Historical eventSeptember 31878

Sinking of SS Princess Alice

The passenger steamship SS Princess Alice sank in the River Thames after colliding (pictured) with the collier Bywell Castle, killing more than 600 people.

Everything on September 3Original source

In context

When
Tuesday, September 3 1878148 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
19th century · 1870s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

Russia, Greece and some other countries used the Julian calendar into the early 20th century, so local records may show a date up to 13 days earlier.

At a glance

Dates: From 1878.

What happened

The passenger steamship SS Princess Alice sank in the River Thames after colliding (pictured) with the collier Bywell Castle, killing more than 600 people.

September 3 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1878Sinking of SS Princess Alice
  2. 1989Varig Flight 254
  3. 1991Hamlet chicken processing plant fire
  4. 1997Vietnam Airlines
  5. 2001The Troubles
  6. 2001Belfast
  7. 2004Beslan school siege
  8. 2010Dubai International Airport
  9. 2016China
  10. 20172017 North Korean nuclear test
  11. 2017North Korea

Also in 1878

  • September 17Natal–Zululand border incidentA British surveyor was detained by the Zulu on the border with the Colony of Natal; a demand for reparations for the incident formed part…
  • May 25Gilbert and SullivanGilbert and Sullivan's comic opera H.M.S. Pinafore (poster featured) premiered at the Opera Comique in London.
  • October 7Death and state funeral of Mindon MinThe state funeral of Mindon Min (pictured), who ruled Myanmar for 25 years, took place; his death was reportedly preceded by strange omen…
  • June 2Karl NobilingAnarchist Karl Nobiling attempted to assassinate German Emperor Wilhelm I.
  • June 15Eadweard MuybridgeEadweard Muybridge took a series of photographs to prove that all four feet of a horse leave the ground when it gallops (animation pictur…
  • May 2Great Mill DisasterA dust explosion (depicted) at the world's largest flour mill in Minneapolis resulted in 18 deaths.
  • September 1Emma NuttEmma Nutt becomes the world's first female telephone operator when she is recruited by Alexander Graham Bell to the Boston Telephone Disp…
  • February 18Lincoln County, New MexicoCompetition between two American merchants in Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory, turned into a range war when a member of one faction…

Everything we record for 1878 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Sinking of SS Princess Alice”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/sinking-of-ss-princess-alice-1878-september-3, accessed October 29, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Sinking of SS Princess Alice happen?

September 3 1878 — 148 years ago, on a Tuesday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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