The year 1908 was a year of significant political, scientific, cultural, and technological developments across the globe.
Politics and World Affairs
January 13: Henry Farman becomes the first person to fly a circular kilometer, winning the Deutsch de la Meurthe prize. This marks a significant step in early aviation.
February 1: Assassination attempt on King Carlos I of Portugal and his son, Luís Filipe, Prince Royal, resulting in both their deaths. Manuel II becomes the new King of Portugal. This event destabilizes the Portuguese monarchy.
April 6: Robert Peary sets sail from New York in the Roosevelt, attempting to reach the North Pole.
May 10: Mother's Day is observed for the first time in the United States in Grafton, West Virginia. Anna Jarvis organized the event, setting the stage for the official recognition of the holiday.
June 30: The Tunguska event occurs in Siberia. A massive explosion, likely caused by a meteor air burst, flattens approximately 80 million trees over an area of 2,150 square kilometers.
August 12 - August 25: The London Olympics are held.
October 5: Bulgaria declares its independence from the Ottoman Empire and Ferdinand I assumes the title of Tsar.
November 3: The United States Presidential election takes place. William Howard Taft, Republican, defeats William Jennings Bryan. This marks the end of Theodore Roosevelt's presidency and the beginning of the Taft era.
November 14: Albert Einstein presents his theory of gravity, which is still under development.
Science and Technology
January 3: Ford Motor Company introduces the Model T. This affordable automobile revolutionizes personal transportation in the United States and the world.
October 1: The first moving assembly line at Ford's Piquette Avenue Plant is introduced, significantly increasing production efficiency of the Model T.
October 26: France's first air show, the Salon de l'Automobile, includes an aviation display.
Culture
January 1: Universal Copyright Convention in Berlin becomes effective, creating international copyright protections.
April 15: The play The Girls of Gottenberg opens at the Gaiety Theatre in London.
October: Kenneth Grahame publishes The Wind in the Willows.
November 17: Franz Lehár's operetta The Merry Widow premieres in New York City.
December 16: The novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery is published.
Other Significant Events
Severe economic recession: The United States experiences a severe economic recession.