WHAT ALL HAPPENED JANUARY TO DECEMBER 1879
Find out what all happened January to December 1879

Women's rights: American President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. (15. February 1879)

Anglo-Zulu War: Battle of Kambula: British forces defeat 20,000 Zulus. (29. March 1879)

The Virgin Mary, along with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist, reportedly appears at Knock Shrine in Knock, County Mayo, Ireland. (21. August 1879)

Using a filament of carbonized thread, Thomas Edison tests the first practical electric incandescent light bulb (it lasted 13½ hours before burning out). (22. October 1879)

Sandford Fleming first proposes adoption of Universal Standard Time at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Institute. (8. February 1879)

The Anglo-Zulu War begins. (11. January 1879)

War of the Pacific: The Battle of Topáter, the first battle of the war is fought between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru. (23. March 1879)

Gilmores Garden in New York, New York is renamed Madison Square Garden by William Henry Vanderbilt and is opened to the public at 26th Street and Madison Avenue. (31. May 1879)

The opening of the Poor Man's Palace in Manchester, England. (7. August 1879)

Tay Bridge disaster: The central part of the Tay Rail Bridge in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom collapses as a train passes over it, killing 75. (28. December 1879)

World première of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark. (21. December 1879)

Anglo-Zulu War: the Zululand capital of Ulundi is captured by British troops and burned to the ground, ending the war and forcing King Cetshwayo to flee. (4. July 1879)

The Blackpool Illuminations are switched on for the first time. (19. September 1879)

Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Rorke's Drift ends. (23. January 1879)

War of the Pacific: the Chilean Navy defeats the Peruvian Navy in the Battle of Angamos, Peruvian Admiral Miguel Grau is killed in the encounter. (8. October 1879)

War of the Pacific: Two Chilean ships blocking the harbor of Iquique (then belonging to Peru) battle two Peruvian vessels in the Battle of Iquique. (21. May 1879)

The National Guards Unit of Bulgaria is founded. (12. July 1879)

The England cricket team led by Lord Harris is attacked during a riot during a match in Sydney. (8. February 1879)

The Bulgarian National Bank is founded. (25. January 1879)

Anglo-Zulu War: Battle of Rorke's Drift – 139 British soldiers successfully defend their garrison against an onslaught by three to four thousand Zulu warriors. (22. January 1879)