What happened in 1872
8 entries recorded for 1872, listed by date. That was 154 years ago.
1872 at a glance
- Years ago
- 154 (as of 2026)
- Century
- 19th century
- Decade
- 1870s
- Generation born
- Before the named generations
- Entries here
- 8
- Breakdown
- 8 historical events
February
- February 20
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art , today the largest art museum in the United States with a collection of more than two million works, opened in New York.
March
- March 1
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park (bison pictured), located mostly in the present-day U.S. state of Wyoming, was established by President Ulysses S. Grant.
- March 16
1872 FA Cup final
In the inaugural final of the FA Cup Wanderers defeated Royal Engineers 1–0 in London.
September
- September 1
Battle of Orange Walk
A small British force commanded by a surgeon fought off a surprise attack by the Maya on Orange Walk Town, British Honduras.
November
- November 18
Women's suffrage in the United States
American suffragist Susan B. Anthony (pictured) was arrested and later fined $100 for having voted in the presidential election two weeks earlier.
- November 30
1872 Scotland v England football match
The first international football match (pictured) took place at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow, between Scotland and England.
December
- December 4
Brigantine
The American brigantine Mary Celeste was found apparently abandoned under circumstances that remain unknown.
- December 21
HMS Challenger (1858)
HMS Challenger departed Portsmouth on a scientific expedition that laid the foundations of oceanography.
Questions about 1872
What happened in 1872?
This site records 8 entries for 1872, including Metropolitan Museum of Art on February 20. They are listed below by date.
How long ago was 1872?
154 years ago, counting from 2026. Anyone born in 1872 turns 154 this year.
Which century is 1872 in?
1872 falls in the 19th century, in the 1870s.
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