st international rugby game-Scotland 1, England 0
- 03-28San Francisco Art Association holds open reception at 430 Pine
- 03-29Albert Hall opens by Queen Victoria in London
- 04-14Canada sets denominations of currency as dollars, cents, and mills
- 04-16German Empire ends all anti-Jewish civil restrictions
- 04-203rd Enforcement Act (President can suspend writ of habeas corpus)
People born in year of 1871
- 01-05Frederick Shepherd Converse: Newton, Massachusetts -- Composer
- 01-10Enrica Freiin von Handel-Manzetti: Austrian author (Jesse & Maria)
- 01-12Paul Guthnick: German astronomer
- 01-14Pauline Beersmans [PLJM van Cuyck]: Flemish actress (Hofslachter)
- 01-15Bertram Shapleigh: Composer
- 01-22Leon Jessel: Composer
- 01-26Warner Fabian [Samuel H Adams]: US journalist / writer (Average Jones)
- 01-29Eduardo Lopez-Chavarri y Marco: Composer
- 01-30Seymour Hicks: St. Helier, Jersey -- Actor-manager (Scrooge)
- 01-30Wilfred Lucas: Actor (Pardon Us, Chump at Oxford)
- 02-05Jovan Ducic: Serb poet (Blue Legends)
- 02-07Karl Wilhelm Eugen Stenhammer: Composer
- 02-09Franc S Finzgar: Slovenian clergyman / writer (Our Blood)
- 02-09Howard T Ricketts: US pathologist (studied typhus fever)
- 02-25Oliver Samuel Campbell: Tennis champ (US Open-1890)
- 03-05Maria do Carmo Geronimo: Brazilian lives to be at least 126
- 03-15Betsy van den Arend: Dutch [Betje], actress (Miss Hobbs)
- 03-19Joseph McGinnity: Rock Island, Illinois -- Baseball pitcher (New York Giants)
- 03-24Ernest Rutherford: Nuclear Scientist
- 03-25John Gutzon Borglum: Sculptor (Mt Rushmore)
- 03-27Heinrich Mann: Germany -- Novelist / essayist (Blue Angel); bros of Thomas
- 03-27Petrus J M Aalberse: Dutch Minister of Labor (1918-25)
- 03-28Willem Mengelberg: Utrecht, Netherlands -- Conductor (NY Philharmonic 1922-30)
- 04-01F Melius Christiansen: Composer
- 04-03Jose Juan Tablada: Mexican poet (El Florilegio)
- 04-05Jeanne Bougeois [La Mistinguette]: Artist (French revue)
- 04-09Arthur Fickenscher: Composer
- 04-12Ioannis Metaxas: Greek General / Dictator (1936-41)
- 04-16John Millington Synge: Ireland -- Dramatist / poet (Riders to the Sea)
- 04-16Martin Lunssens: Composer
People died in year of 1871
- 01-10Pierre A du Terrail: French writer, dies at 41
- 01-21John J Rochussen: Governor-General of the Netherlands Indies (1845-51), dies at 73
- 02-01Alexander Nikoleyevich Serov: Composer, dies at 51
- 02-26Charles Niellon: Belgian brigade General, dies at 76
- 03-20Antonio Buzzolla: Composer, dies at 56
- 03-30W F A A Louisa / Lovisa: Queen of Sweden / Norway, dies at 42
- 04-05Georg Andreas Henkel: Composer, dies at 66
- 04-07Alexander: Grandson of English Queen Victoria, dies at 1 day old
- 04-07Wilhelm Freiherr von Tegetthoff: Aus Admiral (Helgoland / Lissa), dies at 43
- 04-08Charles-Louis Hanssens: Composer, dies at 68
- 04-18Omar Pasha [Michael Lats]: Croatian governor, dies at 64
- 04-21Elisabeth Grube: Writer
- 04-27Sigismond Fortune Francois Thalberg: Composer, dies at 59
- 04-29John Gelinde van Blom: Fries notary / author, dies at 75
- 05-07Louis Papineau: Political reformer
- 05-11John Herschel: Cataloguer of southern hemisphere stars, dies at 79
- 05-12Daniel-Francois-Esprit Auber: French opera composer, dies at 89
- 05-12John F W Herschel: British astronomer (Catalogue of Nebulae)
- 05-24Francisco Salvador Daniel: Composer, dies at 40
- 05-26Aime Maillart: Composer, dies at 54
- 06-08Satank: Kiowa indian chief, shot to death
- 07-05Cristina di Trivulzio di Belgioioso: Italian princess
- 07-06Antonio de Castro Alves: Brazilian Poet (O navio negreiro), dies at 34
- 07-17Karl Tausig: Composer, dies at 29
- 09-03Vaclav Horak: Composer, dies at 71
- 09-07Cowper Phipps Coles: English inventor (Steel warships), drowns
- 09-07Mehmed E Ali Pasja: Turkish statesman
- 09-08Etienne-Joseph Soubre: Composer, dies at 57
- 09-12Karl Collan: Composer, dies at 43
- 09-23Alexander N Afanasjev: Russian story teller, dies at 45
Events in year of 1872
- 01-031st patent list issued by US Patent Office
- 01-20California Stock Exchange Board organized
- 01-29Francis L Cardoza elected State Treasurer of South Carolina
- 02-07Alcorn A&M College opens
- 02-141st state bird refuge authorized (Lake Merritt CA)
- 02-20Hydraulic electric elevator patented by Cyrus Baldwin
- 02-20Luther Crowell patents a machine that manufactures paper bags
- 02-20Metropolitan Museum of Art opens (NYC)
- 02-20Silas Noble and JP Cooley patents toothpick manufacturing machine
- 02-221st national convention of Prohibition Party (Columbus Ohio)
- 02-27Charlotte Ray, 1st Black woman lawyer, graduated Harvard University
- 03-05George Westinghouse Jr patents triple air brake for trains
- 03-161st FA Cup Final: Wanderers-Royal Engineers 1-0 in Bolton
- 03-22Illinois becomes 1st state to require sexual equality in employment
- 03-267.8 earthquake shakes Owens Valley, California
- 03-26Thomas J Martin patents fire extinguisher
- 04-011st edition of The Standard
- 04-02George B Brayton patents gasoline powered engine
- 04-09Samuel R Percy patents dried milk
- 04-101st National black convention meets in New Orleans
- 04-10Arbor day 1st celebrated in Nebraska, later changed to April 22
- 04-12Jesse James gang robs bank in Columbia, Kentucky (1 dead / $1,500)
- 04-14San Francisco organizes Bar Association
- 04-20San Francisco Bar Association organized
- 04-24Volcano Vesuvius erupts
- 05-10Victoria Woodhull becomes 1st woman nominated for US President
- 05-16Metropolitan Gas Company lamps lit for 1st time
- 05-17Bohemian Club incorporated
- 05-22Amnesty Act restores civil rights to Southerners (except for 500)
- 05-30Mahlon Loomis patents wireless telegraphy
People born in year of 1872
- 01-04Edmund Rumpler: Austria -- Auto / airplane builder
- 01-06Alexander N Scriabin: Moscow, Russia -- Hallucinogenic composer (Prometheus)
- 01-11Paul Graener: Composer
- 01-16Edward G Craig: Actor / director (On the art of theatre)
- 01-16Henri-Paul Busser: Composer
- 01-18Paul Leautaud [Maurice Boissard]: France -- Writer (Petit ami)
- 01-21Frans Beelaerts van Blokland: Dutch Foreign Minister
- 01-21Jonkhr Frans Beelaerts van Blokland: Dutch Foreign Minister
- 01-27Learned Hand: Albany, New York -- Chief judge (US Court of Appeals)
- 01-31Zane Grey: American West Novelist (Riders of the Purple Sage)
- 02-01Paul Fort: French poet / founder of Vers et Prose
- 02-07Nikolaos "Sokrates" Politis: Greek lawyer / diplomat / Foreign Minister
- 02-10Anne Anema: Dutch lawyer / journalist / politician (ARP)
- 02-24John Jarvis: England, United Kingdom -- Swimmer (won 108 titles)
- 03-03Wee Willie Keeler: Outfielder (Baltimore Orioles); hit .432 in 1897
- 03-07Piet Mondriaan: Holland, Netherlands -- Abstract painter (Broadway Boogie Woogie)
- 03-07Vasily Andreyevich Zolotaryov: Composer
- 03-08Paul Juon: Russian / Swiss violinist / composer
- 03-10Felix Borowski: Composer
- 03-11Abraham van Stolk Jzn: Lumber Merchant / art collector
- 03-13Oswald Garrison Villard: American journalist
- 03-18Frank Hoyt Losey: Composer
- 03-19Sergei Diaghilev: Gruzino Novgorod, Russia -- Ballet director
- 03-20Bernhard Seklas: Composer
- 03-20Karin Michaelis: Writer
- 03-25Vito Pardo: Italian sculptor (Columbus monument in Argentina)
- 03-28Jose Sanjurjo y Sacanell: Spanish General (Morocco)
- 03-30Sergey Nikiforovich Vasilenko: Composer
- 03-31Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev: Russia -- Dance master (Imperial Ballet)
- 04-01Tadeusz Joteyko: Composer
People died in year of 1872
- 01-21Franz Grillparzer: Austrian playwright (Sappho / Libussa), dies at 81
- 02-21Pavel P Gagarin: Russian monarch / politician, dies at 82
- 03-10Giuseppe Mazzini: Italian revolutionary (Giovane Italy), dies at 66
- 03-30Nicolaos Mantzaros: Composer, dies at 76
- 04-02Samuel F B Morse: Developer of electric telegraph, dies at 80
- 04-20Ljudwit Gaj: Croatian writer / Poet (Pjesma iz Zagorja), dies at 62
- 04-27Ion Heliade-Radulescu: Romanian politician / author, dies at 70
- 05-01Amalia: Princess of Weimar / Wife of Prince Hendrik the Navigator
- 05-15Thomas Hastings: Composer, dies at 87
- 05-17Fryderyk Edward Sobolewski: Composer, dies at 63
- 05-19Johan van Dale: Schoolmaster (New Dutch Language Wordbook), dies at 44
- 05-24Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld: Painter
- 06-03Heinrich Esser: Composer, dies at 53
- 06-04Johan R Thorbecke: Literature / Liberal Premier
- 06-04Stanislaw Moniuszko: Composer, dies at 53
- 06-28Ludwig Friedrich Hetsch: Composer, dies at 66
- 07-26Michele Carafa: Composer, dies at 84
- 07-28Friedrich Kaiser: Astronomer (Kaiser-Compass)
- 08-02Judocus Smits: Dutch RC newspaper publisher (De Tijd), dies at 59
- 08-11Lowell Mason: US Organist / Composer (Zebulo), dies at 80
- 08-19Eugene-Prosper Prevost: Composer, dies at 63
- 09-07Antoni Stolpe: Composer, dies at 21
- 09-13Ludwig A Feuerbach: German philosopher (Man what he eats), dies at 68
- 09-14Yury Nikolayevich Golitsin: Composer, dies at 48
- 09-18Charles XV Louis E: King of Sweden / Norway (1859-72)
- 10-02Eberhard F Walcker: Organ builder (Paulskirche Frankfurt A / M)
- 10-14Albrecht FH: Prince of Prussia, dies at 63
- 10-21Jacques Babinet: French physicist / Mathematician / astronomer, dies at 78
- 11-23Ten Bears (Parra-Wa-Samen): US Poet / Comanche chief
- 11-29Cornelius Kreighoff: Canadian