The year in history
1902
Someone born in 1902 turns 124 in 2026
1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar and a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar, the 1902nd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 902nd year of the 2nd millennium, the 2nd year of the 20th century, and the 3rd year of the 1900s decade. As of the start of 1902, the Gregorian calendar was 13 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which remained in localized use until 1923.
What happened in 1902
The Nurses Registration Act 1901 comes into effect in New Zealand, making it the first country in the world to require state registration of nurses. On January 10, Ellen Dougherty becomes the world's first registered nurse.
The 1st Conference of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance takes place in Washington, D.C.
Clashes between police and Georgian workers led by Joseph Stalin leave 15 dead, 54 wounded, and 500 in prison.
A new land speed record of 74 mph (119 km/h) is set in Nice, France, by Léon Serpollet driving a steam car.
Cuba gains independence from the United States.
The New York Central Railroad inaugurates the 20th Century Limited passenger train between Chicago and New York City.
The Rolling Mill Mine disaster in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, kills 112 miners.
Coronation of Edward VII as King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, Emperor of India at Westminster Abbey in London.
The first science fiction film, the silent A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans La Lune), is premièred at the Théâtre Robert-Houdin in Paris, France, by actor/producer Georges Méliès, and proves an immediate success.
A five-month strike by the United Mine Workers in the United States ends.
A newspaper cartoon depicting U.S. President "Teddy" Roosevelt refusing to shoot a bear cub inspires creation of the first teddy bear by Morris Michtom in New York City.
Discovery Expedition: British explorers Scott, Shackleton and Wilson reach the furthest southern point reached thus far by man, south of 82°S.
Famous people born in 1902
John A. McCone
American politician, 6th Director of Central Intelligence (d. 1991)
January 4 →
Nâzım Hikmet
Turkish poet and director (d. 1963)
January 15 →
André Beaufre
French general (d. 1975)
January 25 →
Demchugdongrub
Mongolian politician (d. 1966)
February 8 →
Thelma Ritter
American actress (d. 1969)
February 14 →
John Steinbeck
American writer, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1968)
February 27 →
Son House
American musician (d. 1988)
March 21 →
Brooke Astor
American socialite, philanthropist (d. 2007)
March 30 →
Louis Beel
Prime Minister of the Netherlands (d. 1977)
April 12 →
Brian Aherne
English actor (d. 1986)
May 2 →
Richard J. Daley
American politician, 48th Mayor of Chicago (d. 1976)
May 15 →
James Stillman Rockefeller
American Olympic rower and banker (d. 2004)
June 8 →
Hugues Cuénod
Swiss tenor (d. 2010)
June 26 →
Kurt Alder
German chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1958)
July 10 →
Gubby Allen
Australian-born English cricketer, cricket administrator (d. 1989)
July 31 →
Lloyd Nolan
American film, television actor (d. 1985)
August 11 →
J. B. L. Reyes
Filipino jurist (d. 1994)
August 19 →
Roberto Noble
Argentine politician, journalist and publisher (d. 1969)
September 9 →
Ruhollah Khomeini
Iranian Shia cleric, 1st Supreme Leader of Iran (d. 1989)
September 24 →
Pascual Jordan
German physicist (d. 1980)
October 18 →
Eugen Jochum
German conductor (d. 1987)
November 1 →
Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
French general (d. 1947)
November 22 →
Emeric Pressburger
Hungarian-born British film director (d. 1988)
December 5 →
Norman Maclean
American author (d. 1990)
December 23 →