History of Daylight saving time in Timeline

Daylight saving time (DST) is the practice of advancing clocks, typically by one hour, during the spring or late winter and reverting to standard time in the autumn. This adjustment aims to better utilize daylight hours during the summer months, effectively shifting darkness to a later clock time. Also called daylight savings time, daylight time, or summer time.

1907: William Willett Conceives DST

In 1907, William Willett independently conceived the idea of Daylight Saving Time during a pre-breakfast ride, observing that many Londoners were asleep during a significant portion of the summer day.

1907: Willett's DST Proposal

In 1907, William Willett proposed DST, illustrating several political issues and attracting many supporters. However, the opposition proved stronger.

1907: Willett Proposes British Summer Time

In 1907, William Willett proposed the adoption of British Summer Time as a means of conserving energy. Although it was seriously considered by the Parliament, it was not implemented until 1916.

1907: Willett's proposal used the term daylight saving

In Britain, Willett's 1907 proposal used the term daylight saving.

February 1908: Pearce Introduces Daylight Saving Bill to British House of Commons

On 12 February 1908, Liberal Party member of parliament Robert Pearce introduced the first Daylight Saving Bill to the British House of Commons.

July 1908: Port Arthur Enacts DST

On 1 July 1908, Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada, became the first city in the world to enact Daylight Saving Time.

1908: First Implementation of DST in Port Arthur, Ontario

In 1908, Port Arthur in Ontario, Canada, became the first city in the world to implement Daylight Saving Time, although this implementation was only local and not nation-wide.

May 1909: DST Bill Introduced to US House of Representatives

In May 1909, Andrew Peters introduced a Daylight Saving Time bill to the House of Representatives, but it soon died in committee.

1911: DST introduced in Orillia, Ontario

Between 1911 and 1912, William Sword Frost, while mayor of Orillia, Ontario, introduced DST in the city.

1911: DST Bills Introduced Annually

From 1911 through 1914, Willett's allies introduced similar bills every year, to no avail.

1911: The term summer time replaced daylight saving time in draft legislation in Britain

In Britain, by 1911, the term summer time replaced daylight saving time in draft legislation.

1912: DST introduced in Orillia, Ontario

Between 1911 and 1912, William Sword Frost, while mayor of Orillia, Ontario, introduced DST in the city.

1914: DST Bills Introduced Annually

From 1911 through 1914, Willett's allies introduced similar bills every year, to no avail.

1915: Death of William Willett

In 1915, William Willett, who had been lobbying for the implementation of Daylight Saving Time in the UK, passed away.

April 1916: Germany Introduces DST during WWI

On 30 April 1916, Germany and its allies introduced DST during World War I to alleviate hardships due to wartime coal shortages and air-raid blackouts.

April 1916: German Empire and Austria-Hungary Adopt DST

On 30 April 1916, the German Empire and its World War I ally Austria-Hungary nationally adopted Daylight Saving Time as a way to conserve coal during wartime.

April 1916: Nation-wide DST implementations

On 30 April 1916, the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires initiated the first nation-wide implementations of Daylight Saving Time.

May 1916: United Kingdom Uses DST

On 21 May 1916, the United Kingdom used DST for the first time.

1916: Delayed Implementation of British Summer Time

Despite being proposed in 1907, British Summer Time was finally implemented in 1916 after serious consideration by Parliament.

1916: Germany Adopts DST

Since Germany's adoption of DST in 1916, the world has seen many enactments, adjustments, and repeals of DST, with similar politics involved.

1917: US Entry into WWI Overcomes DST Objections

In 1917, the US' entry into World War I overcame objections to DST, paving the way for its implementation.

1918: DST Starts in the US

In 1918, Daylight Saving Time started in the US.

1918: First Implementation of DST in the US

In 1918, the US first implemented DST with the Standard Time Act, a wartime measure for seven months during World War I to conserve energy resources.

1918: United States Adopts Daylight Saving Time

In 1918, the United States adopted Daylight Saving Time during World War I. Most jurisdictions abandoned DST in the years after the war ended in 1918.

1919: Congress Repeals DST after WWI

In 1919, Congress repealed DST after World War I. President Woodrow Wilson vetoed the repeal twice, but his second veto was overridden.

1922: Harding Orders Early Start Time for Federal Employees

In 1922, President Warren G. Harding ordered District of Columbia federal employees to start work at 8 am rather than 9 am during the summer, though the experiment was not repeated.

1928: Implementation of Hudson's Proposal in New Zealand

In 1928, New Zealand implemented George Hudson's proposal to change clocks to accommodate better use of daylight, though in a different form than the original suggestion.

1939: Germany Drops DST

From 1919 to 1939, Germany dropped Daylight Saving Time.

1950: Germany Drops DST

From 1950 to 1979, Germany dropped Daylight Saving Time.

May 1965: St. Paul and Minneapolis Use Different Clocks

In May 1965, St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, kept different clocks for two weeks: the capital city decided to switch to daylight saving time, while Minneapolis opted to follow the later date set by state law.

1966: Standardization of DST in the US

In 1966, Daylight Saving Time was standardized in the US by federal law.

1966: Uniform Time Act Formalizes US DST Period

In 1966, the Uniform Time Act formalized the United States' period of daylight saving time observation as lasting six months.

1966: Uniform Time Act permits states to opt out of DST

The Uniform Time Act of 1966 permits states to opt out of DST and observe permanent standard time, but it does not permit permanent DST.

1966: No Standardization of Peacetime DST until 1966

The history of time in the United States features DST during both world wars, but no standardization of peacetime DST until 1966.

1968: United Kingdom and Ireland experimented with year-round summer time

The United Kingdom and Ireland experimented with year-round summer time between 1968 and 1971.

1971: United Kingdom and Ireland experimented with year-round summer time

The United Kingdom and Ireland experimented with year-round summer time between 1968 and 1971.

December 1973: 79% of those interviewed were in favor of permanent DST during the Oil Crisis

The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago found 79% of those interviewed to be in favor of permanent DST during the Oil Crisis in December 1973.

January 1974: Permanent DST Signed into Law by President Nixon

In January 1974, President Richard Nixon signed permanent daylight saving time into law.

October 1974: Year-Round DST Repealed

In October 1974, President Gerald Ford signed a law repealing year-round daylight savings time after complaints about children going to school in the dark and working people commuting and starting their work day in darkness during the winter.

1978: daylight savings time (with an "s") was already much more common than the older form daylight saving time in American English

As explained by Richard Meade in the English Journal of the (American) National Council of Teachers of English, the form daylight savings time (with an "s") was already much more common than the older form daylight saving time in American English in 1978.

1979: Germany Drops DST

From 1950 to 1979, Germany dropped Daylight Saving Time.

1986: US DST Period Extended to Seven Months

In 1986, the US extended the DST period to seven months.

1987: 1987 extension to US DST

In the mid-1980s, Clorox and 7-Eleven provided the primary funding for the Daylight Saving Time Coalition behind the 1987 extension to US DST. Both senators from Idaho, Larry Craig and Mike Crapo, voted for it based on the premise that fast-food restaurants sell more French fries (made from Idaho potatoes) during DST.

1992: Referendum on DST in Queensland, Australia

In 1992, a referendum on the introduction of daylight saving took place in Queensland, Australia, after a three-year trial of daylight saving, which was defeated with a 54.5% "no" vote.

1996: Mexico started observing summertime DST

Mexico began observing summertime daylight saving time starting in 1996.

1996: European Summer Time Standardized

Since 1996, European Summer Time has been observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October; previously the rules were not uniform across the European Union.

2000: Daylight-saving effect implied an estimated one-day loss of $31 billion on US stock exchanges

It has been argued that clock shifts correlate with decreased economic efficiency and that in 2000, the daylight-saving effect implied an estimated one-day loss of $31 billion on US stock exchanges.

2003: Proposal to Observe Year-Round Daylight Saving Time

In 2003, the United Kingdom's Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents supported a proposal to observe year-round daylight saving time, but it has been opposed by some industries, by some postal workers and farmers, and particularly by those living in the northern regions of the UK.

2005: Lobbying for 2007 Extension to US DST

In 2005, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association and the National Association of Convenience Stores successfully lobbied for the 2007 extension to US DST.

2005: US DST Period Extended to Eight Months

In 2005, the US extended the DST period to eight months. Lobbyists from the candy industry sought to increase profits by including Halloween within the daylight saving time period.

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2006: Indiana began participating in DST

In 2006, Indiana began participating in daylight saving time.

2007: United States extended DST

A 2008 United States Department of Energy report found no significant increase in motor gasoline consumption due to the 2007 United States extension of DST.

2007: Lobbying for 2007 Extension to US DST

In 2005, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association and the National Association of Convenience Stores successfully lobbied for the 2007 extension to US DST.

2007: Change to DST rules in North America

In 2007, the change to DST rules in North America required many computer systems to be upgraded, with the greatest onus on e-mail and calendar programs. The upgrades required a significant effort by corporate information technologists.

2007: US and Canada Extend DST Period

Starting in 2007, most of the United States and Canada observed DST from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, almost two-thirds of the year.

2007: Time zone values for the eastern United States starting in 2007

TZ='EST5EDT,M3.2.0/02:00,M11.1.0/02:00' specifies time for the eastern United States starting in 2007. Such a TZ value must be changed whenever DST rules change, and the new value applies to all years, mishandling some older timestamps.

December 2008: DS4SEQ political party registered in Queensland

In December 2008, the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland (DS4SEQ) political party was officially registered in Queensland. The party advocated for a dual-time-zone arrangement where South East Queensland would observe daylight saving time, while the rest of the state remained on standard time.

2008: United States Department of Energy report found no significant increase in motor gasoline consumption due to DST

A 2008 United States Department of Energy report found no significant increase in motor gasoline consumption due to the 2007 United States extension of DST.

2008: Different DST Change Dates in Australian States

In 2008, most Australian states observing daylight saving time changed clocks forward on 5 October, but Western Australia changed on 26 October.

March 2009: DS4SEQ contested Queensland state election

In March 2009, the DS4SEQ political party contested the Queensland state election with 32 candidates. The party received one percent of the statewide primary vote, which equated to approximately 2.5% across the 32 electorates that were contested.

2009: Summer Time in Europe

As of 2009, summer time began annually on the last Sunday in March under a European Community directive, which may be Easter Sunday.

April 2010: Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010 introduced

On 14 April 2010, Queensland Independent member Peter Wellington introduced the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010 into the Queensland parliament, prompted by the DS4SEQ political party. The bill called for a referendum at the next state election on the introduction of daylight saving into South East Queensland under a dual-time-zone arrangement.

June 2011: Queensland parliament rejected Wellington's bill

On 15 June 2011, the Queensland parliament rejected the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill introduced by Peter Wellington.

2011: Russia declared permanent DST

In 2011, Russia declared that it would remain in DST all year long, setting its time to UTC+4:00. Belarus followed with a similar declaration.

2014: Russia abandoned permanent DST

In 2014, Russia abandoned its plan to remain in permanent DST due to widespread complaints about dark winter mornings. On 26 October 2014, the country changed its clocks to standard time (UTC+3:00), intending to stay there permanently.

2014: Russia switched permanently back to standard time

In 2014, Russia switched permanently back to standard time, after switching to permanent DST from 2011 to 2014.

2016: Summer Time in Europe on Easter Sunday

In 2016, summer time began annually on the last Sunday in March under a European Community directive, which was Easter Sunday.

2016: Troll Research Station Shifts to CEST and GMT

Since 2016, Troll Research Station shifts two hours directly between CEST and GMT.

2017: Meta-analysis found electricity savings of 0.3% during DST

A 2017 meta-analysis of 44 studies found that DST leads to electricity savings of 0.3% during the days when DST applies.

2017: Study estimated transition into DST caused over 30 deaths

A 2017 study in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics estimated that "the transition into DST caused over 30 deaths at a social cost of $275 million annually", primarily by increasing sleep deprivation.

September 2018: European Commission proposed to end seasonal clock changes

In September 2018, the European Commission proposed to end seasonal clock changes as of 2019, giving member states the option of observing either daylight saving time or standard time all year round.

2018: Marco Rubio filed bills to extend DST permanently

Between 2018 and 2024, former Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio repeatedly filed bills to extend daylight saving time permanently into winter, without success.

2018: European Parliament reviewed possible abolition of DST

In 2018, the European Parliament, reviewing a possible abolition of DST, approved a more in-depth evaluation examining the disruption of the human body's circadian rhythms which provided evidence suggesting the existence of an association between DST clock-shifts and a modest increase of occurrence of acute myocardial infarction, especially in the first week after the spring shift.

March 2019: European Parliament approved the commission's proposal

In March 2019, the European Parliament approved the European Commission's proposal to end seasonal clock changes, while deferring implementation from 2019 until 2021.

2019: Survey by the National Opinion Research Center indicates more Americans would prefer permanent Standard Time

A 2019 survey by the National Opinion Research Center indicates more Americans would prefer permanent Standard Time.

2019: Morocco Observes DST Except During Ramadan

Since 2019, Morocco observes Daylight Saving Time every month but Ramadan, during which the country's civil clocks observe Western European Time (UTC+00:00), before turning forward to Western European Summer Time (UTC+01:00) at the close of that month.

October 2020: Decision on ending seasonal clock changes not confirmed

As of October 2020, the decision to end seasonal clock changes has not been confirmed by the Council of the European Union.

2021: Implementation of ending seasonal clock changes was deferred

In March 2019, the European Parliament approved the commission's proposal to end seasonal clock changes, while deferring implementation from 2019 until 2021.

2021: Surveys indicate more Americans would prefer permanent DST

Surveys reported between 2021 and 2022 by the National Sleep Foundation, YouGov, CBS, and Monmouth University indicate more Americans would prefer permanent DST.

2022: Sunshine Protection Act passed the United States Senate

In 2022, Florida senator Marco Rubio's "Sunshine Protection Act" passed the United States Senate without committee review by way of voice consent, with many senators afterward stating they were unaware of the vote or its topic. The bill was stopped in the US House.

2022: Orthodox Jewish groups opposed extensions to DST

In 2022, Orthodox Jewish groups in the US voiced opposition to extensions of DST, as well as to a bipartisan bill aimed at making DST permanent. They argued that such measures would "interfere with the ability of members of our community to engage in congregational prayers and get to their places of work on time."

2022: Publication demonstrated that sleep loss affects the human motivation to help others

In 2022, a publication of three replicating studies of individuals, between individuals, and transecting societies, demonstrated that sleep loss affects the human motivation to help others, which in its fMRI findings is "associated with deactivation of key nodes within the social cognition brain network that facilitates prosociality."

2022: Mexico restored permanent standard time

In late 2022, Mexico's clocks "fell back" for the last time, marking the restoration of permanent standard time in the nation.

2022: Surveys indicate more Americans would prefer permanent DST

Surveys reported between 2021 and 2022 by the National Sleep Foundation, YouGov, CBS, and Monmouth University indicate more Americans would prefer permanent DST.

2023: DST Usage in 2023

As of 2023, approximately 34% of the world's countries observe Daylight Saving Time, primarily in regions such as Europe and North America. However, not all regions within these countries observe DST. For example, Canada observes DST, except for Yukon, most of Saskatchewan, and parts of Nunavut, British Columbia and Quebec. In the United States, DST is observed everywhere except Hawaii and Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation, which does observe it).

2024: Marco Rubio filed bills to extend DST permanently

Between 2018 and 2024, former Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio repeatedly filed bills to extend daylight saving time permanently into winter, without success.

2025: Stanford study compared circadian health impact of permanent Standard Time, permanent Daylight Saving Time, and biannually switching in the continental U.S.

In 2025, a Stanford study compared the year-long circadian health impact of permanent Standard Time, permanent Daylight Saving Time, and biannually switching in the continental U.S. using models of the human circadian rhythm and health data from the CDC Places dataset.

2025: Polls Indicate Majority Favor Abolishing DST

In 2025, polls in the United States indicate a slight majority favors abolishing Daylight Saving Time (DST). There is growing momentum to either switch permanently to standard time or make DST permanent due to concerns about health risks, economic costs, sleep loss, and disruptions to daily routines.

2025: Publication predicting increased electricity consumption during DST

In a publication from 2025, based on the change in consumption patterns, additional consumption is expected to occur more frequently during daylight saving time in the future due to air conditioning systems.