1595: Astronomer Johannes Kepler has an epiphany and develops his theory of the geometrical basis of the universe while teaching in Graz 1843: The steamship SS Great Britain is launched, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is the first ocean-going craft with an iron hull or screw propeller and the largest vessel afloat in the world 1848: 1st US women’s rights convention held in Seneca […]
64: Great Fire of Rome begins under the Emperor Nero 1925: Adolf Hitler publishes Mein Kampf (original title was the catchy “Four and a Half Years (of Struggle) Against Lies, Stupidity and Cowardice”) 1936: Spanish Civil War: General Francisco Franco issues manifesto and leads an uprising in the Spanish army stationed in Morocco 2012: Kim Jong-un is officially appointed Supreme Leader of North Korea […]
180 6 inhabitants of Carthage, North Africa executed for being Christians. Earliest record of Christianity in this part of the world. 1203 Siege of Constantinople begins during the fourth Crusade; Roman Catholic Crusaders aboard a Venetian fleet attack the city 1762 Catherine II becomes Tsarina of Russia following the murder of Peter III 1918 The Romanov royal family and several of their […]
622: Muslim Era begins – Muhammad begins flight from Mecca to Medina (Hijra) 1519: Public debate between Martin Luther and theologian Johann Eck at Pleissenburg Castle in Liepzig, during which Luther denies the divine right of the Pope 1809: La Paz, Bolivia declares its independence from the Spanish Crown and forms the Junta Tuitiva led by Pedro Domingo Murillo, the […]
1099: City of Jerusalem is captured and plundered by Christian forces during the First Crusade 1381: John Ball, a leader in the Peasants’ Revolt, is hung, drawn and quartered in the presence of Richard II of England 1410: Battle of Grunwald (First Battle of Tannenburg, Battle of Žalgiris), one of Medieval Europe’s largest battles during Poland-Lithuanian Teutonic War. Polish King Władysław Jagiełło […]
1789: Bastille Day – the French Revolution begins with the storming of the Bastille Prison in Paris (now celebrated as France’s national day) 1798: US Sedition Act prohibits “false, scandalous & malicious” writing against government 1850: 1st public demonstration of ice made by refrigeration by Florida physician John Gorrie 1933: All non-Nazi parties are banned in Germany 1941: 6,000 Lithuanian Jews are […]
1772: Captain James Cook begins his second voyage to the South Seas aboard the Resolution to search for Terra Australis (Southern continent) 1832: Source of Mississippi River discovered by American geographer Henry Schoolcraft 1943: Greatest tank battle in history ends with Russia’s defeat of Germany at Kursk, almost 6,000 tanks take part, 2,900 lost by Germany 1966: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami […]
1679: Britain’s King Charles II ratifies Habeas Corpus Act allowing prisoners right to be imprisoned to be examined by a court 1690: Battle of Boyne: in Ireland, Protestant King William III defeats English Catholic King James II 1790: French Revolution: The Civil Constitution of the Clergy is adopted, putting the Catholic Church in France under the control of the state 1804: Former United […]
1405: Chinese fleet commander Zheng He sets sail on his first major expedition, to the Spice Islands, leading 208 vessels, including 62 treasure ships with 27,800 sailors 1533: Pope Clement VII excommunicates England’s King Henry VIII 1818: English poet John Keats writes “In the Cottage Where Burns is Born”, “Lines Written in the Highlands”, and “Gadfly” 1877: Kate Edger becomes New Zealand’s […]
1778: American Revolution: Louis XVI of France declares war on the Kingdom of Great Britain 1940: Battle of Britain begins as Nazi forces attack shipping convoys in the English Channel 1985: French foreign intelligence agents blow up the Greenpeace boat Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbor, New Zealand to prevent it interfering with French nuclear tests in the South Pacific. Dutch photographer Fernando […]
