Thursday, June 5, 2025
Today: 1783: The Montgolfier brothers demonstrate the first hot air balloon to the public. 1849: Denmark becomes a constitutional monarchy, as King Frederik VII signs a new constitution. 1883: The first regularly scheduled Orient Express departs from Paris. 1915: Denmark amends its constitution to allow women’s suffrage. 1944: Over 1,000 British bombers drop 5,000 tons […]
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Today: 1411 – King Charles VI of France granted a monopoly on refining sugar to the citizens of Tours. 1783 – The Montgolfier brothers publicly demonstrated their hot air balloon for the first time in Annonay, France. 1812 – The U.S. House of Representatives voted 79 to 49 to declare war against Britain, leading to […]
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Today: 1621 – The Dutch West India Company received a charter for trade in the Americas and West Africa. 1800 – U.S. President John Adams became the first president to take up residence in Washington, D.C., at the Union Tavern. 1839 – Lin Zexu destroyed large quantities of opium in Humen, China, an event that […]
Monday, June 2, 2025
Today: 455 – Vandals entered Rome and began two weeks of plundering the city under King Genseric. 1098 – During the First Crusade, Crusaders captured Antioch after an eight-month siege. 1615 – The first Récollet missionaries arrived at Quebec City from France to begin their missionary work in Canada. 1692 – Bridget Bishop was the […]
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Today: 1792 – Kentucky was admitted as the 15th state of the United States. 1796 – Tennessee was admitted as the 16th state of the United States. 1812 – U.S. President James Madison asked Congress to declare war on Britain, leading to the War of 1812. 1916 – The Battle of Jutland ended, the largest […]
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Today: 1578 – King Henry III of France lays the cornerstone for the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris, which would become the oldest standing bridge across the Seine. 1790 – The United States enacts its first copyright law, protecting books, maps, and charts for a 14-year term. 1859 – The clock tower housing Big Ben […]
Friday, May 30, 2025
Today: 1431 – Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen, France, after being convicted of heresy. 1539 – Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed in Florida with 600 soldiers in search of gold. 1631 – The Gazette de France, the first French newspaper, was published. 1806 – Future U.S. President Andrew Jackson […]
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Today: 1453 – Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Mehmed II, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire. 1660 – Charles II was restored to the English throne, marking the beginning of the English Restoration. 1790 – Rhode Island became the 13th U.S. state after ratifying the Constitution, the last of the original […]
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Today: 585 BC – A solar eclipse occurred as predicted by Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus, reportedly ending a battle between the Lydians and the Medes. 1533 – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declared the marriage of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn valid. 1588 – The Spanish Armada set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on […]
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Today: 1703 – Tsar Peter the Great founded the city of Saint Petersburg in Russia. 1813 – During the War of 1812, American forces captured Fort George in Ontario, Canada. 1905 – The Battle of Tsushima began during the Russo-Japanese War, resulting in a decisive Japanese naval victory. 1927 – The Ford Motor Company ceased […]