1897

History of the Doctor Who Universe

 * Benjamin Wainwright, future husband of time-displaced Kathy Nightingale is born. (DW: Blink)

History of Doctor Who

 * H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds first appears as a serialized story in Pearson's Magazine. The first novel about an invasion from another world, Wells' story will greatly influence Doctor Who. In particular, the tentacled Martians in their war machines which fire death rays may be a precursor to the Daleks.