1904 in History

Succeeds Zakarine as king of Luang Prabang under the French protectorate

Promotes conciliation, self-government and Afrikaner political recovery.

Assassination of Vyacheslav Konstantinovich Plehve

Directs an operation which results in the assassination of Plehve

Trotsky left the Mensheviks in September 1904 over their insistence on an alliance with Russian liberals and their opposition to a reconciliation with Lenin and the Bolsheviks. During these years Trotsky began developing his theory of permanent revolution, which led to a close working relationship with Alexander Parvus in 1904-1907

Funeral procession of Paulus Kruger, revives an Afrikaaner political revival

The United States assumes control of Canal Zone property and the canal construction project.

Scott was quickly promoted to Captain, and invited to Balmoral Castle to meet King Edward VII, who invested him as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)

The Japanese capture Port Arthur

Is promoted to Oberregierungsrat in the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior.

The Zemstvo are given a broader national & local role. Changes agreed by the Tsar become law, still no representitive form of Government

Authorizes Gapons Assembly

The Conservative whip is withdrawn because of his support Liberal support

Votes with the Liberals against his own party on a Free Trade motion

Crosses the House of Commons to become a Liberal

During the Antarctic winter of 1902 Discovery became locked in the ice, efforts to free her during the summer of 190203 failed, and although some of the expeditions members (including Ernest Shackleton) left in a relief ship, Crean and the majority of the party remained in the Antarctic until the ship was finally freed in February 1904

In recognition of his work with the expedition, Scott names a mountain overlooking the Sound as Mount Evans

The Terra Nova relief ship meets Discovery. Evans leads men laying explosives to blast a channel through eight miles of ice, helping free Discovery shortly before a heavy gale strikes.

The relief ship Morning returned, this time with a second ship, the Terra Nova.

Most of the ice suddenly broke up, and Morning and Terra Nova are at last able to sail alongside Discovery.

The Discovery begins the return journey to New Zealand

On its return to Britain the expeditions reception was initially muted. Markham was present to meet the ship in Portsmouth when Discovery docked there on 10 September 1904, but no dignitaries greeted the party when it arrived in London a few days later

Scott was quickly promoted to Captain, and invited to Balmoral Castle to meet King Edward VII, who invested him as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)

The Discovery Expedition reports King Edward VII Land, the Polar Plateau, the Dry Valleys, Cape Crozier's emperor penguin colony and extensive coastal and mountain surveys

Worlds largest diamond discovered in the Prime Minister diamond mine in South Africa

During the Discovery Expedition a leaf fossil discovered by Ferrar helps establish Antarctica's relation to the Gondwana super-continent

Publishes Discovery Expedition results including fossil evidence that helps link Antarctica with the Gondwana super-continent

Discovers Himalia in photographs taken with the Crossley reflector at Lick Observatory.

During the Discovery Expedition it was established that Ross Island is an Island

Adopted as a Liberal Candidate in Manchester North West

Instrumental in negotiating the Entente Cordiale

Begins the First Hannes Hafstein Ministry and serves as Minister for Iceland.

Fisher becomes First Sea Lord and professional head of the Royal Navy.

Fisher begins reorganising fleet deployment to concentrate stronger forces closer to the North Sea.

Transvaal generals to form a political party, Het Volk, to fight for the Afrikaner cause. Louis Botha is elected leader, & Smuts his deputy

Helps build Het Volk as a Transvaal political party.

Fisher gives priority to modern battleships, cruisers, destroyers and submarines in the Home Fleet structure.

The Japanese army begins debarkation. The Japanese army advavance through Korea to the Yalu River

Knighted following the March Festival of his music at Covent Garden

Sits on the opposition benches for the 1st time

1st performance of, "Madam Butterfly"

While under Carden's command, HMS Magnificent serves within the reorganised Channel Fleet structure.

Trotsky left the Mensheviks in September 1904 over their insistence on an alliance with Russian liberals and their opposition to a reconciliation with Lenin and the Bolsheviks

Appointed Minister of the Interior

Take up personal command of the Russian forces

Orders the Baltic Fleet of 45 ships 18,000 miles to fight Japan

The Russian Baltic Fleet leaves Libau to turn the war

Sets sail with the Baltic Fleet of 45 ships 18,000 miles to fight Japan

Sails the Russian Baltic Fleet from Liepaja & Tallin to turn the war

British cruisers escort the Russian Fleet out of Biscay Bay

Fires on a British fishing fleet believing to be under Japanese torpedoe attack

Fisher sets out proposals for faster, heavily armed ships and other reforms in his Naval Necessities memorandum.

Receives the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering the inert gaseous elements and defining their place in the periodic system.

Shares the Nobel Prize in Literature for dramatic works that renewed Spanish theatrical traditions.

Shares the Nobel Prize in Literature for poetry reflecting Provence and for his work as a Provençal philologist.

Receives the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for research on digestive physiology.

Receives the Nobel Prize in Physics for gas-density research and the discovery of argon.

Fisher accelerates disposal or reserve placement of obsolete ships to release crews and resources for modern forces.

Publishes a defence of Bolshevik organisation after the split.

Wallace becomes the first chief engineer of the American canal construction effort.

During these years Trotsky began developing his theory of permanent revolution, which led to a close working relationship with Alexander Parvus in 1904-1907

Appointed President of Argentina

Ismael Montes begins his first presidential term.

Appointed President of Panama

Begins a one-year term as President of the Swiss Confederation.

Appointed Prime Minister of Spain, 3rd term

Files a patent for radio detection of distant metallic objects.

Poincare states a principle of relativity in a lecture on the future of mathematical physics

Trotsky left the Mensheviks in September 1904 over their insistence on an alliance with Russian liberals and their opposition to a reconciliation with Lenin and the Bolsheviks. During these years Trotsky began developing his theory of permanent revolution, which led to a close working relationship with Alexander Parvus in 1904-1907

Watches war begin after earlier warnings about Far Eastern risks.

Demonstrates the Telemobiloscope for detecting ships through fog.

The Japanese army advavance through Korea to the Yalu River

Japan attacks Port Arthur beginning the Russoese War

The Japanese capture Port Arthur

Nogi begins the Japanese advance on Port Arthur

Nogi begins an intense bombardment of the Russian defenses of Port Arthur

Nogi commands the Japanese forces which finally capture Port Arthur

A cease-fire is agreed

Stoessel is forced with withdraw to Port Arthur

The Russian Fleet, threatened by artillery, quits Port Arthur & attempts to make Vladivostok

Nogi commands the Japanese forces which finally capture Port Arthur

A cease-fire is agreed

Port Arthur surrenders to the Japanese

The Japanese encircle Port Arthur

Tests his radio ship-detection apparatus before maritime observers.

Montes signs the treaty formally settling the War of the Pacific with Chile.

Signs the treaty formally ending the state of war with Bolivia.

Launches Vperyod as a Bolshevik rival to Menshevik-controlled Iskra.

Begins a Bolshevik newspaper after losing control of Iskra.

Death of Alfred Ludwig Heinrich Karl Graf von Waldersee

Birth of Eve Curie, later biographer of her mother.

Gives birth to Eve Curie, her second daughter.

Birth of Reinhard Heydrich, Saxony

Death of Anton Chekhov

Dies after being wounded at Masoller, ending the last major Blanco armed rising

Death of Paulus Kruger

Assassination of Vyacheslav Konstantinovich Plehve

Dies, opening the succession for Sisavang Vong

The Russians are forced to rerteat to Mukden

The Russians are driven out of Manchuria. 25 Aug-3 Sept, commands an engagement 40 miles SW of Mukden