World Events in 1904
Russo-Japanese War begins
Japan launched a surprise attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur on 8 February, beginning a war that would stun the world. It was the first major military victory of an Asian power over a European one in modern times, reshaping global politics.
Entente Cordiale signed
Britain and France signed the Entente Cordiale on 8 April, resolving colonial disputes in Egypt and Morocco and establishing a diplomatic friendship. This agreement was a key step in the alliance system that would define World War I.
St Louis World's Fair
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition opened in St Louis, attracting nearly 20 million visitors. It showcased new technologies and cultures from around the world, and popularised foods like the ice cream cone and cotton candy.
Third Summer Olympics in St Louis
The 1904 Olympics were held alongside the World's Fair with chaotic organisation. The marathon was infamous for cheating and near-fatal collapses. Very few non-American athletes competed due to travel costs.
General Slocum disaster
The steamboat General Slocum caught fire and sank in New York's East River on 15 June, killing over 1,000 people, mostly German-American women and children. It was the deadliest disaster in New York City until the September 11 attacks.
British expedition to Tibet
A British military expedition led by Colonel Francis Younghusband invaded Tibet and reached Lhasa. The campaign involved the massacre of hundreds of poorly-armed Tibetans and forced Tibet to open trade relations with British India.
Music in 1904
"Come Down Ma Evenin' Star"
Various music hall performers
A popular song of the era associated with actress Lillian Russell. Music hall songs and parlour ballads remained the dominant form of popular music in Edwardian Britain.
"Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis"
Billy Murray (recorded)
Written to celebrate the 1904 St Louis World's Fair, this became one of the year's biggest hits. It later inspired the 1944 Judy Garland film of the same name.
#1 Film of 1904
The Impossible Voyage (Le Voyage à travers l'impossible)
Box Office: N/A
Another Georges Méliès spectacular, this 24-minute film about a journey to the Sun used elaborate sets and trick photography. Méliès was the undisputed king of early cinema special effects.
Born in 1904
Salvador Dalí
Spanish Surrealist painter of The Persistence of Memory
Dr Seuss (Theodor Geisel)
American children's author of The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham
Graham Greene
British novelist and author of The Third Man and Brighton Rock
Cary Grant
British-American Hollywood leading man
Deng Xiaoping
Chinese leader who opened China to economic reform
Lost in 1904
Anton Chekhov
Russian playwright and short story writer, author of The Cherry Orchard
Age 44
Frederic Auguste Bartholdi
French sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty
Age 70
Isabella Bird
English explorer and first woman elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Age 72
Antonín Dvořák
Czech composer of the New World Symphony
Age 62
Technology in 1904
The New York City subway opened its first line. The Trans-Siberian Railway was largely completed. The thermionic valve (vacuum tube) was patented, laying the groundwork for electronics. Tea bags were accidentally invented by Thomas Sullivan.
- ● New York City subway opens its first line
- ● John Ambrose Fleming patents the thermionic valve (vacuum tube)
- ● Trans-Siberian Railway largely completed
- ● Frederick Stanley Kipping begins work on silicones
Cost of Living in 1904
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £160 | $3,000 |
| Average salary | £58 | $475 |
| Pint of milk | 1½d | 3¢ |
| Loaf of bread | 2½d | 5¢ |
| Dozen eggs | 9d | 15¢ |
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The Zeitgeist of 1904
Edwardian Britain enjoyed a golden summer of cricket, tennis, and motoring, while anxiously watching the Russo-Japanese War reshape the global order. In America, the St Louis World's Fair dazzled visitors with visions of progress. Ragtime was the soundtrack of city life, and the first comic books were appearing. Fashion for women was slowly becoming less restrictive.
In the News in 1904
Japan's stunning naval victories against Russia shocked the Western world. The construction of the Panama Canal was underway. New York's first subway opened. Britain and France signed the Entente Cordiale, ending centuries of colonial rivalry.