January 1 » New York, New York annexes land from surrounding counties, creating the City of Greater New York. The four initial boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx, are joined on January 25 by Staten Island to create the modern city of five boroughs.
February 27 » King George I of Greece survives an assassination attempt.
June 21 » The United States captures Guam from Spain. The few warning shots fired by the U.S. naval vessels are misinterpreted as salutes by the Spanish garrison, which was unaware that the two nations were at war.
June 27 » The first solo circumnavigation of the globe is completed by Joshua Slocum from Briar Island, Nova Scotia.
July 3 » A Spanish squadron, led by Pascual Cervera y Topete, is defeated by an American squadron under William T. Sampson in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.
July 8 » The death of crime boss Soapy Smith, killed in the Shootout on Juneau Wharf, releases Skagway, Alaska from his iron grip.
Day of death August 4, 1917
The temperature on August 4, 1917 was between 12.8 °C and 22.0 °C and averaged 17.4 °C. There was 7.2 hours of sunshine (47%). The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the east-southeast. Source: KNMI
In The Netherlands , there was from August 29, 1913 to September 9, 1918 the cabinet Cort van der Linden, with Mr. P.W.A. Cort van der Linden (liberaal) as prime minister.
February 3 » First World War: The American entry into World War I begins when diplomatic relations with Germany are severed due to its unrestricted submarine warfare.
February 24 » World War I: The U.S. ambassador Walter Hines Page to the United Kingdom is given the Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany pledges to ensure the return of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona to Mexico if Mexico declares war on the United States.
March 2 » The enactment of the Jones–Shafroth Act grants Puerto Ricans United States citizenship.
June 23 » In a game against the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox pitcher Ernie Shore retires 26 batters in a row after replacing Babe Ruth, who had been ejected for punching the umpire.
June 26 » World War I: The American Expeditionary Forces begin to arrive in France. They will first enter combat four months later.
November 8 » The first Council of People's Commissars is formed, including Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: R.A.Hemerik, "Descendants Hemerik-Broekhuizen-Huner-Koper-Barink", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/parenteel-hemerik/I109624.php : accessed February 15, 2026), "Gerardus Blonk (1898-1917)".
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