Timeline of the 20th Century Part I through 1950 (References and links start on p. 743) 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 1 * 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] 2 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 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] 4 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 5 * 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] 6 * 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 7 * 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 8 * 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] 9 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] 10 October 7 * The term "orienteering" is first used for an event.