a territory of the United Kingdom. October 19 – Max Planck discovers the law of black-body radiation (Planck's law), by introducing the notion of light quanta, leading in 1905 to Albert Einstein's explanation of the photoelectric effect and beginning the Quantum Revolution. October 25 – The United Kingdom annexes the Transvaal. November November 6 – 1900 United States presidential election: Republican incumbent William McKinley is reelected by defeating Democratic challenger William Jennings Bryan in a rematch. November 29 – Herbert Kitchener succeeds Frederick Roberts as commander-in-chief of the British forces in South Africa and implements a scorched earth strategy. December December 14 – Max Planck announces his discovery of the law of black body emission, marking the birth of quantum physics. December 19 – Hopetoun Blunder: The first Governor-General of Australia John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun, appoints Sir William Lyne premier of the new state of New South Wales, but he is unable to persuade other colonial politicians to join his government, and is forced to resign. December 27 – British human rights activist Emily Hobhouse arrives in Cape Town, South Africa. Date unknown Australasian prospector Albert Fuller Ellis identifies phosphate deposits on the Pacific Islands of Nauru and Banaba Island (Ocean Island). In New Haven, Connecticut, U.S., Louis Lassen of Louis' Lunch makes the first modern-day hamburger sandwich. Four out of every 1,000 residents of British India die of cholera each year. Births January January 1 Mieczysław Batsch, Polish footballer (d. 1977) Paola Borboni, Italian film actress (d. 1995) Xavier Cugat, Cuban bandleader (d. 1990) Hub van Doorne, Dutch businessman (d. 1979) Chiune Sugihara, Japanese diplomat, saved Jewish WWII refugees (d. 1986) January 2 William Haines, American actor (d. 1973) Mansaku Itami, Japanese film director (tuberculosis) (d. 1946) Józef Klotz, Polish footballer (d. 1941) Una Ledingham, British physician, known for research on diabetes in pregnancy (d. 1965) January 3 Maurice Jaubert, French composer and soldier (d. 1940) Ernst Neubach, Austrian screenwriter, producer, and director (d. 1968) January 4 James Bond, American ornithologist (d. 1989) William Young, British World War I veteran (d. 2007) January 5 George Magrill, American film actor (d. 1952) Yves Tanguy, French painter (d. 1955) January 6 Queen Maria of Yugoslavia (1922-1934) (d. 1961) John Sinclair, American actor (d. 1945) Emmanuel d'Astier de La Vigerie, French journalist and politician (d. 1969) January 8 Dorothy Adams, American character actress (d. 1988) François de Menthon, French politician,