World Events in 1902
End of the Second Boer War
The Treaty of Vereeniging was signed on 31 May, ending nearly three years of conflict. The Boer republics became part of the British Empire, though the war had cost over 75,000 lives and damaged Britain's international reputation.
Eruption of Mount Pelée
On 8 May, Mount Pelée on the island of Martinique erupted catastrophically, destroying the city of Saint-Pierre and killing approximately 30,000 people. Only two people in the city survived, one of whom was a prisoner in a stone cell.
Coronation of Edward VII
Edward VII was finally crowned on 9 August after his coronation was postponed from June due to emergency appendicitis surgery. The event was celebrated across the British Empire with street parties and special medals.
US anthracite coal strike
Over 140,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania went on strike for five months, threatening fuel shortages across the eastern United States. President Roosevelt intervened directly, marking the first time a US president mediated a labour dispute.
Triple Alliance renewed
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy renewed their Triple Alliance military pact, deepening the system of European alliances that would eventually contribute to World War I.
Music in 1902
"Land of Hope and Glory"
Edward Elgar (composed), Clara Butt (performed)
Composed for Edward VII's coronation with words by A.C. Benson, it became one of Britain's most iconic patriotic songs. It was widely performed throughout the coronation celebrations.
"Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home"
Arthur Collins (recorded)
Written by Hughie Cannon, this became one of the most popular songs of the decade and a jazz and ragtime standard still performed today.
#1 Film of 1902
A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans la Lune)
Box Office: N/A
Georges Méliès' 14-minute science fiction masterpiece became the most famous film of the early cinema era. Its iconic image of a rocket lodged in the Moon's eye remains one of cinema's most recognisable shots.
Born in 1902
Charles Lindbergh
First pilot to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean
John Steinbeck
American novelist, author of The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men
Leni Riefenstahl
German filmmaker known for Triumph of the Will
Bobby Jones
Legendary amateur golfer and founder of the Masters Tournament
Ansel Adams
American landscape photographer famous for images of the American West
Lost in 1902
Cecil Rhodes
British mining magnate and imperialist, founder of Rhodesia
Age 48
Émile Zola
French novelist and political activist who wrote J'accuse during the Dreyfus Affair
Age 62
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Leading American suffragist and women's rights activist
Age 86
Technology in 1902
Air conditioning was invented by Willis Carrier. The first Aswan Dam was completed in Egypt. Automobiles were becoming slightly more common but still unreliable and expensive. The transatlantic cable network continued to expand.
- ● Willis Carrier invents modern air conditioning
- ● First Aswan Dam completed on the Nile
- ● Valdemar Poulsen patents the arc transmitter for radio
- ● Meccano construction toy patented by Frank Hornby
Cost of Living in 1902
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £155 | $2,900 |
| Average salary | £57 | $465 |
| Pint of milk | 1½d | 3¢ |
| Loaf of bread | 2½d | 5¢ |
| Dozen eggs | 8d | 15¢ |
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The Zeitgeist of 1902
The Edwardian era was settling in with its love of garden parties, motoring, and elaborate hats. The end of the Boer War brought relief across Britain. In America, the Progressive Era was gathering steam with trust-busting and social reform. Ragtime pianist Scott Joplin was at the height of his fame, and Beatrix Potter published her first Peter Rabbit book.
In the News in 1902
King Edward VII's coronation was dramatically postponed when he needed emergency surgery for appendicitis. The eruption of Mount Pelée in Martinique wiped out an entire city. Theodore Roosevelt intervened to settle the great anthracite coal strike that threatened to freeze American cities.