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Timeline: 1900s

Years: 1900 - 1909	Subject: History, modern history (1700 to 1945)
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191735646

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Year	Event
1900	Daimler cars develop a new brand using the name Mercedes, that of the ten-year-old daughter of the investor and distributor Emil Jellinek Go to Daimler, Gottlieb (1834–1900) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Technology Engineering Germany Giacomo Puccini's Tosca brings in the new century with a January premiere in Rome Go to Tosca in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Europe Italy The faction founded in Bohemia by Tomas Masaryk becomes known as the Progressive party Go to Masaryk, Tomáš Garrigue (1850–1937) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Bohemia Czech Republic Isadora Duncan dances professionally for the first time in Europe in London's Lyceum Theatre Go to Duncan, Isadora (1877–1927) in A Dictionary of Sports Studies (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 20th century Performing arts Dance Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Paul Kruger flees after the British take Pretoria and annexe both the Boer republics Go to Kruger, Stephanus Johannes Paulus (1825–1904) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires Puerto Ricans are granted limited democracy in a bill of rights introduced after two years of US military occupation Go to Puerto Rico in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization Latin America Caribbean Frank Baum introduces children to Oz, in his book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Go to Wizard of Oz, The Wonderful (1900) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States Scottish music-hall artist Harry Lauder makes his first London appearance at Gatti's music hall in Westminster Go to Lauder, Sir Harry MacLennan (1870–1950) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 20th century Performing arts Theatre Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain David Belasco's play Madame Butterfly has its premiere in New York, and is subsequently seen in London by Giacomo Puccini Go to Madame Butterfly in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 20th century Performing arts Theatre Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Europe Britain North America United States The Conservatives win an increased majority during the Boer War, in what becomes known as the 'khaki election' Go to Salisbury, Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoigne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of (1830–1903) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 20th century Politics Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife exhibit together at the Sezession show in Vienna Go to Mackintosh, Charles Rennie (1868–1928) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Arts Decorative arts Austria Enrique Granados completes the ten piano pieces forming his Danzas españolas Go to Granados (y Campina), Enrique (27 July 1867) in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Spain Keir Hardie is returned to parliament for Merthyr Tydfil, beginning a long and close link between the Labour party and Wales. Go to Hardie, (James) Keir (1856–1915) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Britain The relief of Mafeking ends a long siege which brings fame to the British commander of the garrison, Robert Baden-Powell Go to Mafeking, siege of (1899–1900) in The Oxford Companion to Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Politics War European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires Rubber brings prosperity to Manaus, thousands of miles up the Amazon Go to rubber tree in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Commerce and industry Society Latin America South America After a prodigiously productive career as novelist and journalist, Stephen Crane dies of tuberculosis at the age of 28 Go to Crane, Stephen (1871–1900) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States Hostility to foreign intrusion erupts in China with the Boxer Rising Go to Boxer Rising (1899–1900) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 Asia East Asia China Europe Empires Harvey Firestone sets up the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio Go to Firestone, Harvey (1868–1938) in The Oxford Companion to United States History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Social and domestic Society North America United States Joshua Slocum publishes Sailing Alone Around the World, an account of his famous 1895-8 circumnavigation Go to Slocum, Joshua (1844–c.1910) in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Travel and transport Society North America United States The Bayer company in Germany sells aspirin in the form of water-soluble tablets, the first medication of its kind Go to aspirin n. in A Dictionary of Psychology (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Science Medicine Social and domestic Germany Society Ferdinand Zeppelin's first dirigible makes its test flight from a floating hangar on the Lake of Constance Go to zeppelin in A New Dictionary of Eponyms (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Technology Inventions and discoveries Germany Charles Stewart Rolls wins the Automobile Club's Thousand Mile Trial in a 12 horse-power Panhard Go to Rolls, Charles Stewart (1877–1910) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 20th century Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Jack London's first collection of stories, The Son of the Wolf, brings him a wide readership Go to London, Jack Griffith (1876–1916) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States The British government assumes direct responsibility for the entire region of Nigeria, previously entrusted to a commercial company Go to Nigeria in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Germany Empires Jean Sibelius's Finlandia stirs national instincts in Helsinki Go to Finlandia in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Finland Theodore Dreiser's first novel, Sister Carrie, receives no publicity because his publisher, Frank Doubleday, considers it immoral Go to Sister Carrie in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States Sigmund Freud publishes one of his most significant works, The Interpretation of Dreams Go to Freud, Sigmund (1856–1939) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Science Medicine Austria Australia's Salvation Army produces an ambitious presentation of film and slides in Soldiers of the Cross Go to Salvation Army in A Dictionary of Public Health (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Performing arts Film Australia and Oceania Australia The Irish Parliamentary Party, which split after the Parnell divorce case, reunites under the leadership of John Redmond Go to Redmond, John Edward (b. 1 Sept. 1856) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain More than 8000 people die when a hurricane demolishes the seaside resort of Galveston in Texas Go to Galveston Hurricane and Flood (1900) in The Oxford Companion to United States History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Social and domestic Society North America United States The American League emerges from baseball's Western League, before going national in 1901 Go to baseball in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Sports and games Society North America United States The Voice of the People is the first of Ellen Glasgow's novels set in her native state, Virginia Go to Glasgow, Ellen (1874–1945) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States Anton Chekhov's play Uncle Vanya is directed by Stanislavsky at the Moscow Art Theatre Go to Uncle Vanya in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama Europe Russia Wilbur and Orville Wright test a biplane glider at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina Go to Wright, Wilbur in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Technology Inventions and discoveries North America United States In the US presidential election William McKinley wins a second term on a simple platform, promising 'the full dinner pail' Go to McKinley, William (b. 29 Jan. 1843) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Politics US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States Edward Elgar writes the oratorio Dream of Gerontius, setting Cardinal Newman's poem of the same title Go to Dream of Gerontius, The in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 20th century Performing arts Music Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Gustave Charpentier's opera Louise has Paris premiere at the Opéra-Comique Go to Louise in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Europe France German physicist Max Planck proposes the revolutionary concept of the quantum theory Go to quantum theory in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Science Physics Germany Lenin and comrades launch in Munich a radical newspaper, Iskra ('the spark') Go to Lenin, Vladimir Ilich (1870–1924) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Politics Communism Democracy and dissent Europe Russia Joseph Conrad publishes his novel Lord Jim about a life of failure and redemption in the far East Go to Lord Jim in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Humbert I, the king of Italy, is assassinated by an Italian-American anarchist, Gaetano Bresci Go to anarchism in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Terrorism and assassination Europe Italy The Welsh painter Augustus John becomes Britain's most famous bohemian Go to John, Augustus Edwin (1878–1961) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 20th century Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Britain The Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov keeps dogs alive almost indefinitely by severely curtailing their bodily functions Go to Pavlov, Ivan Petrovich (1849–1936) in A Dictionary of Biology (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 20th century Science Medicine Europe Russia
1901	Six separate Australian colonies combine to form the independent Commonwealth of Australia Go to Australia (New Holland, Terra Australis) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Victorian era 20th century Politics British empire Australia and Oceania Empires Australia Queen Victoria dies at Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, after 63 years on the throne Go to Victoria (1819–1901) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Victorian era 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Edward VII is already 59 when he succeeds his mother, Victoria, as Britain's monarch Go to Edward VII (1841–1910) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era Victorian era 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Vast crowds line the streets for the Milan funeral of a national hero, the 87-year-old composer Giuseppe Verdi Go to Verdi, Giuseppe (1813–1901) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Europe Italy Thousands of women and children die in the concentration camps used by the British army for displaced Boer families Go to Boer Wars (1880–81) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires Photographer Eadweard Muybridge extends the range of his studies with Human Figure in Motion Go to Muybridge, Eadweard (1830–1904) in The Oxford Companion to the Photograph (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science North America United States Rusalka, by the Czech composer Anton Dvorák, is performed in Prague Go to Rusalka in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Bohemia Czech Republic Thomas Mann's first novel, Buddenbrooks, brings him immediate success Go to Mann, Thomas (1875–1955) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature German literature Fiction Europe Germany A stele is found at Susa, in Iran, giving the text of the Code of Hammurabi Go to Hammurabi, Code of in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Asia Central Asia Iran (Persia) Charles Voysey completes a house for himself, The Orchard, at Chorley Wood in Hertfordshire Go to Voysey, Charles Francis Annesley (1857–1941) in A Dictionary of Modern Design (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Architecture British architecture War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Beatrix Potter publishes at her own expense The Tale of Peter Rabbit Go to Tale of Peter Rabbit, The (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Ransome Eli Olds manufactures the Curved Dash Oldsmobile on assembly line principles in Detroit Go to automobile in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Technology Engineering North America United States The concept of instant coffee is developed in Chicago by the Japanese American chemist Satori Kato Go to coffee in A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Society North America United States Rudyard Kipling's experiences of India are put to good use in his novel Kim Go to Kim in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A change of palette by Pablo Picasso takes him into what becomes known as his Blue Period Go to Picasso, Pablo (1881–1973) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Painting French painting French art Europe France The British batsman C.B. Fry hits a record six consecutive centuries in first-class cricket Go to Fry, C. B. (1872–1956) in A Dictionary of Sports Studies (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century War Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Frank Lloyd Wright designs low residential buildings, suitable for the plains around Chicago, and calls them Prairie Houses Go to Wright, Frank Lloyd (1869–1959) in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Architecture American architecture North America United States The Austrian biochemist Karl Landsteiner discovers that human blood is of varying types Go to Landsteiner, Karl (1868–1943) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Austria The first of Edward Elgar's five Pomp and Circumstance marches has a trio section that becomes "Land of Hope and Glory" Go to Pomp and Circumstance in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Music War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Sergei Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto gives him renewed confidence after the disaster of his First Symphony in 1897 Go to Rachmaninov, Sergei (1873–1943) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Russia The Texas oil industry is launched with the discovery of the 75,000-barrel-a-day Lucas Gusher near Beaumont Go to Petroleum Industry. in The Oxford Companion to United States History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Commerce and industry Society North America United States Frederick Delius completes his opera A Village Romeo and Juliet, but it is not performed until 1907 in Berlin Go to Village Romeo and Juliet, A in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Music War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Charles Rennie Mackintosh designs the interior of Miss Cranston's Ingram Street Tea Rooms in Glasgow Go to Mackintosh, Charles Rennie (1868–1928) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Arts Decorative arts War British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters has its premiere at the Moscow Art Theatre, directed by Stanislavsky Go to Three Sisters in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Europe Russia Robert Falcon Scott sets off in the Discovery on his first expedition to the Antarctic Go to Scott, Robert Falcon (1868–1912) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Exploration War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain Australia passes an Immigration Restriction Act to underpin the White Australia policy Go to White Australia policy in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Migration War Australia and Oceania Society Australia Frank Norris publishes The Octopus, the first of a projected trilogy of novels set in Southern California Go to Octopus, The: A Story of California in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States President McKinley is assassinated by an anarchist when visiting the Pan-American exhibition in Buffalo Go to McKinley, William (b. 29 Jan. 1843) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Terrorism and assassination US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States Vice President Theodore Roosevelt becomes US president on McKinley's death Go to Roosevelt, Theodore (b. 27 Oct. 1858) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States The 1901 census reveals that the population of the United Kingdom has almost doubled in 50 years, to 38 million Go to census in A Dictionary of Sociology (3 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Social and domestic War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Frank Hornby begins to market in Britain his immensely successful Meccano kits Go to Meccano (1901) in A Dictionary of Modern Design (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Social and domestic War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Guglielmo Marconi transmits a radio message in Morse code 2100 miles, from Poldhu in Cornwall to St John's in Newfoundland Go to Marconi, Guglielmo (1874–1937) in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Technology Communication War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America Canada
1902	Edith Wharton's publishes her first full-length novel, The Valley of Decision Go to Valley of Decision, The in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States Ebenezer Howard republishes his earlier book of 1898 as Garden Cities of Tomorrow Go to garden city movement in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Arts War British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Venezuela defaults on European interest payments and is soon threatened by British, German and Italian warships Go to Drago doctrine in A Dictionary of Law (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Commerce and industry War Society Latin America South America Rudyard Kipling publishes his Just So Stories for Little Children Go to Just So Stories for Little Children (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US philosopher William James publishes his influential book The Varieties of Religious Experience Go to James, William (1842–1910) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Philosophy North America United States In his pamphlet What is to be done? Lenin argues for early action to promote revolution Go to Lenin, Vladimir Ilich (1870–1924) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Communism Democracy and dissent Europe Russia Alfred Stieglitz and other US photographers launch the Photo-Secession movement Go to Photo-Secession in The Grove Encyclopedia of American Art (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Photography American art North America United States Helen Keller's The Story of My Life begins publication in serial form Go to Keller, Helen Adams (1880–1968) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States French automobile pioneer Leon Serpollet sets a new land speed record, driving a steam car at 75 mph along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice Go to steam engine in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Steam 20th century Travel and transport Technology Engineering Europe France Society North Carolina pharmacist Caleb Bradham launches the Pepsi-Cola company in a back room of his shop Go to Pepsi-cola in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Society North America United States A.E. Kennelly and Oliver Heaviside independently see the link between the atmosphere and the behaviour of radio waves Go to Heaviside, Oliver (1850–1925) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Physics Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States The play Cathleen ni Houlihan, by W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory, fosters Irish nationalism Go to Cathleen ni Houlihan in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Drama War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain The US Congress makes the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 permanent, without the need for ten-year renewals Go to Chinese Exclusion Acts in Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Society North America United States Cuba becomes independent after three years of US military rule, with certain restrictions imposed by the Platt Amendment of 1901 Go to Platt Amendment in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization Latin America Caribbean Cuba A treaty at Vereeniging ends the Boer War and brings the Boer republics under British control Go to Vereeniging, treaty of in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires Charles Pathé develops film facilities capable of mass production, in Vincennes near Paris Go to Pathé, Charles (1863–1957) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Film Europe France Irish politician Arthur Griffith launches Sinn Fein, as an organization campaigning for a strong and independent Ireland Go to Sinn Fein in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain After the defeat of neighbouring Transvaal in the Boer War, the British take sole control of Swaziland Go to Swaziland in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa Europe Empires Land of Hope and Glory' features in its lasting form as the finale of Elgar's Coronation Ode for Edward VII Go to Coronation Ode in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Music War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The three-year Philippine-American War is brought to an end, and the Philippines become a US colony Go to Philippine War in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century War Spanish empire Asia East Asia Japan Empires The Tale of Peter Rabbit is published commercially, a year after being first printed by Beatrix Potter at her own expense Go to Tale of Peter Rabbit, The (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Lord Salisbury resigns as British prime minister and is succeeded by his nephew, A.J. Balfour Go to Balfour, Arthur James, 1st Earl of (1848–1930) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The sculptor Aristide Maillol has his first one-man exhibition, at the Galerie Vollard in Paris Go to Maillol, Aristide (8 Dec. 1861) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Sculpture French art Europe France Augustus John meets his favourite subject Dorothy McNeill, to whom he gives the Gypsy name Dorelia Go to John, Augustus Edwin (1878–1961) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Arts Painting British painting War British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain John Masefield's poem 'Sea Fever' is published in Salt-Water Ballads Go to Masefield, John (1878–1967) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Hughie Cannon writes 'Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home' for a minstrel, John Queen Go to dixieland in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music North America United States Maxim Gorky's play The Lower Depths is performed at the Moscow Art Theatre Go to Lower Depths, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama Europe Russia Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles begins publication in serial form Go to Hound of the Baskervilles, The: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain W.B. Yeats heads a group of writers and directors in establishing the Irish National Theatre Society Go to Irish National Dramatic Society in The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Theatre War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Claude Debussy's opera Pelléas et Mélisande has its premiere in Paris Go to Pelléas et Mélisande in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Europe France Henry James publishes the first of his three last novels, The Wings of the Dove Go to Wings of the Dove, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain French film pioneer Georges Méliès uses trick effects for his film Journey to the Moon Go to Méliès, Georges (1861–1938) in The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Film Europe France Gustav Mahler marries Alma, daughter of the artist Emil Jakob Schindler Go to Mahler-Werfel, Alma (Maria) (31 Aug. 1879) in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Austria The tenor Enrico Caruso cuts his first phonograph records in Milan, beginning an immensely successful recording career Go to Caruso, Enrico (25 Feb. 1873) in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Italy William K. Vanderbilt drives the first internal-combustion car to win the land speed record, at 76 mph at Ablis in France Go to internal-combustion engine in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Travel and transport Technology Engineering Europe France Society Brooklyn shopkeepers Morris and Rose Michtom have a huge success with their presidential 'Teddy's Bear' Go to teddy bear in A New Dictionary of Eponyms (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Society North America United States The first Aswan dam, at this time the world's largest, is completed on the Nile See this event in other timelines: 20th century Technology Engineering Africa North Africa Egypt Joseph Conrad publishes a collection of stories including Heart of Darkness, a sinister tale based partly on his own journey up the Congo Go to ‘Heart of Darkness’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The English painter G.F. Watts is made a founding member of the Order of Merit Go to Merit, Order of in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Arts War British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1903	The Wizard of Oz, based on the book by Frank Baum, opens on Broadway as a musical to huge success Go to Wizard Of Oz, The (stage musical) in Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Theatre North America United States Cuba is forced to accept a permanent US military presence in Guantanamo Bay Go to Guantanamo Bay in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization US presidents Rulers and politicians Latin America Caribbean Cuba North America United States US author Jack London publishes a novel, The Call of the Wild, in which a huge pet dog has alarming adventures Go to Call of the Wild, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States Lenin's supporters become known as the Bolsheviks ('majority') as opposed to the Mensheviks ('minority') after a split at the party's Second Congress Go to Bolsheviks in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Communism Democracy and dissent Europe Russia German surgeon Georg Clemens Perthes discovers, in Leipzig, that X-rays can inhibit cancer Go to radiotherapy in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Medicine Germany Sibelius writes Valse Triste as incidental music to a play, Kuolema, by his brother-in-law Arvid Järnefelt Go to Valse triste in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Gertrude Stein leaves the USA to share with her brother an apartment in Paris that soon becomes a literary and artistic salon Go to Stein, Gertrude (3 Feb. 1874) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature French literature Literature in English Europe France North America United States Emmeline Pankhurst founds the Women's Social and Political Union to fight for women's political rights in the UK Go to Pankhurst, Emmeline (b. 4 July 1858) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain José Batlle is elected president of Uruguay and proves to be a visionary politician Go to Batlle y Ordóñez, José (21 May 1856) in A Dictionary of Political Biography (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Latin America South America Erskine Childers has a best-seller in The Riddle of the Sands, a thriller about a planned German invasion of Britain Go to Childers, Erskine (1870–1922) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain King Alexander and Queen Draga of Serbia are murdered in their palace by army officers Go to Obrenović in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Europe In a paper to a congress in Madrid, on the 'psychology and psychopathology of animals', Ivan Pavlov announces his discovery of the conditioned reflex Go to Pavlov, Ivan Petrovich (1849–1936) in A Dictionary of Animal Behaviour (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Life sciences Europe Spain Henry James publishes The Ambassadors, the second of his three last novels written in rapid succession Go to Ambassadors, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Ernest Rutherford and Frederick Soddy identify the phenomenon of radioactive half-life Go to half-life in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Science Physics War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Edward VII, the first British monarch to travel to India, holds a great coronation durbar in Delhi Go to Edward VII (1841–1910) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa British monarchs - from 1066 Africa Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic) Europe Empires Rulers and politicians Roger Casement, British consul in the Congo Free State, discovers appalling abuses by Belgian companies Go to Casement, Sir Roger (1864–1916) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization War European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Central Africa East Africa Europe Empires Edwin S. Porter directs The Great Train Robbery, providing a big commercial success for Thomas Edison's film company Go to cinema in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Film North America United States Giuseppe Sarto is elected pope and takes the name Pius X Go to Pius X, St (1835–1914) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Religion Christianity Papacy Europe Italy British philosopher G.E. Moore publishes Principia Ethica, an attempt to apply logic to ethics Go to Moore, G. E. (1873–1958) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Philosophy War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A US warship appears off the coast of Panama in support of rebels declaring an independent republic Go to Panama in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization Latin America Central America North America United States Maurice Ravel sets to music romantic oriental poems by Tristan Klingsor in his song-cycle Shéhérazade Go to Ravel, (Joseph) Maurice (1875–1937) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France The Colombian government rejects the Hay-Herrán treaty with the US on the Panama canal, thus prompting the break-away of Panama Go to Hay Treaties (1901) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry Society Latin America Central America North America United States William Harley and three Davidson brothers begin the commercial production in Milwaukee of motorcycles, but complete only three by the end of the year Go to Harley‐Davidson (1902) in A Dictionary of Modern Design (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering Society North America United States US author W.E.B. Du Bois publishes his first collection of essays, The Souls of Black Folk Go to Du Bois, W. E. B. (1868–1963) in A Dictionary of Critical Theory (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Dutch physiologist Willem Einthoven invents the galvanometer, or electrocardiograph, for recording the electrical impulses within the heart muscle Go to Einthoven, Willem (1860–1927) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Science Medicine War Europe Netherlands The Pit, the second volume of an uncompleted trilogy by US novelist Frank Norris, is published posthumously Go to Pit, The: A Story of Chicago in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States The first World Series is played between nine leading baseball teams from the National League and the American League Go to baseball in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Sports and games Society North America United States Britain's first national motor show is organized at the Crystal Palace, moving two years later to Olympia Go to Crystal Palace in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Charles Rennie Mackintosh completes the Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow for Miss Cranston Go to Mackintosh, Charles Rennie (1868–1928) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Arts Decorative arts War British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain The USA is granted exclusive control in perpetuity of a ten-mile corridor across Panama, suitable for a canal Go to Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Canals 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry US presidents Society Rulers and politicians Latin America Central America North America United States Italian tenor Enrico Caruso makes his US debut at the New York Metropolitan Opera Go to Caruso, Enrico (1873–1921) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Opera North America United States Work begins on England's first garden city, at Letchworth, based on the theories of Ebenezer Howard Go to garden city movement in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Arts War British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Orville Wright travels 40 yards in the first successful powered flight, at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina Go to Wright, Wilbur in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Technology Inventions and discoveries North America United States The annual Prix Goncourt is established in France, in accordance with the will of Edmond de Goncourt Go to Goncourt, Prix in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Europe France
1904	Anton Chekhov's last play, The Cherry Orchard, is staged by Stanislavsky just a few months before the author's death Go to Cherry Orchard, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama Europe Russia Leos Janacek's opera Jenufa, based on a play by Gabriela Preissová, has its premiere in Brno Go to Jenůfa in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Bohemia Czech Republic Finnish architect Gottlieb Eliel Saarinen wins the competition to build Helsinki's railway station Go to Saarinen, Gottlieb Eliel (1873–1950) in A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Architecture Europe Finland J.M. Synge's play Riders to the Sea has its premiere at the Molesworth Hall in Dublin Go to Riders to the Sea in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama War British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Charles Stewart Rolls, a keen driver, meets electrical engineer Henry Royce in a historic encounter in Manchester Go to Royce, Sir (Frederick) Henry (1863–1933) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Technology Engineering War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A violent uprising by Herero warriors in South West Africa targets male Germans of military age Go to Herero Wars (1904–08) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa German empire Africa South Africa Europe Empires Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly falls victim at La Scala to claques paid for by rivals Go to Madama Butterfly in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Europe Italy A surprise Japanese attack on Russian warships in Port Arthur launches the Russo-Japanese War for influence in Far East Go to Russo-Japanese War (1904–05) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century War Asia East Asia Japan John Christian Watson becomes Australia's first Labor prime minister, leading a minority government that survives for only four months Go to Watson, John Christian (1867–1941) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics War Australia and Oceania Australia Joseph Conrad publishes his novel Nostromo, about a revolution in South America and a fatal horde of silver Go to Nostromo in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Latin America South America France and Britain sign an Entente Cordiale, resolving several colonial disputes and laying the foundation for a new alliance Go to entente cordiale (1904) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe France Britain Helen Keller overcomes deafness and blindness to graduate cum laude at Radcliffe College in the USA Go to Keller, Helen Adams (1880–1968) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States The German general Lothar von Trotha drives 8000 Herrero people to slow death in the Kalahari desert Go to Herero Wars (1904–08) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa German empire Africa West Africa Europe Empires Henry James publishes his last completed novel, The Golden Bowl Go to Golden Bowl, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain An observatory with a 100-inch reflecting telescope is set up by George Ellery Hale on Mount Wilson in California Go to Hale, George Ellery (1868–1938) in A Dictionary of Astronomy (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Astronomy and space Technology North America United States Constantine Cavafy prints fourteen of his poems in a pamphlet for private distribution Go to Cavafy, Constantine (1863–1933) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature Poetry Europe Greece The US consul in Mexico, Edward Herbert Thompson, begins a very profitable excavation at the Mayan site of Chichén Itzá Go to Chichén Itzá in The Oxford Companion to Archaeology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Latin America Central America Mexico Austrian psychologist Sigmund Freud publishes The Psychopathology of Everyday Life Go to Freud, Sigmund (1856–1939) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Medicine Austria Hughie Cannon writes the music and words for the song originally titled "He Done Me Wrong" in the US musical Frankie and Johnny Go to Frankie and Johnny in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Theatre North America United States British troops under Francis Younghusband enter Tibet's holy city of Lhasa Go to Tibet, British expedition to (1904) in The Oxford Companion to Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire Asia East Asia Empires The publisher Walter Blackie moves into Hill House at Helensburgh, designed for him by Charles Rennie Mackintosh Go to Mackintosh, Charles Rennie (1868–1928) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Architecture British architecture War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain J.M Barrie's play for children Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up has its premiere in London Go to Peter Pan in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Literature in English Drama War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Alban Berg and Anton Webern study composition with Arnold Schoenberg in Vienna Go to Webern, Anton Friedrich Wilhelm von (1883–1945) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Austria Alexander Scriabin completes his Third Symphony, The Divine Poem, which is given its first performance in Paris in 1905 Go to Scriabin, Alexander Nikolayevitch (1872–1915) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Russia US architect Louis Sullivan completes the Schlesinger & Meyer Store (later known as the Carson, Pirie & Scott Store) in Chicago Go to Sullivan, Louis (1856–1924) in A Dictionary of Modern Design (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Architecture American architecture North America United States Theodore Roosevelt wins the US presidential election in his own right Go to Roosevelt, Theodore (b. 27 Oct. 1858) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States US inventor King C. Gillette receives a patent for a disposable safety razor Go to safety razor noun in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Technology Inventions and discoveries Society North America United States Under the pseudonym Saki, H.H. Munro publishes Reginald, his first volume of short stories Go to Reginald (1904) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Australian soprano Nellie Melba makes the first of a great many recordings Go to Melba, Nellie (1861) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music North America United States US president Theodore Roosevelt announces the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, in response to crises in Latin America Go to Roosevelt Corollary (1904) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States Dublin's Abbey Theatre opens as a new home for the Irish National Theatre Society Go to Abbey Theatre, Dublin in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Theatre War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Gwen John makes her home in Paris, where she becomes Rodin's model and mistress Go to John, Gwen (22 June 1876) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Arts War French art Europe France
1905	Transvaal politician Louis Botha forms Het Volk ('The People'), a party committed to Afrikaner self-government Go to Botha, Louis (1862–1919) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent War European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires The American sculptor Jacob Epstein moves from New York to settle in London Go to Epstein, Sir Jacob (1880–1959) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Sculpture British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles American art Europe Britain North America United States Troops fire on a demonstration in St Petersburg, in the event which becomes known as Bloody Sunday Go to Russian Revolution (1905) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Europe Russia Industrial Workers of the World (with its members later known as Wobblies) is founded in Chicago as a radical union initiative Go to Industrial Workers of the World in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent North America United States The Bloomsbury Group gathers for informal evenings at the family home of Virginia and Vanessa Stephens (later Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell) Go to Bloomsbury Group in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Arts Literature English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Strikes and riots sweep across Russia in the wake of St Petersburg's Bloody Sunday Go to Russian Revolution (1905) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Europe Russia Albert Einstein explains the photoelectric effect as a flow of discreet particles (quanta) of electromagnetic radiation Go to photoelectric effect in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Physics Germany Henry Wood sets 'Rule Britannia' in his Fantasia on British Sea Songs, providing a traditional favourite for the last night of the Proms Go to Fantasia on British Sea Songs in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Music War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain More than 360,000 Norwegians vote to end the union with Sweden, with only 184 against Go to Norway in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Europe Norway The Japanese defeat a larger force of Russians at Mukden in the final land battle of the Russo-Japanese War Go to Russo-Japanese War (1904–05) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century War Battles Asia East Asia China English engineer Herbert Austin sets up a factory to manufacture cars at Longbridge, south of Birmingham Go to Austin, Herbert (1866–1941) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Technology Engineering War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Kaiser Wilhelm II visits Tangier in support of Moroccan independence, causing a diplomatic crisis with the colonial powers France and Britain Go to Moroccan Crisis, First (1905) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa French empire German empire Africa North Africa Europe Empires German biologists Fritz Schaudinn and Erich Hoffmann discover the micro-organism Treponema pallidum which causes syphilis Go to syphilis in A Dictionary of Public Health (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Life sciences Germany Two thirds of the Russian fleet is sunk after being ambushed by Japanese warships in the Tsushima Strait Go to Russo-Japanese War (1904–05) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century War Asia East Asia The largest diamond yet known is found in a South African mine belonging to Thomas Cullinan Go to Cullinan diamond in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Commerce and industry War Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Society Oscar Wilde's De Profundis, a letter of recrimination written in Reading Gaol to Lord Alfred Douglas, is published posthumously Go to de profundis in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In his special theory of relativity Albert Einstein reconciles the apparent clash between relativity and electromagnetic theory Go to special theory of relativity in A Dictionary of Astronomy (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Physics Germany Henri Matisse completes his painting Luxe, Calme et Volupté Go to Matisse, Henri Emile Benoît (1869–1954) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Painting French painting French art Europe France US photographers Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen set up the Little Galleries of the Photo-Secession in New York Go to Gallery 291 in The Oxford Companion to the Photograph (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Photography American art North America United States French psychologists Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon develop a scale by which to measure the 'mental age' of children Go to mental age n. in A Dictionary of Psychology (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Europe France Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and other Dresden students form the Expressionist group Die Brücke Go to Brücke, Die in The Oxford Companion to Western Art (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Painting Germany Pablo Picasso's palette becomes warmer as Blue evolves into Rose Go to Picasso, Pablo (1881–1973) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Painting French painting French art Europe France David Belasco's play Girl of the Golden West has its premiere in New York, where it is seen two years later by Giacomo Puccini Go to Girl of the Golden West, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Theatre North America United States Alberta and Saskatchewan join the Canadian confederation, completing the 'prairie provinces' Go to Rupert's Land in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics North America Canada Karol Szymanowski and other Polish composers form a group that soon becomes known as Young Poland Go to Szymanowski, Karol (1882) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Poland The Ulster Unionist Party is founded in Belfast to oppose Home Rule Go to Ulster Unionist Party in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Ireland Rulers and politicians Britain The Russian composer Alexander Scriabin becomes influenced by the theosophy of Madame Blavatsky Go to Scriabin, Alexander (1872) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Russia Edith Wharton publishes the novel that brings her fame and fortune, The House of Mirth Go to House of Mirth, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States Henri Matisse, in the south of France, paints The Open Window, Collioure, the first of his many works on this theme Go to Matisse, Henri Émile Benoît (1869–1954) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Painting French painting French art Europe France The first boat to be powered by a combustion engine, the 125-ton vessel Venoga, is launched on Lake Geneva Go to internal-combustion engine in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Travel and transport Technology Inventions and discoveries Switzerland Society A complaint about maggoty meat on the Russian battleship Potemkin leads to thousands of deaths after troops fire on a demonstration Go to Potemkin in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Europe Russia Society English physiologists William Bayliss and Ernest Starling coin the word 'hormone' for glandular secretions into the bloodstream Go to Starling, Ernest Henry (1866–1927) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Science Life sciences War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Maji-Maji rising results in alarming outbreaks of violence in German East Africa Go to Maji-Maji in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa German empire Africa East Africa Europe Empires The first German submarine, or U-boat, is constructed in a programme to catch up with Britain and France in this area Go to Tirpitz, Alfred von (b. 18 Mar. 1849) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: First World War 20th century War Weapons German empire Germany Empires Wars since 1900 H.G. Wells publishes Kipps: the story of a simple soul, a comic novel about a bumbling draper's assistant Go to Kipps in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The German commander in east Africa uses famine as a means of ending the Maji-Maji rising Go to Maji-Maji in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa German empire Africa East Africa Europe Empires US philosopher George Santayana publishes the first of the five volumes of his Life of Reason Go to Santayana, George (1863–1952) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Philosophy North America United States President Theodore Roosevelt mediates a peace treaty in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, between Russia and Japan Go to Portsmouth, Treaty of (1905) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century War US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States Hitler moves to Vienna, hoping to be a painter, but is twice rejected as a student by the Academy of Fine Arts Go to Hitler, Adolf (1889–1945) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century War Europe Austria Thomas Dixon's popular novel The Clansman presents the Ku Klux Klan in heroic terms Go to Clansman, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States Aristide Maillol has his first major success with a large sculpture at the Salon d'Automne in Paris Go to Maillol, Aristide (8 Dec. 1861) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Sculpture French art Europe France The Treaty of Portsmouth gives Japan control of Port Arthur and much of the Liaotung Peninsula Go to Portsmouth, Treaty of (1905) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization Asia East Asia China Britain's Automobile Association is founded, with patrol-men on bicycles to assist drivers Go to automobile in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Travel and transport War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Claude Debussy completes the three symphonic sketches forming La Mer Go to Debussy, (Achille) Claude (1862–1918) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France Albert Einstein relates mass and energy in the equation e = mc² Go to special theory of relativity in A Dictionary of Astronomy (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Physics Germany Matisse, Derain and others, exhibiting in Paris their shockingly colourful new works, are dubbed fauves ("wild beasts") by a critic Go to Fauvism in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Painting French painting French art Europe France The first soviet ("council") of workers is set up in St Petersburg, introducing a word of great significance in Russian Communist history Go to Soviet in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Communism Protest and rebellion Commerce and industry Europe Russia Society The Dutch dancer Gertrud Zelle begins a career in Paris, using the stage name Mata Hari Go to Mata Hari in A New Dictionary of Eponyms (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Dance War Europe Netherlands Tsar Nicholas II reluctantly signs the October Manifesto, authorizing an elected duma or legislature Go to Duma in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Europe Russia Percival Lowell predicts the existence of an unknown planet, almost exactly where Pluto is discovered 25 years later Go to Lowell, Percival (1855–1916) in A Dictionary of Astronomy (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Astronomy and space Technology North America United States Gustav Mahler's cycle of five songs, Kindertotenlieder, is its first performance in Vienna Go to Kindertotenlieder in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Austria The monk Grigory Rasputin exercises a powerful influence over the Russian empress Alexandra Go to Rasputin, Grigori Yefimovich (1871–1916) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Europe Russia Bernard Shaw has two new plays opening in London in the same year, Major Barbara and Man and Superman Go to Shaw, George Bernard (1856–1950) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Literature in English Drama War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The designer Edward Gordon Craig publishes a theatrical manifesto, The Art of the Theatre Go to Craig, Gordon (1872–1966) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Theatre War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Conservative prime minister Balfour resigns and Henry Campbell-Bannerman forms an interim Liberal government in Britain Go to Campbell-Bannerman, Sir Henry (1836–1908) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Richard Strauss's Salome, based on Oscar Wilde's play, has wide success in spite of censorship difficulties Go to Salome in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Germany Franz Lehár's operetta The Merry Widow opens in Vienna at the start of an immensely successful run Go to Merry Widow, The in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Austria Sir Percy Blakeney rescues aristocrats from the guillotine in Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel Go to Scarlet Pimpernel, The (1905) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1906	17-year-old Charlie Chaplin joins the Fred Karno company, touring slapstick comedy Go to Chaplin, Charlie (1889–1977) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Theatre War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Henry Campbell-Bannerman leads the Liberals to a massive election victory in the UK on a promised programme of reform Go to Campbell-Bannerman, Sir Henry (1836–1908) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Britain's Labour Party achieves its first electoral success, winning twenty-nine seats at Westminster Go to Labour Party in The Oxford Companion to Family and Local History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Britain launches HMS Dreadnought, the first of a massive new class of battleship Go to dreadnought in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: First World War Edwardian era 20th century War Weapons Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Wars since 1900 Britain The first part of the Post Office Savings Bank in Vienna is completed, to the designs of Otto Wagner Go to Wagner, Otto (1841–1918) in A Dictionary of Modern Design (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Architecture Austria Upton Sinclair publishes The Jungle, a hard-hitting novel about the Chicago meat-packing industry Go to Jungle, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States More than 1200 French miners die in an underground explosion in the district of Calais Go to mine safety in A Dictionary of Public Health (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Europe France Society Cardiff's new Civic Centre is launched with the completion of the City Hall and Law Courts, designed by Lanchester, Stewart and Rickards Go to Lanchester, Henry Vaughan (1863–1953) in A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Architecture War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales Europe Britain English biologist William Bateson uses the word 'genetics' to describe the phenomenon of heredity and variation Go to Bateson, William (1861–1926) in A Dictionary of Biology (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Science Life sciences War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain An international conference at Algeciras effectively gives France informal control of Morocco Go to Algeciras, Conference of (1906) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa French empire Africa North Africa Europe Empires The Grain Growers' Grain Company is established, soon becoming an important element in Canada's grain market Go to Grain Growers' Grain Company in The Oxford Companion to Canadian History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Commerce and industry Society North America Canada Frederick Soddy observes his first examples of chemically identical elements with differing atomic weights, to which he later gives the name isotopes Go to isotope in A Dictionary of Astronomy (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Science Chemistry War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Fire destroys much of San Francisco following the most violent earthquake in the city's history Go to San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. in The Oxford Companion to United States History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Society North America United States The Liberals win a majority in election for Russia's new duma and press ahead with proposals for land reform Go to Stolypin, Piotr Arkadievich (b. 14 Apr. 1862) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Europe Russia Antoni Gaudí completes his radical rebuilding of the Casa Batlló in Barcelona Go to Gaudí (y Cornet), Antonio (1852–1926) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Architecture Europe Spain Istanbul cedes the Sinai Peninsula to British-controlled Egypt Go to Sinai in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization War European empires from 1415 Asia West Asia Europe Empires Tsar Nicholas II issues a Fundamental Law emphasizing his own autocratic power Go to Nicholas II (b. 18 May 1868) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Europe Russia In Charles Ives' composition The Unanswered Question the trumpet repeatedly asks 'the perennial question of existence' Go to Ives, Charles Edward (1874–1954) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music North America United States German immunologist August von Wasserman develops a diagnostic test to reveal the presence of the syphilis spirochaete in the blood Go to Wasserman reaction in Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Medicine Germany Charles Pathé opens the first purpose-built luxury cinema, the Omnia-Pathé, in Paris Go to Pathé, Charles (1863–1957) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Film Europe France The first volume of the inexpensive Everyman's Library is issued by Joseph Dent, a London publisher Go to Everyman’s Library in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Naturalization Act provides definitive requirements for naturalization as a US citizen Go to Immigration and Naturalization Service in The Oxford Guide to the United States Government (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Social and domestic Society North America United States E. Nesbit publishes The Railway Children, the most successful of her books featuring the Bastable family Go to Railway Children, The (1906) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Simplon rail tunnel, the longest in the world (20 km), is opened between Switzerland and Italy Go to railway in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Technology Engineering Europe Italy Switzerland In direct response to Britain's new Dreadnought, Germany increases the production of battleships Go to Dreadnought, HMS in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: First World War 20th century War Weapons German empire Germany Empires Wars since 1900 Tsar Nicholas II appoints as prime minister the reformist aristocrat Pyotr Stolypin Go to Stolypin, Piotr Arkadievich (b. 14 Apr. 1862) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Europe Russia The first Grand Prix of motor-racing is held near Le Mans over a 64-mile course Go to motor racing in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Sports and games Europe France Society Pablo Picasso's portrait of Gertrude Stein prefigures cubism in its mask-like treatment of her face Go to Cubism in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Painting French painting French art Europe France The Pure Food and Drug Act, a landmark initiative in consumer protection, becomes law in the US Go to Pure Food and Drug Act. in The Oxford Companion to United States History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Social and domestic Society North America United States Alfred Dreyfus is reinstated in the army after the French supreme court overturns his conviction for treason Go to Dreyfus case in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Europe France Society Belgian physiologists Jules Bordet and Octave Gengou identify Bacillus pertussis, the bacterium causing whooping cough Go to Bordet, Jules Jean Baptiste Vincent (1870–1961) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Science Medicine War Europe Belgium Tsar Nicholas II summarily dismisses Russia's new duma when it has been sitting for only three months Go to Duma in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Europe Russia Alfred Dreyfus is awarded the Légion d'Honneur ten days after his conviction has been annulled Go to Dreyfus Affair in Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Europe France Society Humorous Phases of Funny Faces, created by New Yorker J. Stuart Blackton, introduces the concept of the animated cartoon Go to animation in A Dictionary of Media and Communication (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Film North America United States The Cunard company launches the Lusitania on the Clyde as a sister ship to the Mauretania Go to Lusitania in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Travel and transport Technology Engineering War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The Great Valparaiso Earthquake damages much of central Chile and is felt from Peru to Buenos Aires Go to Valparaíso in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic China Society Latin America Brazil Central America Chile Peru South America Frank Lloyd Wright builds a Unity Temple for the Unitarians in Oak Park, now a suburb of Chicago Go to Wright, Frank Lloyd (1869–1959) in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Architecture American architecture North America United States A large retrospective exhibition in Paris gives Paul Gauguin a growing posthumous reputation Go to Gauguin, Paul (1848–1903) in The New Oxford Companion to Literature in French (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Painting French painting French art Europe France Mahatma Gandhi, confronted by racial discrimination in South Africa, launches a programme of passive resistance (satyagraha) Go to satyagraha in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent War British empire Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Empires Sergei Diaghilev mounts a major exhibition of Russian art at the Petit Palais in Paris. Go to Diaghilev, Sergei (1872–1929) in The Oxford Companion to Theatre and Performance (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts French art Europe France A paediatrician in Vienna, Clemens von Pirquet, describes a condition for which he coins the term 'allergy' Go to allergy in Food and Fitness: A Dictionary of Diet and Exercise (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Medicine Austria German physicist Walther Nernst establishes the Third Law of Thermodynamics, dealing with temperatures close to absolute zero Go to thermodynamics, laws of in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Physics Germany Ethel Smyth's most successful opera, The Wreckers, is premiered in Leipzig Go to Wreckers, The in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Music Opera War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain 6-year-old Fred Astaire and his sister Adele give their first professional performance, in the pier theatre in Keyport, New Jersey Go to Astaire, Fred (1899–1987) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Dance North America United States Roald Amundsen and his crew are the first to achieve the Northwest Passage, in a journey lasting three years in a 70-ft fishing boat Go to Amundsen, Roald (1872–1928) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Exploration Society North America Canada The German neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer identifies physical symptoms in the brain of a dead woman who had presenile dementia Go to Alzheimer's disease in A Dictionary of Public Health (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Medicine Germany President Roosevelt wins a Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation between Russia and Japan Go to Portsmouth, Treaty of (1905) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century War US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States The Russian prime minister Pyotr Stolypin introduces land reform Go to Stolypin, Piotr Arkadievich (b. 14 Apr. 1862) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Europe Russia The Story of the Kelly Gang, produced in Australia, is the first feature-length film, with a running time of nearly an hour Go to Tait family in The Oxford Companion to Australian History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Film War Australia and Oceania Australia Transvaal is given the self-governing status promised in the treaty ending the Boer War Go to Vereeniging, treaty of in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires Reginald Fessenden transmits on Christmas Eve, from Brant Rock, Massachusetts, the world's first radio broadcast Go to Fessenden, Reginald Aubrey (1866–1932) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts North America United States The All-India Muslim League is set up at a meeting of the Muhammadan Educational Conference in Dhaka Go to Muslim League in The Oxford Dictionary of Islam (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Religion Islam War British empire Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Empires John Galsworthy publishes The Man of Property, the first of his novels chronicling the family of Soames Forsyte Go to Man of Property, The (1906) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1907	US inventor Lee De Forest patents the Audion, a sensitive vacuum-tube radio receiver Go to De Forest, Lee (1873–1961) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Technology Communication Inventions and discoveries North America United States J.M. Synge's Playboy of the Western World provokes violent reactions at its Dublin premiere Go to Playboy of the Western World, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Drama War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Frederick Delius's Walk to the Paradise Garden is added to his opera A Village Romeo and Juliet to cover a scene change during the Berlin premiere Go to Walk to the Paradise Garden, The in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Music War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Michel Fokine creates the ballet Les Sylphides (originally called Chopiniana) to music by Chopin Go to Sylphides, Les in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Dance Europe France Maria Montessori establishes her first Casa dei Bambini in the deprived San Lorenzo district of Rome Go to Montessori schools in A Dictionary of Education (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Europe Italy Society Russian author Maxim Gorky completes his novel Mat ("The Mother"), written mainly during a visit to the USA Go to Gorky, Maxim (1868–1936) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature Fiction Europe Russia President Roosevelt sends marines to protect US property during political unrest in Honduras Go to Roosevelt Corollary (1904) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States Edmund Gosse publishes Father and Son, an account of his difficult relationship with his fundamentalist father, Philip Gosse Go to Gosse, Sir Edmund (1849–1928) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Dutch and British companies (Royal Dutch Oil, Shell Transport and Trading) merge to form Royal Dutch Shell Oil Go to petroleum industry in The Oxford Companion to the Earth (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Commerce and industry War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Netherlands Society Britain An Entente signed between Britain and Russia follows on from the 1904 Entente Cordiale with France to establish a new Triple Entente Go to Triple Entente in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Russia Britain US philosopher William James publishes Pragmatism: a New Name for Old Ways of Thinking Go to Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Philosophy North America United States Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce build their most famous car, the Silver Ghost, in the factory they have set up in Derby Go to Royce, Sir Frederick Henry (1863–1933) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Technology Engineering War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Russian impresario Sergei Diaghilev presents five concerts of Russian music in Paris Go to Diaghilev, Serge (31 March 1872) in The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France Gertrude Stein meets Alice B. Toklas, who becomes her secretary and lifelong companion Go to Stein, Gertrude (3 Feb. 1874) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Europe France A separatist party in Spain, Solidaridad Catalana, makes electoral gains in Catalonia Go to Catalonia in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Europe Spain Pablo Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, a violent transition into cubism, is a turning point in western art Go to Picasso, Pablo (1881–1973) in The New Oxford Companion to Literature in French (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Painting French painting French art Europe France Henkel & Cie launches in Düsseldorf the first domestic washing powder, Persil Go to detergent in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Germany Society Austrian scientist Clemens von Pirquet discovers a diagnostic test to identify tuberculosis in a patient Go to tuberculosis in Concise Medical Dictionary (8 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Medicine Austria James Joyce completes the 15 short stories eventually published in 1914 as Dubliners Go to Dubliners in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain A fossilized human jaw, probably at least 500,000 years old, is found near Heidelberg in Germany Go to Homo in A Dictionary of Biology (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Germany Collapse of trust companies causes panic and financial crisis in USA Go to Federal Reserve Act (1913) in The Oxford Companion to United States History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Commerce and industry Society North America United States The world's first custom-built motor-racing track opens at Brooklands, near Weybridge in Surrey Go to motor racing in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century War Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The Transvaal government presents to Edward VII the Cullinan diamond, now part of the British crown jewels Go to Cullinan diamond in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty War British monarchs - from 1066 Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Rulers and politicians The Deutscher Werkbund is founded in Munich as an association of architects, designers and industrialists Go to Deutscher Werkbund in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Germany Frederick Delius completes Brigg Fair, an 'English Rhapsody' for orchestra, first performed in Liverpool in 1908 Go to Delius, Frederick (1862–1934) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Music War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Samuel Simon, working in Manchester, takes out a patent for the use of silk to support a stencil Go to silk‐screen printing in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Technology Inventions and discoveries War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The first International Horse Show takes place in London's Olympia stadium Go to Kensington in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century War Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The Harvester Judgement establishes a minimum wage in Australia Go to Harvester judgment (1907) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Social and domestic War Australia and Oceania Society Australia Swedish playwright August Strindberg publishes The Ghost Sonata, which has its first performance in Stockholm the following year Go to Ghost Sonata, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama Europe Sweden New Zealand becomes independent as a self-governing dominion Go to dominion in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics War British empire Australia and Oceania New Zealand Empires The British liner Lusitania sets a new record for the Atlantic crossing, on the first of four such occasions Go to Lusitania in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Travel and transport Technology Engineering War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Harry Lauder has a hit in the USA with his recording of I Love a Lassie Go to Lauder, Sir Harry MacLennan (1870–1950) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music North America United States US cartoonist Bud Fisher creates Mutt and Jeff for the San Francisco Chronicle, in the world's first daily comic strip Go to Mutt and Jeff in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts American art North America United States A Midwest region, including what remains of the reserved Indian Territory, is included in Oklahoma when it joins the Union as the 46th state Go to Oklahoma (USA) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics American Indians North America United States 20-year-old Le Corbusier builds his first house at La Chaux-de-Fonds, in his native Switzerland Go to Le Corbusier (1887–1965) in A Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Architecture Switzerland President Roosevelt sends a fleet of warships on a goodwill tour of the world that also demonstrates US power Go to Great White Fleet in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Weapons US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States Anna Pavlova dances The Dying Swan, choreographed for her by Michel Fokine to music by Saint-Saëns Go to Dying Swan, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Dance Europe France Russia
c. 1908	Robert Baden-Powell publishes Scouting for Boys, the success of which leads to the establishment of the Scouts Go to Scouting for Boys in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Social and domestic War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Jack London's novel Iron Heel foresees a future repressive capitalist regime in the USA Go to Iron Heel, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States Rat, Mole and Toad, in Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, appeal to a wide readership Go to Wind in the Willows, The (1908) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The king of Portugal, Carlos I, and his heir, Luis Filipe, are shot as they ride in an open carriage in Lisbon Go to Portugal in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Terrorism and assassination Europe Portugal Anatole France casts a satirical eye on human society in his novel L'île des pingouins ("Penguin Island") Go to France, Anatole (1844–1924) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature French literature Fiction Europe France Jack Norworth and Albert von Tilzer write Take Me Out to the Ball Game, which becomes one of the most popular songs in the USA Go to Norwoth, Jack (1879–1959) in The Oxford Companion to the American Musical (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music North America United States The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) is set up in Washington Go to Federal Bureau of Investigation in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Society North America United States The Young Turks of Salonika organize a successful uprising against the autocracy of the Ottoman sultan Go to Young Turks in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Turks Muslim empires Ottoman empire Asia West Asia Turkey Empires Ezra Pound's first book of poems, A Lume Spento, is published in Italy Go to Pound, Ezra (1885–1972) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Poetry North America United States UK prime minister Henry Campbell-Bannerman resigns because of ill health and is followed as Liberal leader and prime minister by Herbert Asquith Go to Asquith, Herbert Henry, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith (1852–1928) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain David Lloyd George becomes chancellor of the exchequer in Asquith's new cabinet Go to Lloyd George, David (1863–1945) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The Polyscope Film Company releases the first horror movie, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, filmed from a popular stage production Go to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Strange Case of in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Film North America United States The Burmah Oil Company, developing a concession granted in 1901 to William Knox D'Arcy, discovers oil in Iran Go to petroleum industry in The Oxford Companion to the Earth (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Commerce and industry War Asia Central Asia Iran (Persia) Society Austria annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina, in response to the policy of the Young Turks in Istanbul Go to Bosnia and Herzegovina in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Austrian empire Habsburgs 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization Turks Austria Empires Sergei Diaghilev presents Fyodor Chaliapin in Boris Godunov at the Paris Opera Go to Chaliapin, Fyodor (Ivanovich) (1/13 Feb. 1873) in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Europe France The Liberal government in Britain introduces an old-age pension, albeit only five shillings a week. Go to old-age pensions in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Social and domestic War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Ernest Shackleton, leading an expedition to the Antarctic, locates the south magnetic pole Go to Shackleton, Sir Ernest Henry (1874–1922) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Exploration War Society Georges Braque's Houses at L'Estaque introduces analytic Cubism Go to Cubism in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Painting French painting French art Europe France Claude Debussy completes Children's Corner, pieces for piano which include 'Golliwog's Cake Walk' Go to Children's Corner in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France International outrage at Congo atrocities forces Belgium to annexe King Leopold's private colony Go to Leopold II (1835–1909) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Central Africa East Africa Europe Belgium Empires German physicist Hans Geiger, working in England with Rutherford, develops an instrument that can detect and count alpha particles Go to Geiger counter in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Physics Germany Augusto Leguía begins a long spell as the strong man of Peruvian politics Go to Leguía, Augusto Bernardino (1863–1932) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Latin America Peru South America Jack Norworth and Nora Bayes write "Shine on, Harvest Moon" for The Follies of 1908 Go to Ziegfeld Follies in The Oxford Companion to American Theatre (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music North America United States Maurice Maeterlinck's The Blue Bird is performed at the Moscow Art Theatre in a production by Stanislavsky Go to Blue Bird, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama Europe Russia Bronislava Nijinska joins her brother Vaslav in the Maryinsky company in St Petersburg Go to Nijinska, Bronislava (8 Jan. 1891) in The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Dance Europe Russia After first being discussed at the Berlin Radiotelegraphic Conference in 1906, SOS is formally ratified as the international distress signal Go to ‘SOS’ in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Germany Society Swiss chemist Jacques Brandenberger patents cellophane, a flexible transparent film made from cellulose Go to Cellophane in A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Technology Inventions and discoveries Switzerland Society Parliament in Australia chooses Canberra as the site of the nation's new capital Go to Canberra in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics War Australia and Oceania Australia Coffee replaces sugar as Brazil's main crop, accounting for more than 50% of exports in 1908 Go to cash crop in A Dictionary of Business and Management (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Commerce and industry Society Latin America Brazil South America Lucy Maud Montgomery's first novel, Anne of Green Gables, brings her instant fame and fortune Go to Anne of Green Gables (1908) in The Oxford Companion to Canadian History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States George McJunkin, near Folsom in New Mexico, sees the bones of an extinct giant bison, partially exposed after a flash flood, with an ancient spear point embedded in the skeleton Go to Folsom Tradition in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century North America Modernist architect Adolf Loos attacks architectural ornament in Ornament and Crime Go to Loos, Adolf (1870–1933) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Architecture Austria Arnold Schoenberg abandons tonality in his String Quartet No. 2 Go to Schoenberg, Arnold Franz Walter (1874–1951) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Austria Alexander Scriabin's orchestral work, Poem of Ecstasy, has its first performance in New York Go to Scriabin, Alexander Nikolayevitch (1872–1915) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Russia The first Model T Ford rolls off the production line at the Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit Go to Ford, Henry (1863–1947) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering Society North America United States Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria declares his country's independence from Ottoman rule and calls himself Tsar Ferdinand I Go to Ferdinand (1861–1948) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Turks Muslim empires Ottoman empire Europe Empires The last Manchu emperor, Puyi, is placed on the throne at the age of two on the death of his uncle, the Guanxu emperor Go to Puyi (1906–67) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Asia East Asia Japan The Empress Dowager Cixi dies the day after selecting the infant Puyi for the Chinese throne Go to Cixi (c. 1834–1908) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Asia East Asia Japan Gideons International place their first bible in a hotel bedroom, in Montana, USA Go to Gideon in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Religion Christianity Social and domestic Society North America United States Europe's worst earthquake, centred on the Strait of Messina, kills up to 200,000 people in Sicily and southern Italy. Go to earthquake in A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Sicily Europe Italy Society William Howard Taft, the Republican candidate, is elected to follow Roosevelt as president Go to Taft, William Howard (b. 15 Sept. 1857) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States The French critic Louis Vauxcelles describes Braque's latest landscapes as being composed of cubes, resulting in the term cubism Go to Vauxcelles, Louis (1870–1943) in A Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Painting French painting French art Europe France US boxer Jack Johnson becomes the first black heavyweight champion when he knocks out Tommy Burns in Australia Go to Johnson, Jack (1878–1946) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Sports and games Australia and Oceania Society Australia North America United States The Welsh poet W.H. Davies has a success with The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp, his account of life on the road and in dosshouses Go to Davies, W. H. (1871–1940) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Britain
1909	Bernard Leach moves to Japan to study oriental traditions in the graphic arts Go to Leach, Bernard Howell (1887–1979) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Arts Decorative arts War British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Asia East Asia Japan Europe Britain The opera Elektra, the first collaboration between Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hofmannsthal, has its premiere in Dresden Go to Elektra in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Germany Michel Fokine becomes the choreographer for the ballet company that Sergei Diaghilev is taking to Paris Go to Fokine, Michel (1880–1942) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Dance Music Europe France Ralph Vaughan Williams sets poems by Housman in On Wenlock Edge Go to Vaughan Williams, Ralph (1872–1958) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Music War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Italian educational pioneer Maria Montessori publishes The Montessori Method Go to Montessori, Maria (1870–1952) in A Dictionary of Education (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Europe Italy Society Rugby Union acquires new headquarters and a state-of-the-art stadium at Twickenham Go to Twickenham in A Dictionary of London Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century War Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Alexandre Benois becomes the first artistic director of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes Go to Benois, Alexandre (4 May 1870) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Dance Europe France The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is founded in response to two lynchings in Illinois Go to National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent North America United States Arnold Schoenberg composes his opera for a single voice, Erwartung, which remains unperformed until 1924 in Prague Go to Schoenberg, Arnold Franz Walter (1874–1951) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Austria Leo Baekeland announces his discovery of Bakelite, calling it 'the material of a thousand uses' Go to Baekeland,Leo Hendrik (1863–1944) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Social and domestic Technology Society North America United States National delegates from the four provincial parliaments draw up a draft constitution for a South African union Go to South Africa in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization War European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires French biologist Charles Nicolle discovers that epidemic typhus is transmitted by the body louse Go to Nicolle, Charles Jules Henri (1866–1936) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Medicine Europe France Mary Pickford begins her film career at sixteen, when she is hired by D.W. Griffith Go to Pickford, Mary (1893–1979) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Film North America United States André Gide publishes La Porte étroite ('Strait is the Gate') Go to Gide, André-Paul-Guillaume (1869–1951) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature French literature Fiction Europe France Isaac Albéniz completes his series of 12 piano pieces published under the title Iberia. Go to Albéniz, Isaac (1860) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Spain René Lalique, originally known for his jewellery, sets up his own glass-making factory at Combes-la-Ville Go to Lalique, René Jules (1860–1945) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Arts Decorative arts French art Europe France 15-year-old Andrés Segovia gives his first public performance as a guitarist in Granada Go to Segovia, Andrés in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Spain Vaughan Williams first symphony, which he names A Sea Symphony, is first performed at the Leeds Festival Go to Vaughan Williams, Ralph (1872–1958) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Music War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Diaghilev presents the first season of Ballets Russes in Paris, with Pavlova and Nijinsky in the company Go to Diaghilev, Serge (31 Mar. 1872) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Dance Europe France Fokine's 1907 ballet Chopiniana is revised and given a new name, Les Sylphides Go to Fokine, Mikhail (5 May 1880) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Dance Europe France Jack London publishes his most autobiographical novel, Martin Eden Go to London, Jack (1876–1916) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction North America United States The heroine of H.G. Wells' novel Ann Veronica is a determined example of the New Woman Go to Ann Veronica in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US entrepreneur Gordon Selfridge opens the first British custom-built department store on London's Oxford Street Go to Selfridges in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Commerce and industry War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Sea captain Joseph-Elzéar Bernier unveils a plaque in the Arctic Archipelago, declaring that all the islands belong to Canada Go to Bernier, Captain Joseph-Elzéar (1852–1934) in The Oxford Companion to Canadian History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Exploration Society North America Canada Mahatma Gandhi, on a visit to India, publishes a pamphlet entitled Hind Swaraj ("Indian Home Rule") Go to Gandhi, Mahatma (1869–1948) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent War British empire European empires from 1415 Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires President Taft builds the first Oval Office, in the new west wing of the White House Go to Oval Office in The Oxford Guide to the United States Government (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States US physicist Robert A. Millikan devises an oil drop experiment that determines the charge of an electron Go to Millikan's oil-drop experiment in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Physics North America United States Louis Blériot is the first to fly across the English Channel, winning the £1000 prize offered by the Daily Mail Go to Blériot, Louis (1872–1936) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Exploration Technology Engineering War Europe France Society Mineral discoveries on the border of Northern Rhodesia and the Belgian Congo give the first hint of the riches of the Copper Belt Go to Zambia in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Commerce and industry European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Zimbabwe Africa Central Africa East Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Society Empires The Selig Polyscope Company sets up the first film studio in the Los Angeles region, at Edendale Go to Hollywood in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Film North America United States Sergei Rachmaninov premieres his Third Piano Concerto during his tour of the USA as a pianist Go to Rachmaninov, Sergei (1873) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Russia Karl Landsteiner classifies the main human blood groups as A, B, AB and O Go to Landsteiner, Karl (1868–1943) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Science Life sciences Austria Thomas Beecham uses his personal fortune from Beecham's Pills to found his first orchestra, the Beecham Symphony Orchestra Go to Beecham, Thomas (1879) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Performing arts Music War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Set-designer Leon Bakst begins a long association with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes Go to Bakst, Léon (1866) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Dance French art Europe France President Taft sends marines to Nicaragua after the government there executes two US citizens Go to Taft, William Howard (15 Sept. 1857) in A Dictionary of Political Biography (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Politics US presidents Rulers and politicians Latin America Central America North America United States In response to fears of German espionage a Secret Service Bureau, later to be divided into MI5 and MI6, is set up in Britain Go to MI5 and MI6 in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Conservative majority in the House of Lords rejects Lloyd George's reforming budget, giving the Liberals the chance to call an election on an emotive issue Go to Lloyd George, David (17 Jan. 1863) in A Dictionary of Political Biography (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 20th century Politics War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Rimsky-Korsakov's opera The Golden Cockerel has its premiere in Moscow Go to Rimsky‐Korsakov, Nikolay (1844) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Europe Russia Joshua Slocum, the most famous sailor of the day, vanishes on another lone voyage Go to Slocum, Joshua (1844–1909) in The Oxford Companion to World Exploration (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Travel and transport Society North America United States

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date: 24 September 2023

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