Births on February 24

Rudolph Ganz, Swiss pianist, composer, and conductor (d. 1972)

Rudolph Ganz (24 February 1877 – 2 August 1972) was a Swiss-born American pianist, conductor, composer, and music educator.

20 Feb

Swan Lake
Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake receives its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
10 May

Mihail Kogălniceanu
Romania declares itself independent from the Ottoman Empire following the Senate adoption of Mihail Kogălniceanu's Declaration of Independence.
10 Jul

Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
The then-villa of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, formally receives its city charter from the Royal Crown of Spain.
5 Oct

Nez Perce people
Chief Joseph surrenders his Nez Perce band to General Nelson A. Miles.
21 Nov

Phonograph
Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, a machine that can record and play sound.