Major Events of October 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 October 1900 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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

01 Oct 1900 Winston Churchill Elected to House of Commons: At the age of 25, Winston Churchill was elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, representing the constituency of Oldham. This marked the beginning of his long and influential political career, which would later see him become one of the most significant British Prime Ministers in history.
02 Oct 1900 Royal Wedding of Belgian Crown Prince Albert: On October 2nd, 1900, Belgian Crown Prince Albert von Saksen-Coburg married Duchess Elisabeth of Bayern in a significant royal ceremony. The marriage united two prominent European royal families and would later have important implications for Belgium's royal lineage, as Albert would eventually become King Albert I of Belgium in 1909.
03 Oct 1900 Cook Islands Deed of Cession: On October 3, 1900, Lord Knox, Governor of New Zealand, presented a historic Deed of Cession to the five Ariki (traditional chiefs) of the Cook Islands. This document effectively allowed the United Kingdom to annex the Cook Islands, placing them under New Zealand's jurisdiction, marking a significant moment in the region's colonial history.
04 Oct 1900 William Jennings Bryan's Political Denunciation: U.S. Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan delivered a scathing political critique of President William McKinley's administration, highlighting policy disagreements and challenging the incumbent's leadership during the 1900 election campaign.
05 Oct 1900 Venezuela Restricts Orinoco River Navigation: Venezuelan President Cipriano Castro rescinded an 1883 decree that had previously allowed free navigation on the Orinoco River. This political action potentially impacted international trade and diplomatic relations in the region, signaling Castro's assertive approach to national sovereignty.
06 Oct 1900 British Annexation of the Orange Free State: During the Second Boer War, the British Empire formally annexed the independent Boer republic of Orange Free State, renaming it the Orange River Colony. This annexation was a significant moment in British colonial expansion in South Africa, effectively ending the independent status of the Boer state and bringing it under direct British imperial control.
07 Oct 1900 Birth of Heinrich Himmler: Heinrich Himmler was born in Munich, Germany, who would later become a key Nazi official and leader of the SS, responsible for some of the most horrific atrocities during the Holocaust. As Reichsführer-SS, he was one of the most powerful and notorious figures in Nazi Germany, directly involved in implementing the systematic genocide of millions of Jews and other targeted groups.
08 Oct 1900 Major Earthquake in Alaska: On October 8, 1900, a powerful 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck Cape Yakataga, Alaska, causing significant geological disruption. This seismic event was one of the most intense recorded in Alaska's early 20th-century geological history, likely causing substantial ground movement, potential landslides, and possible coastal changes. The earthquake's epicenter in the rugged coastal region would have impacted the sparse population and dramatically altered the local landscape.
09 Oct 1900 Paris Awarded Legion of Honour: In a rare and prestigious recognition, the entire city of Paris was awarded France's Legion of Honour, joining a select group of distinguished towns including Chalon-sur-Saône, Tournus, and St. Jean de Losne. This honor symbolized the city's significant cultural and historical importance.
10 Oct 1900 Spiro Agnew Resigns as Vice President: Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned from his position following serious charges of corruption and income tax evasion. This unprecedented resignation occurred during the Nixon administration and was a significant moment in American political history, highlighting governmental accountability and ethical standards.
11 Oct 1900 Li Hongzhang Negotiates Peace After Boxer Rebellion: Li Hongzhang, a prominent Chinese statesman and the influential Viceroy of Zhili, arrived in Beijing under Russian military escort to engage in critical peace negotiations with the Eight-Nation Alliance. This diplomatic mission followed the tumultuous Boxer Rebellion, a significant anti-foreign and anti-colonial uprising that had severely weakened China's international standing. Li, known for his pragmatic approach to foreign relations, was tasked with mitigating the devastating consequences of the conflict and attempting to secure the least punitive terms possible for the Qing Dynasty.
12 Oct 1900 Commissioning of the USS Holland: First Modern Submarine: On October 12, 1900, the U.S. Navy commissioned the USS Holland, a groundbreaking vessel designed by John Philip Holland that marked a significant milestone in naval technology. This submarine represented a revolutionary leap in maritime warfare capabilities, introducing a new era of underwater naval combat and strategic naval operations. The USS Holland demonstrated the potential of submarine technology and would influence naval design and strategy for decades to come.
13 Oct 1900 Major Breakthrough in Yellow Fever Research: Major General Leonard Wood, serving as the U.S. Military Governor of Cuba, convened a critical meeting with Major Walter Reed in Havana to authorize additional funding for groundbreaking yellow fever research. This pivotal moment supported scientific investigations that would ultimately prove the mosquito *Aedes aegypti* as the primary vector for transmitting the deadly disease. The meeting was a turning point in medical understanding, potentially saving countless lives by enabling targeted prevention strategies.
14 Oct 1900 Ban Johnson Announces American League Challenge to National League: On October 14, 1900, Ban Johnson, president of baseball's American League, publicly declared the league's intention to challenge the established National League's dominance in professional baseball. The American League, consisting of 8 teams, was strategically positioning itself to compete with the older National League. Key franchise changes included replacing teams in Indianapolis and Kansas City with new franchises in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and relocating the Minneapolis team to Philadelphia. The initial league lineup featured teams in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee. In a bold move, the American League began strategically recruiting players from National League rosters, signaling its aggressive expansion. The Baltimore and Milwaukee franchises were also poised to relocate to New York City and St. Louis, respectively, further demonstrating the league's ambitious growth strategy.
15 Oct 1900 First Public Use of Ether as Anesthetic: American Dr. William Thomas Green Morton demonstrated the first public use of ether as an anesthetic, a revolutionary medical breakthrough that would transform surgical procedures and significantly reduce patient pain during operations.
16 Oct 1900 UK-Germany Yangtze Agreement: The United Kingdom and Germany signed a landmark diplomatic agreement in London, endorsing the United States' Open Door Policy for China. This treaty, negotiated between Lord Salisbury and Ambassador Count Paul von Hatzfeldt, aimed to prevent the partition of China into exclusive spheres of influence and promote free trade.
17 Oct 1900 Bernhard von Bülow Appointed German Chancellor: On October 17, 1900, Bernhard von Bülow was appointed as the fourth Chancellor of the German Empire by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Von Bülow, a prominent German statesman and diplomat, succeeded Prince Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst in this pivotal political role. His appointment came during a period of significant imperial expansion and growing international tensions in Europe, reflecting the complex geopolitical landscape of the early 20th century.
18 Oct 1900 Wright Brothers' Untethered Glider Flights: On October 18, 1900, the Wright brothers conducted their first untethered glider flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Recognizing that cable restraints had previously limited their research on controlled flight, they embarked on a crucial phase of their pioneering aviation experiments that would ultimately lead to the first powered, controlled aircraft flight in human history.
19 Oct 1900 Max Planck Presents Revolutionary Radiation Law: Theoretical physicist Max Planck presents his groundbreaking law of black-body radiation to the German Physical Society in Berlin, a pivotal moment in quantum physics that would fundamentally transform scientific understanding of energy and radiation.
20 Oct 1900 Itō Hirobumi Returns as Prime Minister of Japan: On October 20, 1900, Itō Hirobumi assumed the role of Prime Minister of Japan for the fourth and final time, succeeding Yamagata Aritomo. As a prominent statesman of the Meiji era, Hirobumi was instrumental in Japan's modernization and constitutional development.
21 Oct 1900 American Military Engagement in Philippine-American War: During the Philippine-American War, Captain George W. Biegler led a small contingent of 19 American soldiers in a remarkable military engagement against a significantly larger force of 300 Filipino insurgents at Loac, Luzon. This battle exemplifies the challenging and asymmetric nature of the conflict, where smaller, well-trained American units often confronted larger indigenous resistance forces.
22 Oct 1900 Death of John Sherman, Prominent Statesman: John Sherman, a distinguished American politician and statesman, passed away in Washington, DC at the age of 77. Throughout his illustrious career, Sherman served in multiple critical roles, including Representative and Senator from Ohio, US Treasury Secretary, and Secretary of State. He is particularly renowned for the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890, which was a landmark piece of legislation aimed at preventing monopolistic business practices.
23 Oct 1900 Wright Brothers' First Untethered Glider Flights: The Wright brothers conducted their first untethered glider flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. By removing cable restraints, they aimed to advance their research on controlled flight, marking a pivotal moment in aviation history. These experimental flights were crucial in understanding aerodynamics and developing techniques for sustained, controlled aerial movement.
24 Oct 1900 Winston Churchill Enters Parliament: Winston Churchill, at the age of 25, was elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, representing the constituency of Oldham. This election marked the beginning of Churchill's long and distinguished political career, which would eventually lead him to become one of the most influential British Prime Ministers in history.
25 Oct 1900 British Annexation of Transvaal: On October 25, 1900, during the Second Boer War, the British Empire formally annexed the Transvaal region, a significant territory previously controlled by the Boer republics. This annexation marked a pivotal moment in British colonial expansion in Southern Africa, effectively ending Boer independence and consolidating British imperial control over the region.
26 Oct 1900 Empress Dowager Cixi Restores Imperial Court: Following a tumultuous period of political upheaval, Empress Dowager Cixi returns to Beijing after two months in Xian, re-establishing the Imperial Court's authority over China. This strategic move signifies her continued political influence and resistance against internal and external challenges to the Qing Dynasty's governance during a critical period of national transformation.
27 Oct 1900 Capture of Jimmy Governor: Jimmy Governor, a notorious Australian mass murderer, was finally captured after an extensive three-month manhunt that had gripped the nation. Governor was responsible for a series of brutal killings that shocked the Australian public and led to an unprecedented pursuit across New South Wales.
28 Oct 1900 2nd Olympic Games in Paris Conclude: The 2nd Olympic Games of the modern era officially closed after a successful run lasting over five months in Paris, France. This event marked a significant milestone in the revival of the ancient Olympic tradition, showcasing international athletic competition and cultural exchange.
29 Oct 1900 Tarrant & Company Pharmaceutical Warehouse Explosion: On October 29, 1900, a catastrophic explosion rocked the Tarrant & Company pharmaceutical warehouse in a major urban center, resulting in a devastating loss of life and significant property damage. The blast killed 38 people and injured over 200 individuals, completely destroying two entire city blocks. The incident highlighted the dangerous working conditions and lack of safety regulations in industrial facilities during the early 20th century, prompting subsequent investigations into industrial safety standards and warehouse management practices.
30 Oct 1900 Birth of Ragnar Granit, Pioneering Neuroscientist: Ragnar Granit, a distinguished Finnish neuroscientist who would later be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, was born. He would make significant contributions to understanding sensory processes and neural mechanisms.
31 Oct 1900 Scottish Presbyterian Churches Merge: The United Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland formally merged to establish the United Free Church of Scotland, representing a significant consolidation of Presbyterian denominations in Scotland and reflecting broader religious unity efforts of the era.