What happened in 1883

7 entries recorded for 1883, listed by date. That was 143 years ago.

1883 at a glance

January 16
Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
Historical event
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, establishing the United States Civil Service, was enacted by the U.S. Congress.

April 30
Grover Cleveland
Historical event
New York governor Grover Cleveland signed legislation that led to the creation of Niagara Falls State Park, the United States' first state park.

May 24
Brooklyn Bridge
Historical event
New York City's Brooklyn Bridge opened as the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time.

June 16
Victoria Hall disaster
Historical event
In the Victoria Hall disaster, 183 children were crushed to death when they ran down the stairs to collect gifts after a variety show in Sunderland, England.

August 12
Quagga
Historical event
The last known quagga (example pictured), a subspecies of the plains zebra, died at Natura Artis Magistra, a zoo in Amsterdam.
August 26
1883 eruption of Krakatoa
Historical event
A massive eruption (pictured) destroyed the island of Krakatoa, Indonesia, ejecting so much volcanic ash that average global temperatures fell by as much as 1.2 °C (2.2 °F) over the next year.

October 29
San Francisco Mint
Historical event
The San Francisco Mint signed a contract to produce the Kalākaua coinage (coin pictured) for the Hawaiian Kingdom.

This site records 7 entries for 1883, including Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act on January 16. They are listed below by date.

143 years ago, counting from 2026. Anyone born in 1883 turns 143 this year.

1883 falls in the 19th century, in the 1880s.

Lost Generation (1883–1900). Came of age during the First World War.

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