Today:
527: Justinian I becomes the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire.
1498: Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to visit what is now Venezuela.
1774: Joseph Priestley discovers oxygen gas.
1798: The Battle of the Nile begins, leading to a decisive British victory against the French fleet.
1834: Slavery is abolished in the British Empire as the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 comes into force.
1876: Colorado is admitted as the 38th U.S. state.
1907: The first Scout camp opens on Brownsea Island, established by Robert Baden-Powell.
1914: Germany declares war on Russia at the beginning of World War I.
1960: Dahomey (later renamed Benin) gains independence from France.
1981: MTV begins broadcasting in the United States.
Disclaimer: Snake does not fact check these items. In fact, he doesn’t even read them before posting. Often he doesn’t read them after posting. If you have a complaint, click here