February 9 » William G. Morgan creates a game called Mintonette, which soon comes to be referred to as volleyball.
April 6 » Oscar Wilde is arrested in the Cadogan Hotel, London, after losing a libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry.
April 17 » The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede the southern portion of the Fengtien province, Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands to Japan.
April 24 » Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world, sets sail from Boston, Massachusetts aboard the sloop "Spray".
November 8 » While experimenting with electricity, Wilhelm Röntgen discovers the X-ray.
December 28 » Wilhelm Röntgen publishes a paper detailing his discovery of a new type of radiation, which later will be known as x-rays.
Day of death August 5, 1939
The temperature on August 5, 1939 was between 11.0 °C and 20.6 °C and averaged 15.4 °C. There was 0.1 mm of rain. There was 5.2 hours of sunshine (34%). The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the south east. Source: KNMI
In The Netherlands , there was from June 24, 1937 to July 25, 1939 the cabinet Colijn IV, with Dr. H. Colijn (ARP) as prime minister.
In The Netherlands , there was from July 25, 1939 to August 10, 1939 the cabinet Colijn V, with Dr. H. Colijn (ARP) as prime minister.
In The Netherlands , there was from August 10, 1939 to September 3, 1940 the cabinet De Geer II, with Jonkheer mr. D.J. de Geer (CHU) as prime minister.
April 9 » African-American singer Marian Anderson gives a concert at the Lincoln Memorial after being denied the use of Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
April 18 » Robert Menzies, who became Australia's longest-serving prime minister, is elected as leader of the United Australia Party after the death of Prime Minister Joseph Lyons.
April 30 » The 1939–40 New York World's Fair opens.
May 22 » World War II: Germany and Italy sign the Pact of Steel.
July 28 » The Sutton Hoo helmet is discovered.
September 6 » World War II: South Africa declares war on Nazi Germany.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Charles Olson, "Olson's Tree", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/olsons-tree/P16179.php : accessed January 20, 2026), "Barbara Cairncross Rutherford (1895-1939)".
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