What Happened in 1880

Major Events

  • Jan 1 Building of Panama Canal begins
  • Jan 6 Record snow cover in Seattle - 120 cm
  • Jan 9 6' (1.83 metres) of snow falls in Seattle in 5 days
  • Jan 9 The Great Gale of 1880 devastates parts of Oregon and Washington with high wind and heavy snow
  • Jan 21 1st US sewage disposal system separate from storm drains in Memphis, Tennessee
  • Jan 27 Thomas Edison patents electric incandescent lamp
  • Feb 1 The first edition of theatrical newspaper The Stage is published.
  • Feb 2 SS Strathleven arrives in London with first shipment of frozen Australian mutton
  • Feb 4 "Black Donnelly" massacre in Biddulph, Ontario, Canada: Irish immigrants James (63), Johannah (56), John (32), Thomas (25) and Bridget (21) Donnelly murdered at home by members of the Vigilance Committee
  • Feb 4 Steele MacKay's play "Hazel Kirke" premieres in New York City
  • More 1880 Events

1880 in Sport

  • Jun 12 Worcester Ruby Legs pitcher Lee Richmond throws first perfect game in MLB history in 1-0 win over Cleveland Blues at the Agricultural County Fair Grounds, Worcester
  • Sep 6 W. G. Grace scores 152 in debut Test Cricket innings, v Australia at The Oval

Did You Know?

Australian Bushranger and outlaw Ned Kelly is hanged at Melbourne Gaol

November 11, 1880


More People Born in 1880
More 1880 Deaths

Famous Weddings in 1880

  • Jan 7 Polish pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski (19) weds Polish musician Antonina Korsak, until she dies from complications of childbirth later that year
  • Apr 14 Philosopher John Muir (41) weds Louisa Strentzel
  • May 6 British novelist Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot) (60) weds Scottish banker John Cross (40) at George's, London

More Weddings in 1880