The world in
What happened in 1904?
24 events across 7 world regions, each with its sources.
East Asia
Russo-Japanese WarThe Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) was a major conflict fought between the Empire of Japan and the Russian Empire over rival ambitions in Manchuria and Korea. Japan opened the war with a surprise attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur in February 1904, followed by a land invasion through Korea and Manchuria, culminating in the capture of Port Arthur and the Battle of Mukden. The decisive naval Battle of Tsushima in May 1905 destroyed Russia's Baltic Fleet. Mediation by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt led to the Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the war with a Japanese victory.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Original uploader and author was Dustandshadow at en.wikipedia / Public domain ↗
Battle of the Yellow Sea (Russo-Japanese War)On 10 August 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War, the Russian Pacific Squadron attempted to break out from Port Arthur to join the Vladivostok squadron but was intercepted by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Yellow Sea. The Russian breakout failed, forcing them back to port. This battle, followed by the Battle off Ulsan, effectively bottled up Russian naval power.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
Battle of Port ArthurThe Battle of Port Arthur on 8–9 February 1904 marked the start of the Russo-Japanese War. Japanese destroyers launched a surprise night torpedo attack on the Russian fleet anchored at Port Arthur, followed by a daytime surface engagement. Though inconclusive, it initiated months of naval skirmishing and blockade, heralding the war's outbreak.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: P. F. Collier Son / Public domain ↗
Siege of Port ArthurFrom 1904 to 1905, Japanese forces conducted a prolonged siege against the Russian-held Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War, aiming to capture the base of the Russian Pacific Fleet. Lasting about five months, it was the longest and most violent land battle of the war.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Niva magazine, Russian Empire / Public domain ↗
Battle of LiaoyangIn August–September 1904, the first major land battle of the Russo-Japanese War took place at Liaoyang. The city, a key Russian military center and railway hub in southern Manchuria, was fortified with three defense lines. Japanese forces attacked, and the Russians eventually withdrew, marking an initial Japanese land victory.
Battle of Yalu RiverThe Battle of Yalu River was the first major land engagement of the Russo-Japanese War. It occurred near Wiju on the lower Yalu River, on the border between Korea and China, signaling the shift of the war's main theater to Manchuria.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff / Public domain ↗
Construction of the current Wangfujing Church buildingIn the early 20th century, a Romanesque Revival church was built on Wangfujing Street in Beijing—the current St. Joseph's Church (Dongtang). As one of the four historic Catholic churches of the Archdiocese of Beijing, it continues the early Jesuit presence in the city and remains a significant local place of worship.
Completion of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, BeijingIn 1904, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (commonly known as the Xuanwumen church or Nantang) in Beijing's Xicheng District was rebuilt and completed, forming the present three-story Baroque style building. The original church on the site was first established in 1605, making it the oldest Catholic church in Beijing, and it long served as the cathedral for the Archdiocese of Beijing.
Europe
Entente CordialeOn 8 April 1904, the United Kingdom and the French Third Republic concluded a set of agreements that eased their rivalry and markedly improved relations. These accords arranged spheres of control and influence in territories including Egypt, Morocco, Madagascar, Central and West Africa, and Siam, signaling a shift from colonial competition to cooperation in the face of pressure from the German Empire.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
The Dreyfus affair breaks outThe Dreyfus affair was a major political scandal in France in the late 19th century. It began in 1894 when Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer, was wrongly convicted of treason. This caused deep divisions in French society between Dreyfusards who believed in his innocence and anti-Dreyfusards. Émile Zola's open letter in 1898 was a turning point. The affair lasted until 1906 and had a profound political impact.
Completion of the Quinta da Regaleira estateBetween 1904 and 1910, the Quinta da Regaleira estate was constructed near Sintra, Portugal, and later became part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Foundation of Liverpool CathedralThe Anglican cathedral in Liverpool, England, was founded in the early 20th century. It serves as the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool and is the largest religious building in Britain.
Opening of Sentier StationOn 20 November 1904, Sentier station on Line 3 of the Paris Métro opened in the 2nd arrondissement. It was designed by Hector Guimard and its entrance was later listed as a historic monument.
Réaumur–Sébastopol station opensOn 19 November 1904, an interchange station on Lines 3 and 4 of the Paris Métro opened in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, initially named “Rue Saint-Denis”. The station later served the intersection of Rue Réaumur and Boulevard de Sébastopol, and was renamed Réaumur–Sébastopol in 1907.
Completion of Novocherkassk CathedralThe Novocherkassk Cathedral was completed in 1904, being one of the largest churches of the Russian Empire. Located in Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast, it was built in the Russian Neo-Byzantine style and served as the main church of the Don Cossacks.
Sub-Saharan Africa
- Atrocities in the Congo Free State
Between 1885 and 1908, in the Congo Free State under the personal rule of King Leopold II of Belgium, colonial administrators enforced harsh labour policies to collect natural rubber, resulting in widespread atrocities. These, combined with disease, famine, and displacement, led to a sharp decline in the Congolese population, estimated in the millions to tens of millions.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Rhodes UniversityRhodes University is a university located in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, one of four universities in the province, named in honour of Cecil Rhodes.
Establishment of the tertiary section of Grey College, forerunner of the University of the Free StateThe forerunner of the University of the Free State was established as a tertiary section of Grey College in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1904. Initially serving only white students, it was fully de-segregated in 1996.
South Asia
Outbreak of the Aceh WarIn early 1873, discussions between representatives of the Aceh Sultanate and the United States in Singapore provoked the Netherlands, leading to a Dutch military attack on Aceh and the start of the Aceh War. The conflict was part of a series of late 19th-century wars that consolidated Dutch rule over modern-day Indonesia, ultimately ending in 1904 with the Dutch annexation of Aceh and control over the entire Indonesian archipelago. The war lasted over three decades, resulting in around 4,000 Dutch and 25,000 Acehnese deaths.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
British expedition to Tibet beginsIn December 1903, British Indian forces invaded Tibet from Sikkim, aiming to establish diplomatic and trade ties and resolve the Sikkim-Tibet border dispute. The campaign, lasting until September 1904, was also driven by British concerns over possible Russian influence in the region. Tibet was then under the Ganden Phodrang government, nominally a Qing protectorate.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown, possibly taken by G. I. Davys / Public domain ↗
North Africa
French conquest of AlgeriaBetween 1830 and 1904, France launched a military invasion and prolonged war of conquest in Algeria. In June 1830, French forces landed near Algiers, quickly seizing the capital and coastal areas. Over the following decades, despite internal political strife, France repeatedly reinforced its military presence to suppress resistance in the interior, gradually extending control southward into the Sahara, and finalizing its colonial borders by 1904.
Founding of Madrasa ThaalibiaA madrasa in the Casbah of Algiers was founded in 1904. It was established by Governor Charles Jonnart and later became a leading spiritual and educational centre in Algeria.
Central & South America
Banana WarsBetween 1898 and 1934, the United States carried out a series of military occupations, police actions, and interventions in Central America and the Caribbean. These operations were primarily conducted by the United States Marine Corps, which compiled the Small Wars Manual (1921) based on its experiences.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: A. R. Harrison, United States Marine Corps / Public domain ↗
North America
Opening of the Louisiana Purchase ExpositionOn April 30, 1904, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition opened in St. Louis, Missouri. Funded by $15 million, it drew nearly 19.7 million visitors, with over 60 countries and 43 states exhibiting, and was held concurrently with the Olympic Games.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: David R. Francis (book author) / Public domain ↗
Around 1904
These are known only to the century, not to the year. They are listed separately so a rough date is never mistaken for an exact one.
- Completion of the Taipei Grand Mosque
- Establishment of Women's Suffrage Worldwide
- Establishment of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
- Construction of Grimeton Longwave Radio Station
- Construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway begins
- Construction of the 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright Begins
- Construction of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in 'The Centre of Heaven and Earth'
- Establishment of the Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains