1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar, the 1881st year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 881st year of the 2nd millennium, the 81st year of the 19th century, and the 2nd year of the 1880s decade.

Events from the year 1881 in the United States. For the second time in history (after 1841), the country had three different presidents in one calendar year: Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, and Chester A. Arthur . Chief Justice: Morrison Waite (originally from Connecticut; lived in U.S. state of Ohio)

November – The Newcastle United F.C. is founded in the north east of England as the Stanley F.C., with a further name change to Newcastle East End F.C. the following year. November 3 – The Mapuche uprising of 1881 begins, with an attack on Quillem, Chile.

May 21, 1883: The American Red Cross was incorporated by Clara Barton. July 2, 1881: President James Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau at a Washington, D.C. train station. July 14, 1881: Outlaw Billy the Kid was shot and killed by lawman Pat Garrett in New Mexico territory.