The temperature on February 18, 1909 was between -3.2 °C and 6.0 °C and averaged 0.9 °C. There was 8.6 hours of sunshine (85%). The average windspeed was 2 Bft (weak wind) and was prevailing from the south. Source: KNMI
January 9 » Ernest Shackleton, leading the Nimrod Expedition to the South Pole, plants the British flag 97 nautical miles (180km; 112mi) from the South Pole, the farthest anyone had ever reached at that time.
January 23 » RMSRepublic, a passenger ship of the White Star Line, becomes the first ship to use the CQD distress signal after colliding with another ship, the SS Florida, off the Massachusetts coastline, an event that kills six people. The Republic sinks the next day.
February 2 » The Paris Film Congress opens. An attempt by European producers to form an equivalent to the MPCC cartel in the United States.
February 15 » The Flores Theater fire in Acapulco, Mexico kills 250.
September 20 » The South Africa Act 1909 creates the Union of South Africa from the British Colonies from four smaller colonies.
December 10 » Selma Lagerlöf becomes the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Colin Birrell, "Birrell family tree", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/birrell-family-tree/I5000489467.php : accessed May 12, 2025), "Mattie A Griffith (1877-1909)".
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