Today:
660 BC – According to legend, Emperor Jimmu, the first Emperor of Japan, ascended to the throne, marking the traditional founding of Japan.
1534 – Henry VIII of England was formally recognized as the Supreme Head of the Church of England following the Act of Supremacy.
1752 – The first hospital in the United States, Pennsylvania Hospital, was opened by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond in Philadelphia.
1808 – Jesse Fell conducted the first successful burning of anthracite coal as a fuel source in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, demonstrating its practical use for heating.
1858 – The Virgin Mary was said to have appeared to Bernadette Soubirous for the first time in Lourdes, France, leading to the establishment of the famous pilgrimage site.
1929 – The Lateran Treaty was signed between Italy and the Vatican, recognizing Vatican City as an independent state.
1945 – The Yalta Conference ended, with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin making significant agreements on the post-war reorganization of Europe.
1970 – Japan became the fourth country to launch a satellite, Osumi, into orbit, joining the United States, the Soviet Union, and France.
1990 – Nelson Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison in South Africa after 27 years of incarceration, marking a pivotal moment in the end of apartheid.
2011 – Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned after 18 days of protests during the Arab Spring, ending his 30-year rule.