Year by year · 19th century

1880

1880 in world history: 9 events, 24 births, 10 deaths, 1 state founded and 2 that came to an end. 950 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 27 January

    Thomas Edison patents his incandescent lamp

    Edison received US patent 223,898 for a carbon-filament lamp. Others had made electric bulbs, but his long-lasting design and supply system made electric lighting practical.

  2. 1 October

    John Philip Sousa takes charge of the US Marine Band

    The 25-year-old John Philip Sousa became leader of the United States Marine Band. Over the next twelve years he turned it into a celebrated ensemble and began the career that earned him the name 'The March King'.

    United States

  3. 15 October

    Cologne Cathedral is completed after 632 years

    Kaiser Wilhelm I attended celebrations marking the completion of Cologne Cathedral. Begun in 1248 and left unfinished for centuries, the Gothic church was completed using its medieval plans.

    German EmpireWilhelm ICologneKaiser

  4. Battle

    Battle of Tacna

    The Battle of Tacna, or of the Alto de la Alianza, was fought on 26 May 1880 near Tacna in southern Peru during the War of the Pacific.

ProfileState814 states with a known seat in 1880Open the atlas at 1880 →

In the profiles

Wars and longer events

Born in 1880 24

Died in 1880 10

States founded 1

States that came to an end 2

All years → The 19th century →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1880. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1880
MLA
“1880.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1880. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1880.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1880.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1880’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1880 (Accessed: ).