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

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


  • 01 Jun 1910 Robert Falcon Scott's South Pole Expedition Departs: Captain Robert Falcon Scott led a British Antarctic Expedition, departing from London aboard the steamer Terra Nova with 55 crew members. The expedition's primary objective was to be the first team to successfully reach the South Pole, marking a significant moment in polar exploration history.
  • 02 Jun 1910 First Roundtrip Flight Over the English Channel: Charles Stewart Rolls made aviation history by completing the first non-stop roundtrip flight across the English Channel, demonstrating the emerging capabilities of early aircraft technology.
  • 03 Jun 1910 Roald Amundsen's Secret Antarctic Expedition Begins: The Norwegian Antarctic Expedition, led by the renowned polar explorer Roald Amundsen, quietly departed from Christiania (now Oslo) aboard the steamer *Fram*. In a strategic move of utmost secrecy, Amundsen did not publicly announce his true intention to reach the South Pole until later in the year, which would ultimately lead to his historic achievement of being the first person to successfully reach the geographic South Pole on 14 December 1911.
  • 04 Jun 1910 Pioneering Medical Surgical Techniques: On June 4, 1910, two groundbreaking medical procedures were performed that would significantly advance neurosurgical techniques. Harvey Cushing conducted his first sublabial submucosal trans-sphenoidal approach, while Oskar Hirsch simultaneously performed his first submucosal trans-sphenoidal operation using an endonasal method. These innovative surgical techniques represented important progress in medical science.
  • 05 Jun 1910 Discovery of Asteroids Hela and Auravictrix: On June 5, 1910, German astronomer Johann Helffrich made a significant contribution to astronomical research by discovering two asteroids: #699 Hela and #700 Auravictrix. These celestial bodies were added to the growing catalog of known minor planets in the solar system, expanding our understanding of the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter.
  • 06 Jun 1910 Presidential Railroad Conference of 1910: President William Howard Taft convened a significant meeting with the presidents of Western railroads to discuss transportation infrastructure, economic policy, and potential regulatory matters. This gathering represented an important moment in early 20th-century transportation and governmental relations.
  • 07 Jun 1910 Devastating Earthquake in Southern Italy: A catastrophic earthquake struck Southern Italy at 3:00 a.m., causing significant loss of life. The early morning tremors resulted in scores of fatalities, devastating local communities and highlighting the region's seismic vulnerability.
  • 08 Jun 1910 Japan-Russia Territorial Agreement: Japan and Russia reached a diplomatic agreement concerning the division of territories in the Far East, reflecting the complex geopolitical negotiations and power dynamics in the region during the early 20th century.
  • 09 Jun 1910 Japan and Russia Territorial Agreement: Japan and Russia reached a diplomatic agreement concerning the division of territories in the Far East, reflecting the geopolitical negotiations and power dynamics of the early 20th century between these two emerging regional powers.
  • 10 Jun 1910 Sir Charles Hardinge Appointed as Viceroy of India: Sir Charles Hardinge, a prominent British diplomat and colonial administrator, was formally appointed as the Viceroy of India, succeeding the Earl of Minto. This appointment was significant in the context of British colonial governance, marking a transition in leadership during the late Edwardian era of imperial administration. Hardinge would serve in this crucial role from 1910 to 1916, overseeing British imperial interests during a complex period of Indian political and social development.
  • 11 Jun 1910 Oklahoma Capital Referendum of 1910: On June 11, 1910, Oklahoma held a pivotal referendum to determine the permanent location of its state capital. Voters decisively chose Oklahoma City over the existing capital of Guthrie, with Oklahoma City receiving 96,261 votes compared to Guthrie's 31,301 votes. A third candidate, Shawnee, garnered 8,382 votes. Despite the original enabling act stipulating that Guthrie would remain the capital until at least 1913, Governor Charles N. Haskell took bold action by moving the state seal to Oklahoma City and temporarily establishing the capitol at the Lee Huckins Hotel until a permanent government building could be constructed.
  • 12 Jun 1910 Devastating Central European Floods: A catastrophic flood event struck central Europe, with particularly severe impact in Germany. The Ahr River experienced a massive overflow, resulting in the tragic loss of 200 lives around the town of Oberammergau. This natural disaster highlighted the vulnerability of riverside communities to extreme weather events.
  • 13 Jun 1910 Tragic Water Tank Collapse in Montreal: A catastrophic accident occurred at the Montreal Herald building when a 35-ton water tank collapsed through the roof, resulting in the tragic death of 32 people. The incident highlighted the critical importance of structural safety and maintenance.
  • 14 Jun 1910 Founding of University of the Philippines Los Baños: The University of the Philippines Los Baños was established as an agricultural college, marking a significant milestone in Philippine higher education. The inaugural class consisted of 50 students under the guidance of Dr. Edwin Copeland, who played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for agricultural education in the Philippines.
  • 15 Jun 1910 Birth of Lebanese Political Leader Suleiman Frangieh: Suleiman Frangieh was born in Zgharta, Lebanon. He would later become a significant political figure, serving as President of Lebanon from 1970 to 1976, a tumultuous period that included the early stages of the Lebanese Civil War. Frangieh's presidency was marked by complex political dynamics and sectarian tensions that characterized Lebanese politics during that era.
  • 16 Jun 1910 Arizona and New Mexico Statehood Bill Passes Senate: The United States Senate unanimously approved a bill to grant statehood to the territories of Arizona and New Mexico, marking a significant moment in the territorial expansion of the United States.
  • 17 Jun 1910 First Flight of Aurel Vlaicu's Airplane: Romanian aviation pioneer Aurel Vlaicu successfully piloted the A. Vlaicu nr. 1 aircraft on its maiden flight, marking a significant milestone in early 20th-century aviation technology. This groundbreaking achievement positioned Vlaicu as a key figure in Romania's technological development and military aviation history.
  • 18 Jun 1910 Mann-Elkins Act Expands Government Regulation: The Mann-Elkins Act was passed, significantly expanding the Interstate Commerce Commission's regulatory powers. The legislation granted the ICC jurisdiction over interstate telephone, telegraph, and cable communications, and empowered the commission to suspend railroad rate increases, marking an important moment in early 20th-century economic regulation.
  • 19 Jun 1910 First Official Father's Day Celebration: The inaugural Father's Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington, initiated by Sonora Smart Dodd to honor her late father, William Smart. This event marked the beginning of a tradition that would eventually become a nationwide celebration recognizing fathers and their contributions to family and society.
  • 20 Jun 1910 Enabling Act of 1910 Signed: President William Howard Taft signed the Enabling Act of 1910 at 1:40 pm in a White House ceremony, formally establishing the conditions for New Mexico and Arizona to become states. The historic signing utilized two symbolic pens: a solid gold pen presented by Postmaster General Hitchcock and an eagle feather pen gifted by New Mexico's congressional delegate, highlighting the ceremonial significance of the moment.
  • 21 Jun 1910 Breakthrough in Typhoid Fever Vaccine: On June 21, 1910, Dr. Jean Hyacinthe Vincent made a groundbreaking announcement at the Académie Nationale de Médecine in Paris, revealing the first effective vaccine against typhoid fever. This medical advancement represented a significant milestone in public health, offering hope for preventing a disease that had caused widespread suffering and mortality. Dr. Vincent's discovery would play a crucial role in reducing typhoid infections and saving countless lives in the early 20th century.
  • 22 Jun 1910 First Public Color Motion Picture Demonstration: A groundbreaking public demonstration of a color motion picture system is held in London, England, representing a pivotal moment in film technology.
  • 23 Jun 1910 Deadly Train Wreck in Mexico: A catastrophic train accident occurred near Manzanillo, Mexico, resulting in at least 60 fatalities. Four train cars detached from the locomotive, causing a devastating crash that highlighted the transportation safety challenges of the early 20th century.
  • 24 Jun 1910 Wireless Ship Safety Act of 1910: President William Howard Taft signed the landmark Wireless Act of 1910, a critical maritime safety regulation requiring all ships carrying 50 or more passengers to be equipped with radio communication technology. This legislation was a significant step in improving maritime communication and emergency response capabilities, reflecting the rapid technological advancements of the early 20th century.
  • 25 Jun 1910 The Firebird Ballet Premiere: Igor Stravinsky's groundbreaking ballet 'The Firebird' (L'Oiseau de feu) premiered in Paris, marking a pivotal moment in the composer's career. Commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, the performance launched Stravinsky to international prominence and signaled the emergence of a revolutionary musical voice in early 20th-century classical music.
  • 26 Jun 1910 Porfirio Diaz Re-elected as Mexican President: Porfirio Diaz was re-elected President of Mexico for the eighth consecutive time, defeating challenger Francisco I. Madero. This election further solidified Diaz's long-standing authoritarian rule, which would soon face significant challenges from the Mexican Revolution.
  • 28 Jun 1910 First Airline Crash in Germany: Dirigible Deutschland Incident: On June 28, 1910, the dirigible Deutschland experienced a dramatic incident during an emergency landing at Osnabrück, Germany. Despite being severely impacted by high winds, the airship was wrecked, yet remarkably, all 33 persons on board survived without injury. This event marked a significant moment in early aviation history, highlighting both the technological challenges and the resilience of early airship design.
  • 29 Jun 1910 Southern African Customs Union Agreement Signed: On June 29, 1910, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) agreement was signed, establishing the oldest continuously operating customs union in the world. British colonial administrators representing South Africa, Bechuanaland (now Botswana), and Basutoland (now Lesotho) formalized a regional economic cooperation framework that would enable free trade and shared customs revenue. This landmark agreement laid the groundwork for future economic integration in southern Africa, predating the countries' independence and demonstrating early collaborative economic strategies in the region.
  • 30 Jun 1910 First Demonstration of Aerial Bombardment: Aviation pioneer Glenn H. Curtiss made a groundbreaking demonstration of military aviation potential by dropping 20 mock explosives from a biplane over Lake Keuka in New York. This event represented a critical milestone in military technology, showcasing the emerging strategic possibilities of aircraft in warfare.