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Major Events of May 1900: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from May 1900 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of May 1900: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 May 1900 Scofield Mine Disaster in Utah: A catastrophic underground explosion occurred in the Winter Quarters No. 4 mine in Scofield, Utah, resulting in the tragic death of over 200 miners. This devastating incident was the fifth-worst mining accident in United States history at the time, highlighting the dangerous working conditions in coal mines during the early 20th century.
  • 02 May 1900 Siege of Mafeking Ends: After an extraordinary 217-day siege, Colonel Robert Baden-Powell successfully breaks the Boer forces' blockade of the British garrison at Mafeking, marking a significant turning point in the Second Boer War and demonstrating remarkable military resilience.
  • 03 May 1900 26th Kentucky Derby Won by Jimmy Boland: On May 3, 1900, the 26th Kentucky Derby was held at Churchill Downs, with jockey Jimmy Boland riding Lieut Gibson to victory. The horse completed the race in an impressive time of 2 minutes and 6.25 seconds, marking a notable moment in early 20th-century horse racing history.
  • 04 May 1900 US Senate Ratifies Geneva Conventions Naval Amendment: The United States Senate formally ratified the 1899 amendment to the Geneva Conventions, specifically extending international humanitarian law protections to naval warfare. This legislative action represented a significant step in codifying international rules of engagement and humanitarian standards during armed conflicts.
  • 05 May 1900 Pacific Islands Company Leases Ocean Island from Banaban Chiefs: Albert Ellis, representing the Pacific Islands Company, signed a significant lease agreement with the chiefs of the Banaban people for Ocean Island (now part of Kiribati). This transaction marked an important moment in colonial-era resource acquisition and territorial negotiations in the Pacific region, with potential long-term implications for indigenous land rights and phosphate mining.
  • 06 May 1900 Crown Prince Wilhelm's 18th Birthday Celebrations in Berlin: On May 6, 1900, Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany marked his coming of age with an elaborate ceremonial celebration at the Royal Chapel in Berlin. As the heir to the German Imperial throne, the event was a significant moment in the Hohenzollern royal family's calendar, symbolizing Wilhelm's transition from youth to potential future monarch. The ceremony would have been attended by high-ranking military officials, aristocratic families, and diplomatic representatives, reflecting the importance of royal succession during the late German Imperial period.
  • 07 May 1900 Anti-Asian Rhetoric by San Francisco Mayor: San Francisco Mayor James D. Phelan delivered a deeply discriminatory speech at Union Square, explicitly denouncing Chinese and Japanese residents as non-citizens. His inflammatory remarks reflected the pervasive xenophobic and racist sentiments prevalent in early 20th-century California, contributing to the systemic marginalization of Asian immigrants.
  • 08 May 1900 Galveston Hurricane of 1900: A devastating hurricane struck Galveston, Texas, causing massive destruction and loss of life. This catastrophic event is considered the deadliest natural disaster in United States history, with approximately 6,000 people killed.
  • 09 May 1900 St. Louis Streetcar Workers Strike: A major labor dispute erupted in St. Louis when approximately three thousand streetcar workers, organized by the Amalgamated Street Railway Employees of America, initiated a citywide strike. This labor action highlighted the growing tensions between workers and transit companies during the early industrial era, demanding better working conditions, wages, and labor rights.
  • 11 May 1900 Heavyweight Boxing Championship: Jeffries Defeats Corbett: In a dramatic heavyweight boxing match, James J. Jeffries defeated James J. Corbett in the 23rd round, knocking out the former champion with a powerful right to the jaw. This fight marked a significant moment in early 20th-century boxing history, with Jeffries solidifying his position as the reigning heavyweight champion.
  • 12 May 1900 British Forces Occupy Crown City During Second Boer War: Lord Roberts' British troops successfully occupied Crown city as part of the ongoing military campaign in the Second Boer War, marking a strategic territorial advancement.
  • 13 May 1900 Boer War Conflict: Sarel Eloff's Attack: On May 13, 1900, during the Second Boer War, Boer commander Sarel Eloff led a significant military engagement resulting in approximately 70 casualties. This attack was part of the broader conflict between British colonial forces and Boer resistance fighters in South Africa, highlighting the intense guerrilla warfare tactics employed during this period.
  • 14 May 1900 Second Boer War Concludes with Boer Surrender: The Second Boer War reaches its conclusion with the surrender of Boer forces in Pretoria, South Africa. This conflict between the British Empire and the Boer states of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State significantly reshaped the political landscape of southern Africa.
  • 15 May 1900 William A. Clark Senate Resignation Controversy: William A. Clark, a controversial Montana senator, resigned from the United States Senate amid potential expulsion proceedings. Clark was known for his significant wealth and alleged corruption in obtaining his Senate seat, which led to intense political scrutiny and debate within the Senate chamber.
  • 17 May 1900 Birth of Ruhollah Khomeini: Ruhollah Khomeini was born, a prominent Iranian Muslim cleric who would later become a pivotal revolutionary leader and the Supreme Leader of Iran from 1979 to 1989. His political and religious ideology profoundly transformed Iran's political landscape and had significant global implications.
  • 18 May 1900 Reuters Announces Mafeking Victory: On May 18, 1900, the Reuters news agency dramatically broke the news of the British victory at Mafeking, South Africa, at precisely 9:17 p.m. in London. The announcement triggered widespread public celebrations throughout Britain, marking a significant moment in the Second Boer War.
  • 19 May 1900 First International Wildlife Conservation Treaty: European colonial powers signed the Convention for the Preservation of Wild Animals, Birds and Fish in Africa in London, marking a pioneering international agreement for wildlife conservation. This landmark treaty represented an early global effort to protect endangered species and ecosystems.
  • 20 May 1900 II Olympic Games in Paris: The Games of the II Olympiad are held in Paris, France, from May 20 to October 28, marking a significant milestone in the modern Olympic movement. These games were part of the World's Fair (Exposition Universelle) and represented an important moment in international sports history.
  • 21 May 1900 Scofield Coal Mine Disaster: A catastrophic explosion at the Pleasant Valley Coal Company near Scofield, Utah, resulted in the deaths of 246 coal miners due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The tragic incident occurred at 10:28 pm, highlighting the dangerous working conditions in early 20th-century mining operations.
  • 22 May 1900 Associated Press Establishes Non-Profit News Cooperative: The Associated Press (AP) was formally organized in New York City as a non-profit news cooperative, marking a significant milestone in the development of modern journalism and news distribution. This cooperative model would revolutionize how news was gathered, shared, and disseminated across the United States and eventually globally.
  • 23 May 1900 First African American Medal of Honor Recipient: Sergeant William Harvey Carney of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment is awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism during the Assault on Battery Wagner in 1863. His courageous actions during the Civil War, where he prevented the American flag from touching the ground despite being severely wounded, represent a pivotal moment in recognizing African American military contributions.
  • 24 May 1900 Queen Victoria's Final Birthday Celebration: Queen Victoria celebrated her 81st birthday, which would be the last birthday celebration of her life, marking a poignant moment in British royal history before her death in 1901.
  • 25 May 1900 Eyre Massey Shaw: Oldest Olympic Gold Medalist: Eyre Massey Shaw, a retired London fire master, made Olympic history by potentially becoming the oldest gold medalist in the sailing competition at the 1900 Paris Olympics. His achievement is notable but historically contested, with some sources disputing the exact details of his victory.
  • 26 May 1900 Battle of Palonegro in Colombian Civil War: A pivotal engagement in the Thousand Days' War where Colombian Conservative Party forces, commanded by General Próspero Pinzón, decisively defeated Colombian Liberal Party troops led by Gabriel Vargas Santos. The battle resulted in approximately 2,500 casualties and significantly shifted the war's momentum in favor of the Conservative forces.
  • 27 May 1900 Paul Kruger Flees Pretoria: Paul Kruger, the President of the Boer Republic of South Africa, was forced to flee the capital city of Pretoria to escape the advancing British forces during the Second Boer War. This event symbolized the imminent collapse of Boer resistance against British colonial expansion.
  • 28 May 1900 British Annexation of Orange Free State: On May 28, 1900, Britain formally annexed the Orange Free State, transforming it into the Orange River Colony during the Second Boer War. This territorial acquisition marked a significant moment in British colonial expansion in South Africa, effectively ending the independent Boer republic's sovereignty.
  • 29 May 1900 Founding of N'Djamena: French commander Emile Gentil establishes Fort-Lamy, which would later become N'Djamena, the capital city of Chad, during the period of French colonial expansion in Africa.
  • 30 May 1900 British Capture of Johannesburg During Second Boer War: During the Second Boer War, Lord Roberts negotiated the surrender of Johannesburg with Governor Fritz Krause. Roberts agreed to delay his entry into the city by 24 hours to minimize potential conflict, allowing time for armed Boer fighters to evacuate. On the morning of 31 May 1900, Roberts and the British army entered Johannesburg, symbolically replacing the South African flag with the Union Jack at the courthouse, marking a significant moment in the British colonial campaign in South Africa.
  • 31 May 1900 International Forces Enter Beijing: A multinational peacekeeping force of 337 men from the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, and Russia enter Beijing during the Boxer Rebellion. U.S. Marine Captain John T. Myers noted the tense, silent atmosphere during their entry.