Events from the year 1900 in the United Kingdom. Incumbents Monarch – Victoria Prime Minister – Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (Coalition) Parliament – 26th (until 25 September), 27th (starting 3 December) Events January 3 January – royal yacht Victoria and Albert almost blows up while being floated out of dry dock at Pembroke Dock on completion of her construction. 9 January – influenza outbreak in London. 24 January – Second Boer War: Boers repel British troops under General Sir Redvers Buller at the Battle of Spion Kop. 31 January – the Gramophone Company copyrights the His Master's Voice illustration. February 5 February – the UK and the United States sign a treaty for the building of a Central American shipping canal through Nicaragua. 6 February – the House of Commons vote of censure over the government's handling of the Second Boer War is defeated by a majority of 213. 8 February – Second Boer War: British troops are defeated by Boers at Ladysmith, South Africa. 12 February – meeting held at Mile End to protest against the Boer War ends in an uproar. 14 February – Second Boer War: in South Africa, 20,000 British troops invade the Orange Free State. 27 February Boer War: in South Africa, British military leaders receive an unconditional notice of surrender from Boer General Piet Cronjé. Creation of the Labour party; Ramsay MacDonald is appointed its first secretary. 28 February – Second Boer War: the 118-day Siege of Ladysmith is lifted. March to September March–September – War of the Golden Stool fought against the Ashanti Empire. 1 April – Irish Guards formed by Queen Victoria. 4 April An anarchist shoots at the Prince of Wales during his visit to Belgium for the birthday celebrations of the King of Belgium. Queen Victoria arrives in Dublin on a rare visit. 23 April–12 May – the Automobile Club of Great Britain stages a Thousand Mile Trial, a reliability motor rally over a circular route from London to Edinburgh and return. 24 April – the Daily Express newspaper published for the first time. 14 May–28 October – Great Britain and Ireland compete at the Olympics in Paris and win 15 gold, 6 silver and 9 bronze medals. 17 May – Second Boer War – Siege of Mafeking ends. 18 May – the UK proclaims a protectorate over Tonga. 5 June – Boer War: British soldiers take Pretoria,