Théodule Armand Ribot was born. A key figure in the history and development of psychology in France, in 1885 Ribot was placed in charge of the first course in experimental psychology to be taught at the prestigious Sorbonne in Paris.

Ribot is also renowned for translating Herbert Spencer's classic book 'The Principles of Psychology' into French and for being a frequent contributor to the psychological literature of the day; particularly in relation to the clinical study of mental abnormalities.