Today:
1357 – Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, lays the foundation stone for Charles Bridge in Prague.
1540 – King Henry VIII of England annuls his marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.
1755 – Braddock Expedition: British forces led by General Edward Braddock are defeated by French and Native American forces near Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War.
1815 – Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord becomes the first Prime Minister of France.
1816 – Argentina declares independence from Spain.
1850 – U.S. President Zachary Taylor dies, making Millard Fillmore the 13th President.
1868 – The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing African Americans full citizenship and all persons in the United States due process of law.
1922 – Johnny Weissmuller swims the 100 meters freestyle in 58.6 seconds, breaking the world swimming record and the “minute barrier”.
1955 – The Russell-Einstein Manifesto is released by Bertrand Russell in London, highlighting the dangers of nuclear weapons.
1981 – Donkey Kong, the popular arcade game created by Nintendo, is released, introducing the character Mario.
30 American Heritage Events: #9
Trail of Tears (1838-1839)
Forced relocation of Native American nations from southeastern U.S. to west of the Mississippi River.