Major Events of April 1910: 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 April 1910 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of April 1910: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Apr 1910 Mount Etna Volcanic Eruption Destroys Cavahero Village: A volcanic eruption from Mount Etna in Italy devastated the village of Cavahero, destroying approximately fifty houses. Fortunately, all inhabitants were successfully evacuated before the lava flow, preventing potential loss of life.
02 Apr 1910 Maryland Passes Discriminatory Voting Restrictions: On April 2, 1910, the Maryland State Legislature passed a deeply discriminatory bill designed to systematically disenfranchise African-Americans, effectively stripping them of their constitutional voting rights. This legislation was part of a broader pattern of Jim Crow era laws aimed at suppressing African-American political participation through legal mechanisms such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses.
03 Apr 1910 Theodore Roosevelt Declines Papal Audience: On April 3, 1910, former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt publicly announced his decision to decline a meeting with Pope Leo XIII. The refusal was prompted by the Vatican's request that Roosevelt first meet with local Methodist representatives, highlighting the complex religious and diplomatic tensions of the era.
04 Apr 1910 Sri Aurobindo Arrives in Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo, a prominent Indian philosopher, revolutionary, and spiritual leader, arrived in Pondicherry, French India. This marked a significant turning point in his life, as he transitioned from political activism to spiritual and philosophical pursuits. He would spend the next four decades writing profound philosophical works and developing his spiritual philosophy.
05 Apr 1910 First Socialist Mayor Elected in Major US City: Emil Seidel made history by becoming the first Socialist Party member elected as mayor of a major American city, specifically Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This election represented a notable moment in early 20th-century American political diversity and the growing influence of socialist ideologies.
06 Apr 1910 Brownsville Affair Military Injustice: A military court of inquiry upheld the controversial verdict in the Brownsville Affair, affirming the dishonorable discharge of 167 African American soldiers from the 25th United States Regiment. These soldiers were collectively punished for an alleged shooting incident in Brownsville, Texas in 1906, despite many arguing the charges were racially motivated and lacked substantial evidence. This event highlighted the systemic racial discrimination within the U.S. military during the early 20th century.
07 Apr 1910 Launch of SMS Moltke: German Battlecruiser Enters Naval History: On April 7, 1910, the SMS Moltke, the lead ship of the Moltke-class battlecruisers, was ceremoniously launched from the shipyards in Hamburg, Germany. This vessel represented a significant advancement in naval engineering for the Imperial German Navy during the pre-World War I era. The Moltke-class battlecruisers were designed to be faster and more maneuverable than traditional battleships, embodying Germany's naval expansion strategy under Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz. The SMS Moltke would later play a crucial role in naval operations during World War I, symbolizing the technological prowess and maritime ambitions of the German Empire.
08 Apr 1910 Maryland Governor Vetoes Negro Disenfranchisement Bill: On April 8, 1910, Governor Crothers made a significant stand against racial discrimination by vetoing the Negro Disenfranchisement Bill. This bill, which had passed both Houses of the Maryland State Legislature on April 2, 1910, would have revoked the voting rights of African-Americans in state and local elections. The governor's veto was a notable moment of resistance against systemic racial oppression during the Jim Crow era.
09 Apr 1910 Theodore Roosevelt Declines Vatican Meeting: Former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt publicly announced he would not meet with Pope Leo XIII, citing the Vatican's request that he first refrain from meeting with local Methodist representatives. This incident highlighted the complex religious and diplomatic tensions of the early 20th century, showcasing Roosevelt's independent stance and the intricate religious politics of the era.
10 Apr 1910 Interstate Commerce Commission Ruling on Pullman Car Pricing: The American Interstate Commerce Commission made a significant ruling regarding train travel pricing, mandating that upper berths on Pullman cars should be sold at a lower rate compared to lower berths. This decision aimed to address pricing fairness and passenger comfort in long-distance rail transportation.
11 Apr 1910 António de Spínola: Portuguese Military and Political Leader: António de Spínola was a prominent Portuguese general and politician who played a significant role in Portugal's political transformation during the mid-20th century. Born in 1910, he would become a key figure in the Portuguese Revolution of 1974, which ended the Estado Novo dictatorship and paved the way for democracy in Portugal.
12 Apr 1910 Launch of SMS Pre-Dreadnought Battleship: The SMS, a pre-dreadnought battleship of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, was launched on this date. This vessel represented the transitional naval technology of the early 20th century, just before the revolutionary dreadnought design would transform naval warfare.
13 Apr 1910 Uneventful Day in 1910: While no specific historical events were recorded for April 13, 1910, this does not necessarily mean nothing of significance occurred. Many days in history pass without major documented events, yet they remain part of the broader historical tapestry. The early 20th century was a period of significant global transformation, with technological innovations, political shifts, and social changes happening rapidly.
14 Apr 1910 RMS Titanic Launched in Belfast: The RMS Titanic, a massive ocean liner and pinnacle of early 20th-century maritime engineering, was launched from the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This momentous event marked the beginning of what would become one of the most famous and tragic maritime stories in history.
15 Apr 1910 1910 United States Census Conducted: The United States Census Bureau initiated its decennial population count, deploying over 70,000 workers to enumerate the nation's inhabitants. The census revealed a total population of 92,228,496, providing crucial demographic data for understanding early 20th-century America's growth and composition.
16 Apr 1910 Boston Arena Opens: The Boston Arena, now known as Matthews Arena, was inaugurated as the first indoor ice hockey arena that would continue to be used in the 21st century. This historic venue served as the original home for several iconic sports teams, including the NHL Boston Bruins, the NBA Boston Celtics, and the WHA New England Whalers. Currently, it remains an active sports facility, primarily serving Northeastern University's athletic programs.
17 Apr 1910 Extraordinary Pregnancy of Conjoined Twin Rosa Blazek: In a remarkable medical event, Rosa Blazek, one half of a pair of conjoined twins, gave birth to a son named Franzl at the General Hospital in Prague. Rosa and her sister Josepha, who were 31 years old at the time, were part of a unique medical case where a conjoined twin successfully carried and delivered a child. This pregnancy was the only documented instance of its kind in medical history. The sisters later moved to the United States, where they both passed away in 1922.
18 Apr 1910 NAWSA Presents Historic Women's Suffrage Petition to Congress: The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) delivered a landmark petition to the United States Congress, bearing 500,000 signatures advocating for women's voting rights. This massive demonstration of public support represented a critical moment in the women's suffrage movement, highlighting the growing national momentum for gender equality in political participation.
19 Apr 1910 Venezuela Independence Centennial Celebrations: Venezuela commenced its centennial independence commemoration with elaborate ceremonies on April 19, 1910. The national celebrations included significant institutional developments such as plans to reconstruct the national pantheon, establish the Military Academy of the Republic, and create the National Nautical School. Additional activities involved launching national census initiatives and opening various commemorative contests.
20 Apr 1910 Halley's Comet Closest Solar Approach: Halley's Comet reaches its closest approach to the Sun since 1835, becoming prominently visible to the naked eye and creating widespread public excitement about this rare astronomical phenomenon.
21 Apr 1910 Death of Mark Twain: Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, passed away at his home in Redding, Connecticut. A legendary American writer renowned for novels like 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn', Twain was a pivotal figure in American literature who used humor and social commentary to critique the societal norms of his time. His death marked the end of an era for American literary culture.
22 Apr 1910 Coal Mine Explosion in Amsterdam, Ohio: A devastating coal mine explosion occurred near Amsterdam, Ohio, resulting in the tragic loss of eighteen miners' lives. The incident highlights the dangerous working conditions in early 20th-century coal mining, where workers faced significant risks of catastrophic accidents due to inadequate safety measures, unstable mine structures, and potential gas or coal dust ignitions.
23 Apr 1910 Theodore Roosevelt's 'The Man in the Arena' Speech: Theodore Roosevelt delivered his famous 'The Man in the Arena' speech, a powerful discourse on courage, perseverance, and the importance of active participation in life. This speech would become one of his most memorable and inspirational addresses, emphasizing the value of striving and daring greatly.
24 Apr 1910 French Parliamentary Elections of 1910: French parliamentary elections were conducted on April 24, 1910, which resulted in a marginal strengthening of the ruling party's majority. Aristide Briand continued to serve as Prime Minister, maintaining political stability during this period of the Third French Republic.
25 Apr 1910 Uneventful Day in 1910: While no specific major historical events were documented for April 25, 1910, this does not necessarily mean nothing of significance occurred. The early 20th century was a period of rapid technological, social, and political transformation, with ongoing developments in industrialization, colonial expansions, and emerging global tensions.
26 Apr 1910 First Official Mother's Day Proclamation in West Virginia: Governor William E. Glasscock of West Virginia officially proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, following a three-year campaign by Anna Jarvis of Grafton. This proclamation was a pivotal moment in the national recognition of Mother's Day as an official holiday, marking a significant milestone in honoring maternal contributions to society.
27 Apr 1910 Juan Vicente Gomez Elected President of Venezuela: Juan Vicente Gomez was unanimously elected President of Venezuela by the national Congress, following a coup he staged in November. After briefly resigning on April 19, Gomez consolidated his political power through this election, marking a significant moment in Venezuelan political history.
28 Apr 1910 London to Manchester Air Race: French aviator Louis Paulhan won the historic 1910 London to Manchester air race, which was the first long-distance aeroplane race in the United Kingdom, demonstrating the emerging capabilities of early aviation technology.
29 Apr 1910 United Kingdom's People's Budget Passes: The Parliament of the United Kingdom passes the groundbreaking People's Budget, a historic fiscal policy designed to redistribute wealth among the British public. This landmark legislation represented a significant shift in economic policy, introducing progressive taxation and social welfare measures that would reshape the British economic landscape.
30 Apr 1910 Medical Passport Introduction in Belgian Congo: The Vice-Governor of the Belgian Congo implemented a controversial 'medical passport' system, mandating all black African subjects to carry these documents. The official rationale was to control and prevent the spread of sleeping sickness, but this policy was a clear manifestation of colonial control and racial discrimination.