Events in year of 1897
- 01-011st football game between black colleges - Atlanta University 10, Tuskegee 0
- 01-01Brooklyn merges with New York to form present City of New York
- 01-08Michael Eagan wins 1st US national amateur handball championship
- 01-11M H Cannon becomes 1st woman state senator in US (Utah)
- 01-23Start of Sherlock Holmes "Adventure of Abbey Grange" (BG)
- 01-27British troops occupy Bida Gold Coast (Ghana)
- 02-05Marcel Proust meets Jean Lorrain in a pistol duel
- 02-11White Rose Mission opens on East 97th Street, New York City
- 02-17National Organization of Mothers forms (Parent Teacher Association)
- 03-04William McKinley inaugurated as 25th President of US
- 03-05American Negro Academy forms
- 03-09Cleveland Spiders sign Louis Sockalexis, full-blooded Penobscot
- 03-09Indian, fans start calling the team Indians (in 1915 becomes official)
- 03-151st indoor fly casting tournament opens, at Madison Square Garden
- 03-17Bob Fitzsimmons KOs James J Corbett in 14 for heavyweight boxing title
- 03-19Yale defeated Penn, 30-10 in 1st major college basketball game
- 03-201st known intercollegiate basketball game, Yale beats Penn 32-10
- 03-201st US orthodox Jewish Rabbinical seminary (RIETS) incorporates in New York
- 03-20France signs treaty with Emperor Menelik II of Abyssinia
- 03-29Japan adopts Gold Standard
- 04-191st American marathon ran, John J McDermott wins in 2:55:10 (Boston)
- 04-191st Boston Marathon won by John McDermott of New York in 2:55:10
- 04-22New York City Jewish newspaper "Forward" begins publishing (still active)
- 04-241st reporter, William Price (Washington Star), assigned to White House
- 05-04Fire in Paris bazaar at Rue Jean Goujon kills 200
- 05-11Washingston Senator catcher Charlie Farrell throws out 8 attempted stealers
- 05-121800-1900 year old fossil of "girl of Yde" found in Drente Neth
- 05-14Great-Britain signs treaty with Emperor Menelik II of Abyssinia
- 05-18Irish Music Festival 1st held (Dublin)
- 05-18New York Giant William Joyce sets record of 4 triples in 1 game
People born in year of 1897
- 01-01Walter Greaza: St. Paul, Minnesota -- Actor (Martin Kane Private Eye)
- 01-03Marion Davies [Marion Cecelia Douras]: Brooklyn, New York -- Actress (Operator 13)
- 01-03Pola Negri [Barbara A Chalupec]: Polish / US actress (Madame Bovary)
- 01-05Jack Wagner: Ohio, United States -- Actor (Jive Junction)
- 01-05Theo Mackeben: German pianist / composer (Lady Fanny, Bel Ami)
- 01-09Luis Gianneo: Composer
- 01-10Albert Moeschinger: Composer
- 01-12Hendrik J Valk: Painter / cartoonist / graphic artist
- 01-19Natacha Rambova: Salt Lake City, Utah -- Costume designer
- 01-20Mae Busch: Australian / US actress (Cowboy Socialist)
- 01-21J Carrol Naish: NYC, New York -- Actor (Charlie Chan-Adventures of Charlie Chan)
- 01-22Josef Stanislav: Composer
- 01-22Rosa Ponselle: Opera diva (Casta Diva, La Forza del Destino)
- 01-23Amanda Berry Smith: Famous African
- 01-23Subhas Chandra Bose: Indian politician
- 01-28Valentin Katayev: Odessa, Ukraine -- Novelist / playwright (Embezzled)
- 02-01Denise Robins: London, England -- Romantic Novelist (1st Long Kiss)
- 02-04Ludwig Erhard: Chancellor of Germany (CDU)
- 02-05Dirk U Stikker: Director (Heineken) / Dutch Foreign Minister / NATO
- 02-06Alberto [de Almeida] Cavalcanti: Brazil -- Director (Nicholas Nickleby)
- 02-07Quincy Porter: New Haven, Connecticut -- Composer
- 02-09Charles Edward Kingsford-Smith: Pioneer Australian aviator
- 02-10John Franklin Enders: Connecticut, United States -- Microbiologist (polio-Nobel 1954)
- 02-11Yves de La Casiniere: Composer
- 02-14Jorgen Bentzon: Composer
- 02-15Earl H Blaik: Det, college football hall of fame coach (elected 1965)
- 02-17Johan[nes A] Kaart: Dutch actor / stage manager (My Fair Lady)
- 02-20Ivan Albright: Illinois, United States -- Painter (Door, Window)
- 02-27Bernard F Lyot: French astronomer (Lyot filter)
- 02-27G Paul H Schuitema: Graphic designer / photographer (System-O-Color)
People died in year of 1897
- 02-05Hoss Radbourn: Pitcher won 60 games in 1884, dies at 42
- 02-06Ebenezer C Brewer: British writer (Dictionary of Phrase & Fable)
- 02-07Galileo Ferraris: Italian physicist (Ferrari), dies at 49
- 02-19Karl T Weierstrass: German mathematician, dies at 81
- 02-23Woldemar Bargiel: Composer, dies at 68
- 03-10Teodulo Mabellini: Composer, dies at 79
- 03-11Berthold Tours: Composer, dies at 58
- 03-11Henry Drummond: Scottish geologist / evangelist, dies at 45
- 04-03Johannes Brahms: German Composer / conductor (Hung Dances), dies at 63
- 04-08George Garrett: Composer, dies at 62
- 04-08Heinrich von Stephan: UK politician
- 04-23Clement Harris: Composer, dies at 25
- 05-02William Cleaver Francis Robinson: Composer, dies at 63
- 05-10William Thomas Best: Composer, dies at 70
- 05-12Ulrika "Minna" Cant-Johnstown: Finnish playwright, dies at 53
- 05-12Willem Roelofs: Painter / lithographer
- 05-21Karol Mikuli: Composer, dies at 77
- 05-23Aleko Konstantinov: Bulgarian writer (To Chicago & Back), dies at 34
- 06-09Alvin Graham Clark: Dies 3 weeks after 1st use of Yerkes 40" lens
- 06-22Ralph Abercromby: British meteorologist, dies at about 54
- 07-12Felix Godefroid: Composer, dies at 78
- 07-16Levin Goldschmidt: German business law expert
- 07-29Joost G Kist: Lawyer / President of High Council (1885-97), dies at 74
- 08-08Jacob Burckhardt: Swiss cultural historian, dies at 79
- 08-13Antonius von der Linde: Neth / German librarian, dies at 63
- 09-20Karel Bendl: Composer, dies at 59
- 10-08Martin Pluddemann: Composer, dies at 43
- 10-09John Heemskerk Azn: Dutch Internal Minister (1866..88), dies at 79
- 10-17Isidor Dannstrom: Composer, dies at 84
- 10-21Paul Kuczynski: Composer, dies at 50
Events in year of 1898
- 01-01Lightship replaces whistling buoy at mouth of SF Bay
- 01-061st telephone message from a submerged submarine, by Simon Lake
- 01-14Joe Darling hits the 1st six in Tests (out of the ground)
- 01-19Brown defeats Harvard 6-0 in 1st intercollegiate hockey game
- 02-011st auto insurance policy in US issued, by Travelers Insurance Company
- 02-08John Ames Sherman patents 1st envelope folding and gumming mach (Mass)
- 02-11Owen Smith of NC, AME Zion minister, named Minister to Liberia
- 02-15USS Maine sinks in Havana harbor, cause unknown-258 sailors die
- 02-22Black postmaster lynched, his wife and 3 daughters shot in Lake City, South Carolina
- 03-02Australia complete a 4-1 series annihilation of England
- 03-171st practical submarine 1st submerges, NYC (for 1 hour 40 minutes)
- 03-241st automobile sold
- 03-25Intercollegiate Trapshooting Association formed in New York City
- 04-08Battle of Atbara River, Anglo-Egyptian forces crush 6,000 Sudanese
- 04-11President McKinley asks for Spanish-American War declaration
- 04-12Army transfers Yerba Buena Island in SF Bay to Navy
- 04-192nd Boston Marathon won by Ron McDonald of Mass in 2:42:00
- 04-20US Assay Office in Deadwood, South Dakota opens
- 04-21Spanish-American War begins
- 04-221st Spanish-American War action: USS Nashville, takes enemy ship
- 04-22Baltimore James Hughes no-hits Boston Braves 8-0
- 04-22Cincinnati Red Theodore Breitenstein no-hits Pirates 11-0
- 04-22Congress passes Volunteer Army Act calling for a Volunteer Cavalry
- 04-22US President McKinley orders blockade of Cuban harbors
- 04-24Spain declares war on US rejecting ultimatum to withdraw from Cuba
- 04-24US fleet under commodore Dewey sails from Hong Kong to Philippines
- 04-25US declares war on Spain over Cuba
- 04-30Championship wrestling match at Met turns into a brawl
- 05-01George Dewey commands, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley" as US route Spanish fleet at Manila
- 05-03Camp Merriman forms at Presidio (San Francisco)
People born in year of 1898
- 01-01Viktor Ullmann: Opera composer (Der Kaiser von Atlantis)
- 01-03Johannes Hin: Holland, Netherlands -- Yachtsman (1920 Olympics - Gold Medalist)
- 01-03ZaSu Pitts: Parsons, Kansas -- Actress (Life With Father, Dames)
- 01-04Roger Vuataz: Composer
- 01-06Jan Filip Boon: Flemish author / editor (De Standaard 1929-39)
- 01-07Art Baker: NYC, New York -- TV host (You Asked For It)
- 01-07Geronimo Baqueiro Foster: Composer
- 01-09Gracie Fields [Stansfield]: England, United Kingdom -- Music hall / vaudeville performer
- 01-09Vilma Banky: Budapest, Hungary -- Silent screen actress (Eagle, Rebel)
- 01-11Hans Rudolf Krik: Danish writer / critic (Fiskerne, Slaven)
- 01-12Jose Forns y Cuadras: Composer
- 01-13Pedro DE Teixeira de Mattos: Dutch diplomat
- 01-14Helen Flint: Chicago, Illinois -- Actress (Sea Devils, Married Before Breakfast)
- 01-20Colin Clive [Greig]: St. Malo, France -- Actor (Bride of Frankenstein)
- 01-21Avery Claflin: Composer
- 01-21John George: Syria -- Actor (Kolb-Adventures of Fu Manchu)
- 01-22Alexander Abramsky: Composer
- 01-22Ben van Eysselsteijn: Dutch writer (Arid Earth)
- 01-22Gustaf Paulson: Composer
- 01-22Hans van Werveke: Flemish historian (Diocese Terwaan)
- 01-22Ross R Barnett: Lawyer / (Gov-D-Miss)
- 01-23Randolph Scott: Actor (Last of the Mohicans, Western Union)
- 01-25Joachim Wach: German / US philosopher / sociologist (Understanding)
- 01-28Vittorio Rieti: Composer
- 01-28Wies Moens: Flemish writer / Nazi
- 01-29Fernand Quinet: Belgian cellist / composer / conductor (La Guerre)
- 01-29Karl Bjarnhof: Danish blind journalist / writer (History of Sascha)
- 02-02Josephina J "Fien" de la Mar: Dutch actress (Theatre De la Mar)
- 02-03Alvar Aalto: Finland -- Architect (Finlandia House)
- 02-03Paul Urysohn: Russian mathematician
People died in year of 1898
- 01-03James Wimshurst: British designer / inventor (vacuum pump), dies at 70
- 01-04Frantisek Pivoda: Composer, dies at 73
- 01-11Gaetano Capocci: Composer, dies at 86
- 01-14Lewis Carroll: Writer (Alice in Wonderland), dies at 65
- 01-23W A Remy: Composer, dies at 66
- 01-28Alexandru Flechtenmacher: Composer, dies at 74
- 03-16Aubrey (Vincent) Beardsley: English illustrator (Salome), dies at 23
- 03-17Blanche Kelso Bruce: (Sen-Miss, 1875-1881), dies at 57 in Washington
- 03-19Joao da Cruz: Brazilian poet, dies at 26
- 03-27Sajjid Ahmad Chan: Co founder (Pakistan), dies at 80
- 03-31Edward Noyes Westcott: US attorney / writer (David Harum)
- 04-18Gustave Moureau: Painter
- 04-21Louis Theodore Gouvy: Composer, dies at 78
- 05-01Alphonse Wauters: Belgian historian, dies at 81
- 06-03Nikolai Afanisev: Composer, dies at 77
- 06-03Samuel Plimsoll: English MP ( Folkestone), dies at 74
- 06-06Constant A Serrure: Flemish historian, dies at 62
- 06-22Anton Kerner Ritter von Marilaun: Austria botanist, dies at 66
- 06-25Ferdinand J Cohn: German Botanist / publicist, dies at 70
- 07-07Lucien Petipa: French dancer / choreograph / ballet leader
- 07-11Charles Chanoine: French lt / mass murderer in Senegal
- 07-12Paul Voulet: French captain / mass murderer in Senegal
- 07-18Emil Hartmann: Composer, dies at 62
- 07-20Yuri Arnold: Composer, dies at 86
- 07-30Otto von Bismarck: German "Iron" chancellor, dies at 83
- 08-17Carl Johann Adam Zeller: Composer, dies at 56
- 08-21Nicola van Westerhout: Composer, dies at 40
- 08-23Joseph Robinson: Composer, dies at 82
- 09-02Hubert Howard: British journalist (Times), dies through friendly fire
- 09-05Sarah Emma Evelyn Edmonds: Disguised as man fought for union
Events in year of 1899
- 01-01Cuba liberated from Spain by US (National Day) (US occupies till 1902)
- 01-05Start of Sherlock Holmes adventure-Charles Augustus Milverton (BG)
- 01-17US takes possession of Wake Island in Pacific
- 01-19Anglo-Egyptian Sudan forms
- 01-24Belgium government of Vandenpeereboom forms
- 01-28American Social Science Association incorporated by Congress
- 02-04Revolt against US occupation of Philippines
- 02-06Spanish-American War ends, peace treaty ratified by Senate
- 02-10US-Spain peace treaty signed by President McKinley. US gets PR and Guam
- 02-121st 2-man team 6-day bicycle race in US begins, Madison Square Garden, New York City
- 02-14US Congress begins using voting machines
- 02-18San Francisco named as a port of dispatch for Army transports
- 02-20Ill Tel and Tel granted franchise for Chicago freight tunnel system
- 03-02President McKinley signs bill creating Mt Rainier National Park (5th in US)
- 03-03Congress authorizes Lafayette silver dollar
- 03-03George Dewey becomes 1st in US with rank of Admiral of the Navy
- 03-06"Asprin" patented by Felix Hoffmann
- 03-14Stanley Cup: Montreal Shamrocks beat Winnipeg Victorias, 6-2
- 03-17Windsor luxury hotel in NYC catches fire, 92 die
- 03-18Phoebe, a moon of Saturn is discovered by Pickering
- 03-21British and French accord about West-Africa
- 04-01NC Mutual opens doors for business
- 04-04South Africa all out 35 vs. England (Trott 4-19, Haigh 6-11)
- 04-11Treaty of Paris ratifies ends war; Spain cedes Puerto Rico to US
- 04-18John McGraw, at 36, managerial debut as Oriole manager
- 04-193rd Boston Marathon won by Lawrence Brignolia of Mass in 2:54:38
- 04-24Transvaal British Uitlanders ask Queen Victoria for aid
- 05-0425th Kentucky Derby: Fred Taral aboard Manuel wins in 2:12
- 05-09Lawn mower patented
- 05-17Victoria and Albert Museum foundation laid England
People born in year of 1899
- 01-01Juozas Tallat-Kelpsa: Composer
- 01-01Lev V Kuleshov: Russian director / theorist (Po Zakonu)
- 01-01Raymond Loucheur: Composer
- 01-02Paul-Henri Spaak: Belgium -- Premier / Secretary General of NATO (1957-61)
- 01-06Phyllis Haver: Douglas, Kansas -- Silent screen actress (What Price Glory)
- 01-07Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc: Paris, France -- Composer / pianist (Les Biches)
- 01-07Kenneth Thomson: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- Actor (Broadway Melody, Little Giant)
- 01-08Solomon WRD Bandaranaike: Premier of Ceylon (1956-59)
- 01-14Fritz Bayerlein: German Lieutenant General (WWI, Poland, Libya, St-Lo)
- 01-15Goodman Ace: Radio / TV actor / columnist / humorist (Better of Goodman)
- 01-17Al Capone: Italy -- Gangster (Chicago bootlegging)
- 01-17Nevil Shute [Norway]: London, England -- Novelist (On the Beach, Town Like Alice)
- 01-17Robert Maynard Hutchins: United States -- Educator / civil libertarian
- 01-17Roel [Martinus F] Houwink: Dutch literary (1 Man Without Character)
- 01-19[John] Herbert Whitton Sumsion: Organist / composer
- 01-20Kenjiro Takayanagi: VP (JVC)
- 01-22Guido Kisch: Czech / German / US historian (Jews in medieval Germany)
- 01-23Joseph Nathan Kane: Historian (Famous Firsts)
- 01-25Ace Goodman: Kansas City, Missouri -- Comedian (Easy Aces)
- 01-26Wyllis Cooper: Pekin, Illinois -- TV narrator (Volume One)
- 01-27Granville English: Composer
- 01-28Zilner T Randolph: Jazz trumpeter / arranger
- 01-30Max Theiler: English / US microbiologist (Nobel 1951)
- 02-02Benny Rubin: Boston, Massachusetts -- Actor / comedian (Benny Rubin Show)
- 02-03Doris Speed: Actress (Annie-Coronation Street)
- 02-03Forrest "Red" DeBernardi: Basketball hall of famer (elected 1961)
- 02-07Arvid Pelshe: Latvian Communist leader, CPSU Politburo member
- 02-12Albert Huybrechts: Composer
- 02-14John Randall, Jr.: Michigan, United States -- Historian / philosopher (Western Man)
- 02-15Gale Sondergard: Litchfield, Minnesota -- Actress (Cat & Canary, Road to Rio)
People died in year of 1899
- 01-10Gerard Keller: Dutch writer (Vlugmaren), dies at 69
- 01-29Alfred Sisley: Painter
- 01-29Robert J Fruin: Dutch Historian (80-year war), dies at 75
- 02-06Georg Leo Earl von Caprivi: German chancellor, dies at 67
- 02-11George Morgan: 1st English motorist to die in an motor accident
- 02-18M Sophus Lie: Norwegian mathematician, dies at 56
- 02-25Paul Julius von Reuter: Founder of the news agency (Reuters)
- 03-14Emile Erckmann: French writer (Waterloo), dies at 76
- 03-18Douglas Strutt Galton: English engineer (rails, trains), dies at 76
- 03-18Svetolik Rankovic: Serbian writer (Crushed Ideals), dies at 35
- 03-20Martha M Place: Of Brooklyn, becomes 1st woman to die by electrocution
- 04-17Hans Balatka: Composer, dies at 74
- 04-21Heinrich Kiepert: German cartographer / geographer, dies at 80
- 05-15Francisque Sarcey: French writer (Le Temps), dies at 70
- 05-25Marie-Rosalie "Rosa" Bonheur: French painter, dies at 68
- 05-29Frantz Jehin-Prume: Composer, dies at 60
- 06-10Ernest Chausson: French Composer (Solitude dance le bois), dies at 44
- 06-30Jon Helgason: Icelandic Poet (Ur Landsudri)
- 07-12Esquire Mauritius A de Savornin Lohman: Gov of Suriname, dies at 67
- 07-18Horatio Alger, Jr.: American clergyman / Author (Disagreeeable Woman)
- 09-08Vaclav Hugo Zavrtal: Composer, dies at 78
- 09-14Henry Bliss: 1st auto death (NYC)
- 09-28Giovanni Segantini: Italian Painter (Become his fare)
- 10-05Johann Nepomuk Fuchs: Composer, dies at 57
- 10-20Robert H "Bobby" Gunning: British Colonel (60th Rifles), dies in battle
- 10-23W Penn Symons: British General Major, dies in battle
- 10-28C Grant B Allen: Canada -- British writer (Woman Who Did)
- 11-19[Maria] Catharina Beersmans: Belgian actress (Medea), dies at 55
- 11-20Carl A E Ahlqvist [A Oksanen]: Finnish translator, dies at 63
- 11-21Garret Augustus Hobart: 24th VP