1900

January 1

• First date in John dos Passos' USA trilogy (The 42nd Parallel). [1]
• British protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria established. [1]
• Compulsory education in Netherlands goes into effect. [1]

January 2

• E Verlinger begins manufacturing 7-inch single-sided records (Montréal). [1]
• Gustave Charpentiers opera "Louise" premieres in Paris. [1]

January 3

• Edwin George Monk composer, dies at age 80. [1]
• Gerhart Hauptmanns "Schluck und Jau" premieres in Berlin. [1]
• Perihelion Passage. [1]

January 6

• Boers attack at Ladysmith, about 1,000 killed or injured. [1]
• Maurice Ravel's "Albaradode Gracioso" premieres in Paris. [1]

January 10

• Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener reach Capetown. [1]

January 12

• Freeland Colony founded in US. [1]

January 14

• Giacomo Puccini's opera "Tosca" premieres in Rome. [1]

January 18

• Jan Blockx's "Tÿl Uilenspiegel" premieres in Brussels. [1]

January 20

• John Ruskin English writer/critic (Dearest Mama Talbot), dies of influenza at age 81. [1]
• R D Blackmore English novelist (Lorna Doone), dies at age 74. [1]
• Richard D Blackmore English novelist (Lorna Doone), dies at age 74. [1]

January 24

• Battle at Tugela-Spionkop, South Africa (Boers versus British army). [1]

January 26

• Henrik Ibsen's "Naar vi Dode Vaaguer" premieres in Stuttgart. [1]

January 27

• Social Democrat Party of America (Debs' party) holds first convention. [1]

January 29

• Boers under Joubert beat English at Spionkop Natal, 2,000 killed. [1]

January 30

• Vittorio Bersezio [Carlo Nugelli], Italian playwright, dies at age 71. [1]

February 2

• Gustave Charpentiers opera "Louise" premieres in Paris. [1]

February 3

• Ottokar Eugen Novacek composer, dies at age 33. [1]

February 5

• The United States and the United Kingdom signed a treaty for Panama Canal. [5]
• British troops under General Buller occupy Vaal Krantz, Natal. [1]

February 6

• Battle at Vaalkrans, South Africa (Boers versus British army). [1]

February 7

• British troops vacate Vaal Krantz, Natal. [1]
• Labour Party forms in England. [1]

February 14

• Date of events in movie "Picnic at Hanging Rock". [1]

February 15

• General French relieves Kimberley/Cecil Rhodes. [1]

February 16

• First Chinese daily newspaper in US publishes first issue (Chung Sai Yat Po-San Francisco). [1]
• George Labram US mine engineer in South Africa, dies in battle. [1]

February 18

• Battle at Paardeberg, 1,270 British killed/injured. [1]
• British troops occupy Monte Christo Natal. [1]

February 19

• British troops occupy Hlangwane Natal. [1]

February 22

• Battle at Wynne's Hill, South Africa (Boers versus British army). [1]
• Hawaii became a US territory. [1]

February 23

• Battle at Hart's Hill, South Africa (Boers versus British army). [1]
• Steamer "Rio de Janeiro" sinks in San Francisco Bay. [1]
• William Butterfield architect of the Gothic revival, dies. [1]

February 27

• Battle at Pietershoogte; Boer General Cronjé surrenders to English in Pardenberg, South Africa. [1]
• Conference in London calls for creation of a British labor party. [1]

February 28

• General Buller's troops relieve Ladysmith Natal. [1]

March 3

• US Steel Corporation organizes. [1]

March 5

• American Hall of Fame is founded. [1]

March 6

• Gottlieb Daimler designed first motorcycle, dies at age 65. [1]

March 7

• Battle at Poplar Grove South Africa, President Kruger flees. [1]

March 8

• The Union Castle Steamship Co. Ltd. is registered in England, a merger of Castle Line and Union Line. [152.18]

March 10

• Battle at Driefontein, South Africa (Boers versus British army). [1]
• Johann Peter Emilius Hartmann composer, dies at age 94. [1]

March 12

• President Steyn of Orange-Free state flees from Bloemfontein. [1]

March 13

• British troops occupy Bloemfontein, Orange-Free state. [1]

March 14

• Hugo de Vries rediscovers Mendel's laws of genetics. [1]
• US currency goes on gold standard. [1]

March 16

• Sir Arthur Evans finds old city of Knossus. [1]

March 18

• António Nobre Portuguese poet (Só [Lonely]), dies at age 32. [1]

March 25

• US Socialist Party is formed at Indianapolis. [1]

March 26

• First edition The (Free) People (Netherlands, probably Amsterdam). [1]
• Isaac Mayer Wise rabbi/found American Hebrew Congregations, dies at age 80. [1]

March 27

• Pieter J Joubert [Smart Piet] South African General, dies at age 69. [1]

March 30

• Dutch second Chamber accepts Compulsory education law. [1]

March 31

• Brigadier-General Broadwoods troops fall into guerrilla hands. [1]

April 1

• First edition of Dutch newspaper "The People". [1]

April 2

• First edition of The Volk published (Amsterdam). [1]

April 4

• Assassination attempt on prince of Wales/king Edward VII. [1]
• British garrison of Reddersberg surrenders to Boer General De Wet. [1]
• Edward VII King, assassinated. [1]

April 5

• Attempted assassination of Prince of Wales in Brussels, fails. [1]
• Comte de Villebois-Marevil French/South African General, dies in battle. [1]

April 11

• US Navy's first submarine made its debut. [1]

April 14

• President Loubet opens International Fairs in Paris France. [1]
• Veteran's Hospital at Fort Miley is established. [1]

April 15

• An early 50 mile race is won by an electric car in over two hours. [1]
• International Exposition opens in Paris France. [1]

April 16

• US Post Office issues first books of postage stamps. [1]

April 17

• Seven high chiefs of American Samoa sign Instrument of Cession. [1]

April 19

• Highest scoring opening game, Philadelphia Phillies beat Braves 19-17 in 10. [1]
• Ivan K Aïvazovski Russian painter (harbor scenes), dies at age 82. [1]

April 20

• Birth of Kees Verwey painter/water colors painter/cartoonist. [1]
• Mabel Mercer popular British singer, dies. [1]

April 21

• Heinrich Vogl composer, dies at age 55. [1]

April 23

• First known occurrence of word "hillbillie" (New York Journal). [1]

April 24

• George J D Campbell British minister of Indies (1868-74, 80-85), dies at age 76. [1]
• Passing of Andrew Halliday, cable car pioneer. [1]

April 26

• Birth of Charles Richter Ohio, Earthquakes seismologist (Richter scale). [1]

April 30

• John Luther [Casey] Jones dies in Cannonball Express train wreck. [1]
• USA annexes Hawaii. [1]

May 1

• Mihály von Munkácsy [Michael von Lieb], German painter, dies at age 56. [1]
• Premature blast collapses mine tunnel killing 200 at Scofield UT. [1]

May 2

• George Bernard Shaws "You Never Can Tell" premieres in London. [1]

May 5

• "The Billboard" began weekly publication. [1]

May 7

• Richard Storrs Willis composer, dies at age 81. [1]

May 8

• 250 grave robbers shot to death. [1]

May 12

• Boer attack under Sarel Eloff, about 70 killed. [1]
• Lord Roberts' troops occupies Crown city. [1]
• Wilhelm Steinitz Prague, chess champion (1866-1894). [1]

May 17

• British troops relieve Mafeking (Cape Colony). [1]

May 18

• Britain proclaims protectorate over kingdom of Tonga. [1]

May 19

• Great Britain annexes Tonga archipelago. [1]

May 20

• Gustav Heinrich Graben-Hoffman composer, dies at age 80. [1]

May 22

• Associated Press organizes in New York City as non-profit news cooperative. [1]
• Edwin S Votey patents pneumatic piano player. [1]

May 23

• Associated Press News Service forms in New York. [1]

May 24

• Britain annexes Orange Free State. [1]

May 26

• British troops under Ian Hamilton attack the Vaal in South Africa. [1]

May 27

• Lord Roberts' army fights the Vaal in South Africa. [1]

May 28

• Britain annexes Orange Free State (as Orange River Colony). [1]
• Solar eclipse occurs. [1]

May 29

• Trademark "Escalator" registered by Otis Elevator Co. [1]

May 31

• British troops under Lord Roberts occupy Johannesburg. [1]
• James Loudon Governor-General of Netherlands-Indies (1871-75), dies at age 75. [1]
• John Power Irish baronet/whiskey manufacturer, dies in battle. [1]
• Piet de Law captures Lieutenant-Colonel Spragges Irish Yeomanry. [1]
• US troops arrive in Peking, help put down Boxer Rebellion. [1]

June 4

• M Wolf and A Schwassmann discovers asteroid #456 Abnoba. [1]

June 12

• German Navy Law calls for massive increase in sea power. [1]

June 13

• China's Boxer Rebellion against foreigners and Christians. [1]

June 14

• Hawaiian Republic becomes the US Territory of Hawaii. [1]

June 26

• Dr Walter Reed begins research that beats Yellow Fever. [1]

June 30

• Four German liners burn at Hobokon Docks, New Jersey, 326 die. [1]

July 2

• Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin first airship LZ-1, flies. [1]

July 12

• 114 degrees F (46 degrees C), Basin, Wyoming (state record). [1]

July 13

• Philadelphia Phillies beat Pittsburgh 23-8. [1]

July 21

• Pope Leo XIII encyclical to the Greek-Melkite rite. [1]

July 23

• Pan-African Congress meets in London. [1]

July 24

• Race riot in New Orleans, two white policemen killed. [1]

July 28

• Hamburger created by Louis Lassing in Connecticut. [1]

July 29

• Umberto I Italian king assassinated by anarchist Gaetano Bresci. [1]

August 3

• Firestone Tire & Rubber Company is founded. [5]

August 5

• James Augustine Healy black Roman Catholic bishop, dies at age 80. [1]

August 12

• Wilhelm Steinitz Prague, Chess champion (1866-1894). [1]

August 14

• International forces including US Marines enter Beijing to put down Boxer Rebellion, which was aimed at ridding China of foreigners. [1]

August 23

• National Negro Business League organizes (Boston). [1]

August 25

• Friedrich Nietzsche philosopher, dies in Weimar, Germany. [1]

September 3

• British annex Natal (South Africa). [1]

September 5

• France proclaims a protectorate over Chad. [1]

September 8

• 6,000 killed when a hurricane and tidal wave destroys Galveston, Texas, most deadly in US history. [1]

September 19

• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid commit their first robbery together. [5]

October 3

• Birth of Jay Irving New York City, cartoonist (Draw Me a Laugh). [1]

October 7

• The term "orienteering" is first used for an event. [1]

October 25

• England annexes Transvaal. [1]

November 3

• First national automobile show opens at Madison Square Garden (New York City). [1]

November 6

• President William McKinley (Republican) re-elected, beating William Jennings Bryan. [1]

November 8

• Theodore Dreiser's novel "Sister Carrie" is published. [1]

November 20

• Birth of Chester Gould cartoonist (gave Dick Tracy a job). [1]

November 30

• Oscar Wilde, Irish author, dies in Paris. [1] [5]

December 1

• South African President Paul Kruger visits Flanders. [1]

December 2

• South African President Paul Kruger arrives in Germany. [1]

December 7

• Max Planck discovers the law of black body emission in his house just outside Berlin. [5]

December 8

• Henry Russell composer, dies at age 87. [1]

December 9

• Dutch President Paul Kruger and Queen Wilhelmina have a triumphant procession. [1]

December 12

• National Negro Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is composed. [1]

December 13

• Battle at Nooitgedacht: Generals The la Rey/Smuts beat Britten. [1]

December 14

• Jean B A Kessler director of oil on Dutch Indies, dies at age 46. [1]

December 16

• Boer army under General Kritzinger take Cape colony. [1]

December 17

• First prize of 100,000 francs offered for communications with extraterrestrials. Martians excluded-considered too easy. [1]
• New Ellis Island Immigration station completed costing $1.5 million. [1]

December 20

• Giacobini discovers a comet (will be first comet visited by spacecraft). [1]

December 21

• Gerhart Hauptmann's "Michael Kramer" premieres in Berlin. [1]

December 24

• Herman Heijermans' "Hope of Blessing" premieres in Amsterdam. [1]

December 25

• Arthur Schnitzlers "Leutnant Gustl" forbidden in Germany. [1]

December 27

• Carrie Nation's first public smashing of a bar (Hotel Carry Annex Bar, Wichita Kansas). [1]

December 29

• General Viljoen surprise attack British garrison to Helvetia. [1]

1901

January 1

• Australia declares independence from federation of United Kingdom colonies. [1]
• Ignatius Donnelly US attorney/Lieutenant-Governor (Minnesota), dies at age 69. [1]

January 9

• Birth of Chic Young cartoonist (Blondie). [1]

January 10

• A drilling derrick at Spindletop Hill near Beaumont, Texas, produces a gusher of crude oil from at a depth of over 1,000 feet. [1] [129]

January 11

• Vasily Sergeyevich Kalinnikov composer, dies at age 34. [1]

January 13

• Carlo Angeloni composer, dies at age 66. [1]

January 14

• Charles Hermite French mathematician (e is transcendent), dies at age 78. [1]
• Mandell Creighton English bishop/historian, dies at age 57. [1]
• Victor Balaguer Catalaans historian/politician/author, dies at age 76. [1]

January 16

• Arnold Böcklin Swiss painter, dies at age 73. [1]
• Hiram Revels dies at age 73. [1]

January 17

• Jacob G Agarah Swedish algologist, dies at age 87. [1]

January 18

• Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Graves De Communi Re. [1]

January 21

• Clyde Fitch's "Climbers" premieres in New York City, New York. [1]

January 22

• After 63 years England stops sale of Queen Victoria postage stamps series and begins King Edward VII series. [1]
• Victoria [Alexandrine], Britain's Queen (1837-1901), dies at age 81. [1]

January 24

• Emily Hobhouse views Lord Kitchener's concentration camp at Bloemfontein. [1]
• Simon Hassler composer, dies at age 68. [1]

January 27

• Giuseppe Verdi Italian composer (Rigoletto/Traviata/Aïda), dies in Milano at age 87. [1]

January 31

• Boer General John Smuts and De la Rey conqueror Mud river Transvaal. [1]
• Chekhov's "Three Sisters" opens at the Moscow Art Theater. [1]

February 2

• Female Army Nurse Corps established as a permanent organization. [1]

February 3

• Dutch troops under General Van Heutsz conquer Batu Ilië on Sumatra. [1]

February 5

• Loop-the-loop centrifugal railroad (roller coaster) patented by Ed Prescot. [1]
• Pierpont Morgan forms US Steel Corp. [1]

February 7

• Benjamin Edward Woolf composer, dies at age 64. [1]
• Queen Wilhelmina marries Prince Heinrich von Mecklenburg-Schwerin. [1]

February 11

• Milan I king of Serbia, dies at age 56. [1]

February 12

• Dutch Penitentiary children's law proclaimed. [1]
• Ramón de Campoamor bon Campoosorio Spanish poet (Colón), dies at age 83. [1]

February 14

• Edward John Hopkins composer, dies at age 82. [1]

February 17

• Ethelbert Woodbridge Nevin composer, dies at age 38. [1]

February 18

• H Cecil Booth patented a dust removing suction cleaner. [1]

February 20

• First territorial legislature of Hawaii convenes. [1]

February 25

• George Cohan's musical "Governor's Son" premieres in New York City, New York. [1]
• Jose Rogel composer, dies at age 71. [1]
• US Steel Corp organizes under directorship of J P Morgan. [1]

February 26

• Chi-hsui during Boxer Rebellion in China, beheaded. [1]

March 1

• Bernhard Erdmannsdörffer German historian (Mirabeau), dies at age 68. [1]

March 2

• Hawaii's first telegraph company opens. [1]

March 3

• US Congress creates National Bureau of Standards, in Department of Commerce. [1]

March 4

• First advanced copy of inaugural speech (Jefferson-National Intelligencer). [1]
• President William McKinley inaugurated for second term as President. [1]
• Term of George H White, last of post-Reconstruction congressmen, ends. [1]

March 8

• Karl Freiherr von Stumm-Halberg German politician, dies at age 64. [1]
• Peter Benoit Flemish composer/conductor (High Mass), dies at age 66. [1]

March 10

• Vasily Georgiyevich Wrangell composer, dies at age 38. [1]

March 13

• Benjamin Harrison 23rd President (1889-1893), dies in Indianapolis at age 67. [1]

March 14

• First performance of Anton Bruckner's 6th Symphony in A. [1]

March 15

• Horse racing is banned in San Francisco, last race March 16th. [1]

March 17

• Franz Melde German physicist (Melde Test), dies at age 69. [1]
• Free thinking-Democratic Union forms in Netherlands. [1]

March 23

• Dame Nellie Melba, reveals secret of her now famous toast. [1]

March 25

• 55 die as Rock Island train derailed near Marshalltown IA. [1]

March 31

• John Stainer composer, dies at age 60. [1]

April 1

• François M Raoult Fren physicist/chemist (Law of Raoult), dies at age 70. [1]

April 3

• Richard D'Oyly Carte promotor (Gilbert and Sullivan operas), dies. [1]

April 7

• SDAP demands General voting right/abolishing First Chamber. [1]

April 11

• Ivar Christian Hallstrom composer, dies at age 74. [1]

April 15

• First British motorized burial. [1]

April 22

• William Stubbs historian/bishop, dies. [1]

April 25

• New York becomes first U.S. state requiring automobile license plates ($1 fee). [1] [5]

April 27

• Richard Redhead composer, dies at age 81. [1]

April 29

• Anti semitic riot in Budapest. [1]

May 1

• Pan-American Exposition opens in Buffalo. [1]

May 3

• Fire destroyed 1,700 buildings in Jacksonville Florida. [1]

May 9

• Australia opens its first parliament in Melbourne. [1]

May 12

• President McKinley visits San Francisco. [1]

May 19

• Marthinus Wessels Pretorius first President Republic South Africa, dies at age 81. [1]

May 23

• Ottawa Mint Act receives Royal Assent. [1]
• US captures leader of Philippine rebels, Emilio Aguinaldo. [1]

May 28

• Laws against phosphor matches enacted (inhibition white phosphorous). [1]

May 30

• Hall of Fame for Great American on NYU campus dedicated. [1]

June 7

• M Wolf discovers asteroid #471 Papagena. [1]

June 11

• Cook Islands annexed and proclaimed part of New Zealand. [1]

June 17

• The American College Board introduces its first standardized test, the forerunner to the SAT. [5]

June 24

• The first exhibition of Pablo Picasso's work opens. [5]
• Jewish National Fund starts. [1]

July 11

• L Carnera discovers asteroid #472 Roma. [1]

August 1

• Burial within San Francisco City limits prohibited. [1]

August 14

• Gustave Whitehead claims to have achieved the first powered flight, in his Number 21. [5]

August 15

• Arch Rock, danger to Bay shipping, blasted with 30 tons of nitro. [1]

August 25

• Clara Maass army nurse sacrificied her life at age 25 to prove that. [1]

September 2

• Vice President Theodore Roosevelt advises, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". [1]

September 6

• President William McKinley assassinated by Leon Czologosz in Buffalo, New York. [1]

September 12

• Arabs attack Gedara Palestine. [1]

September 14

• US President William McKinley dies in Buffalo, New York, of gunshot wounds inflicted. [1] [5]

September 30

• Hubert Cecil Booth patents the vacuum cleaner. [5]

October 19

• Santos-Dumont proves airship maneuverable by circling Eiffel Tower. [1]

October 24

• Annie Edson Taylor, a 63-year-old schoolteacher, becomes the first person to take the plunge over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Taylor reaches the shore alive, about 20 minutes after being let loose in her barrel from a small boat. [1] [129]

October 29

• Leon Czolcosz assassin of President McKinley, is executed. [1]

November 16

• Three autos race on Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, fastest speed achieved by Henry Fournier who drives a mile in 51 4/5 seconds. [1]

November 20

• The opera "Grisélidis" is produced (Paris). [1]

November 27

• Army War College established in Washington DC. [1]

November 29

• East 182nd Street in the Bronx is paved and opened. [1]

December 2

• King Camp Gillette begins selling safety razor blades. [1]

December 4

• Anne Russell's "Girl and The Judge" premieres in New York City, New York. [1]

December 10

• The first Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. [1] [7] [129]

December 11

• Marconi sends first transatlantic radio signal, Cornwall to Newfoundland. [1]

December 12

• Marconi receives first transatlantic radio signal, England to US. [1]

December 15

• Elias Alvares Lobo composer, dies at age 67. [1]

December 25

• Battle at Tweefontein Orange-Free state: Boers surprise attack British. [1]