1904

From ArticleWorld

1904 was the first leap year of the new century, it was also a year in which the Russ-Japanese war would create headlines worldwide and a legendary name in automotive history was born.

Important Events

February 7th marked the start of the Great Baltimore Fire in Baltimore, Maryland. The fire, which started in the John Hurst Company building at 10:48 and raged for over 24 hours before finally being extinguished at 13:30 on February 8th. During the fire 1,526 buildings were destroyed and 1,231 fire fighters were needed to quell the lashing flames.

On February 8th The Japanese navy, lead by Admiral Heihachiro Togo attacked Russian ships in Port Arthur, beginning the year long Russo-Japanese War. The war raged well into 1905 with the final battle taking place between May 27th and 28th, in which the Japanese navy defeated the Russians in the battle of Tsushima. The bloody conflict would kill or wound over 200,000 people.

May 4th marked the first production a Rolls-Royce car in Manchester, England, the motor was simply named ‘Royce’. The car was made by mechanic Frederick Henry Royce, and it was on this day that Royce met Charles Stewart Rolls who immediately struck up a deal to sell Royce’s new cars for him only on the understanding that the cars would be named Rolls-Royce. The company would become official on March 16th 1906, creating it’s famous Silver Ghost in the same year, helping cement the companies name as a prestigious car manufacturer.

In New York City, New York on December 31st, Americans enjoyed the first New Years celebrations in Times Square or as it was known then, Longacre Square. Modern celebrations include ticker tape, fireworks and the famous glittering ball dropping in time with the countdown.

Births and Deaths

The year 1904 marked some important births and departures. Notable persons born in this year include, English actors Cary Grant on January 18 (D. 1986) and Sir John Gielgud born on April 14th (D. 2000) as well as Austro-Hungarian born Peter Lorre on June 26th (D.1964). American bandleader Glenn Miller was also born in this year on march 1st (D. 1944) along with writer Theodor Seuss Geisel better known as Dr. Seuss on March 2nd (D. 1991) and Spanish abstract artist Salvador Dali Born May 11th (D. 1989). Among those who died in this 1904 was Czech music composer Antonin Dvorak who died on May 1st.