The temperature on May 14, 1904 was between 9.5 °C and 21.3 °C and averaged 15.7 °C. There was 1.1 hours of sunshine (7%). The average windspeed was 4 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the southwest. Source: KNMI
January 7 » The distress signal "CQD" is established only to be replaced two years later by "SOS".
January 8 » The Blackstone Library is dedicated, marking the beginning of the Chicago Public Library system.
April 30 » The Louisiana Purchase Exposition World's Fair opens in St. Louis, Missouri.
June 28 » The SSNorge runs aground on Hasselwood Rock in the North Atlantic 430 kilometres (270mi) northwest of Ireland. More than 635 people die during the sinking.
July 21 » Louis Rigolly, a Frenchman, becomes the first man to break the 100mph (161km/h) barrier on land. He drove a 15-liter Gobron-Brillié in Ostend, Belgium.
October 20 » Chile and Bolivia sign the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, delimiting the border between the two countries.
Christening day September 4, 1904
The temperature on September 4, 1904 was between 8.2 °C and 18.8 °C and averaged 12.9 °C. There was 6.6 hours of sunshine (49%). The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the north. Source: KNMI
February 28 » S.L. Benfica is founded in Portugal.
April 8 » Longacre Square in Midtown Manhattan is renamed Times Square after The New York Times.
May 9 » The steam locomotive City of Truro becomes the first steam engine in Europe to exceed 100mph (160km/h).
May 10 » The Horch & Cir. Motorwagenwerke AG is founded. It would eventually become the Audi company.
May 21 » The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is founded in Paris.
June 28 » The SSNorge runs aground on Hasselwood Rock in the North Atlantic 430 kilometres (270mi) northwest of Ireland. More than 635 people die during the sinking.
Day of death February 5, 1956
The temperature on February 5, 1956 was between -3.6 °C and -2.1 °C and averaged -2.7 °C. There was 7.6 mm of rain during 8.6 hours. The almost completely overcast was. The average windspeed was 4 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the south-southeast. Source: KNMI
February 20 » The United States Merchant Marine Academy becomes a permanent Service Academy.
July 13 » The Dartmouth workshop is the first conference on artificial intelligence.
September 16 » TCN-9 Sydney is the first Australian television station to commence regular broadcasts.
October 17 » The first commercial nuclear power station is officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in Sellafield, England.
October 19 » The Soviet Union and Japan sign a Joint Declaration, officially ending the state of war between the two countries that had existed since August 1945.
October 29 » Suez Crisis begins: Israeli forces invade the Sinai Peninsula and push Egyptian forces back toward the Suez Canal.
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/I14615.php : accessed March 12, 2026), "Mathys Wynand PRETORIUS (1904-1956)".
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