1881

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• The number of horses and ponies was reported at 5,224, of which 921 were used for agriculture and 4,323 were unbroken and used solely for breeding.

• A. Georgeson's shop in Vidlin opened.
• Census listing of ships in port at Lerwick

February

• 4th
  The Bremen wrecked at the south end of Levenwick.

March

• 6th
  Improved mail service to Shetland assured. Three mails a week in summer and two a week in winter

July

• 21st July
  10 boats and 58 fishermen were lost when a sudden storm blew up. 55 of the fisherman were from the Island of Yell, mostly from the community of Gloup, but 3 men from Burra were also lost. This became known as The Gloup Disaster

• The Ann Jessie,
  
• the Undaunted,
  
• the Eliza,
  
• the Excelsior, all from Gloup,
  
• the Eel from Hillswick
  

together with four unknown sixareen and one "small boat" lost in The Gloup Disaster at sea.

• The Helat from Unst lost off Lamba Ness.

October

• 12th
  The Fanny M. Carrill, a barque, in ballast, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, from Hull, England to Troon, Scotland(??) wrecked at Snarra Voe, Unst. All of the crew were saved.
• 14th
  Having crossed to the isle of Linga to check for driftwood washed ashore, James Hoseason of Gutcher, along with James Abernethy Jr. and Robert Robertson, both joiners working there at that time, discovered on the beach of the isle a partly dismembered and badly decomposed body. As daylight was fading, it could only be covered with rocks on that occasion, and the next day was too rough to make the crossing, but on the 16th they were able to return and bury the remains.
  Although a fully confirmed identification was impossible, some of those who saw the remains were of the opinion, based on the boots, the only clothing items still attached, that they were of Laurence Danielson, skipper of one of the un-named Sixareen's lost in the Gloup Disaster on July 21st.

November

• 2nd
  Storm Signals estabished at Lerwick
• 12th
  Schooner St Olaf wrecked in Warrie Geo, Lerwick
• 17th
  The Benita, a schooner, laden with a cargo of salt fish, of Lerwick, from Voe and to the West Voe, Papa Stour drove ashore from anchor and wrecked in the West Voe.
• 22nd
  The Telegraph (1881) (LK35), a smack, of Lerwick, drove from anchor in Lerwick Harbour and wrecked on the beach at Heogan, Bressay.
• The wood and tarred felt roof of the Independent Chapel at Sand was blown off complete in one piece during a gale, and deposited still the right way up in a loch 100 yards or more away.
• 25th
  The Hebe, a topsail schooner, in ballast, of South Shields, England, from Lossiemouth, Scotland, and for Sunderland, England wrecked on Fair Isle. All of the crew were saved.
• 26th
  The shooner St Olaf of Wick, (master Milne), was driven ashore at the Slates and became a total wreck.

December

• 4th
  The barque Henriette stranded on Havre de Grind, Foula; sank later off Unst.

1880<->1882