What Happened in 1887 — Events, Births & Deaths

The United States Senate allows the Navy to lease Pearl Harbor as a naval base.

In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the first Groundhog Day is observed.

The Dawes Act is enacted, authorizing the U.S. President to divide Native American tribal land into individual allotments.

On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIII authorizes the establishment of the Catholic University of America.

A week after being arrested by the Prussian Secret Police, French police inspector Guillaume Schnaebelé is released on order of Wilhelm I, German Emperor, defusing a possible war.

The Peruvian Academy of Language is founded.

Herman Hollerith applies for US patent #395,781 for the 'Art of Compiling Statistics', which was his punched card calculator.

The Reinsurance Treaty between Germany and Russia is signed.

The Rocky Mountains Park Act becomes law in Canada, creating the nation's first national park, Banff National Park.

David Kalākaua, monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, is forced to sign the Bayonet Constitution, which transfers much of the king's authority to the Legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Granny, a sea anemone, died in Edinburgh after nearly 60 years in captivity. Her death was reported in The Scotsman and The New York Times.

A fire at the Theatre Royal, Exeter kills 186, making it the UK's deadliest ever building fire.

Johannes Brahms conducts the premiere of his Double Concerto, composed for violinist Joseph Joachim and cellist Robert Hausmann.