Events January–March January 1 The Kingdom of Italy establishes Eritrea as its colony, in the Horn of Africa. In Michigan, the wooden steamer Mackinaw burns in a fire on the Black River. January 2 The steamship Persia is wrecked off Corsica; 130 lives are lost. Alice Sanger becomes the first female staffer in the White House. January 11 – 1890 British Ultimatum: The United Kingdom demands Portugal withdraw its forces from the land between the Portuguese colonies of Mozambique and Angola (most of present-day Zimbabwe and Zambia). January 15 – The Sleeping Beauty, with music by Tchaikovsky, is premiered at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. January 25 The United Mine Workers of America is founded. Nellie Bly completes her round-the-world journey in 72 days. February 5 – A worldwide insurance and financial service brand, Allianz was founded in Berlin, Germany. February 9 – The Weather Bureau is established, within the United States Department of Agriculture. February 11 – The city of Araucária is founded in Brazil. February 17 – The British steamship Duburg is wrecked in the South China Sea; 400 lives are lost. February 24 – Chicago is selected to host the Columbian Exposition. March 1 The British steamship Quetia founders in the Torres Straits; 124 lives are lost. Léon Bourgeois succeeds Jean Antoine Ernest Constans, as French Minister of the Interior. March 3 – The first American football game in Ohio State University history is played in Delaware, Ohio, against Ohio Wesleyan, with the Ohio State Buckeyes winning 20–14. March 4 – The Forth Bridge, across the Firth of Forth in Scotland, is opened to rail traffic. March 8 – North Dakota State University is founded in Fargo. March 17 – The first railway in Transvaal, the Randtram, opens between Boksburg and Braamfontein in Johannesburg. March 20 – Kaiser Wilhelm II dismisses Otto von Bismarck. March 27 March 1890 middle Mississippi Valley tornado outbreak: 24 significant tornadoes are spawned by one system, killing at least 146 people. Preston North End retain the English Football League Championship, winning their final game at Notts County March 28 – Washington State University is founded in Pullman. April–June April 2 – Kashihara Shrine, a landmark spot in Nara Prefecture, Japan, is officially built by Emperor Mutsuhito (Emperor of Meiji). April 14 – At the First International Conference of American States, in Washington D.C., The Commercial Bureau of the American