King Kalākaua of Hawaii became the first reigning monarch to visit the United States, arriving in San Francisco to seek closer trade ties.

The Treaty of Bern establishing the Universal Postal Union came into force, creating a single postal territory for international mail exchange.

The Universal Postal Union came into force, allowing letters to cross national borders under one unified postal system for the first time.

Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, who would lead Britain through its darkest hour as wartime prime minister, is born at Blenheim Palace.

The Eads Bridge across the Mississippi River at St. Louis opened, the first major bridge built with steel and the first to use pneumatic caissons in America.