Today:
1519 – Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés entered Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, and met Emperor Moctezuma II. The encounter marked a turning point in the Spanish conquest of Mexico, which ultimately resulted in the fall of the Aztec capital in 1521.
1602 – The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford officially opened to readers. Named after Sir Thomas Bodley, who financed its restoration, the library became one of the world’s most important research institutions and remains among Europe’s oldest libraries.
1793 – The Louvre Museum opened to the public in Paris during the French Revolution. Formerly a royal palace, the building was transformed into a national museum displaying artworks from royal and church collections. It eventually became one of the world’s most visited museums.
1861 – During the American Civil War, the USS San Jacinto intercepted the British mail steamer Trent and removed two Confederate diplomats, James Mason and John Slidell. The incident, known as the Trent Affair, created a serious diplomatic crisis between the United States and Britain.
1889 – Montana became the 41st state admitted to the United States. Originally part of the Montana Territory, the region had experienced rapid settlement following discoveries of gold and other minerals. Mining, ranching, and agriculture became important foundations of its economy.
1895 – German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays while experimenting with cathode rays at the University of Würzburg. His discovery revolutionized medical diagnosis by allowing doctors to see inside the human body without surgery. Röntgen received the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
1923 – Adolf Hitler and his Nazi supporters attempted to overthrow the Bavarian government in Munich during the Beer Hall Putsch. The attempted coup collapsed the following day, and Hitler was arrested. His subsequent imprisonment provided the opportunity to write much of Mein Kampf.
1932 – Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated incumbent President Herbert Hoover in the United States presidential election. With the country suffering through the Great Depression, Roosevelt promised a New Deal for the American people. His victory began a major transformation in the federal government’s role in the economy.
1960 – John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon in one of the closest presidential elections in American history. At age 43, Kennedy became the youngest person elected president of the United States and the first Roman Catholic to win the office. The campaign was also notable for the first nationally televised presidential debates.
2016 – Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the United States presidential election, winning the Electoral College despite Clinton receiving more popular votes nationwide. Trump’s victory marked a major political upset and made him the first person elected president without prior military or government service.