January 3 Meiji Restoration returns authority to Japan's emperors January 7 Arkansas constitutional convention meets in Little Rock January 7 Mississippi constitutional convention meets in Jackson January 14 North Carolina constitutional convention meets in Raleigh January 14 South Carolina constitutional convention, meets with a black majority January 16 Refrigerator car patented by William Davis, a fish dealer in Detroit January 20 Florida constitutional convention meets in Tallahassee February 10 Conservatives and military, seize Convention Hall in Florida February 16 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks forms (New York) February 24 1st U.S. parade with floats (Mardi Gras-Mobile Alabama) February 24 House of Representatives vote 126 to 47, to impeach President Andrew Johnson February 29 1st British government of Disraeli forms March 2 University of Illinois opens March 5 Arrigo Boito's opera "Mefistofele," premieres in Milan March 5 Stapler patented in England by C. H. Gould March 5 U.S. Senate organizes to decide charges against President Andrew Johnson March 9 The opera "Hamlet" premieres in Paris March 12 Britain annexed Basutoland in Africa March 12 Congress abolishes manufacturer's tax March 12 Great Britain annexes Basutoland in Africa March 13 Senate begins President Andrew Johnson impeachment trial March 17 Postage stamp canceling machine patent issued March 20 Jesse James Gang robs bank in Russelville Kentucky of $14,000 March 21 1st U.S. professional women's club, Sorosis, forms in New York City March 23 University of California founded (Oakland California) March 24 Metropolitan Life Insurance Co forms March 31 Chinese Embassy arrives aboard steamship China April 1 Hampton Institute opens April 3 An Hawaiian surfs on highest wave ever, he rides a 50' tidal wave April 6 Brigham Young marries his 27th and final wife April 10 1st performance of John Brahms' "Ein german Requiem" April 10 Brits defeat King of Abyssinia at Magdala April 14 South Carolina voters approved constitution, 70,758 to 27,228 April 16 Louisiana voters approve new constitution April 18 San Francisco Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals formed May 9 Anton Bruckner's 1st Symphony in C, premieres May 15 Dutch Government of Zuylen van Nijevelt falls May 16 Bedrich Smetana's opera "Dalibor," premieres in Prague May 16 By one vote, Senate fails to impeach President Andrew Johnson May 20 Republican National Convention, meets in Chicago, nominates Grant May 22 Great Train Robbery-7 men (Reno Brother) make off with $98,000 in cash May 25 Australia Aboriginal Cricket tour of England begins vs. Surrey Gentlemen May 26 President Andrew Johnson avoids impeachment by 1 vote May 30 Memorial Day 1st observed when 2 women in Columbus Mississippi placed flowers on both Confederate and Union graves May 31 1st Memorial Day parade held in Ironton, Ohio May 31 Dr. James Moore (UK) wins 1st recorded bicycle race, (2k) velocipede race at Parc fde St. Cloud, Paris June 1 Texas constitutional convention meets in Austin June 4 Van Bosse/Fock government begins June 9 1st meeting of Board of Regents, University of California June 10 2nd Belmont: Bobby Swim aboard General Duke wins in 3:02 June 13 Oscar J. Dunn, is elected Lt Governor of Louisiana June 19 Major General E R S Canby removes mayor of Columbia SC June 21 Wagner's opera "Meistersinger von Nuernberg," premieres in Munich June 22 Arkansas re-enters U.S. June 23 Christopher Latham Sholes patents "Type-writer" June 25 FL, AL, LA, GA, North Carolina and South Carolina readmitted to US June 25 President Andrew Johnson passes a law that government workers would work 8 hour day July 4 Battle at Ueno: last Tokugawa armies defeated July 7 Ed Pooley takes 12 dismissals as keeper in match Surrey vs. Sussex July 9 1st black cabinet member in South Carolina (Francis L Cardozo-sect of state) July 13 Oscar J Dunn, former slave, installed as lt governor of Louisiana July 14 Alvin J. Fellows patents tape measure July 20 1st use of tax stamps on cigarettes July 25 U.S. Congress forms Wyoming Territory (Dakota, Utah and Idaho) July 28 14th Amendment ratified, grants citizenship to ex-slaves August 8 Quake destroyes Arica, Chile August 13 Earthquakes kill 25,000 and causes $300 million damages (Peru and Ecuador) August 18 Pierre Janssan discovers helium in solar spectrum during eclipse September 8 New York Athletic Club forms September 14 Golf's 1st recorded hole-in-one (Tom Morris at Prestwick's 8th hole) September 23 Grito de Lares proclaims Puerto Rico's independence (crushed by Spain) September 28 Battle of Alcolea, causes Queen Isabella 2 of Spain to flee to France September 28 Opelousas Massacre at St. Landry Parish Louisiana (200 blacks killed) September 30 Spain's Queen Isabella is deposed, flees to France October 1 1st edition of Maasbode published October 7 Cornell University (Ithaca New York) opens October 10 1st written account of a Canadian football game October 10 Cuba revolts for independence against Spain October 11 Thomas Edison patents his 1st invention: electric voice machine October 17 Constitution of Grand Duchy of Luxembourg comes into effect October 21 Severe earthquake at 7:53 AM, centered in Hayward, California October 22 Jacques Offenbach's opera "Genevieve de Brabant," premieres in New York City October 30 John Menard of Louisiana is 1st black elected to Congress October 31 Standard uniform approved for postal carriers November 3 1st black elected to Congress (John W Menard, Louisiana) November 3 Ulysses Grant (R) wins presidential election over Horatio Seymour (D) November 11 1st American amateur track and field meet (New York City) November 13 American Philological Association organized in NY November 23 Louis Ducos du Hauron patents trichrome color photo process November 26 1st baseball game played in enclosed field in SF, at 25th and Folsom November 27 Battle at Washita, General Custer defeats Cheyennes December 1 John D. Rockefeller begins anti oil war December 2 1st British government of Disraeli resigns December 3 Trial of Jefferson Davis starts; 1st blacks on U.S. trial jury December 5 1st American bicycle college opens (NY) December 7 Jesse James gang robs bank in Gallatin, Missouri, kills 1 December 9 1st British government of Gladstone forms December 25 Despite bitter opposition, President A Johnson grants unconditional pardon to all persons involved in Southern rebellion (Civil War)
