What Happened in 1877 — Events, Births & Deaths

The last day of the Constantinople Conference results in agreement for political reforms in the Balkans.

Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake receives its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

First ever official cricket test match is played: Australia vs England at the MCG Stadium, in Melbourne, Australia.

The United Kingdom annexes the Transvaal.

Russo-Turkish War: The Russian Empire declares war on the Ottoman Empire.

American Indian Wars: Sitting Bull leads his band of Lakota into Canada to avoid harassment by the United States Army under Colonel Nelson Miles.

At Gilmore's Gardens in New York City, the first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show opens.

Mihail Kogălniceanu reads, in the Chamber of Deputies, the Declaration of Independence of Romania. The date will become recognised as the Independence Day of Romania.

The 16 May 1877 crisis occurs in France, ending with the dissolution of the National Assembly 22 June and affirming the interpretation of the Constitution of 1875 as a parliamentary rather than presidential system. The elections held in October 1877 led to the defeat of the royalists as a formal political movement in France.

American Indian Wars: Battle of White Bird Canyon: The Nez Perce defeat the U.S. Cavalry at White Bird Canyon in the Idaho Territory.

Alexander Graham Bell installs the world's first commercial telephone service in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

The inaugural Wimbledon Championships begins.

The Imperial Russian army under Grand Duke Nicholas defeats the Ottoman army and takes the city of Nikopol (modern Bulgaria).

After rioting by Baltimore and Ohio Railroad workers and the deaths of nine rail workers at the hands of the Maryland militia, workers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, stage a sympathy strike that is met with an assault by the state militia.

American Indian Wars: Battle of the Big Hole: A small band of Nez Percé Indians clash with the United States Army.

American astronomer Asaph Hall discovers Phobos, one of Mars's moons.

The Battle of Shiroyama is a decisive victory of the Imperial Japanese Army over the Satsuma Rebellion.

The Nez Perce War in the northwestern United States comes to an end.

The Blantyre mining disaster in Scotland kills 207 miners.

Anna Sewell's animal welfare novel Black Beauty is published.

Thomas Edison demonstrates his phonograph for the first time.

Russo-Turkish War: The Russian Army captures Plevna after a 5-month siege. The garrison of 25,000 surviving Turks surrenders. The Russian victory is decisive for the outcome of the war and the Liberation of Bulgaria.