What Happened in 1880 — Events, Births & Deaths

Thomas Edison receives a patent for his incandescent lamp.

Thomas Edison observes thermionic emission.

Seven people are killed in the Mussel Slough Tragedy, a gun battle in California.

War of the Pacific: The Battle of Arica, the assault and capture of Morro de Arica (Arica Cape), ends the Campaña del Desierto (Desert Campaign).

First performance of O Canada at the Congrès national des Canadiens-Français. The song would later become the national anthem of Canada.

Australian bushranger Ned Kelly is captured at Glenrowan.

France annexes Tahiti, renaming the independent Kingdom of Tahiti as "Etablissements de français de l'Océanie".

Abdur Rahman is proclaimed emir of Afghanistan after having been accepted as ruler by the British.

Second Anglo-Afghan War: Battle of Maiwand: Afghan forces led by Mohammad Ayub Khan defeat the British Army in battle near Maiwand, Afghanistan.

Construction of Cologne Cathedral, the most famous landmark in Cologne, Germany, is completed.

The army of Mohammad Ayub Khan is routed by the British at the Battle of Kandahar, ending the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

The Basuto Gun War breaks out after the Basuto launch a rebellion against the Cape Colony.

Outbreak of the First Boer War between the Boer South African Republic and the British Empire.