Today:
1201 – The city of Riga was founded by Albert of Buxhoeveden, marking the beginning of its history as a major Baltic port.
1587 – Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the Americas, was born in the Roanoke Colony.
1612 – The Pendle witch trials began in Lancashire, England, leading to the execution of 10 people for witchcraft.
1634 – Urbain Grandier, a French Catholic priest, was burned at the stake after being convicted of witchcraft in the Loudun possessions case.
1807 – Robert Fulton’s steamboat, the North River Steamboat (later known as the Clermont), made its first voyage up the Hudson River, marking a significant advancement in transportation.
1868 – French astronomer Pierre Janssen discovered helium in the solar spectrum during a total solar eclipse.
1920 – The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote.
1936 – The Spanish Civil War: Federico García Lorca, a famous Spanish poet and playwright, was executed by Nationalist forces.
1963 – James Meredith became the first African American to graduate from the University of Mississippi.
1991 – A coup attempt was launched against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, leading to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union later that year.
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