What Happened in 1879 — Events, Births & Deaths

The Anglo-Zulu War begins.

Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Isandlwana results in a Zulu victory.

Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Rorke's Drift, just some 15 km (9.3 mi) away from Isandlwana, results in a British victory.

Anglo-Zulu War: The Battle of Rorke's Drift ends.

Sandford Fleming first proposes the adoption of Universal Standard Time at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Institute.

England's cricket team, led by Lord Harris, is attacked in a riot during a match in Sydney.

Women's rights: US President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.

In Utica, New York, Frank Woolworth opens the first of many of five-and-dime Woolworth stores.

Shō Tai formally abdicates his position of King of Ryūkyū, under orders from Tokyo, ending the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Anglo-Zulu War: Battle of Kambula: British forces defeat 20,000 Zulus.

Bolivia declares war on Chile, and Chile declares war on Peru, starting the War of the Pacific.

Fire burns down the second main building and dome of the University of Notre Dame, which prompts the construction of the third, and current, Main Building with its golden dome.

The first group of 463 Indian indentured laborers arrives in Fiji aboard the Leonidas.

Russia and the United Kingdom sign the Treaty of Gandamak establishing an Afghan state.

Napoléon Eugène, the last dynastic Bonaparte, is killed in the Anglo-Zulu War.

Sailing ship USS Jeannette departs San Francisco carrying an ill-fated expedition to the North Pole.

The locals of Knock, County Mayo, Ireland report their having seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary. The apparition is later named "Our Lady of Knock" and the spot transformed into a Catholic pilgrimage site.

Anglo-Zulu War: Cetshwayo, last king of the Zulus, is captured by the British.

Siege of the British Residency in Kabul: British envoy Sir Louis Cavagnari and 72 men of the Guides are massacred by Afghan troops while defending the British Residency in Kabul. Their heroism and loyalty became famous and revered throughout the British Empire.

The Macedo-Romanian Cultural Society is founded.

Germany and Austria-Hungary sign the "Twofold Covenant" and create the Dual Alliance.

War of the Pacific: The Chilean Navy defeats the Peruvian Navy in the Battle of Angamos.

Using a filament of carbonized thread, Thomas Edison tests the first practical electric incandescent light bulb; the bulb lasted 131⁄2 hours before burning out.

War of the Pacific: Battle of Tarapacá: The confrontation between the Chilean Army and the Peruvian Army takes place in Tarapacá, the Peruvian victory is consummated with the death of the 2 generals and the capture the Chilean general in said place of battle, headed by the Peruvian victory of General Juan Buendía y Noregia.

the fictional character of Nora Helmer is first portrayed by Betty Hennings at a showing of A Doll's House at the Royal Danish Theatre.

Tay Bridge disaster: The central part of the Tay Rail Bridge in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom collapses as a train passes over it, killing 75.

Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.