1888 in History

Accepts the agreement incorporating Rapa Nui under Chilean sovereignty.

Says to the Reichstag, "We Germans fear God & nothing else on Earth". Introduces a measure to increase the army reserve to 3 1/4 of a million

Survives the derailment of the imperial train near Borki with his immediate family.

Cuts the interest on Britains National debt

Supports the convention guaranteeing freedom of navigation through the Suez Canal in peace and war.

Accepts the Convention of Constantinople governing international use of the Suez Canal.

Accepts the international convention guaranteeing free navigation through the Suez Canal.

Obtains a long-exposure photograph of M31 that clearly records its spiral structure, a major step in the photographic study of the galaxy.

Villa begins its Football League history with a draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

McGregor helps establish the Football League with Aston Villa among its twelve founders.

Patents the paper drinking straw

A commission investigates Parnells involvement in the Phoenix Park murders

Arce begins his presidency and promotes railway development.

Appointed acting President of Ecuador

Appointed President of Ecuador

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

Appointed President of Venezuela

Establishes County Councils

Succeeds as German Emperor and King of Prussia.

Succeeds after the death of his father Frederick III.

Is wounded during fighting near Handub while commanding forces based around Suakin.

Birth of Courtney Hicks Hodges

Birth of Edwin Powell Hubble

Birth of Friedrich Fromm

Birth of Heinz Guderain, son of an army officer

Birth of Heitor Villa-Lobos

Birth of Herbert Stanley Morrison

Birth of John Foster Dules

Birth of Stefan Mazurkiewicz

Birth of Thomas Edward Lawrence.

Death of George Lennox Rawdon Berkeley

Death of Rudolf Julius Emanuel Clausius

Dies in Berlin age 90 & succeeded by his 57 year old son Friedrich Wilhelm