Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Historical Events in February 1881

  • Feb 1 US Assay Office in St Louis, Missouri authorized
  • Feb 5 Phoenix, Arizona incorporates
  • Feb 7 Battle at Ingogo, Transvaal: Boers beat superior British forces
  • Feb 10 Jacques Offenbach's opera "Les Contes d'Hoffman" premieres in Paris
  • Feb 13 The feminist newspaper La Citoyenne is first published in Paris by activist Hubertine Auclert
  • Feb 19 Kansas becomes 1st state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages

Symphony No. 4

Feb 20 Conductor Hans Richter leads the Vienna Philharmonic in premiere of Anton Bruckner's "Symphony No. 4", in Vienna, Austria-Hungary

  • Feb 24 China and Russia sign the Sino-Russian Ili Treaty.
  • Feb 24 De Lesseps' Company begins work on Panama Canal
  • Feb 26 -27] Natal: British troops under Major General Colley occupy Majuba Hill
  • Feb 26 P&O's SS Ceylon begins world's 1st round-the-world pleasure cruise from Liverpool
  • Feb 27 Battle at Amajuba: South African Boers vs British army under General Colley