Year by year · 19th century

1872

1872 in world history: 9 events, 27 births, 13 deaths, 4 works, 2 states founded and 4 that came to an end. 967 recorded states existed that year.

Events

20 February
Metropolitan Museum of Art opens in New York
The museum opened in a former dance academy on Fifth Avenue with a modest collection. It moved to Central Park in 1880 and grew into one of the world's largest art museums.
New York
1 March
Yellowstone becomes the world's first national park
President Ulysses S. Grant signed the act setting aside Yellowstone's geysers and canyons 'for the benefit and enjoyment of the people'. The national park idea spread around the world.
30 November
Scotland and England play the first international football match
Scotland and England drew 0-0 at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Glasgow, before about 4,000 spectators. It is recognised by FIFA as the first official international football match.
Scotland England
4 December
The Mary Celeste is found drifting and abandoned
The crew of the Dei Gratia found the American brigantine Mary Celeste sailing unmanned in the Atlantic, her cargo intact and lifeboat gone. The fate of the ten people aboard has never been explained.
Event
Reuter concession
The Reuter concession was an agreement of 1872 by which Naser al-Din Shah of Iran granted Baron Julius de Reuter exclusive rights for seventy years to build railways and tramways, work most mines, manage forests and found a national bank.
Battle
Battle of San Carlos (1872)
The Battle of San Carlos was fought on 8 March 1872 near the fort of San Carlos, in present-day San Carlos de Bolívar, Buenos Aires Province.

ProfileState825 states with a known seat in 1872Open the atlas at 1872 →

In the profiles

Kingdom of BunyoroKabalega forces Samuel Baker to retreat after fighting at Masindi
Cape ColonyThe Cape receives responsible government under John Molteno

Wars and longer events

Third Carlist WarBegan · 1872–1876

Born in 1872 27

Show all 27

Died in 1872 13

Works 4

States founded 2

States that came to an end 4

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APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1872. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1872
MLA: “1872.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1872. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “1872.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1872.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1872’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1872 (Accessed: ).