1889
Key events from 1889
1889
A year of striking contrasts—towering feats of engineering, sweeping political change, pivotal disasters, and the birth of influential figures who would shape the 20th century.
🌍 Key World Events
| Date | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 11 | Meiji Constitution promulgated in Japan | Creates a constitutional monarchy, accelerating Japan’s modernization and setting the stage for its rise as a world power. |
| Mar 31 – May 6 | Eiffel Tower completed and opened for the Paris Exposition Universelle | World’s tallest structure (at the time) becomes a global symbol of industrial ingenuity and modern design. |
| Apr 22 | Oklahoma Land Rush | Over 50,000 settlers race to claim former Native lands—an iconic moment in the closing of the American frontier and a prelude to Oklahoma statehood. |
| May 31 | Johnstown Flood, Pennsylvania | Catastrophic dam failure kills ~2,200; prompts major reforms in disaster relief and engineering safety. |
| Nov 15 | Brazilian Republic proclaimed | Military coup ends Emperor Pedro II’s reign, abolishing the empire and inaugurating the First Brazilian Republic. |
🧪 Science & Technology
- Hollerith Punch-Card Tabulator adopted for the upcoming 1890 U.S. Census—an early milestone on the road to modern computing.
- Portable AC Power milestones continue (Niagara project groundwork laid), signalling the rise of electrification.
🎨 Culture & Society
- Nintendo Koppai founded (Sept 23) in Kyoto, manufacturing handmade hanafuda playing cards—humble origins of a future gaming giant.
- First issue of The Wall Street Journal (July 8) hits newsstands, soon to become a leading financial newspaper.
- Paris Exposition Universelle introduces attendees to moving sidewalks, phonographs, and global pavilions celebrating industrial progress.
👶 Notable Births
| Name | Born | Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Charlie Chaplin | Apr 16 | Silent-film icon, comedic pioneer. |
| Adolf Hitler | Apr 20 | Dictator who led Nazi Germany; central figure of World War II and the Holocaust. |
| Jawaharlal Nehru | Nov 14 | First Prime Minister of independent India, architect of its democratic institutions. |
⚰️ Notable Deaths
- Jefferson Davis (Dec 6) — Former President of the Confederate States of America.
- Mehmed Ali Pasha (Dec 7) — Ottoman field marshal and reformer.
📚 Quick Facts & Trivia
- Statehood Wave Incoming: North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana & Washington all join the United States later in 1889 and early 1890.
- Second International socialist organization founded in Paris; adopts May 1 as International Workers’ Day.
- Great Seattle Fire (Jun 6) destroys downtown Seattle, prompting modern rebuilding with brick and steel.