Deaths on December 7

Jón Sigurðsson, Icelandic scholar and politician, 1st Speaker of the Parliament of Iceland (b. 1811)

Jón Sigurðsson (17 June 1811 – 7 December 1879) was the leader of the 19th century Icelandic independence movement.

8 Feb

Sydney Riot of 1879
The England cricket team led by Lord Harris is attacked during a riot during a match in Sydney.
15 Feb

Rutherford B. Hayes
Women's rights: US President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.
5 Apr

War of the Pacific
Chile declares war on Bolivia and Peru, starting the War of the Pacific.
21 Oct

Incandescent light bulb
Thomas Edison applies for a patent for his design for an incandescent light bulb.
22 Oct

Thomas Edison
Using a filament of carbonized thread, Thomas Edison tests the first practical electric incandescent light bulb (it lasted 13½ hours before burning out).