1891 | Political Events
Political Events
Portuguese republicans revolt at Oporto in January to protest last year's British ultimatum that Portugal withdraw from certain African territories. A boundary treaty resolves differences between the two nations (see Windsor Treaty, 1899).
Former Prussian field marshal Helmuth K. Bernhard, Graf von Moltke, dies on a visit to Berlin April 24 at age 90. His victories in the Austro-Prussian War paved the way for German unification.
Katherine O'Shea is married June 25 to Charles Stewart Parnell, who continues his efforts to gain home rule for Ireland, but Parnell is rheumatic and exhausted by autumn after addressing crowds bareheaded in pouring rain and dies at Brighton October 6 at age 45 (see 1890). His widow will receive half her aunt's estate (minus court costs) next year, with some of it going to her ex-husband, a lawyer will abscond with much of the fortune in 1906, and "Kitty" O'Shea Parnell, now 46, will live to age 76.
Ottoman statesman-scholar Ahmed Vefik dies at his native Constantinople April 2 at age 67. Exiled leaders of the Young Turk reform movement that began at Constantinople 2 years ago convene at Geneva and endorse the provisions of the Ottoman Empire's 1876 constitution (see 1908).
The Rashid family that has controlled Arabia since 1818 exiles the Saud family to neighboring Kuwait on the Persian Gulf (but see 1902).
Hawaii's king David Kalakaua dies January 20 at age 54 after a 16-year reign and is succeeded by his 52-year-old sister, who will reign until 1893 as Queen Lydia Liliuokalani. The white elite that owns 80 percent of arable lands in the islands has united in the Hawaiian League to oppose Kalakaua, who has favored the interests of sugar magnate Claus Spreckels, and the sugar planters form an Annexation Club in a plot to overthrow the queen, who tries to restore the rights of the Hawaiian people (see Spreckels, 1883; abdication, 1893).
Former Union Navy admiral David D. Porter dies at Washington, D.C., February 13 at age 77; former Union Army general William Tecumseh Sherman at New York February 14 at age 71; former Confederate general Joseph Eggleston Johnston at Washington, D.C., March 21 at age 84.
Canada's prime minister Sir John Macdonald dies in office at Ottawa June 6 at age 76, having twice served as the nation's premier, dealing with rebellion in the west and opposing any talk of union with the United States ("A British subject I was born; a British subject I will die," he has said). He is succeeded by Senate leader Sir John (Joseph Caldwell) Abbott, 70, a compromise candidate who will resign next year for reasons of health.
Chile's president José Manuel Balmaceda tries to prevent congressional limitation of presidential powers and the nation is plunged into civil war. Balmaceda has pushed through anticlerical measures, improved public education, and promoted railroad construction, but the legislative revolt has been festering since the 1860s, congressional forces defeat Balmaceda's army with naval support in less than 8 months, the president commits suicide at his native Santiago September 19 at age 51, and parliamentarians will control the government until the mid-1920s.
Brazilians elect General Deodora da Fonseca president under a new constitution adopted 2 years ago to replace the charter drafted in 1824 and amended 10 years later; his dictatorial rule produces a naval revolt in late November, he is ousted from office, and Vice President Floriano Peixoto takes his place, but Peixoto's arbitrary rule will lead to rebellions that will break out for decades under future presidents. Former Brazilian emperor Pedro II dies at Paris December 5 at age 66.
Leander Starr Jameson, M.D., 38, wins appointment as administrator of the South Africa Company's territories. A friend of Cecil Rhodes, Jameson is a Scottish physician who came to Kimberley in 1878 and has been employed by Rhodes to negotiate with the Matabele chief Lobengula (see 1893).
The French protectorate established in equatorial Africa by Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza in 1880 becomes the French (Moyen [Middle]) Congo.