Events in year of 1888
- 01-031st wax drinking straw patented, by Marvin C Stone in Washington DC
- 01-05Dutch Heidemaatschappij established
- 01-07Start of Sherlock Holmes adventure "Valley of Fear" (BG)
- 01-13National Geographic Society founded (Washington, DC)
- 01-27National Geographic Society organizes (Washington, DC)
- 01-30Harry Moses 297 not out for NSW against Victoria
- 02-22John Reid of Scotland demonstrates golf to Americans (Yonkers NY)
- 02-24Louisville, Ky becomes 1st government in US to adopt Australian ballot
- 02-28Ferry in San Pablo Bay explodes
- 03-10HW Boxing champ John L Sullivan draws Charlie Mitchell in 30 rounds
- 03-13Great Blizzard of 1888 rages
- 03-142nd largest snowfall in NYC history (21")
- 03-20Start of the Sherlock Holmes Adventure, "A Scandal in Bohemia"
- 03-22English Football League established
- 03-25Socialist leader Domela Nieuwenhuis elected to Dutch 2nd chamber
- 04-01Soccer team Sparta forms in Rotterdam
- 04-07Start of Sherlock Holmes adventure "Yellow Face" (BG)
- 04-16Drentse and Friese peat cutters go on strike
- 04-20246 reported killed by hail in Moradabad, India
- 04-24Eastman Kodak forms
- 04-29Old Kavallison, Congo: Stanley meet Emin Pasha
- 04-30Hail stones kills about 250 in Moradabad district of Delhi
- 05-04Italy and Spain sign military covenant
- 05-07George Eastman patents "Kodak box camera"
- 05-1116th Preakness: F Littlefield aboard Refund wins in 2:49
- 05-12Crouching start 1st used by Charles Sherrill of Yale
- 05-13DeWolf Hooper 1st recited "Casey at Bat"
- 05-16CPR opens Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver, BC
- 05-22Leroy Buffington patents a system to build skyscrapers
- 06-01California gets its 1st seismograph
People born in year of 1888
- 01-04Arthur Berry: England, United Kingdom -- Soccer player (1908, 12 Olympics - Gold Medalist)
- 01-08Matt Moore: County Meath, Ireland -- Actor (Coquette, Deluge)
- 01-08Richard Courant: German / US mathematician (What is mathematics?)
- 01-10Emile van Bosch: Dutch revue / operetta-artist (Fair Folks)
- 01-12Claude Delvincourt: Composer
- 01-15Joseph Henabery: Omaha, Nebraska -- Director (Cobra)
- 01-20Leadbelly: Louisiana, United States -- Blues 12 string guitarist (Rock Island Line)
- 01-23Gilbert Ledward: Sculptor
- 01-24Ernst Heinrich Heinkel: German inventor (1st rocket-powered aircraft)
- 01-24Hedwig "Vicki" Baum: Austrian / US author (Men Never Know)
- 02-02Candelario Huizar: Composer
- 02-02Frank Lloyd: Scotland, United Kingdom -- Actor / director (Mutiny on Bounty, Oliver Twist)
- 02-03Joris Baers: Flemish bibliography / founder (Boekengids)
- 02-04Paul Althaus: German theologist (The Christian Truth)
- 02-06Ljudmil Stojanow: Bulgarian poet (Metsh i Slowo, Cholera)
- 02-08Matthijs Vermeulen: Dutch composer / music critic
- 02-10G Ungaretti: Writer
- 02-13Georgios Papandreou: Greek prefect of Lesbos / Minister / Premier
- 02-13Heintje Davids [Hendrika]: Dutch revue star
- 02-17Henrietta P "Hetty" Beck: Actress (Bouwmeester Award)
- 02-17Otto Stern: German / US physicist (Stern-Gerlach-experiment, Nobel 1943)
- 02-17Ronald Aburthnott Knox: English priest / writer (Viaduct Murder)
- 02-20Georges Bernanos: France -- Novelist (Diary of a Country Priest)
- 02-20Marie Rambert: Warsaw, Poland -- English ballet producer / director / teacher
- 02-21Willem Banning: Dutch theologist / sociologist (Religious Build Up)
- 02-25John Foster Dulles: US Secretary of State (1953-59)
- 02-27Lotte Lehmann: Perleberg, Germany -- Soprano (Fidello)
- 03-04Knute Rockne: Norwegian / US football player / coach (Notre Dame)
- 03-05Friedrich Schnack: German journalist / writer (Rosewood)
- 03-07Alidius WLT van Starkenborch Stachouwer: Governor-General of the Netherlands Indies (1936-45)
People died in year of 1888
- 01-05Henri Herz: Composer, dies a day before 85th birthday
- 01-14Stephen Heller: Composer, dies at 74
- 01-21Stephan Hale Alonzo Marsh: Composer, dies at 83
- 01-29Edward Lear: Poet / author, dies at 75
- 01-30Asa Gray: US Botanist (Flora of North America), dies at 77
- 03-04Amos Bronson Alcott: US theory / Poet (Table Talk), dies at 88
- 03-06Louisa May Alcott: US Author (Old-fashioned Girl), dies at 55
- 03-10Ciro Pinsuti: Italian pianist / composer, dies at 57
- 03-12Henry Bergh: Founder (ASPCA), dies at 76
- 03-29Charles-Henri Valentin Alkan: Composer, dies at 74
- 04-14William Fisk Sherwin: Composer, dies at 62
- 04-15Matthew Arnold: English poet, dies at 65
- 06-03Cark Reidel: Composer, dies at 60
- 06-12Carel Vosmaer: Art Historian / Poet / editor (Netherlands Spectator), dies at 62
- 06-15Frederik III NK van Hohenzollern: German Emperor / King of Prussia
- 06-20Cesare Dominiceti: Composer, dies at 66
- 06-20John H Zuckertort: German chess player, dies at 45
- 06-23Emil Naumann: Composer, dies at 60
- 07-04Theodor Storm: German judge / Author (Schimmelreiter), dies at 70
- 07-10Rafael Hernando: Composer, dies at 66
- 07-20Henri Braekeleer: Flemish painter
- 07-21Matthias J Scheeben: German Theologist (Natur und Gnade), dies at 53
- 08-08Friedrich Wilhelm Jahns: Composer, dies at 79
- 08-09Charles Cros: French Mathematician / chemist / poet, dies at 45
- 08-09Isaac Strauss: Composer, dies at 82
- 08-17James Jameson: British nature investigator (Congo)
- 08-21Simon Vissering: Dutch Minister of Finance (1879-81), dies at 70
- 08-24Rudolph J E Clausius: German physicist (thermodynamics)
- 08-31Mary Ann Nicholls: A 42-year-old prostitute, was found stabbed to death in London, 1st of at least five murders by Jack the Ripper
- 09-09John van Swieten: Dutch Governor of West-Sumatra, dies at 71
Events in year of 1889
- 01-03Admissions convention meets in Ellensburg, WA, asks for statehood
- 01-081st Computer patented
- 01-08Dr Herman Hollerith receives 1st US patent for a tabulating machine
- 01-10Ivory Coast declared a protectorate of France
- 01-23Dr Daniel Hale Williams forms Provident Hospital in Chicago
- 01-30John Herschel uses camera obscura to photograph 48" (120cm) telescope
- 01-30Victoria beat NSW after following on (New South Wales all out 63 needed 76)
- 02-07Astronomical Society of Pacific holds 1st meeting in San Francisco
- 02-08Flood ravages Dutch coast
- 02-11Meiji constitution of Japan adopted; 1st Diet convenes in 1890
- 02-12Henrik Ibsens "Fruen fra Haven, " premieres in Oslo
- 02-141st train load of fruit (oranges) leaves LA for east
- 02-22Dakotas, Montana and Washington admitted to union
- 02-22President Cleveland signs bill to admit Dakotas, Montana and Washington state
- 03-02Kansas passes 1st US antitrust
- 03-04Benjamin Harrison inaugurated as 23rd President
- 03-09Kansas passes 1st general antitrust law in US
- 03-12Battle at Metema (Gallabad): Ethiopian Emperor Yohannes IV, defeated
- 03-156 US and German warships perish in harbor of Apia Samoa, 200 die
- 03-23President Harrison opens Oklahoma for white colonization
- 03-26Johnny Briggs took 15-26 (7-17 & 8-11) vs. South Africa at Newlands
- 03-26South Africa all out 47, then follow-on all out 43 vs. England
- 03-30John T Reid opens 1st US golf course (Yonkers, NY)
- 03-31300m Eiffel Tower officially opens (commemorates French Revolution)
- 04-011st dishwashing machine marketed (Chicago)
- 04-03Savings Bank of Order of True Reformers opens in Richmond, Virginia
- 04-06George Eastman places Kodak Camera on sale for 1st time
- 04-22Oklahoma land rush officially started; some were "sooner"
- 04-30George Washington Bridge linking NYC and New Jersey opens
- 05-011st International Workers Day, according to 2nd International
People born in year of 1889
- 01-01Alexander Smallens: St. Petersburg, Russia -- Conductor
- 01-01Charles Bickford: Cambridge, Massachusetts -- Actor (John-The Virginian)
- 01-01Tadeusz Jarecki: Composer
- 01-01Tom Dugan: Dublin, Ireland -- Actor (Circus Clown, Drag, Skyway)
- 01-02Tito Schipa: Italy -- Tenor / composer (La Rondine)
- 01-02Walter Baldwin: Ohio, United States -- Actor (Gay Amigo)
- 01-04Albertus W "Albert" van Dalsum: Actor / director (Abandoned Child)
- 01-06Alan M Bateman: Canadian geologist (Yale University Professor)
- 01-08Paul Hartmann: Furth, Germany -- Actor (Haunted Castle)
- 01-14Vincenzo Davico: Composer
- 01-21Pitirim A Sorokin: Russian / US sociologist (Social mobility)
- 01-23Franklin Pangborn: Newark -- Actor (My Best Gal, Hats Off, Easy Living)
- 01-23Prosper Arents: Flemish bibliographer (Rubens-bibliography)
- 01-25Vladimir Vladimirovich Scherbachov: Composer
- 01-27Balthasar van der Pol: Physicist (Comparison of Van der Pol)
- 01-29Francisco Santiago: Composer
- 01-29Rudolf Mauersberger: Composer
- 02-01Gertrude Caton-Thompson: British archaeologist (Zimbabwe, So Arabia)
- 02-03Risto Ryti: Finnish Premier / President
- 02-04Walter Catlett: San Francisco, California -- Actor (Front Page, Tale of 2 Cities)
- 02-05Ioan Dumitru Chirescu: Composer
- 02-06Karel Wellens: Flemish painter
- 02-06Siegfried Kracauer: Writer
- 02-10Howard Spring: British author / Novelist / writer / critic (O Absalom)
- 02-11John Mills: Dancer (Mills Brothers)
- 02-11Vladimir Mikhaylovich Deshevov: Composer
- 02-17H[aroldson] L Hunt: Texas oil multi-millionaire
- 02-18Sybold van Ravesteyn: Architect (Blijdorp, CS Rotterdam, Utrecht)
- 02-19Jose Eustasio Rivera: Colombia -- Poet / Novelist (Vortex)
- 02-20Levko Mykolayevich Revutsky: Composer
People died in year of 1889
- 01-10Martin Andreas Udbye: Composer, dies at 68
- 01-17Juan Montalvo: Ecuadorian Author (Siete Tratados), dies at 56
- 01-27Ivan S Aksakov: Russian journalist, dies at 65
- 02-01Joseph Gungl: Composer, dies at 78
- 02-03Belle Starr: US female gangster, murdered at 40
- 03-03Edward Sydney Smith: Composer, dies at 49
- 03-08Jens / John Ericsson: Swed / US, engineer (fire extinguisher), dies at 85
- 03-12Yohannes IV [Kasa]: Emperor of Ethiopia (1872-89), dies in battle
- 03-17Joseph A Alberdingk Thijm [Pauwels Foreestier]: Poet, dies at 68
- 03-18William Henry Monk: Composer, dies at 66
- 03-27Moritz Furstenau: Composer, dies at 64
- 03-28Matilde "Tillie" Ziegler: Killed by husband William Kemmler
- 04-04Thomas T H Jorissen: Historian, dies at 56
- 04-19Warren De La Rue: Astronomer / chemist
- 05-15Alfred Potocki: Premier Austrian / Governor / Viceroy of Galicia
- 05-17William Roxby Beverly: Artist
- 06-08Gerard Manley Hopkins: Poet, dies at 54
- 06-15Mihail Eminesco: Romanian Poet (Luceafarul), dies at 39
- 06-27Carlotta Patti: Italian soprano
- 06-27Whitney Eugene Thayer: Composer, dies at 50
- 06-28Maria Mitchell: 1st US woman astronomer (Vassar), dies at 70
- 06-30Eugenio Terziani: Composer, dies at 64
- 07-04Auguste Mermet: Composer, dies at 79
- 07-07Giovanni Bottesini: Composer, dies at 67
- 07-11Gyula Reviczky: Hungarian Author / poet, dies at 34
- 07-13Carli Zoeller: Composer, dies at 49
- 07-16Michele Amari: Italian Historian / Minister of Education, dies at 83
- 08-04Carl Ludwig Amand Mangold: Composer, dies at 75
- 08-05Willem Ruys J Dz: Ship owner, dies at 80
- 08-17Ernst Franck: German Composer / conductor, dies at 42
Events in year of 1890
- 01-02Alice Sanger becomes 1st female White House staffer
- 01-031st US college-level dairy school opens at University of Wisconsin
- 01-07W B Purvis patents fountain pen
- 01-10Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Sapientiae Christianae
- 01-211st issue of Propria Cures, Amsterdam student-weekly newspaper
- 01-22Jose Marti forms La Liga (Union of Cuban exiles) in New York City
- 01-25National Afro-American League forms in Chicago
- 01-25United Mine Workers of America forms
- 02-10Around 11M acres, ceded to US by Sioux Indians opens for settlement
- 02-20Amsterdam Theater destroyed by fire
- 02-27D Needham and P Kerrigan box 100 rounds (6 h 39 m), SF; match is draw
- 03-011st US edition of Sherlock Holmes (Study in Scarlet) published
- 03-02Oscar Fredriksen skates world record 5 km (9:19)
- 03-181st US state naval militia organized (Massachusetts)
- 03-20German Emperor Wilhelm II fires Republic chancellor Otto Von Bismarck
- 03-21Austrian Jewish communities are defined by law
- 03-24Start of Sherlock Holmes "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge" (BG)
- 04-06French troops under Captain Archinard occupy Segu, West-Sudan
- 04-11Ellis Island designated as an immigration station
- 04-14Pan American Day-1st conference of American states (Washington, DC)
- 04-18New York Commission of Emigration ends, closing Castle Clinton
- 04-19Henry Morton Stanley inaugurated in Brussels
- 04-26Henry Morton Stanley inaugurated in London
- 05-02Territory of Oklahoma created
- 05-06Mormon Church renounces polygamy [1006-Truth Restored (Morman pub)]
- 05-12Louisiana legalized prize fighting
- 05-1318th Preakness: W Martin aboard Montague wins in 2:36.75
- 05-13Lord Salisbury offers Germany Helgoland in exchange for Zanzibar, Uganda and Equatoria
- 05-1416th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Riley wins in 2:45
- 05-17Comic Cuts, 1st weekly comic paper, published in London
People born in year of 1890
- 01-01Florence Lawrence: Hamilton, Ontario -- Silent screen actress (Confidence)
- 01-04Alfred G Jodl: German Wehrmacht General / Chief of Staff
- 01-04Mosa Pijade: Yugoslavia -- MP (communist)
- 01-07Henny Porten: Magdeburg, Germany -- Silent screen star (Deception)
- 01-07Maurice E McLoughlin: Tennis champ (US Open-1912)
- 01-08Sandor Rado: Hungarian / US psycho analyst
- 01-09Karel Capek: Czechoslovakia -- Writer (R U R); coined the word "robot"
- 01-09Kurt Tucholsky: German journalist / writer (Panther Tiger & Co)
- 01-10Douglas MacLean: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- Silent film comedian / producer (Going Up)
- 01-11Monte Blue: Indianapolis, Indiana -- Silent film actor (Montana, Oh Boy)
- 01-12Mordecai W Johnson: Educator
- 01-16Karl Freund: Czech / Austrian cameraman / director
- 01-16Lloyd Bacon: San Jose, California -- Actor (Charlie Chaplin)
- 01-29Marguerite Canal: Composer
- 01-31Adolf Bach: German language / sociologist (Deutsche Namenkunde)
- 02-02Jean J M de Lattre de Tassigny: French General (Indo-China)
- 02-03Charles [Andy] Correll: Peoria, Illinois -- Actor (Calvin & Colonel)
- 02-06Anton Hermann Fokker: Avation pioneer
- 02-08Claro Mayo Recto: Filipino nationalist / opponent of US colonialism
- 02-09Jacobus J P Oud: Dutch architect / co-founder (Stijl)
- 02-10Cor Ruys: Dutch actor (Princess Stage)
- 02-11John P M L de Vries: Fairy tale writer
- 02-15Robert Ley: German chemist / MP (NSDAP)
- 02-16Semyon Semyonovich Bogatiryov: Composer
- 02-18Adolphe Menjou: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- Actor (Front Page, Star is Born)
- 02-18Edward Arnold: NYC, New York -- Actor (Mr Smith Goes to Washington)
- 02-18Lauri SA Haarla: Finnish (stage)writer (Juudas, Sukeltaja)
- 02-24Antonio Massana: Composer
- 02-24Marjorie Main [Tomlinson]: Action, Indiana -- Actress (Another Thin Man)
- 02-25Myra Hess: London, England -- Concert pianist
People died in year of 1890
- 01-07Augusta Maria L Katharina: Wife of German Emperor Wilhelm I, dies at 78
- 01-07Hans Matthison-Hansen: Composer, dies at 82
- 01-17Salomon Sulzer: Composer, dies at 85
- 01-18Amadeus I FM: King of Spain (1870-73), dies at 44
- 01-20Franz Paul Lachner: Composer, dies at 86
- 01-30Karl Merz: Composer, dies at 53
- 02-03Christophorus H D Buys Ballot: Dutch meteorologist, dies at 72
- 02-18Guyla Andr ssy, Sr.: Earl / Premier of Hungary (1867-71), dies at 66
- 03-13Henry Wylde: Composer, dies at 67
- 04-02Marinus FAG Campbell: Bibliographer, dies at 70
- 04-08Junius Morgan: Philanthropist, dies at 76
- 04-17John Barnett: Composer, dies at 87
- 05-06Hubert Leonard: Composer, dies at 71
- 05-28Viktor Ernst Nessler: Composer, dies at 49
- 06-03Henryk Oskar Kolberg: Composer, dies at 76
- 06-20Theodore Edouard Dufaure de Lajarte: Composer, dies at 63
- 06-28Edouard Gregoir: Composer, dies at 67
- 06-30Samuel Parkman Tuckerman: Composer, dies at 71
- 07-15Gottfried Keller: Writer, dies at 70
- 07-29Vincent Van Gogh: Painter, dies in Auvers, France
- 08-03Louise Ackermann-Choquet: French Author (Journal), dies at 76
- 08-06John Hart or William Kemmler: United States -- 1st executed in electric chair (NY)
- 08-11John Henry Newman: English cardinal, dies at 89
- 08-22Vasile Alecsandri: Romania Poet / Foreign minister, dies at 69
- 09-03Charles-A Chatrian: French writer (Waterloo), dies at 63
- 09-03Willem Linnig, Jr.: Flemish Painter / graphic artist
- 09-05Ludwig Deppe: Composer, dies at 61
- 09-18Dion Boucicault: Irish / US actor / playwright (Octoroon), dies at 67
- 09-22Johanna D Courtmans-Berchmans: Flemish author, dies at 79
- 10-07John Hill Hewitt: Composer, dies at 89