- Jan 1 Norway adopts Mid-European time
Aguinaldo a Freemason
Jan 1 Philippine Revolutionary Emilio Aguinaldo becomes a Freemason, joining Pilar Lodge No. 203, Imus, Cavite
Dreyfus Affair
Jan 5 French Captain Alfred Dreyfus, convicted of treason, publicly stripped of his rank; later exonerated
- Jan 5 Henry James' play "Guy Domville" opens in London
- Jan 5 Victor Trumper makes first-class debut for NSW 17 yrs 64 days
- Jan 12 The National Trust is founded in Britain
"An Ideal Husband"
Jan 13 Oscar Wilde's play "An Ideal Husband" premieres at the Haymarket Theatre in London
- Jan 15 Australian cricket spin bowler Albert Trott takes 8-43 on debut to end England's 2nd innings at 143 in 3rd Test in Adelaide; Australia wins by 382 in 4 days
- Jan 15 French fleet reaches Majunga, Madagascar
- Jan 17 French president Casimir-Perier resigns; Félix Faure installed.
- Jan 22 National Association of Manufacturers organized in Cincinnati
- Jan 25 New Haven Symphony Orchestra of Connecticut performs its first concert
Gretchaninov's 1st Symphony
Jan 26 Alexander Gretchaninov's 1st Symphony premieres in Saint Petersburg, Russia, with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov conducting
"Swan Lake" Revived
Jan 27 Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov's revival of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's ballet "Swan Lake" premieres in St. Petersburg
- Jan 29 King Koko's Kopermannen assault on Akassa Niger, 100's killed
- Jan 30 C J Eady (Tas) 1st Australian to score twin centuries (v Vic)
- Jan 30 SS Elbe sinks after collision in North Sea, 332 killed
- Jan 30 Tasmania beat Victoria for 1st F-C victory in 41 years
- Jan 31 Jose Martí & others leave NYC for invasion of Spanish Cuba
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