The world in
What happened in 1872?
16 events across 7 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
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Unveiling of the Albert MemorialThe Albert Memorial was unveiled by Queen Victoria in Kensington Gardens, London, in July 1872. Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the Gothic Revival canopy stands about 54 metres tall and was built over ten years to memorialise Prince Albert, who died in 1861.
Parc de la Ciutadella EstablishedThe Parc de la Ciutadella was established in the mid-19th century in Barcelona, on the site of a former citadel, and served as the city's only green space for decades.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: SACE (Servicios Aéreos Comerciales Españoles); Rodríguez Escalona, Carlos / CC BY 1.0 ↗
Founding of the State Historical MuseumIn the late 19th century, the State Historical Museum of Russia was founded near Red Square in Moscow. It became a major repository of Russian historical artifacts, with a collection numbering in the millions and ranging from prehistoric relics to Romanov-era artworks.
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Construction of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière beginsIn 1872, construction of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière began in Lyon, France. Funded privately, it was built on a hilltop overlooking the city to symbolize the triumph of Christian values over the Lyon Commune of 1870. Architect Pierre Bossan designed it in a blend of Romanesque and Byzantine styles, unusual for the time.
Bucharest North Station (specific date unverifiable)Main railway passenger hub in Bucharest, Romania, established around 1872 in the latter half of the 19th century.
North America
Establishment of Yellowstone National ParkOn March 1, 1872, the United States Congress passed a bill, signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, establishing Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park. The park is mainly in Wyoming, with parts extending into Montana and Idaho.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: James St. John from Newark, Ohio / CC BY 2.0 ↗
Outbreak of the Caste War of YucatánIn 1847, the Indigenous Maya people of the Yucatán Peninsula launched an armed revolt against the Hispanic population, known as the Caste War. The uprising stemmed from the latter's political and economic dominance since the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, and it is considered one of the most successful modern Native American revolts. The conflict primarily unfolded between government forces in the northwest and independent Maya groups in the southeast, lasting nearly five decades.
Founding of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityIn 1872, the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (later Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) was founded in Blacksburg, Virginia. Established as a land-grant institution, it aimed to promote agricultural and mechanical education, later evolving into a public research university.
East Asia
Meiji RestorationThe Meiji Restoration was a series of modernising reforms carried out in Japan between 1868 and 1889. It began with the restoration of imperial rule in 1868, overthrowing the Tokugawa shogunate and the warrior government that had ruled Japan for over six hundred years, and bringing an end to the feudal system. During the reforms, Japan actively adopted Western ideas, production methods and technology, rapidly industrialised, and underwent fundamental changes to its political and social structure, transforming the country into a modern power.
Self-Strengthening Movement BeginsQing officials launched the Self-Strengthening Movement in 1861, aiming to strengthen China by adopting Western military technology. Though lasting until 1895, its beginning marked the start of modern industrialization and military modernization in China.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
Establishment of the Tomioka Silk MillIn 1872, the Japanese government established the country's first mechanized silk reeling factory, the Tomioka Silk Mill, in Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture. It introduced modern machine silk reeling from France to promote the modernization of the domestic silk industry.
Central & South America
Outbreak of the Ten Years' WarOn 10 October 1868, planter Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and fellow independence advocates proclaimed Cuba's independence from Spain at his Demajagua sugar mill, initiating the Ten Years' War. This first major Cuban independence struggle, though unsuccessful, paved the way for later uprisings.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Ramon Padró i Pedret / Public domain ↗
- Chilean occupation of Araucanía
Between 1861 and 1883, Chile incorporated the ancestral Mapuche territory of Araucanía through a series of military campaigns, agreements, and penetrations. Referred to by Chilean authorities as the 'Pacification of Araucanía'.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
South Asia
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Completion of Ahsan Manzil PalaceAhsan Manzil, the official palace of the Nawab of Dhaka, was completed in 1872 in Kumartoli along the Buriganga River. Built in the Indo-Saracenic Revival style, it later became a national museum, serving as a key cultural landmark in Dhaka.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Md. Ahsanul Haque Nayem / CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
North Africa
French conquest of AlgeriaBetween 1830 and 1904, France launched a military invasion and prolonged war of conquest in Algeria. In June 1830, French forces landed near Algiers, quickly seizing the capital and coastal areas. Over the following decades, despite internal political strife, France repeatedly reinforced its military presence to suppress resistance in the interior, gradually extending control southward into the Sahara, and finalizing its colonial borders by 1904.
Oceania
New Zealand Wars outbreakThe New Zealand Wars broke out in 1845, a series of armed conflicts between the British colonial government and Māori. The root cause was disputes over the sale of Māori land to British settlers, with the conflicts lasting until 1872 across multiple campaigns.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: DO'Neil at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Around 1872
These are known only to the century, not to the year. They are listed separately so a rough date is never mistaken for an exact one.
- Second Industrial Revolution
- Emergence of the Enlightenment
- Museum Island construction begins
- Completion of Dom Pedro V Theatre
- Establishment of Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Industrial Heritage
- Construction of Hôtel Solvay begins
- Founding of Kulangsu as an International Settlement
- Construction of the Four Hydraulic Boat Lifts on the Canal du Centre begins