Otto von Bismarck died on 30 July 1898 in Friedrichsruh, aged 83. A Prussian and German statesman, Bismarck became minister-president of Prussia in 1862 and then used wars against Denmark in 1864, Austria in 1866 and France in 1870 and 1871 to unify the German states under Prussian leadership. In 1871 the German Empire was proclaimed and he became its first chancellor, a post he held until 1890. He practised a hard-headed foreign policy, now called Realpolitik, and built a system of alliances to keep France isolated and Europe at peace. At home he fought the Catholic Church in the Kulturkampf, suppressed the socialists and introduced pioneering social insurance. Wilhelm II dismissed him in 1890.
Before and after
- from 1 July 1898 to 2 June 1899Siege of Baler
- 3 July 1898Founding of Peking University
- 12 July 1898Discovery of xenon
- 18 July 1898Founding of Athletic Club
- 30 July 1898Death of Otto von Bismarck
- 16 August 1898Discovery of Phoebe
- from 18 September 1898 to 3 November 1898Fashoda Incident
- 26 September 1898Birth of George Gershwin
- 10 November 1898Wilmington Insurrection of 1898
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 24 June 1812 to 14 December 1812French invasion of Russia
- from 1821 to 1829Greek War of Independence
- from 24 April 1846 to 2 February 1848Mexican-American War
- from 18 August 1866 to 10 May 1871Unification of Germany
- from 24 April 1877 to 3 March 1878Tenth Russo-Turkish War
- 27 August 1896Anglo-Zanzibar War
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.