- Feb 1 Operative Bricklayers' Society unionist in London, England start working 8-hour days, instead of 9
- Feb 3 Prince Mutsuhito, 14, becomes Emperor Meiji of Japan (1867-1912)
- Feb 6 American financier and philanthropist George Peabody establishes the Peabody Education Fund to provide improvements to existing schools in poor areas of the southern USA
- Feb 8 The Ausgleich (compromise) establishes the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary
- Feb 13 Work begins on the covering of the Senne, burying Brussels's primary river and creating the modern central boulevards
- Feb 14 Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Co issues 1st policy
- Feb 14 Morehouse College organizes (Augusta Georgia)
- Feb 15 Johann Strauss' "Blue Danube" waltz premieres in Vienna
- Feb 17 Gyula Andressy becomes premier of Hungary
Admirals
Aviators
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Generals
Industrialists
Suffragists