Births on April 1

F. Melius Christiansen, Norwegian-American violinist and conductor (d. 1955)

Fredrik Melius Christiansen (April 1, 1871 – June 1, 1955) was a Norwegian-born violinist and choral conductor in the Lutheran choral tradition.

28 Jan

Siege of Paris (1870-71)
Franco-Prussian War: The Siege of Paris ends in French defeat and an armistice.
17 Feb

Siege of Paris (1870-71)
The victorious Prussian Army parades through Paris, France, after the end of the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.
21 May

Bloody Week
French troops invade the Paris Commune and engage its residents in street fighting. By the close of "Bloody Week", some 20,000 communards have been killed and 38,000 arrested.
28 Sep

Slavery in Brazil
The Brazilian Parliament passes the Law of the Free Womb, granting freedom to all new children born to slaves, the first major step in the eradication of slavery in Brazil.
8 Oct

Great Chicago Fire
Four major fires break out on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Peshtigo, Wisconsin, Holland, Michigan, and Manistee, Michigan including the Great Chicago Fire, and the much deadlier Peshtigo Fire.