1881 in History

Helps coordinate the assassination of Tsar Alexander II.

Signs the armistice ending the main First Boer War fighting.

Signs the armistice ending major fighting.

Signs the armistice ending the main First Boer War fighting.

Agrees an armistice with Joubert after Majuba.

Major combat ends while political negotiations continue.

Convicted on charge of obstructing the operation of the new land act. Campaigns for Irish tenants not to pay rent, retaliation for outlawing the Land League

Arrested for treasonable practices and sent to Kilmainham Gaol; issued No Rent Manifesto

Begins the vice presidency that ends with Garfield's death.

Becomes the twenty-first President of the United States.

All the US states ratify the Articles of Confederarion

Members of People's Will attack Alexander II in Saint Petersburg; a second bomb mortally wounds him.

Is fatally wounded in a bombing organized by People's Will.

Alexander II, Tsar of Russia, is assassinated, a bomb is thrown at him near his palace by the anarchist group Peoples Will led by Sophia Perovskaya

Charles Guiteau, failed applicant for an appointment as minister to Austria & consul-general to Paris, shoots Garfield in a railroad station, he dies 19th Sept

President Garfield dies from gunshot wounds fired by Charles Guiteau

Rejects expectations of constitutional reform after his father's assassination.

The operation becomes a landmark in abdominal surgery.

The victory places strong pressure on Britain to negotiate.

Boer marksmanship inflicts severe losses on the British.

The settlement formalizes restored Transvaal self-government.

His forces block the British advance into the Transvaal.

Helps formalize the restoration of republican administration.

Concludes the boundary treaty with Argentina.

Signs a treaty establishing the principal boundary framework between Chile and Argentina.

British forces suffer a serious reverse while attempting to enter Transvaal.

The engagement leaves the British column with heavy casualties.

Promotes railway planning as the Canadian Pacific Railway contract is approved.

Abdur Rahman takes control of Kandahar and strengthens his claim to national rule.

The new royal title reflects Romania's internationally recognized independence.

The agreement establishes a framework for the Andean frontier.

Promulgates the Constitution of 1881.

The Constitution of 1881 reorganized the states into larger political sections and strengthened federal administration.

Boer leaders sign the Pretoria Convention restoring Transvaal self-government.

Boer leaders sign the Pretoria Convention restoring Transvaal self-government.

Boer leaders announce the restoration of Transvaal republican government.

Directs Boer resistance to Colley's attack at Laing's Nek.

Serves as Switzerland's federal president during 1881.

Is executed for participating in Alexander II's assassination.

The Union Velocipedique Francaise (UVF), predecessor of the FFC, is founded in the Cafe Le Marengo by delegates of ten cycling clubs who decide to create a national championship race of 10 km. The first president is Parisian Paul Devilliers

Signs an armistice with British commander Evelyn Wood.

Agrees an armistice with Boer commander Piet Joubert.

The agreement confirms substantial internal autonomy for the Transvaal.

Opens an electric railway at Lichterfelde near Berlin.

Performs the first successful partial gastrectomy for stomach cancer.

Performs the first successful removal of part of a cancerous stomach.

Participates in a formal presidential swearing-in ceremony in Washington.

Promulgates legislation making public primary education free.

Supports the law establishing free public primary education.

The treaty establishes French control over Tunisian foreign affairs.

Forms a new French government and becomes prime minister.

Authorities detain him for the attack on the president.

The proceedings focus heavily on his disputed insanity defense.

Garfield's funeral ceremonies culminate in Cleveland.

Is inaugurated as the twentieth President of the United States.

Is moved to the New Jersey coast in hopes of recovery.

Is shot by Charles Guiteau at a Washington railroad station.

Is arrested immediately after shooting President Garfield.

His trial for President Garfield's murder begins in Washington.

Takes office as the government adopts a more conservative direction.

The Triumvirate take over the Government of the Transvaal

The Triumvirate take over the Government of the Transvaal

The Triumvirate take over the Government of the Transvaal

The Triumvirate take over the Government of the Transvaal

The Triumvirate take over the Government of the Transvaal

The Triumvirate take over the Government of the Transvaal

Tests an induction balance in an attempt to locate Garfield's bullet.

Becomes Minister of the Interior under Alexander III.

Becomes leader of the new party advocating representative government.

The reform becomes a foundation of France's republican school system.

Carol becomes king when Parliament proclaims the Kingdom of Romania.

Parliament proclaims Romania a kingdom and Carol its king.

Leads an unsuccessful assault on Boer positions at Laing's Nek.

Writes to Vera Zasulich discussing the Russian rural commune and possible paths of social development.

Helps found Japan's Liberal Party, the Jiyuto.

The line becomes the world's first electric tramway.

Is killed during the disastrous British defeat at Majuba Hill.

Leads Boer fighters in the decisive assault on Majuba Hill.

"..the voice of God commands us to stand bravely at the helm of the state"

Arrested for treasonable practices and sent to Kilmainham Gaol; issued No Rent Manifesto

Issues a manifesto affirming the principle of autocratic rule.

Begins his presidency during the continuing War of the Pacific.

Begins a reign marked by political reaction and stronger autocracy.

The agreement halts the principal fighting after Majuba.

Takes the oath the day after Garfields death

Patience transfers to the newly opened Savoy Theatre.

Accepts self-government for the Transvaal after British defeats.

Joins the Boer triumvirate accepting restored self-government.

Signals the attackers as the imperial carriage approaches.

She is hanged with other convicted People's Will conspirators.

Accepts a peace settlement restoring Transvaal self-government.

Takes office as President of Chile.

The late president is buried after a national period of mourning.

Takes office as President of Chile during the War of the Pacific settlement period.

Begins a one-year term as President of the Swiss Confederation.

Survives the shooting initially but remains gravely wounded.

Continues treatment at Elberon while his condition deteriorates.

Takes the presidential oath after Garfield's death.

Signs the Pretoria Convention after the Boer victory.

Signs the settlement with Britain.

Signs the Pretoria Convention restoring Transvaal self-government.

Signs the Pretoria Convention with Britain.

Signs the convention confirming Transvaal self-government.

Signs the convention settling the First Boer War.

Boer leaders sign the Pretoria Convention restoring Transvaal self-government.

Signs the convention settling the First Boer War.

Signs the Pretoria Convention with British representatives.

Signs the Pretoria Convention as a member of the Boer triumvirate.

His ministry begins after Jules Ferry leaves office.

Appointed Prime Minister of the Cape Colony

Begins a Liberal government under the restored Bourbon monarchy.

Appointed Prime Minister of Spain

The measure abolishes school fees in public primary schools.

Boer leaders announce the restoration of Transvaal republican government.

Becomes Prime Minister of Spain.

Sullivan's opera helps inaugurate D'Oyly Carte's new electric-lit theatre.

Develops an early metal detector for the wounded president.

Begins organizing the new administration after Garfield's death.

Captures the British garrison at Potchefstroom

Exclaims, "I am a stalwart of the stalwarts..Arthur is president now"

Establishes a landmark operation in abdominal and gastrointestinal surgery.

Succeeds his assassinated father as Tsar of Russia.

Begins his term as President of the Swiss Confederation.

Koumoundouros's government incorporates most of Thessaly and part of Epirus.

British policy shifts from renewed war toward negotiated autonomy.

Secures restored Transvaal self-government under British suzerainty.

The agreement restores Transvaal self-government under British suzerainty.

His government imposes the Treaty of Bardo on Tunisia.

Begins his presidency after winning the 1880 election.

Leads an army demonstration demanding dismissal of the cabinet and constitutional government.

The constitution reorganizes Venezuelan states into larger federal sections.

Takes office as Vice President under President Garfield.

The future Soviet government leader is born in the Russian Empire.

The future discoverer of penicillin is born in Ayrshire.

The future Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist is born.

Aleksey Rykov is born in 1881.

Alexander Fleming is born at Lochfield Farm in Scotland.

Bela Bartok is born in Nagyszentmiklos.

Birth of Bela Viktor Janos Bartok

Birth of Henry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson

Birth of Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist

Dies in Saint Petersburg after being mortally wounded in a People's Will bomb attack.

His death ends his command during the First Boer War.

Death of James Abram Garfield, dies from gunshot wounds fired by Charles Guiteau

Dies after lingering for weeks following Guiteau's shooting.

Marx's wife Jenny dies after decades of political exile and collaboration.

Dies after a second bomb explodes near his carriage.

His death elevates Chester Arthur to the presidency.

Destroys the British 94th Regiment during an ambush

Fights Boer forces at Schuinshoogte during another attempted advance.

Leads Boer fighters against Colley's force at Schuinshoogte.

Fails to break through Boer positions at Laings Nek.

Joubert leads a Boer force which inflicts serious losses under a force led by Colley

Defeats Colley's attempt to enter the Transvaal.

Colley is killed as the Boer victory at Majuba secures Transvaal autonomy.

Is killed during the Boer victory at Majuba.

Leads Boer fighters in the decisive Majuba victory.

Smit leads a Boer force which inflicts serious losses under a force led by Colley

Suffers another reverse against Boer marksmen.

Smit leads a Boer force which inflicts serious losses under a force led by Colley

Inflicts heavy casualties on Colley's force.

Carol and Queen Elisabeth are crowned as Romania's first royal couple.

Is crowned King of Romania in Bucharest.

Wears a steel crown made from a captured Ottoman cannon.