Events in year of 1908
- 01-011st time, ball signifying new year dropped at Times Square
- 01-01Jack Hobbs makes his Test debut at the MCG (83 & 28)
- 01-02Canadian branch of the Royal Mint opens in Ottawa
- 01-07England beat Australia by one wicket at the MCG
- 01-09Frans Schollaert succeeds De Trooz as Premier of Belgium
- 01-09Muir Woods National Monument, California established
- 01-13French pilot Henry Farman is 1st European to fly roundtrip
- 01-13Stanley Cup: Montreal Wanderers sweep Ottawa Victorias in 2 games
- 01-14Roger Hartigan scores century on Test debut vs. Eng Adelaide (116)
- 01-15C Hill and R J Hartigan make 8th wkt partnership 243 for Aust
- 01-16Pinnacles National Monument, California established
- 01-21New York City regulation makes it illegal for a woman to smoke in public
- 01-23US and Great-Britain demand end of abuses in Congo
- 01-24Gen Baden-Powell starts Boy-Scouts
- 01-29Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, at Cornell University, incorporates
- 02-03Supreme Court rules a union boycott violates Sherman Antitrust Act
- 02-07Connie Mack sells hurler Rube Waddell to St. Louis Browns for $5,000
- 02-10Tommy Burns KOs Jack Palmer in 4 for heavyweight boxing title
- 02-12Anna Jeanes bequeaths $1,000,000 to Swarthmore to become all female
- 02-12New York to Paris auto race (via Alaska & Siberia) begins in NYC George Schuster wins after 88 days behind the wheel
- 02-181st US postage stamps in rolls issued
- 02-251st tunnel under Hudson River (railway tunnel) opens
- 02-27Sacrifice fly adopted (repealed in 1931, reinstated 1954)
- 02-27Star #46 was added to US flag for Oklahoma
- 02-28Failed assassination attempt on Shah Mohammed Ali in Teheran
- 02-29Dutch scientists produce solid helium
- 03-04Collingwood Ohio primary school catches fire; 180 die
- 03-051st ascent of Mt Erebus, Antarctica
- 03-07Cincinnati Mayor Mark Breith stood before city council and announces that, "women are not physically fit to operate automobiles"
- 03-08Collingwood Elementary (Cleveland) burns, kills 173 kids and 2 teachers
People born in year of 1908
- 01-01Kinue Hitoma: Japan -- 800m runner (1928 Olympics - Silver Medalist)
- 01-02Ben Grauer: NYC, New York -- Newscaster (Big Story)
- 01-02Janis Kepitis: Composer
- 01-05George Dolenz: Trieste, Italy -- Actor (Count of Monte Cristo)
- 01-06Menahem Avidom: Composer
- 01-08Mary Nadia Wadia: Actress
- 01-08William Hartnell: London, England -- Actor (Agitator, Jackpot)
- 01-09Simone de Beauvoir: France -- Author (Mandarins, 2nd Sex)
- 01-10Bernard Lee: London, England -- Actor (M in James Bond movies)
- 01-10Paul Henreid: Trieste -- Actor (Casablanca, 4 Horsemen of Apocalypse)
- 01-11Lionel Stander: NYC, New York -- Actor (Max-Hart to Hart, Unfaithfully Yours)
- 01-12Ben Seijes: Dutch historian (WWII)
- 01-14Carl Esmond: Vienna, Austria -- Actor (Address Unknown, Hitler)
- 01-14Ruggiero de Rudolpho Columbo: US singer / actor (Miracle of Women)
- 01-15Edward Teller: Budapest, Hungary -- Fathered H-bomb (Manhattan Project)
- 01-15Roberta Bitgood: Composer
- 01-17Akkineni LV Lakshmi Varaprasada Rao Prasad: Producer
- 01-18Albert P Morano: (Rep-R-Conn, 1951-59)
- 01-18Jacob Bronowsky: British mathematician / cultural historian
- 01-20Paula Wessely: Austrian actress / producer (Masquerade)
- 01-20Wilfred Conwell Bain: Composer
- 01-23Hubert Nicholson: Poet / Novelist
- 01-23Pak Saleman Siswowitono: Javan / Surinamese writer
- 01-25Lord Iliffe: English publisher (Coventry Evening Telegraph / Autocar)
- 01-27William Randolph Hearst, Jr.: Newspaper publisher (Hearst Publishing)
- 01-28Hans [Hendrik AJ] Tiemeijer: Dutch actor / director / writer (Fear)
- 01-29Adam Clayton Powell: (Rep-D-New York, 1945-70)
- 02-01Edward Staempfli: Composer
- 02-01George Pal: Hungarian / US director (When Worlds Collide, Puppetoons)
- 02-01Albie Booth: Collegiate Hall of Fame football star (Yale)
People died in year of 1908
- 01-04Antony Winkler Prins: Writer (Groiller Encyclopaedia), dies at 70
- 01-09Abraham Goldfaden: US Yiddish stage performer (Shulamis), dies at 67
- 01-09Wilhelm Busch: Writer
- 01-10Anna S Barbiers: Dutch actress (Klaasje Zevenster), dies at 65
- 01-14Holger Drachmann: Writer
- 01-17Ferdinand IV SMJJBFLGRRJ: Ruler of Toscane, dies at 72
- 01-23Edward Alexander MacDowell: US Composer (Indian Suite), dies at 47
- 02-01Carlos I: King of Portugal (1889-1908), assassinated by mob at 44
- 02-14Georges Jean Pfeiffer: Composer, dies at 72
- 02-17Geronimo: Apache chief, dies at about 79
- 03-11Peter Milne: Composer, dies at 83
- 03-28John Eliot: English meteorology, dies at 68
- 04-04Josef Sucher: Composer, dies at 64
- 04-05Gaetano Coronaro: Composer, dies at 55
- 04-20Henry Chadwick: Sports reporter (baseball), dies at 85
- 04-22Henry Campbell-Bannerman: British Premier (1905-08)
- 05-12Melesio Morales: Composer, dies at 69
- 05-26Mirza Ghulam Ahmad: Indies Theologist (Ahmadiyya motion), dies at 69
- 06-02Redvers H Buller: English General, dies at 68
- 06-05Luca Fumagalli: Composer, dies at 71
- 06-08Johan Lindegren: Composer, dies at 66
- 06-09Jose FdT Coelho: Portuguese writer (Os meus amores), dies at 46
- 06-11Georg Adler: German statehouse head, dies at 45
- 06-21Nikolai A Rimski-Korssakov: Russian Composer (Sheherazade), dies at 64
- 06-24Grover Cleveland: 22nd and 24th President (1885-89, 93-97), dies at 71
- 07-03Joel Chandler Harris: Created Uncle Remus, dies at 59
- 07-10Eliza Laurillard: Vicar / Poet / writer, dies at 78
- 07-14William Mason: Composer, dies at 79
- 07-18Jaime Nuno: Composer, dies at 83
- 07-20Federico Chueca: Composer, dies at 62
Events in year of 1909
- 01-01Robert Fowler runs then world record marathon (2:52:45.4)
- 01-021st official Dutch 11 city skate (Minne Hoekstra in 13:50)
- 01-16British explorer Ernest Shackleton finds magnetic south pole
- 01-16David, Mawson and Mackay reach south magnetic pole
- 01-231st radio rescue at sea
- 01-28US milt forces leave Cuba for 2nd time
- 02-01US Assay Office in Salt Lake City, Utah opens
- 02-02Italian writer Marinetti publishes Futurist Manifest in Paris
- 02-08France and Germany sign treaty about Morocco
- 02-091st federal legislation prohibiting narcotics (opium)
- 02-091st forestry school is incorporated at Kent, Ohio
- 02-12National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) forms
- 02-12Robert Fowler runs world record marathon (2:46:52.6)
- 02-161st subway car with side doors goes into service (NYC)
- 02-16Serbia mobilizes against Austria-Hungary
- 02-18Boston Red Sox trade Cy Young, at 41, to Cleveland Naps
- 02-22Great White Fleet, 1st US fleet to circle the globe, returns to Virginia
- 02-23Russian tsar Nicolas II dissolves Finnish Diet
- 03-011st US university school of nursing established, University of Minnesota
- 03-02Gr Brit, France, Germ and It asks Serbia to set no territorial demands
- 03-03Stanley Cup: Ottawa Senators beat Montreal Wanderers, 8-3
- 03-04President Taft inaugrated at 27th President during 10" snowstorm
- 03-04US prohibits interstate transportation of game birds
- 03-10Jack Johnson fights Victor McLaglen to no decision in 6 for box title
- 03-14Amsterdam Social-Democratic Party (SDP) forms
- 03-18Einar Dessau of Denmark makes 1st ham broadcast
- 03-30Queensboro Bridge opens, linking Manhattan and Queens
- 03-31Baseball rules players who jump contracts are suspended for 5 years
- 03-31Gustav Mahler conducts New York Philharmonic for his 1st time
- 04-061st credit union forms in US
People born in year of 1909
- 01-01Barry Goldwater: (Sen-R-Arizona, 1953-65, 69- ) / Presidential Candidate (R) 1964)
- 01-01Dana Andrews: Collins, Mississippi -- Actor (Battle of the Bulge, Laura)
- 01-02Rene Etiemble: French literature historian (Parlez-vous Franglais)
- 01-05Jean-Pierre Aumont: Paris, France -- Actor (Cat & Mouse, Happy Hooker)
- 01-05Simon Harcourt Nowell-Smith: Bibliophile
- 01-05Stephen Cole Kleene: Mathematician (Regular Expressions)
- 01-06Johannes H Moesman: Dutch surrealist painter (Rumor)
- 01-06Keith Davis: Voice tutor / author
- 01-08Jose Ferrer: Santurce, Puerto Rico -- Oscar winning actor (Cyrano de Bergerac)
- 01-09Herva Nelli: Soprano
- 01-10Grace Mitchell: Educator
- 01-10Rudolf Kubin: Composer
- 01-11Gunnar Johnsen Berg: Composer
- 01-11Marguerite Kelsey: English model / painter (Haunting)
- 01-12Mauritz Hugo: Sweden -- Actor (Atomic Blonde, Road Agent)
- 01-13Danny Barker: Jazz guitarist
- 01-13Marinus van der Lubbe: Dutch communist
- 01-14Joseph Walton Losey: Wisconsin, United States -- Director (Damned, Accident)
- 01-15Elie Siegmeister: NYC, New York -- Composer (Plough & the Stars)
- 01-15Enrique Sasal y Chapi: Composer
- 01-21Todor Skalovski: Composer
- 01-22[Sithu] U Thant: Burma -- 3rd UN Secretary General (1962-72)
- 01-22Ann Sothern [Harriette Lake]: North Dakota, United States -- Actress (Lady in a Cage)
- 01-22Lev D Landau: Russian physicist (Nobel 1962)
- 01-23Norman Fulton: Composer
- 01-24Ann Todd: Hartford, England -- Actress (Paradine Case, 7th Veil)
- 01-24Tiny Winters: Musician
- 01-28Lionel KP "Buster" Crabb: British diver (WWII-George Medal)
- 01-29Alan Marshal: Sydney, NSW -- Actor (White Cliffs of Dover, Lydia)
- 01-29Tonypandy: Viscount
People died in year of 1909
- 01-14Sinovi P Rozhestvensky: Russian Admiral, dies at 60
- 01-15Ernest Reyer: Composer, dies at 85
- 01-15Ernest von Wildenbruch: German playwright (Das Edle Blut), dies at 63
- 01-22Richard A C E Erlenmeyer: German chemist, dies at 83
- 02-02Adolf Stoecker: German anti-semite / Prime Minister, dies at 73
- 02-03Johann Georg Herzog: Composer, dies at 86
- 02-08Edouard Silas: Composer, dies at 80
- 02-08Mieczyslaw Karlowicz: Composer, dies at 32
- 03-12Johanna "Lena" Bakker: Dutch actress / Wife of Bruno Gerlach, dies at 34
- 03-16George Thorndike Angell: Lawyer (ASPCA), dies at 85
- 03-22Gyula Erkel: Composer, dies at 66
- 03-24John Millington Synge: Irish dramatist / playwright / poet, dies at 37
- 03-25Ruperto Chapi y Lorente: Composer, dies at 57
- 03-26Nikolai Arkas: Composer, dies at 56
- 04-03Benjamin Johnson Lang: Composer, dies at 71
- 04-09Charles Conder: Artist
- 04-10Algernon Charles Swinburne: English poet, dies at 72
- 04-12Hermann Kotzchmar: Composer, dies at 79
- 05-05Pauline Staegeman: German feminist
- 05-08Friedrich von Holstein: German diplomat
- 05-10Johannes de Koo: Journalist / playwright
- 05-18George Meredith: English Poet / writer (Diana of Crossways), dies at 81
- 06-01Giuseppe Martucci: Composer, dies at 53
- 06-18Learmont Drysdale: Composer, dies at 42
- 06-22Detlev [Freiherr Friedrich A von] Liliencron: German poet, dies at 65
- 06-28Israel Durham: Phillies President dies
- 07-05Emil Bohn: Composer, dies at 70
- 07-08Gaston AA Marquis de Gallifet: French Minister of War (1899-1900), dies at 79
- 07-09Kasimir Felix Badeni: Premier of Polish / Austria (1895-97), dies at 62
- 07-11Simon Newcomb: Celestial mechanics authority (Stars), dies at 74
Events in year of 1910
- 01-01Simpson-Hayward (England) takes 6-43 on debut with underarm lobs
- 01-021st junior high schools in US opens (Berkeley, California)
- 01-03British miners strike for 8 hour working day
- 01-07Stanley Cup: Ottawa Senators sweep Galt (Ont) in 2 games
- 01-101st international air meet in US held, in LA
- 01-10Lunt-Fontanne Theater (Globe) opens at 205 W 46th St, New York City
- 01-19Germany and Bolivia ends commerce / friendship treaty
- 01-19National Institute of Arts & Letters incorporated by Congress
- 01-20Ottawa Senators sweep Edmonton in 2 for Stanley Cup (2nd of 1910)
- 01-21British-Russian military intervention in Persia
- 01-22Opera "Germania, " premieres in New York City
- 01-251st stumping by a 12th man in Tests (N C Tufnell, South Africa vs. England)
- 01-25Children initiate idea of planting trees in Jerusalem
- 01-26Heavy rains cause floods in Paris
- 02-011st British labour exchange opens
- 02-01Dragoumis government forms in Greece
- 02-08Boy Scouts of America incorporated and chartered (William D Boyce-Chic)
- 02-231st radio contest held (Philadelphia)
- 02-25Dali Lama flees Tibet from Chinese troop to British-Indies
- 03-022 trains crash in snow storm in Wellington Washington, 118 die
- 03-05Stanley Cup: Montreal Wanderers beat Ottawa Senators, 3-1
- 03-08Baroness Raymonde de Laroche of Paris is 1st licensed female pilot
- 03-10China ends slavery
- 03-10Pittsburgh Courier, begins publishing
- 03-11Jack Hobbs 1st Test ton (187 vs. South Africa), his only Test hit wicket
- 03-12Stanley Cup: Montreal Wanderers beat Berlin (Kitchener), 7-3
- 03-16Barney Oldfield sets land speed record of 131.7 mph at Daytona
- 03-17DHC soccer team forms in Delft Neth
- 03-181st opera by an US Composer (Converse) performed at the Met, New York City
- 03-231st race at Los Angeles Motordrome (1st US auto speedway)
People born in year of 1910
- 01-01Russ Bender: Actor / writer (Amazing Colossal Man, Space Monster)
- 01-02Ulrich Becher: Writer
- 01-03Thomas Stuart Willan: Historian
- 01-05Erica Morini: Vienna, Austria -- Concert violinist
- 01-06Wright Morris: United States -- Writer
- 01-07Alain JG de Rothschild: France -- Banker / Baron
- 01-07Jack Lovelock: NZ / US surgeon / runner (1936 Olympics - Gold Medalist)
- 01-08Richard Cromwell [LeRoy Melvin Radabaugh]: Los Angeles, California -- Actor (Jezebel)
- 01-09Dick Henry Jurgen: Bandleader
- 01-10Dorothy Stroud: Garden historian
- 01-10Galina Ulanova: St. Petersburg, Russia -- Ballerina (Bolshoi)
- 01-10Jean Martinon: Lyon, France -- Conductor / composer
- 01-11Izler Solomon: St. Paul -- Conductor
- 01-11Trygve Martin Bratteli: Norwegian Prime Minister (Labour) (1971-72, 1973-76)
- 01-12Charles Martin: Cartoonist
- 01-12Luise Rainer: Austria -- Actress (Escapade, Good Earth, Big City)
- 01-14Renier van der Velden: Composer
- 01-16David McCampbell: US pilot / Captain (WWII-Pacific-downed 34 Japanese planes)
- 01-17Edith S Green: (Rep-D-Oregon)
- 01-17Michael Economides: Restaurateur
- 01-18Arthur John Howard: Actor (Frieda, Last Holiday, Paradiso, Glass Cage)
- 01-19Willi Schmidt: Germany -- Director
- 01-20Abram Hill: Director / playwright / founder (American Negro Theater)
- 01-20Ennio Porrino: Composer
- 01-20Joy Adamson: Naturalist / author (Born Free)
- 01-20Lauritz Lauritzen: German politician
- 01-20Nina Verchinina: Dancer choreographer / teacher
- 01-21Lord Cayzer: British financier / swcheeps magnate / multi-millionaire
- 01-23Django Reinhardt: Belgium -- Gypsy jazz guitarist
- 01-25Harold Watkinson: Politician / businessman
People died in year of 1910
- 01-17Thomas Crapper: Inventor (flush toilet)
- 01-17Wilhelm F Kohlrausch: German physicist (Additiviteitsregel), dies at 69
- 01-28Jose Garcia Robles: Composer, dies at 74
- 02-01Otto Julius Bierbaum: German writer (Irrgarten Der Liebe), dies at 44
- 02-15Albert Fuchs: Composer, dies at 51
- 02-16Albert Heinrich Zabel: Composer, dies at 75
- 02-20Boetros Ghali: Egyptian Premier, murdered
- 03-10Carl Heinrich Carsten Reinecke: Composer, dies at 85
- 03-10Karl Lueger: Austrian anti-semite / Mayor of Vienna, dies at 65
- 03-17Joaquin Valverde: Composer, dies at 64
- 03-27Alexander E Agassiz: US businessman / biologist / geologist, dies at 74
- 03-27David Duffle Wood: Composer, dies at 72
- 03-28Edouard [Judas] Colonne: French violinist / conductor
- 04-01Andreas Aschenbach: German Painter / engraver, dies at 94
- 04-02Boyd Alexander: English explorer (Niger to the Nile), murdered at 37
- 04-02Friedrich von Bodelschwingh: German theologist, dies at 79
- 04-12William G Sumner: US sociologist / politicologist (Folkways), dies at 69
- 04-13William Orchardson: British painter
- 04-21Mark Twain [Samuel Clemens]: Auther (Huckleberry Finn), dies at 74
- 05-03Artie Shaw: Bandleader
- 05-06Edward VII: King of England (1901-10), dies at 68
- 05-10Stanislao Cannizzaro: Italian chemist, dies at 85
- 05-10William Huggins: Discoverer of stellar nature of Andromeda
- 05-16Henri E Cross [Delacroix]: French painter, dies at 53
- 05-18Flor van Duyse: Composer, dies at 66
- 05-20Jean-Baptiste Theodore Weckerlin: Composer, dies at 88
- 05-22Jules Renard: French writer (Le plaisir the rompre), dies at 46
- 05-27Robert Koch: German bacteriologist (TB, Cholera, Nobel)
- 05-29Mili Alexeyevich Balakirev: Russian Composer (Islamej), dies at 73
- 05-31Elizabeth Blackwell: 1st woman physician, dies at 89