April 21 » Spanish–American War: The United States Navy begins a blockade of Cuban ports. When the U.S. Congress issued a declaration of war on April 25, it declared that a state of war had existed from this date.
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.
July 25 » Spanish-American War: The American invasion of Spanish-held Puerto Rico begins, as United States Army troops under General Nelson A. Miles land and secure the port at Guánica.
September 13 » Hannibal Goodwin patents celluloid photographic film.
October 6 » Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the largest American music fraternity, is founded at the New England Conservatory of Music.
Day of death January 15, 1903
The temperature on January 15, 1903 was between -6.9 °C and -1.0 °C and averaged -4.1 °C. There was 6.9 hours of sunshine (84%). Source: KNMI
January 4 » Topsy, an elephant, is electrocuted by the owners of Luna Park, Coney Island. The Edison film company records the film Electrocuting an Elephant of Topsy's death.
February 14 » The United States Department of Commerce and Labor is established (later split into the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor).
July 1 » Start of first Tour de France bicycle race.
July 19 » Maurice Garin wins the first Tour de France.
August 29 » The Slava, the last of the five Borodino-class battleships, is launched.
December 16 » Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel in Bombay first opens its doors to guests.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Henk Kerbof, "Family tree Kerbof", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-kerbof/I67.php : accessed February 16, 2026), "Jan Kerbof (1898-1903)".
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