12–13 January – the
Lynmouth life-boatLouisa is launched from
Porlock Weir, entailing being hauled overland for 15 miles (24 km) with a climb of 1,423 feet (434 m) across
Exmoor using 100 volunteers to save all 18 crew of the Forrest Hall in the
Bristol Channel.[1]
25 February – in an accident at Grove Hill,
Harrow, Edwin Sewell becomes the world's first driver of a petrol-driven vehicle to be killed; his passenger, Maj. James Richer, dies of injuries three days later.[2]
11 March – the world's first wireless distress signal is sent to the East Goodwin
light vessel when German cargo-carrying barquentine Elbe runs aground in fog on
Goodwin Sands off the Kent coast, bringing assistance from
Ramsgate Lifeboat Station.[3]
17 May – foundation stone of the
Victoria and Albert Museum in London is laid by
Queen Victoria, her last public engagement[4] – a week before her 80th birthday. Now in the 62nd year of her reign, she is Britain's longest-serving monarch up to this time.[5]
Summer – the
Central England Temperature sees its 4th hottest summer since 1659 and the hottest since 1868, as of this year.[6] There is also a drought, leading to the 8th driest summer on record at this date.[7]
Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Act, empowering school authorities to identify and make appropriate educational provision for 'defective' children.[9]
Seats for Shop Assistants Act 1899, providing, for the first time, a respite for workers required to remain standing for long periods of time.
September – the British Mutoscope and Biograph Company makes King John (a very
shortsilent film) in London, the first known film based on a
Shakespeare play.
20 October – Second Boer War:
Battle of Talana Hill – In the first major clash of the conflict, near
Dundee, Natal, the
British Army drives the Boers from their position, but with heavy casualties, including the commanding general Sir
Penn Symons.
^Palmer, Alan; Palmer, Veronica (1992). The Chronology of British History. London: Century Ltd. pp. 328–329.
ISBN0-7126-5616-2.
^Wright, J. Robert (2008). A Companion to Bede: a Reader's Commentary on The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
ISBN978-0-8028-6309-6.