In 1979, in the year of Gilbert Popkey's passing, on November 4th, Iranian militant students seized the US embassy in Teheran and held 52 American citizens and diplomats hostage for 444 days. The US flag was changed to show 50 stars. In 1959, by the time he was 55 years old, on August 8th, Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States. It took 20 months of fighting for the Allies to reach the northern borders of Italy. After the Armistice was made public on September 8th, Germany attacked and occupied Italy. Under the terms of the Armistice, Italy surrendered to the Allied Powers. In 1943, at the age of 39 years old, Gilbert was alive when on September 3rd, the Armistice of Cassibile was signed in Sicily. Although the current story is that many were fooled and panicked, in reality very few people were fooled. Because of the realistic nature of the 'news,' there was a public outcry the next day, calling for regulation by the FCC. Wells' novel, the show began with simulated 'breaking news' of an invasion by Martians. In 1938, at the age of 34 years old, Gilbert was alive when on October 30th, a Sunday, The Mercury Theatre on the Air broadcast Orson Welles' special Halloween show The War of the World's.

It was the first time in the modern era that an Asian power showed its dominance over a European power. President Roosevelt of the United States brokered peace between the two nations. So the Japan fleet launched a surprise attack on the Russian Navy and a one year war began. Russia wanted a warm water port on the Pacific Ocean while Japan feared growing encroachment from Russia into Asia.

The Russian Empire and the Japanese Empire began fighting over the territories of Manchuria and Korea. In 1904, in the year that Gilbert Popkey was born, the Russo-Japanese war began. Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Gilbert's lifetime.

Eugene gilbert and jean popkey