Major Events of May 1914: 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 1914 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of May 1914: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 May 1914 Yuan Shikai Consolidates Power in China: On May 1st, 1914, Yuan Shikai, the first president of the Republic of China, successfully maneuvered to obtain dictatorial powers, effectively undermining the newly established democratic institutions. By centralizing authority and weakening parliamentary opposition, Yuan Shikai began transforming the young republic into a more autocratic regime, setting the stage for significant political upheaval in early 20th-century China.
02 May 1914 Dennis Dyer - South African Cricket Player: Dennis Dyer was a notable South African cricket player who played a significant role in international cricket, particularly in the post-World War II era. He was recognized for his opening batting performance in the match between South Africa and England in 1947, representing a pivotal moment in South African cricket history.
03 May 1914 Komagata Maru Incident: A Pivotal Moment in Canadian Immigration History: On May 3, 1914, the Japanese steamship SS Komagata Maru departed from Yokohama, Japan, bound for Vancouver, Canada, carrying 376 passengers of Punjabi origin from British India. This voyage would become a significant and controversial event highlighting racial discrimination in early 20th-century Canadian immigration policies. The passengers, mostly Sikh immigrants seeking better economic opportunities and freedom from British colonial rule, were ultimately denied entry into Canada, symbolizing the systemic racism and exclusionary practices of the time.
04 May 1914 Suffragette Protest at Royal Academy: Suffragette Mary Ann Aldham dramatically protested by slashing a portrait of renowned author Henry James, painted by John Singer Sargent, at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London, using a meat cleaver as a form of political statement.
05 May 1914 Birth of Hollywood Actor Tyrone Power: Tyrone Power, a renowned American actor famous for his charismatic swashbuckler film roles, including the iconic *The Mark of Zorro*, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He would go on to become a major Hollywood star of the mid-20th century.
06 May 1914 British House of Lords Rejects Women's Suffrage Bill: On May 6, 1914, the British House of Lords decisively rejected the Women's Suffrage bill, voting 104 to 60 against granting women the right to vote. This vote represented a significant setback for the women's suffrage movement in the United Kingdom, which had been campaigning for electoral equality for decades. The rejection highlighted the deep-seated gender discrimination in British political institutions at the time and underscored the ongoing struggle for women's political rights.
07 May 1914 Official Recognition of Mother's Day: The United States Congress officially established Mother's Day as a national holiday, formalizing the celebration proposed by Anna Jarvis in 1908. This legislative action provided national recognition to a day honoring mothers and maternal bonds, which would become an important annual tradition in American culture.
08 May 1914 Smith-Lever Act Implemented: The Smith-Lever Act went into effect, establishing the national Cooperative Extension Service. This groundbreaking legislation enabled agricultural departments to provide educational programs and introduce innovative farming practices to rural Americans, significantly advancing agricultural knowledge and technology.
09 May 1914 Mother's Day Proclamation: US President Woodrow Wilson officially signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, establishing a national holiday to honor and celebrate mothers across the United States.
10 May 1914 French General Elections of 1914: The French general elections were held on May 10, 1914, with the center-left Radical Party securing a significant victory by winning a plurality of nearly 35 percent of the popular vote. This election occurred during a critical period in French political history, just weeks before the outbreak of World War I, and reflected the complex political landscape of the Third Republic.
11 May 1914 U.S. National Tribute for Servicemen Killed in Veracruz Occupation: A solemn national tribute was held in New York City to honor U.S. servicemen who lost their lives during the military intervention and occupation of Veracruz, Mexico. The event commemorated the sacrifices made during a complex period of early 20th-century U.S. foreign policy and military engagement.
12 May 1914 Suffragist Damages Portrait at Royal Academy: Gertrude Mary Ansell, a suffragist activist, damaged a portrait of the Duke of Wellington by recently deceased painter Hubert von Herkomer while it was displayed at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London. This act was likely a form of protest related to the women's suffrage movement, highlighting the growing tensions and radical tactics employed by suffragists during this period.
13 May 1914 Maritime Tragedy: British Sailors Lost at Sea: A devastating maritime incident occurred on this day, resulting in the loss of seventeen British sailors in two separate maritime accidents. The steamer collier Turret Hill capsized in the North Sea after its cargo load unexpectedly shifted, causing twelve crew members to perish. In a separate incident in the English Channel, another steamer collided with a pilot boat, leading to the drowning of five additional sailors.
14 May 1914 Mother's Day Proclamation Signed: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson officially signed a proclamation establishing Mother's Day as a national holiday, designating the second Sunday in May to honor and celebrate mothers across the United States.
15 May 1914 First Werkbund Exhibition in Cologne: The inaugural Werkbund Exhibition was held at Rheinpark in Cologne, Germany, showcasing groundbreaking architectural designs by prominent architects like Bruno Taut, Walter Gropius, Adolf Meyer, and Henry van de Velde, representing a pivotal moment in modernist design and industrial aesthetics.
16 May 1914 Mexican Revolution: Rebel Forces Capture Strategic Location: Mexican rebel forces under the command of Álvaro Obregón successfully capture Tepic, securing control of the critical railroad connecting the ports of Guadalajara and Colima during the ongoing Mexican Revolution.
17 May 1914 Protocol of Corfu: Northern Epirus Autonomy: On May 17, 1914, the Protocol of Corfu was signed, establishing a landmark diplomatic agreement that granted full autonomy to the Northern Epirus region while maintaining its nominal status under Albanian sovereignty. This treaty was a significant milestone in resolving territorial and ethnic tensions in the Balkan region following the Balkan Wars, providing a degree of self-governance to the predominantly Greek-populated area within Albania's borders.
18 May 1914 Birth of Pierre Balmain, Iconic Fashion Designer: Pierre Alexandre Balmain was born in Paris, France, who would later become a renowned fashion designer famous for his significant contributions to post-World War II haute couture. In the 1940s, he was instrumental in defining the revolutionary 'New Look' aesthetic pioneered by Christian Dior, characterized by cinched waists, full skirts, and a return to ultra-feminine silhouettes after the utilitarian styles of the war years.
19 May 1914 Birth of Max Perutz, Nobel Prize-Winning Molecular Biologist: Max Perutz, an Austrian-born molecular biologist, was born on this day. He would later become a pioneering scientist in structural biology and receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work on the structure of hemoglobin. Perutz's research significantly advanced our understanding of protein molecular structures and made substantial contributions to molecular biology in the 20th century.
20 May 1914 Uneventful Day in 1914: While no specific major historical events were documented for May 20, 1914, this period was part of a critical year leading up to World War I. The world was on the brink of significant geopolitical changes, with tensions rising in Europe that would soon erupt into global conflict. Although this particular day might seem unremarkable, it represents a moment of calm before the impending storm of the First World War.
21 May 1914 Greyhound Bus Company Founding: On May 21, 1914, the Greyhound Bus Company was established in Minnesota, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most iconic intercity bus transportation services in the United States. This founding would eventually transform long-distance ground transportation across America.
22 May 1914 Uneventful Day in 1914: While no specific significant historical events were recorded for May 22, 1914, this date falls in a critical period leading up to World War I. Just two months before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which would trigger the global conflict, Europe was experiencing rising tensions between major powers.
23 May 1914 Death of William O'Connell Bradley: William O'Connell Bradley, a prominent American politician from Kentucky, passed away on May 23, 1914. Bradley was a significant political figure who served in various leadership roles during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, contributing to the political landscape of Kentucky during a transformative period in American history.
24 May 1914 Founding of PFC Levski Sofia Football Club: On May 24, 1914, the prestigious Bulgarian football club PFC Levski Sofia was established at the 1st Men's School in Sofia, which is now known as the 22nd Gymnasium. This marked a significant moment in Bulgarian sports history, as Levski would go on to become one of the most successful and iconic football clubs in the country.
25 May 1914 Irish Home Rule Bill Passed by UK House of Commons: On May 25, 1914, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom passed the Home Rule Bill, a significant legislative measure proposing political devolution for Ireland. This bill represented a crucial moment in Irish-British relations, aiming to grant Ireland a degree of self-governance within the United Kingdom.
26 May 1914 Birth of Irmã Dulce Pontes: Irmã Dulce Pontes, a renowned Brazilian Catholic Franciscan Sister, was born on May 26, 1914. She would later become a significant humanitarian figure in Brazil, dedicating her life to serving the poor and sick in Salvador, Bahia. Known as the 'Angel of Bahia', she established numerous healthcare and social welfare institutions, and was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2019, becoming the first Brazilian-born woman to be recognized as a saint.
27 May 1914 Pre-World War I Period - Quiet Day: May 27, 1914 was a relatively uneventful day in the months leading up to the outbreak of World War I. While no specific major historical events were recorded for this precise date, it represents a moment of calm in European geopolitics, just weeks before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand would trigger a global conflict.
28 May 1914 Pre-World War I Period - Quiet Day: May 28, 1914 appears to be a relatively uneventful day in the historical record, occurring just weeks before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which would trigger World War I. While no specific documented events are recorded for this precise date, it represents a moment of calm in European geopolitics before the impending global conflict.
29 May 1914 RMS Empress of Ireland Maritime Disaster: On May 29, 1914, the RMS Empress of Ireland, a Canadian Pacific Ocean liner, sank in the Gulf of St. Lawrence after a catastrophic collision. The tragic maritime accident resulted in the loss of 1,024 lives, making it one of the deadliest peacetime shipwrecks in Canadian history. The vessel was struck by the Norwegian collier SS Storstad in dense fog, which quickly led to the ship's sinking. The disaster highlighted the critical importance of maritime safety protocols and navigation practices during the early 20th century.
30 May 1914 RMS Aquitania Maiden Voyage: The Cunard Line's magnificent ocean liner RMS Aquitania, then the largest passenger ship in the world at 45,647 gross tons, embarked on her inaugural transatlantic crossing from Liverpool, England to New York City. Known as the 'Ship Beautiful' for her elegant design and luxurious accommodations, the Aquitania represented the pinnacle of maritime engineering and passenger comfort in the early 20th century.
31 May 1914 Joe Benz Throws No-Hitter for Chicago White Sox: On May 31, 1914, Chicago White Sox pitcher Joe Benz achieved a remarkable feat by throwing a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians, winning the game 6-1. This dominant performance showcased Benz's exceptional pitching skills and was a significant moment in early 20th-century baseball history.