April 17 » The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede the southern portion of the Fengtien province, Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands to Japan.
April 24 » Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world, sets sail from Boston, Massachusetts aboard the sloop "Spray".
May 25 » The Republic of Formosa is formed, with Tang Jingsong as its president.
June 27 » The inaugural run of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Royal Blue from Washington, D.C., to New York City, the first U.S. passenger train to use electric locomotives.
November 5 » George B. Selden is granted the first U.S. patent for an automobile.
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.
Day of death December 24, 1916
The temperature on December 24, 1916 was between 1.5 °C and 7.0 °C and averaged 4.2 °C. There was 3.1 hours of sunshine (40%). The average windspeed was 4 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the west-southwest. 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 25 » In the Battle of Verdun, a German unit captures Fort Douaumont, keystone of the French defences, without a fight.
April 8 » In Corona, California, race car driver Bob Burman crashes, killing three (including himself), and badly injuring five spectators.
June 3 » The National Defense Act is signed into law, increasing the size of the United States National Guard by 450,000 men.
July 15 » In Seattle, Washington, William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt incorporate Pacific Aero Products (later renamed Boeing).
August 17 » World War I: Romania signs a secret treaty with the Entente Powers. According to the treaty, Romania agreed to join the war on the Allied side.
September 15 » World War I: Tanks are used for the first time in battle, at the Battle of the Somme.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Jean Wasserman, "Family tree Wasserman", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-wasserman/I6339.php : accessed February 24, 2026), "Joannes Hubertus Beckers (????-1916)".
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