What happened in 1885
13 entries recorded for 1885, listed by date. That was 141 years ago.
1885 at a glance
- Years ago
- 141 (as of 2026)
- Century
- 19th century
- Decade
- 1880s
- Generation born
- Lost Generation
- Entries here
- 13
- Breakdown
- 13 historical events
January
- January 15
Wilson Bentley
Wilson Bentley (pictured) took the first known photograph of a snowflake by attaching a bellows camera to a microscope.
- January 26
Mahdist War
Mahdist War: The siege of Khartoum ended as Mahdist forces defeated the Egyptian garrison and captured the city.
March
- March 14
The Mikado
The Mikado, Gilbert and Sullivan's most frequently performed Savoy opera, debuted at the Savoy Theatre in London.
- March 26
Métis
Perceiving that the Canadian government was failing to protect their rights, the Métis people led by Louis Riel began the North-West Rebellion.
April
- April 22
Colonial Defence Committee
The first meeting of the Colonial Defence Committee, a standing committee of the British Colonial Office, was held to discuss the defence of Barbados.
May
- May 1
Chicago Board of Trade Building
The original Chicago Board of Trade Building opened for business.
August
- August 29
Gottlieb Daimler
Gottlieb Daimler patented the world's first internal-combustion motorcycle, the Reitwagen (replica pictured).
September
- September 2
Rock Springs, Wyoming
White miners in Rock Springs, Wyoming, attacked Chinese-American immigrants, killing at least 28 Chinese miners and causing approximately $150,000 in property damage.
- September 12
1885–86 Scottish Cup
The Scottish Cup match between Arbroath and Bon Accord ended 36–0, which is still a world record for an unrigged professional association football match.
- September 18
1885 Pierce City lynching
Five Chinese people were lynched outside of Pierce City in the Idaho Territory.
October
- October 24
Russian ship Dmitry
The Russian ship Dmitry ran aground in Whitby, an incident that inspired the arrival of Count Dracula to England in Bram Stoker's 1897 novel (cover pictured).
November
- November 16
Trial of Louis Riel
After a five-day trial following the North-West Rebellion, Louis Riel, a Canadian Métis leader and "Father of Manitoba", was hanged for high treason.
- November 25
Banff National Park
Banff National Park (pictured), the oldest national park in Canada, was established as the Banff Hot Springs Reserve.
Questions about 1885
What happened in 1885?
This site records 13 entries for 1885, including Wilson Bentley on January 15. They are listed below by date.
How long ago was 1885?
141 years ago, counting from 2026. Anyone born in 1885 turns 141 this year.
Which century is 1885 in?
1885 falls in the 19th century, in the 1880s.
Which generation was born in 1885?
Lost Generation (1883–1900). Came of age during the First World War.
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