Discovery Expedition
The relief ship Morning returned, this time with a second ship, the Terra Nova.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1904 in Great Britain
Explore 62 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1904.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1904
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 62 unique records.
62Unique records
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28Named events on this page
18Named people on this page
14Places on this page
January
Discovery of Cullinan Diamond
Worlds largest diamond discovered in the Prime Minister diamond mine in South Africa
Defection
The Conservative whip is withdrawn because of his support Liberal support
Discovery Expedition
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.
Discovery Expedition
In recognition of his work with the expedition, Scott names a mountain overlooking the Sound as Mount Evans
Magnificent Becomes Channel Fleet Flagship
While under Carden's command, HMS Magnificent serves within the reorganised Channel Fleet structure.
February
Defection
Votes with the Liberals against his own party on a Free Trade motion
Discovery Expedition
Most of the ice suddenly broke up, and Morning and Terra Nova are at last able to sail alongside Discovery.
Discovery Expedition
The Discovery begins the return journey to New Zealand
April
Election
Adopted as a Liberal Candidate in Manchester North West
May
Defection
Crosses the House of Commons to become a Liberal
Liberal Party
Sits on the opposition benches for the 1st time
Naval Necessities Memorandum
Fisher sets out proposals for faster, heavily armed ships and other reforms in his Naval Necessities memorandum.
July
Knighthood
Knighted following the March Festival of his music at Covent Garden
September
Discovery Expedition
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
Captain
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)
Discovery Expedition
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)
Discovery Expedition
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
Discovery of Gondwana
During the Discovery Expedition a leaf fossil discovered by Ferrar helps establish Antarctica's relation to the Gondwana super-continent
Discovery of Gondwana
Publishes Discovery Expedition results including fossil evidence that helps link Antarctica with the Gondwana super-continent
Discovery of Ross Island
During the Discovery Expedition it was established that Ross Island is an Island
October
First Sea Lord Appointment
Fisher becomes First Sea Lord and professional head of the Royal Navy.
November
Fleet Redistribution Begins
Fisher begins reorganising fleet deployment to concentrate stronger forces closer to the North Sea.
Home Fleet Modernisation Priority
Fisher gives priority to modern battleships, cruisers, destroyers and submarines in the Home Fleet structure.
Obsolete Warships Disposal Programme
Fisher accelerates disposal or reserve placement of obsolete ships to release crews and resources for modern forces.
December
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Receives the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering the inert gaseous elements and defining their place in the periodic system.
Nobel Prize in Physics
Receives the Nobel Prize in Physics for gas-density research and the discovery of argon.
Other events (month unknown)
Advocacy of Free Trade
Churchill publicly defended free trade against tariff reform, expressing his changing political convictions.
Baltic Maiden Voyage Command
Commands Baltic on her maiden voyage as White Star entrusts him with another of its newest large liners.
Birth of George Formby
Birth of George Formby
Birth of Richard Addinsell
Birth of Richard Addinsell
Captain
Appointed Captain
Captain
Appointed Captain
Casement Report on Congo Abuses
Publishes his official report documenting forced labour, violence and abuses in the Congo Free State.
Cavalry School
Founds a Cavalry School in Wiltshire
Contributes to the Entente Cordiale with France
Contributes to the Entente Cordiale with France
Electron Atomic Model
Proposes an atomic model containing negatively charged electrons embedded within diffuse positive charge.
First Lord of Admiralty
Appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, 1st term
France & Britain recognize each others spheres of interest eg in Morocco
France & Britain recognize each others spheres of interest eg in Morocco & Egypt. Concludes diplomatic means of resolving colonial conflicts between Britain & France
Free Trade
Supports free trade with the Liberals as an independent MP
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.