June 20 » The Kiel Canal, crossing the base of the Jutland peninsula and the busiest artificial waterway in the world, is officially opened.
August 31 » German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin patents his navigable balloon.
September 3 » John Brallier becomes the first openly professional American football player, when he was paid US$10 by David Berry, to play for the Latrobe Athletic Association in a 12-0 win over the Jeanette Athletic Association.
October 8 » Korean Empress Myeongseong is assassinated by Japanese infiltrators.
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 8 » While experimenting with electricity, Wilhelm Röntgen discovers the X-ray.
Day of marriage July 16, 1918
The temperature on July 16, 1918 was between 15.0 °C and 25.5 °C and averaged 19.5 °C. There was 25.9 mm of rain. There was 6.0 hours of sunshine (37%). The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the south-southeast. 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.
In The Netherlands , there was from September 9, 1918 to September 18, 1922 the cabinet Ruys de Beerenbrouck I, with Jonkheer mr. Ch.J.M. Ruys de Beerenbrouck (RKSP) as prime minister.
February 1 » Russia adopts the Gregorian calendar.
May 2 » General Motors acquires the Chevrolet Motor Company of Delaware.
June 24 » First airmail service in Canada from Montreal to Toronto.
July 17 » The RMSCarpathia, the ship that rescued the 705 survivors from the RMSTitanic, is sunk off Ireland by the German SMU-55; five lives are lost.
November 4 » World War I: The Armistice of Villa Giusti between Italy and Austria-Hungary is implemented.
November 14 » Czechoslovakia becomes a republic.
Day of death March 24, 1954
The temperature on March 24, 1954 was between 4.2 °C and 11.2 °C and averaged 8.0 °C. The almost completely overcast was. The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the north-northwest. Source: KNMI
February 23 » The first mass inoculation of children against polio with the Salk vaccine begins in Pittsburgh.
April 8 » South African Airways Flight 201 A de Havilland DH.106 Comet 1 crashes into the sea during night killing 21 people.
April 18 » Gamal Abdel Nasser seizes power in Egypt.
July 15 » First flight of the Boeing 367-80, prototype for both the Boeing 707 and C-135 series.
September 9 » The 6.7 Mw Chlef earthquake shakes northern Algeria with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). At least 1,243 people were killed and 5,000 were injured.
November 27 » Alger Hiss is released from prison after serving 44 months for perjury.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Ben Wit, "Family tree Wit en andere families West-Friesland", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-wit/I1191.php : accessed January 24, 2026), "Gerrit Jan Wit (1895-1954)".
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