May 7 » In Saint Petersburg, Russian scientist Alexander Stepanovich Popov demonstrates to the Russian Physical and Chemical Society his invention, the Popov lightning detector—a primitive radio receiver. In some parts of the former Soviet Union the anniversary of this day is celebrated as Radio Day.
May 25 » Playwright, poet and novelist Oscar Wilde is convicted of "committing acts of gross indecency with other male persons" and sentenced to serve two years in prison.
June 11 » Paris–Bordeaux–Paris, sometimes called the first automobile race in history or the "first motor race", takes place.
June 20 » The Kiel Canal, crossing the base of the Jutland peninsula and the busiest artificial waterway in the world, is officially opened.
October 22 » In Paris an express train derails after overrunning the buffer stop, crossing almost 30 metres (100ft) of concourse before crashing through a wall and falling 10 metres (33ft) to the road below.
November 28 » The first American automobile race takes place over the 54 miles from Chicago's Jackson Park to Evanston, Illinois. Frank Duryea wins in approximately 10 hours.
Christening day April 7, 1895
The temperature on April 7, 1895 was about 6.3 °C. There was 2 mm of rain. The airpressure was 74 cm mercury. The atmospheric humidity was 97%. Source: KNMI
February 24 » Revolution breaks out in Baire, a town near Santiago de Cuba, beginning the Cuban War of Independence, that ends with the Spanish–American War in 1898.
March 22 » Before the Société pour L'Encouragement à l'Industrie, brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière demonstrate movie film technology publicly for the first time.
April 24 » Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world, sets sail from Boston, Massachusetts aboard the sloop "Spray".
October 21 » The Republic of Formosa collapses as Japanese forces invade.
October 22 » In Paris an express train derails after overrunning the buffer stop, crossing almost 30 metres (100ft) of concourse before crashing through a wall and falling 10 metres (33ft) to the road below.
November 5 » George B. Selden is granted the first U.S. patent for an automobile.
Day of death July 15, 1972
The temperature on July 15, 1972 was between 9.3 °C and 22.4 °C and averaged 16.7 °C. There was 14.7 hours of sunshine (90%). The almost cloudless was. The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the northeast. Source: KNMI
In The Netherlands , there was from April 5, 1967 to Tuesday, July 6, 1971 the cabinet Biesheuvel I, with Mr. B.W. Biesheuvel (ARP) as prime minister.
In The Netherlands , there was from Thursday, July 20, 1972 to Friday, May 11, 1973 the cabinet Biesheuvel II, with Mr. B.W. Biesheuvel (ARP) as prime minister.
February 17 » Cumulative sales of the Volkswagen Beetle exceed those of the Ford Model T.
March 2 » The Pioneer 10 space probe is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida with a mission to explore the outer planets.
April 20 » Apollo program: Apollo 16 lunar module, commanded by John Young and piloted by Charles Duke, lands on the moon.
August 16 » In an unsuccessful coup d'état attempt, the Royal Moroccan Air Force fires upon Hassan II of Morocco's plane while he is traveling back to Rabat.
October 11 » A race riot occurs on the United States Navy aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk off the coast of Vietnam.
November 10 » Southern Airways Flight 49 from Birmingham, Alabama is hijacked and, at one point, is threatened with crashing into the nuclear installation at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After two days, the plane lands in Havana, Cuba, where the hijackers are jailed by Fidel Castro.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Gert Esterhuizen, "Family tree Eric Esterhuizen", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-eric-esterhuizen/I101736183.php : accessed March 15, 2026), "Jacobus Francois Retief PRETORIUS (1895-1972)".
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