South Pole
Shackletons ship, the Nimrod, leaves Port Lyttlelton for the South Pole
Historical events in 1908
222 historical records
January 19087 historical events
President of Switzerland
Begins a one-year term as President of the Swiss Confederation.
Frans Schollaert Government
Begins the Frans Schollaert Government in Brussels and serves as head of the Belgian government.
Birth of Simone de Beauvoir
Simone de Beauvoir is born in Paris to Georges Bertrand de Beauvoir and Francoise Brasseur.
Birth of Stephane Grappelli
Birth of Stephane Grappelli
Second Lieutenant
Appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the 10th Hannoverian Jager Battalion
Masjed Soleyman Third Well Drilled
The concession syndicate begins drilling a third well at Masjed Soleyman after failures at earlier sites.
February 19083 historical events
Cape Royds Base Established
Shackleton's party establishes its Antarctic base at Cape Royds after sea ice prevents the expedition from using Hut Point.
Birth of John Mills
Birth of John Mills, born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills
Palau de la Musica Opens
Completes the Palau de la Musica Catalana, which opens as the home of the Orfeo Catala.
March 19088 historical events
Resignation of Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Resigns as Prime Minister of Great Britain
South Pole
Climbs Mt Erebus, the worlds southernmost active volcano
Mount Erebus
Leads the first ascent of Mount Erebus with Douglas Mawson and Alistair Mackay during Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition
Birth of Maurice Merleau-Ponty
Maurice Merleau-Ponty is born at Rochefort-sur-Mer.
First Gunnar Knudsen Government
Begins the First Gunnar Knudsen Government in Oslo and serves as Prime Minister of Norway.
Jørgen Løvland Government
The Jørgen Løvland Government ends in Oslo, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Norway.
1st Plane Passenger
Taks the 1st aviation passenger, flies over Paris
Teacher
Appointed Teacher at Oneglia on the Riviera
April 190811 historical events
First Premiership Begins
Is appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Prime Minister of Great Britain
Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 1st term
Cabinet
Appointed Member of Cabinet for the 1st time, age 33
Board of Trade
Appointed President of the Board of Trade
Election
Must be elected to Parliament since offerred a place in the Cabinet
Election
Loses a bi-election in Manchester North West
President of Board of Trade
Appointed President of the Board of Trade
Election
Accepts an invitation to stand as prospective Liberal Member of Parliament for Dundee
Election
Loses the North-West Manchester by-election by just 429 votes
Reform of Parliament
Introduces a Bill to the House of Commons to set up Wage Boards
Death of Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Dies after having been dogged by ill health
May 19087 historical events
Member of Parliament
Elected Member of Parliament for Dundee with a Liberal majority 2,709
Birth of James Maitland Stewart
Birth of James Maitland Stewart
Invention of Aeroplane
Patents a flying machine
Birth of Robert Morley
Birth of Robert Morley
Commercial Oil Struck at Masjed Soleyman
A major oil reservoir is struck at Masjed Soleyman, transforming the prospects of D'Arcy's Persian concession.
Customs Conference
Supports customs discussions encouraging closer union among the colonies.
Union Preparations
Helps build momentum for a national constitutional convention.
June 19086 historical events
Legislation
Introduces a state scheme for old age pensions in the Invalid & Old Age Pensions Act
Old Age Pension Scheme
Introduces a state scheme for old age pensions.
Reform of Social Welfare
Introduces a state scheme for old age pensions in the Invalid & Old Age Pensions Act
Death of Frederick Arthur Stanley
Death of Frederick Arthur Stanley
Marriage to Helen Reilly Barbour
Marries Helen Reilly Barbour while serving as a senior designer and managing director at Harland and Wolff.
Death of Takeaki Enomoto
Death of Takeaki Enomoto
July 19081 historical events
Reform of Workplace Conditions
Introduces the 2nd reading of the Mines Eight Hour Bill
August 19086 historical events
Old Age Pensions
The Old Age Pensions Act creates non-contributory pensions for eligible elderly people.
South Pole
The Endurance leaves Plymouth for Buenos Aires
Marriage
Churchill gets engaged to Clementine Hozier
Invention of Model T Ford
The first model T Ford roles off the production line
Arrest of Klimenty Efremovich Voroshilov
Arrested & forced into exile, 1908-1917
Bolshevik Party
Arrested & forced into exile, 1908-1917
September 19088 historical events
Marriage
Marries Clementine Hozier
Marriage
Signs the registar for Churchills marriage to Clementine Hozier
Spacetime
Minkowski presents spacetime geometry and recasts special relativity in four dimensional form
Birth of Edris Albert Eddie Hapgood
Birth of Edris Albert "Eddie" Hapgood
Buchlau Bargain
Hosts a secret meeting between Count Lexa von Aehrenthal and the Russian Foreign Minister Izvolsky at his estate at Buchlau in Moravia. This meeting produced the so-called Buchlau bargain and led to the Austro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hosts a secret meeting between Count Lexa von Aehrenthal and the Russian
Hosts a secret meeting between Count Lexa von Aehrenthal and the Russian Foreign Minister Izvolsky at his estate at Buchlau in Moravia. This meeting produced the so-called Buchlau bargain and led to the Austro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Rule of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hosts a secret meeting between Count Lexa von Aehrenthal and the Russian Foreign Minister Izvolsky at his estate at Buchlau in Moravia. This meeting produced the so-called Buchlau bargain and led to the Austro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Marriage
Marries Winston Churchill
October 190811 historical events
Model T
Ford introduces the Model T as a durable automobile intended for mass ownership.
Independence of Bulgaria
Delclares the indpendence of Bulgaria
Christensen Government
The Christensen Government ends in Copenhagen, concluding this term as Council President of Denmark.
First Neergaard Government
Begins the First Neergaard Government in Copenhagen and serves as Council President of Denmark.
Constitution of South Africa
The constitutional convention represents 4 colonies, natives of South Africa excluded. Submits his scheme for a South African Union to the National Convention. Smuts calls for a constitutional convention. 1st day of the convention which determines the Government & constitition of South Africa
Convention
The convention represents the 4 colonies but natives of South Africa are excluded
Convention
Smuts calls for a constitutional convention
Great Southern Journey Begins
Shackleton leaves Cape Royds with Jameson Adams, Eric Marshall and Frank Wild on the expedition's main journey toward the South Pole.
Claims continental powers discussed exploiting Britain's Boer War difficulties
Claims continental powers discussed exploiting Britain's Boer War difficulties.
National Convention
Participates prominently in the National Convention on South African union.
Union Constitution Negotiations
Advocates political unification of the four self-governing colonies.
November 19083 historical events
Birth of Vivien Fuchs
Birth of Vivien Fuchs
Prime Minister of Egypt
Becomes Prime Minister and leads a government closely associated with British authority.
Death of Cixi
Death of Cixi
December 19086 historical events
Nobel Prize in Literature
Is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for philosophical works advancing an idealistic view of life.
Coup
Juan Vicente Gomez seized power while President Cipriano Castro was receiving medical treatment abroad.
President of Venezuela
Appointed President of Venezuela, 1st term
Exile of Sun Yat-Sen
Returns to China to participate in the nationalist rebellion
Constitution of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is born, the Afrikaners hold the key to political power, they forme the largest part of the electorate. Smuts & Botha take the constitution to London, where it is passed by Parliament, & signed into law by Edward VII
Unification
Smuts & Botha take the constitution to London, where it is passed by Parliament, & signed into law by Edward VII
Lieutenant
Appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Papua
Prime Minister of Australia
Appointed Prime Minister of Australia, 1st term
Minister of Education
Appointed Minister of Education
Capture of Austria
Austria alienates Russia by illegally annexing Bosnia-Herzegovina
Rule of Bosnia
Austria alienates Russia by illegally annexing Bosnia-Herzegovina
Eigenvalue Problem Studies
Develops a strong command of eigenvalue problems in continuous media, mathematical techniques that later become central to his formulation of wave mechanics.
Nationalization
Nationalized by the Belgian Government. Leopold receives 50 million francs compensation
Prime Minister of Bulgaria
Appointed Prime Minister of Bulgaria
Succession
Succeeds as King of Bulgaria,
Anne of Green Gables
Publication of "Anne of Green Gables"
Arrol Gantry Construction Programme
Supports erection of the massive gantry structure needed to build the Olympic-class hulls at the Belfast yard.
Belfast Lough Dredging Programme
Supports dredging and deepening work needed to accommodate increasingly large ships built at Harland and Wolff.
Olympic Class Construction Programme
Directs Harland and Wolff's programme to construct the Olympic-class liners for White Star Line.
Olympic Class Yard Expansion
Authorizes major expansion of the Belfast yard so ships of the unprecedented Olympic-class dimensions can be constructed.
Thompson Dry Dock Development
Presses for construction of a large dry dock capable of accommodating the new generation of Olympic-class liners.
Twin Slipway Development
Oversees construction of enlarged slipways required to build Olympic and Titanic side by side at Queen's Island.
Exile of Shih-Kai Yuan
Exiled after the death of the Emperor
Constitution of China
Forms a republican Government
President of China
Appointed President of China, at the head of a republican Government
Prime Minister of China
Appointed Prime Minister of China, to suppress the Nationalist rebellion
Succession
Succeeds as Emperor of China
Consortium of Four Powers
British, French, American & German banks will build Chinese railways
Railways
British, French, American & German banks will build Chinese railways
Succession
Succeeds as Emperor of China, the 10th & last Emperor
Tung-meng-hui
Joins Sun Yat-sen’s Tongmenghui while studying at the Tokyo Shinbu Military Academy in Japan.
Reballion of to suppress the
Comes out of retirement to suppress the rebellion
Capture of Hankow
Captures Hankow from the Nationalists
Reballion of to suppress the
Comes out of retirement to suppress the rebellion
Capture of Wuhan
Rebels capture Wuhan
Reballion of Rebels in Szechuan
Rebelion breaks out after the Four Power Consortium tries to buy out local interests
Constitution of Cuba
Self-Government is restored when Jose Miguel Gomez is elected President, but the US retains its supervision of Cuban affairs
Independence of Bulgaria
Self-Government is restored when Jose Miguel Gomez is elected President, but the US retains its supervision of Cuban affairs
Independence of Cuba
Self-Government is restored when Jose Miguel Gomez is elected President, but the US retains its supervision of Cuban affairs
President of Cuba
Self-Government is restored when Jose Miguel Gomez is elected President, but the US retains its supervision of Cuban affairs
Surface Tension Paper Submitted
Prepares and submits his surface-tension research to the Royal Society, extending Rayleigh's treatment by accounting for viscosity, air and finite-amplitude oscillations.
Border
Agrees a boundary settlement with Italian Somaliland
Fantasmagorie
Directs Fantasmagorie, an early hand-drawn animated film.
Study of Thomas Aquinas
Maritain turns intensively to the writings of Thomas Aquinas and develops the Thomist orientation of his mature philosophy.
Nobel Prize
Receives the Nobel Prize in Physics for devising a method of reproducing colours photographically through interference phenomena.
War College
Appointed Head of the War College
Nobel Prize
Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature
Ambassador
Appointed Ambassador of the USA
Alliance Triple Entente
Strengthens the Triple Entente between Great Britain, France & Russia
Crisis
Stops Russis opening the Dardanelles. Stops Austrias annexation of Bosnia and Hercegovina
Strengthens the Triple Entente between Great Britain, France & Russia
Strengthens the Triple Entente between Great Britain, France & Russia
Reflections of Violence
Publication of "Reflections of Violence"
Relativity, Theory of
In physics and mathematics, Minkowski space (or Minkowski spacetime) is the mathematical setting in which Einsteins theory of special relativity is most conveniently formulated.
Relativity, Theory of
The idea of Minkowski space also led to special relativity being viewed in a more geometrical way, this geometric viewpoint of spacetime being important in general relativity too.
Relativity, Theory of
While spacetime can be viewed as a consequence of Albert Einsteins 1905 theory of special relativity, it is first explicitly proposed mathematically by one of his teachers, the mathematician Hermann Minkowski.
Spacetime
In physics and mathematics, Minkowski space (or Minkowski spacetime) is the mathematical setting in which Einsteins theory of special relativity is most conveniently formulated.
Spacetime
The idea of Minkowski space also led to special relativity being viewed in a more geometrical way, this geometric viewpoint of spacetime being important in general relativity too.
Spacetime
While spacetime can be viewed as a consequence of Albert Einsteins 1905 theory of special relativity, it is first explicitly proposed mathematically by one of his teachers, the mathematician Hermann Minkowski.
Relativity, Theory of
The term "theory of relativity" was coined by Max Planck to emphasize how special relativity (and later, general relativity) uses the principle of relativity
Nobel Prize
Winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine
Commander of North Sea Fleet
Appointed Commander of the North Sea Fleet
Commander of XVIII Corps
Appointed Commander of the XVIII Corps
General
Appointed General of the Cavalry
Capture of Berlin
Forces Europe to accept Austrias Annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Forces Europe to accept Austrias annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Savitri
Composes, "Savitri"
A Room with a View
Publication of "A Room with a View"
Room With A View
Publication of "Room With A View"
First and Last Things
Publication of "The War In The Air". Publication of "New Worlds for Old". Publication of "First and Last Things"
New Worlds for Old
Publication of "The War In The Air". Publication of "New Worlds for Old". Publication of "First and Last Things"
New Worlds
Publication of "The War In The Air". Publication of "New Worlds for Old". Publication of "First and Last Things"
The War In The Air
Publication of "The War In The Air". Publication of "New Worlds for Old". Publication of "First and Last Things"
The Wind in the Willows
Publication of "The Wind in the Willows"
Discovery of South Pole
Comes within 97 miles of reaching the South Pole, forced back by starvation
South Magnetic Pole
Joins Edgeworth David and Douglas Mawson on the northern party that reaches the region of the South Magnetic Pole
Titanic Design Calculations
Assists the Harland and Wolff design team with naval architecture and structural calculations.
Olympic Class Building Programme
Supports the decision to build Olympic-class liners, including Titanic, for White Star Line's North Atlantic service.
Member of Parliament
Elected Member of Parliament for Bewdley, succeeds his father in the seat
Chairman
Appointed Chairman of the Labour Party, 1st term
Exploration Withdrawal Considered
The syndicate comes close to abandoning Persian exploration as costs mount and success remains uncertain.
Persian Gulf Export Plans Begin
Begins planning pipelines, refining and export facilities needed to commercialize the new Persian oil discovery.
Government Report
A Parliamentary Committee publishes a report favorable to Wage Bords
Nationalization
Supports nationalization of the railways
Reform of Parliament
A Parliamentary Committee publishes a report favorable to Wage Bords
Speech
Ridicules the idea of Anglo-German conflict & calls for a reduction of naval building
Strike
Helps settle the strike, accepting wage cuts & arbitration for the future
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer
Armament
Appoints a committee of Lloyd George, Churchill & Harcourt for War Office estimates
War Office Estimates Committee
Appoints Lloyd George, Churchill and Harcourt to examine War Office estimates.
Minister of Education
Appointed Minister of Education
Secretary of State for India
Appointed Secretary of State for India
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
Appointed Secretary of State for War. continues in position under Asquith
Social Reform Policy Arguments
As President of the Board of Trade, Churchill promoted labor and welfare reforms that influenced his political writings.
Independent Labour Party
Joins the Independent Labour Party
Discovery of Cepheid Stars
A relationship between the period and luminosity for classical Cepheids is discovered in 1908 by Henrietta Swan Leavitt in an investigation of thousands of variable stars in the Magellanic Clouds
Greenwich Time Signal
Greenwich timekeeping remains central to public time distribution.
Pasiphae Identified as Jovian Satellite
Identifies Pasiphae, a distant retrograde satellite moving around Jupiter.
Nobel Prize
Receives the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for investigations into the disintegration of the elements and the chemistry of radioactive substances.
Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower
The university completes its prominent clock tower, commonly known as Old Joe.
1st Flight
Makes the 1st powered flight in the UK
Villa Veteran Defender Farewell
Howard Spencer finished a long career with Aston Villa after helping shape the club's defensive standards during its early championship years.
1908 FA Cup Final Double
Scores twice in the 3-1 victory over Newcastle United at Crystal Palace, helping Wolves claim their second FA Cup.
Half-Pay Period Begins
After promotion to rear admiral, Carden spends roughly two years on half-pay before returning to a fleet appointment.
Rear Admiral Promotion Confirmed
Carden is promoted to rear admiral after his service in major battleship commands.
Rear Admiral
Appointed Rear Admiral
Captain
Appointed Captain
Boy Scouts
Founds the Boy Scout movement
North Sea Fleet Concentration Advanced
Fisher continues shifting the Navy's strategic centre toward the North Sea and modern home-water forces.
Birth of Edward Teller
Birth of Edward Teller, helped develop the 1st hydrogen bomb
Arrest of Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Sentenced to 6 yrs in prison
Home Rule
Sentenced to 6 yrs in prison
Hyderabad Flood Protection
M. Visvesvaraya advises Hyderabad on drainage and flood-protection measures after the destructive Musi flood.
Olympic Class Naval Architecture
Directs naval architecture work that shapes Titanic and her sister Olympic.
Titanic Design Supervision
Supervises major design work for the Olympic-class liners at Harland and Wolff.
Titanic Safety Arrangement Design
Works on watertight subdivision, lifeboat arrangements and other safety features incorporated into the Olympic-class design.
Titanic Design Development
Works on detailed design development for Titanic under Harland and Wolff management.
TGWU
Founds the Irish Transport & General Workers Union
Agunot
Publication of "Agunot"
La Ville Charnelle
Publication of "La Ville Charnelle"
Minister of Communications
Appointed Minister of Communications
Prime Minister of Japan
Appointed Prime Minister of Japan, 2nd term
Young Turk Revolution
The Young Turk Revolution restored constitutional government in the Ottoman Empire and opened a new political environment in which Abdullah pursued a public career.
Exile of Josef Klemens Pilsudski
Exiled after serving 5 yrs hard labour for anti-Tsarist activities
Sorbonne Professor
Becomes a full professor at the Sorbonne.
Succession
Succeeds as King of Portugal
Move toward Donbas Industrial Life
His family moves toward the Donbas industrial region, where he later enters mining and metalworking.
Criticism of Court Politics
Criticises conservative court influence after leaving office.
Factional Dispute
Clashes with Lenin over strategy and party education.
Materialism and Empirio-Criticism
Attacks Bogdanov's philosophy amid Bolshevik factional conflict.
Leo Tolstoy Poet and Rebel
Writes Leo Tolstoy, Poet and Rebel, combining literary criticism with an assessment of Tolstoy's social significance.
Bolshevik Party
Sides with Lenin in 1908 when the Bolshevik faction split into Lenins supporters and Alexander Bogdanovs followers
Exile of Grigory Yevseyevich Zinoviev
Forced into exile
Nobel Prize
Shares the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for research on immunity, particularly his discovery of phagocytosis as a cellular defence mechanism.
Birth of Valentin Petrovich Glushko
Birth of Valentin Petrovich Glushko
National Convention
Submits his scheme for a South African Union to the National Convention
Unification
Submits his scheme for a South African Union to the National Convention
Minister of Interior
Appointed Minister of the Interior
Minister of Mines
Appointed Minister of Mines
National Convention
Appointed President of the National Convention
President of South Africa
Appointed President of the National Convention
Unification
Discusses the future of a united South Africa
Conference of Customs
Reinforces the foundation of the National Convention
National Convention
Reinforces the foundation of the National Convention
Secretary of State for Defence
Appointed Minister of Defence
South Africa Party
To solidify their dominance of South African politics, the Afrikaners united to form the South Africa Party, a new pann Afrikaner party
Gatun Dam and Locks
Goethals oversees construction of Gatun Dam, Gatun Lake and the Atlantic lock system.
Privatdozent at Bern
Begins teaching at the University of Bern as a Privatdozent.
Relativistic Electrodynamics with Laub
Works with Jakob Laub on electromagnetic equations for moving bodies, reformulating electrodynamics in a way consistent with the special theory of relativity.
Relativity Principle Review
Publishes a broad review of the relativity principle and its consequences, clarifying how the theory changes traditional concepts of space, time and dynamics.
Coup
Appoints himself President & establishes a dictatorship
Managing Editor at McClures
Cather served as managing editor of McClure's, strengthening her editorial experience.
Critical Essays and Reviews
Strachey continued publishing reviews of literature and contemporary culture.