February 7 » Dreyfus affair: Émile Zola is brought to trial for libel for publishing J'Accuse…!.
February 23 » Émile Zola is imprisoned in France after writing J'Accuse…!, a letter accusing the French government of antisemitism and wrongfully imprisoning Captain Alfred Dreyfus.
August 13 » Spanish–American War: Spanish and American forces engage in a mock battle for Manila, after which the Spanish commander surrendered in order to keep the city out of Filipino rebel hands.
September 21 » Empress Dowager Cixi seizes power and ends the Hundred Days' Reform in China.
October 18 » The United States takes possession of Puerto Rico from Spain.
December 3 » The Duquesne Country and Athletic Club defeated an all-star collection of early football players 16–0, in what is considered to be the very first all-star game for professional American football.
Day of death December 12, 1898
The temperature on December 12, 1898 was about 9.8 °C. The airpressure was 76 cm mercury. The atmospheric humidity was 87%. Source: KNMI
February 23 » Émile Zola is imprisoned in France after writing J'Accuse…!, a letter accusing the French government of antisemitism and wrongfully imprisoning Captain Alfred Dreyfus.
May 8 » The first games of the Italian football league system are played.
June 10 » Spanish–American War: In the Battle of Guantánamo Bay, U.S. Marines begin the American invasion of Spanish-held Cuba.
June 12 » Philippine Declaration of Independence: General Emilio Aguinaldo declares the Philippines' independence from Spain.
June 27 » The first solo circumnavigation of the globe is completed by Joshua Slocum from Briar Island, Nova Scotia.
August 12 » The Hawaiian flag is lowered from ʻIolani Palace in an elaborate annexation ceremony and replaced with the flag of the United States to signify the transfer of sovereignty from the Republic of Hawaii to the United States.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: A. Petit, "Family tree Petit", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-petit/I4801.php : accessed February 15, 2026), "Michiel Mertens (1898-1898)".
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