Major Events of October 1905: 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 1905 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of October 1905: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Oct 1905 Sevastopol Political Unrest: Lieutenant Commander Pyotr Schmidt of the Imperial Russian Navy led a protest in Sevastopol, attempting to liberate political prisoners. The demonstration turned violent when police opened fire, resulting in multiple casualties among the protesters.
02 Oct 1905 Launch of HMS Dreadnought: Naval Revolution: The British Royal Navy laid down the HMS Dreadnought, a revolutionary battleship that fundamentally transformed naval warfare and naval technology. This innovative vessel rendered all existing battleships obsolete, featuring an unprecedented all-big-gun design with turbine engines and a uniform main battery of large-caliber guns. Its construction triggered an intense naval arms race between major world powers, particularly Britain and Germany, dramatically reshaping maritime military strategy in the early 20th century.
03 Oct 1905 Political Unrest in Sevastopol: Lieutenant Commander Schmidt's Protest: Lieutenant Commander Pyotr Schmidt led a protest in Sevastopol, mobilizing a crowd to march toward the city prison and demand the release of political prisoners. The demonstration escalated when police responded with gunfire, resulting in casualties among the protesters.
04 Oct 1905 Preparation of the October Manifesto: In the autumn of 1905, Count Sergei Witte and Prince Alexis Obolenskii were working diligently to draft the October Manifesto, a pivotal document that would fundamentally reshape the political landscape of Imperial Russia. The manifesto was being prepared during a period of intense social and political unrest, with widespread strikes and revolutionary movements challenging Tsar Nicholas II's autocratic rule. Witte, a prominent statesman, was instrumental in crafting a document that would promise significant political reforms, including the establishment of a representative legislative body (the State Duma) and civil liberties.
05 Oct 1905 The Wright brothers pilot the Wright Flyer III in a new world record flight of 24 miles in 39 minutes.
06 Oct 1905 Violent Suppression of Moscow Strikers: Between October 6-8, 1905, intense conflicts erupted in Moscow between striking workers and government forces, including troops and Cossack units. These confrontations resulted in casualties among the strikers, highlighting the brutal methods used by the Tsarist regime to suppress labor movements and political dissent.
07 Oct 1905 First Sherlock Holmes Dramatic Film Released: Vitagraph Studios released 'Adventures of Sherlock Holmes; or, Held for Ransom', which was groundbreaking as the first dramatic film to feature Sherlock Holmes as a character. This marked an important milestone in early cinema and the adaptation of literary characters to the emerging film medium.
08 Oct 1905 Argentina Declares Martial Law During General Strike: On October 8, 1905, Argentina's National Congress voted to impose martial law for 90 days in response to a nationwide general strike organized by the Argentine Workmen's Federation. This action reflected the significant social tensions and labor unrest prevalent in Argentina during the early 20th century, as workers sought better working conditions and labor rights.
09 Oct 1905 Sevastopol Political Uprising Incident: Lieutenant Commander Pyotr Schmidt of the Imperial Russian Navy led a politically charged demonstration in Sevastopol, attempting to rally support for political prisoners. The protest turned violent when police opened fire on the crowd, resulting in multiple casualties. This event was part of the broader social unrest and revolutionary tensions in Russia during the early 20th century.
10 Oct 1905 Japan Ratifies Treaty of Portsmouth: The Privy Council of Japan officially ratified the Treaty of Portsmouth, formally concluding the Russo-Japanese War and marking a pivotal moment in early 20th-century international relations. This treaty, mediated by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, established Japan as a significant global power.
11 Oct 1905 USS Tang Sinks Japanese Freighters During World War II: On October 11, 1905, the USS Tang (SS-306), a United States Navy submarine, engaged and sank two Japanese merchant vessels, the Joshu Go and Oita Maru, in the Formosa Strait (now known as the Taiwan Strait). This naval action was part of the broader maritime warfare during World War II in the Pacific Theater, demonstrating the submarine's strategic role in disrupting enemy maritime supply lines.
12 Oct 1905 Unremarkable Day in Early 20th Century: While no specific significant historical events were recorded for October 12, 1905, this period was part of the early 20th century, a time of rapid industrialization, technological advancement, and significant geopolitical transformations. The world was experiencing major shifts in global power dynamics, with emerging technologies and changing social structures.
13 Oct 1905 All-Russian October Political Strike of 1905: The All-Russian October Political Strike was a pivotal moment in Russian history, marking a significant challenge to the autocratic rule of Tsar Nicholas II. Beginning on October 7 and reaching its peak on October 13, 1905, the strike involved millions of workers from diverse industries including printers, bakers, tobacco workers, furniture makers, tram drivers, and metal workers. What began as an economic protest rapidly transformed into a powerful political movement, with workers demanding fundamental political reforms. Protesters raised provocative slogans like 'Down with Bulygin Duma!' and 'Down with the tsar's government!', signaling a growing revolutionary sentiment. The strike's widespread nature and intensity led to the formation of workers' councils in major cities and ultimately compelled Tsar Nicholas II to issue the October Manifesto, which promised civil liberties and a representative legislative body, marking a critical turning point in Russia's path towards political transformation.
14 Oct 1905 Founding of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale: The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) was established in Lausanne, Switzerland, marking a pivotal moment in the standardization and governance of air sports and aviation activities. This international organization would go on to play a crucial role in regulating and promoting aerial competitions, record-keeping, and aviation standards worldwide.
15 Oct 1905 C.P. Snow: English Novelist and Scientist: Charles Percy Snow, a prominent British novelist and scientist, was known for his notable work 'Death Under Sail', which explored the intersection of literary and scientific perspectives. Snow was particularly famous for his concept of the 'Two Cultures', highlighting the divide between humanities and scientific intellectuals.
16 Oct 1905 Partition of Bengal Begins: The British colonial administration in India implemented the controversial Partition of Bengal, dividing the province along religious lines. This administrative reorganization would have profound political and social implications for the region.
17 Oct 1905 October Manifesto: A Turning Point in Russian Imperial Governance: On October 17, 1905, Tsar Nicholas II issued the October Manifesto, a landmark document that represented a significant concession to the growing demands for political reform in the Russian Empire. Under pressure from widespread civil unrest and strikes during the Russian Revolution of 1905, the Tsar promised fundamental changes to the autocratic system. The manifesto guaranteed basic civil liberties, including freedom of speech, assembly, and conscience, and established the State Duma as Russia's first representative legislative body. While the reforms were limited and the Tsar retained substantial power, the October Manifesto marked a critical moment in Russia's political evolution, offering a glimpse of potential constitutional monarchy and momentarily alleviating revolutionary tensions.
18 Oct 1905 Establishment of the Catholic Church Extension Society: On October 18, 1905, Father Francis Kelley of Lapeer, Michigan, founded the Catholic Church Extension Society, a pioneering missionary organization dedicated to supporting and expanding Catholic missions across the United States. The society's primary mission was to provide financial and spiritual support to remote and underserved Catholic communities, particularly in rural and frontier regions where resources were scarce. By facilitating the construction of churches, supporting clergy, and promoting Catholic education, the organization played a crucial role in the religious and social development of early 20th-century America.
19 Oct 1905 Assassination of Koitalel Arap Samoei by British Colonial Forces: On October 19, 1905, Koitalel Arap Samoei, a prominent leader of the Nandi people in Kenya, was assassinated through a calculated act of treachery by British Army intelligence officer Richard Meinertzhagen. This event was a significant moment in the colonial resistance against British imperial expansion in East Africa. Samoei was a respected resistance leader who had been fighting against British colonial encroachment and land seizures. His assassination was a strategic move by colonial forces to suppress indigenous opposition and consolidate territorial control. The killing of such a respected leader was a devastating blow to the Nandi people's resistance movement and symbolized the brutal tactics employed by colonial powers during the scramble for Africa.
20 Oct 1905 Great General Strike in Russia: The Great General Strike of 1905 begins in Russia, marking a significant moment of labor unrest and political protest during the Russian Revolution of 1905. This widespread strike would last for 11 days, challenging the autocratic rule of Tsar Nicholas II and highlighting growing social tensions in the Russian Empire.
21 Oct 1905 England Pilgrim Association Soccer Victory in New York: The England Pilgrim Association soccer team achieved a decisive victory against the All New York 11, winning by an impressive 7-1 margin at the historic Polo Grounds. This match represents an early example of international soccer competition in the United States during the early 20th century.
23 Oct 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth Ratification: The Privy Council of Japan officially ratified the Treaty of Portsmouth, formally ending the Russo-Japanese War. This diplomatic agreement marked a significant moment in early 20th-century international relations, establishing Japan as a major global power and concluding a conflict that had significant geopolitical implications.
25 Oct 1905 Staten Island Ferry Officially Opens: On October 25, 1905, the Staten Island Ferry was officially inaugurated in New York City, establishing a critical transportation link between Staten Island and Manhattan. This municipal ferry service would become an iconic part of New York City's public transit system, offering free rides and stunning views of the city's skyline and the Statue of Liberty.
26 Oct 1905 Dissolution of the Union of Norway and Sweden: Through the Karlstad Convention, the Union of Norway and Sweden was formally dissolved. King Oscar II renounced the Norwegian throne and declined to place a prince of his dynasty on the Norwegian throne, effectively ending the political union between the two countries.
27 Oct 1905 Uneventful Day in 1905: While no specific major historical events were recorded for October 27, 1905, this does not necessarily mean nothing of significance occurred. The early 20th century was a period of rapid global transformation, with ongoing technological innovations, political shifts, and social changes happening continuously. Without detailed local or regional records, it's challenging to definitively state that absolutely nothing noteworthy transpired on this particular date.
28 Oct 1905 End of the Moro Insurgency in the Philippines: On October 28, 1905, a significant milestone was reached in the Philippine-American colonial history when Datto Ali, the chief of the Moro insurgents, surrendered after more than seven years of intense resistance on the island of Mindanao. This event marked the effective conclusion of the Moro Rebellion, a prolonged conflict between indigenous Moro warriors and American colonial forces who had taken control of the Philippines following the Spanish-American War. The surrender symbolized the United States' military dominance and the gradual consolidation of American colonial power in the southern Philippines.
29 Oct 1905 Death of Hendrik Witbooi, Namibian Resistance Leader: Hendrik Witbooi, a prominent Hottentot (Nama) chief who fiercely resisted German colonial expansion in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia), was fatally injured during a conflict. Witbooi was a significant anti-colonial leader who fought against German imperial forces, symbolizing indigenous resistance to European colonization.
30 Oct 1905 October Manifesto: Russian Civil Liberties Reform: On October 30, 1905, Tsar Nicholas II issued the October Manifesto, a pivotal document that granted significant civil liberties to the Russian people. This landmark decree was a direct response to widespread social unrest and revolutionary pressures, marking a critical moment in Russian political history. The manifesto promised fundamental civil rights, including freedom of speech, assembly, and the establishment of an elected legislative assembly called the Duma.
31 Oct 1905 October 31 Pogroms Against Russian Jews: On October 31, 1905, a devastating wave of anti-Jewish violence erupted across Russia following the October Manifesto by Czar Nicholas II. Thousands of Jews were killed in widespread pogroms, with the town of Bialystok experiencing one of the most brutal attacks, resulting in 82 murders and approximately 700 injuries. These violent events highlighted the deep-seated antisemitism and social tensions in the Russian Empire during this tumultuous period.