President of Switzerland
Begins a one-year term as President of the Swiss Confederation.
Historical events in 1897
102 historical records
January 18972 historical events
Gold Standard
A decree introduces gold coinage and establishes a ruble parity of 0.77 grams of fine gold.
February 18972 historical events
Birth of Zakir Hussain
Zakir Husain is born and later becomes the third President of India.
Siberian Exile
Is exiled to Siberia after arrest for underground activity.
March 18973 historical events
Ascent-Saint Elias
Makes the 1st ascent of Mount Saint Elias, Alaska, 5,489 m
Commander of 5th Dragoons
Appointed Commander of the 5th Dragoon Guards
Currency Act
The Currency Act authorises a gold standard funded partly by Chinese indemnity payments.
April 18972 historical events
League and FA Cup Double
Devey captains Villa to the league and FA Cup Double.
Opening Match at Villa Park
Villa defeats Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in its first match at Aston Lower Grounds.
May 18972 historical events
Hørring Government
Begins the Hørring Government in Copenhagen and serves as Council President of Denmark.
Reedtz-Thott Government
The Reedtz-Thott Government ends in Copenhagen, concluding this term as Council President of Denmark.
June 18975 historical events
Working Hours Law
Supports limits on factory working hours.
Birth of Robert Anthony Eden
Diamond Jubilee
Represents Canada at Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee.
Anniversary
Celebrates Golden Jubilee
Anniversary
Celebrates the Diamond Jubilee
August 18975 historical events
Prime Minister of Spain
Appointed Prime Minister of Spain (acting)
Discovery of Malaria
Discovers that malaria is spread by mosquitoes
North America and West Indies Command
Fisher assumes command of the North America and West Indies Station.
Assassination of Juan Idiarte Borda
Assassinated in Montevideo, the only Uruguayan president killed while in office
Abu Hamed Advance Supported
Supports the operation that captures Abu Hamed and opens the next stage of the Nile advance.
September 18974 historical events
Birth of Irene Joliot-Curie
Birth of Irene Curie, daughter of Marie and Pierre Curie.
Birth of Irene Curie
Becomes father of Irene Curie.
Birth of Irene Curie
Gives birth to her daughter Irene Curie.
Berber Occupation Consolidated
Consolidates control of Berber and prepares the army for operations against the Atbara position.
October 18971 historical events
Gold Standard
Japan implements the gold standard and defines the yen by a fixed gold content.
November 18973 historical events
Birth of Aneurin Bevan
Birth of Aneurin Bevan in Tredegar, Monmouthshire.
Government Assessor
Receives promotion to Regierungsassessor while serving in the Bavarian administration.
Resignation of Kasimierz Felix Graf von Badeni
Fails to place the Czeck language on a par with German in Bohemia & Moravia
Mayor
Appointed Mayor of Vienna
Election
Elected to the Reichsrat
Resignation of Kasimierz Felix Graf von Badeni
Credited with driving Badeni from office
Chief of Staff
Appointed Chief of Staff to II Corps
Juive Errante
Publication of "Juive Errante"
Ambassador
Appointed Ambassador of USA
Catalytic Hydrogenation
Develops hydrogenation of organic compounds using finely divided nickel.
Nickel Hydrogenation Method
Creates an influential catalytic method for chemical synthesis and industry.
Vienna Opera
Given the directorship of the Vienna Opera, the most prestigious musical position in the Austrian Empire
Death of Johannes Brahms
Death of Johannes Brahms, died of liver cancer
President of Germany
Appointed President of the Social Democratic Party
Foreign Policy Statement at Berlin
Says "We do not wish to put anyone in the shade, but we demand our place in the sun"
Foreign Secretary of Germany
Appointed Foreign Minister
Birth of Ludwig Erhard
Birth of Ludwig Erhard
Cathode-Ray Charge-to-Mass Measurement
Obtains an early charge-to-mass estimate for cathode-ray particles, supporting their subatomic character.
Cathode Ray Charge-to-Mass Ratio
Measures a very small mass-to-charge ratio for cathode-ray particles, evidence that they are much lighter than atoms.
Cathode-Ray Display Tube
Develops a cathode-ray tube using an electron beam and fluorescent screen, an ancestor of oscilloscopes and electronic displays.
Capture of Jiaozhou Bay
The Germans capture Jiaozhou Bay in China after the murder of 2 German missionaries
Capture of Qingdao
The Germans capture Qingdao in retalliation for the murder of two German missionaries
Birth of Hasso von Manteuffel
Birth of Hasso von Manteuffel
Commander of 3rd Army
Appointed Commander of the 3rd Army Corps
Third Army
Appointed Commander of the 3rd Army Corps
Winter Idyll
Composes, "Winter Idyll"
The Invisible Man
Publication of "The Invisible Man"
Anothers Burden
Publication of "Anothers Burden"
Captains Courageous
Publication of "Captains Courageous"
Workmen's Compensation Act
The Act establishes employer liability for compensation in specified dangerous industries.
Cabot Tower Foundation
Bristol commemorates Cabot's voyage with work on Cabot Tower.
Legislation
Workmens Compensation Act, makes the employer liable for accidents at work
Reform of Government
Workmens Compensation Act, makes the employer liable for accidents at work
High Commissioner
Appointed High Commissioner for South Africa
Birth of Aneurin Bevan
Birth of Aneurin Bevan
Industrial Democracy
Publication of "Industrial Democracy"
Discovery of Electrons
Discovers the electron
Cathode-Ray Charge-to-Mass Ratio
Measures the charge-to-mass ratio of cathode-ray particles and shows they are far lighter than atoms.
Cathode-Ray Corpuscles
Argues that cathode rays consist of universal negatively charged corpuscles, later called electrons.
Villa Double Season Defence
James Crabtree played in Aston Villa's defence as the club combined the Football League championship with an FA Cup triumph in 1897.
Villa Double Season Leading Scorer
Fred Wheldon led Aston Villa's attack during their 1896–97 Double season and became an important source of goals in the title-winning side.
Third League Championship
Ramsay leads Aston Villa to the 1896/97 league championship and a historic Double.
Benin Expedition Campaign Honours
Carden's Benin Expedition service contributes to the campaign honours associated with his Victorian naval career.
Benin Expedition Service
Carden serves in the Benin Expedition under Rear-Admiral Harry Rawson.
Desert Railway Extended toward Abu Hamed
Pushes railway construction across the desert to shorten the route toward the Mahdist heartland.
Railway Reaches Berber Sector
Extends the military railway to support troops operating deeper inside the Sudan.
Prime Minister of Greece
Alexandros Zaimis begins a term as Prime Minister of Greece in 1897.
Government Formed during War Crisis
Rallis forms a government during the military and financial crisis of 1897.
Reballion of Rebels in Crete
Puts down the rebellion in Crete
Birth of Vengalil Krishan Krishna Menon
Birth of Vengalil Krishan Krishna Menon
Microwave Research
Jagadish Chandra Bose presents his microwave apparatus and research on short electromagnetic waves at the Royal Institution in London.
Drama
Dramatization of, "Devils Disciple"
Ambassador
Appointed Ambassador of Korea
Education
Graduates from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy
Belgian Antarctic Expedition
Amundsen joins the Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897-99) as first mate
The Pharoh
Publication of "The Pharoh"
Polish National Democratic Party (PNDP)
Helps found the Polish National Democratic Party
Zionism
Appointed Member of Zionist Organisation
South Russian Workers Union
Trotsky helps organize the South Russian Workers Union in Nikolayev
Health of Anton Chekhov
Chekhov suffers a major haemorrhage of the lungs while on a visit to Moscow and, with great difficulty, is persuaded to enter a clinic, where the doctors diagnosed tuberculosis on the upper part of his lungs and ordered a change
Radio Detection
Uses radio apparatus to detect lightning and develop wireless signalling.
Commander of Baltic Fleet
Appointed Commander of the Baltic Fleet
Capture of Port Arthur
The Russians capture Port Arthur from the Chinese
Siege of Port Arthur
Recommends the siezure of Port Arthur which leads the war with Japan
Citizenship
Renounces British citizenship
Marriage
Marries Sybella Krige
Volksraad Election
Is elected to the Transvaal Volksraad for Vryheid.
Vryheid Representation
Begins a prominent political career before the South African War.
Assassination of Antonio Canovas del Castillo
Assassinated by an anarchist
Death of Antonio Canovas del Castillo
Assassinated by an anarchist
Assassination of Canovas del Castillo
The Prime Minister of Spain is assassinated
Death of Canovas del Castillo
Death of Canovas del Castillo, assassinated
Governor
Appointed Governor General of Cuba, 2nd term
President of USA
Appointed President of the USA, 25th President
Vice President of USA
Appointed Vice President of the USA
The Plattner Story and Others
Wells published The Plattner Story and Others, a collection of imaginative fiction.