January 1898

Saturday 01:

New York City annexes land from surrounding counties, creating the City of Greater New York. The four initial boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx, are joined on January 25th by Staten Island to create the modern city of five boroughs.

Wednesday 12:

Ito Hirobumi begins his third term as Prime Minister of Japan.

Thursday 13:

Emile Zola's J'accuse exposes the Dreyfus affair.