Events

2014

Thirty-five people are killed and 143 injured in a mass stabbing at Kunming Railway Station in China.

2008

The Armenian police clash with peaceful opposition rally protesting against allegedly fraudulent presidential elections; as a result ten people are killed.

2007

Tornadoes break out across the southern United States, killing at least 20 people, including eight at Enterprise High School.

2006

English-language Wikipedia reaches its one millionth article, Jordanhill railway station.

2005

In Roper v. Simmons, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the execution of juveniles found guilty of any crime is unconstitutional.

2003

Management of the United States Customs Service and the United States Secret Service moves to the United States Department of Homeland Security.

2002

U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: Operation Anaconda begins in eastern Afghanistan.

2002

The Envisat environmental satellite successfully launches aboard an Ariane 5 rocket to reach an orbit of 800 km (500 mi) above the Earth, which was the then-largest payload at 10.5 m long and with a diameter of 4.57 m.

2002

Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-109 to service the Hubble Space Telescope.

1998

Titanic becomes the first film to gross over $1 billion worldwide.

1992

Bosnia and Herzegovina declares its independence from Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

1991

Uprisings against Saddam Hussein begin in Iraq, leading to the deaths of more than 25,000 people, mostly civilians.

1990

Steve Jackson Games is raided by the United States Secret Service, prompting the later formation of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

1981

Provisional Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands begins his hunger strike in HM Prison Maze.

1974

Watergate scandal: Seven are indicted for their role in the Watergate break-in and charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice.

1973

Black September storms the Saudi embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, resulting in the assassination of three Western hostages.

1971

President of Pakistan Yahya Khan indefinitely postpones the pending national assembly session, precipitating massive civil disobedience in East Pakistan.

1966

Venera 3 Soviet space probe crashes on Venus becoming the first spacecraft to land on another planet's surface.

1966

The Ba'ath Party takes power in Syria.

1964

Villarrica Volcano begins a strombolian eruption causing lahars that destroy half of the town of Coñaripe.

1964

Paradise Airlines Flight 901A crashes near Lake Tahoe, Nevada, killing 85.

1962

American Airlines Flight 1 crashes into Jamaica Bay in New York, killing 95.

1961

Uganda becomes self-governing and holds its first elections.

1958

Samuel Alphonsus Stritch is appointed Pro-Prefect of the Propagation of Faith and thus becomes the first U.S. member of the Roman Curia.

1956

The International Air Transport Association finalizes a draft of the Radiotelephony spelling alphabet for the International Civil Aviation Organization.

1956

Formation of the East German Nationale Volksarmee.

1954

Nuclear weapons testing: The Castle Bravo, a 15-megaton hydrogen bomb, is detonated on Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the worst radioactive contamination ever caused by the United States.

1954

Armed Puerto Rican nationalists attack the United States Capitol building, injuring five Representatives.

1953

Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin suffers a stroke and collapses; he dies four days later.

1950

Cold War: Klaus Fuchs is convicted of spying for the Soviet Union by disclosing top secret atomic bomb data.

1947

The International Monetary Fund begins financial operations.

1946

The Bank of England is nationalised.

1942

World War II: Japanese forces land on Java, the main island of the Dutch East Indies, at Merak and Banten Bay (Banten), Eretan Wetan (Indramayu) and Kragan (Rembang).

1941

World War II: Bulgaria signs the Tripartite Pact, allying itself with the Axis powers.

1939

An Imperial Japanese Army ammunition dump explodes at Hirakata, Osaka, Japan, killing 94.

1932

Aviator Charles Lindbergh's 20-month-old son Charles Jr is kidnapped from his home in East Amwell, New Jersey. His body would not be found until May 12.

1921

The Australian cricket team captained by Warwick Armstrong becomes the first team to complete a whitewash of The Ashes, something that would not be repeated for 86 years.

1921

Following mass protests in Petrograd demanding greater freedom in the RSFSR, the Kronstadt rebellion begins, with sailors and citizens taking up arms against the Bolsheviks.

1919

March 1st Movement begins in Korea under Japanese rule.

1917

The Zimmermann Telegram is reprinted in newspapers across the United States after the U.S. government releases its unencrypted text.

1914

China joins the Universal Postal Union.

1910

The deadliest avalanche in United States history buries a Great Northern Railway train in northeastern King County, Washington, killing 96 people.

1901

The Australian Army is formed.

1896

Battle of Adwa: An Ethiopian army defeats an outnumbered Italian force, ending the First Italo-Ethiopian War.

1896

Henri Becquerel discovers radioactive decay.

1893

Electrical engineer Nikola Tesla gives the first public demonstration of radio in St. Louis, Missouri.

1872

Yellowstone National Park is established as the world's first national park.

1871

The victorious Prussian Army parades through Paris, France, after the end of the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.

1870

Marshal F. S. López dies during the Battle of Cerro Corá thus marking the end of the Paraguayan War.

1867

Nebraska is admitted as the 37th U.S. state.

1845

United States President John Tyler signs a bill authorizing the United States to annex the Republic of Texas.

1836

A convention of delegates from 57 Texas communities convenes in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas, to deliberate independence from Mexico.

1815

Napoleon returns to France from his banishment on Elba.

1811

Leaders of the Mamluk dynasty are killed by Egyptian ruler Muhammad Ali.

1805

Justice Samuel Chase is acquitted at the end of his impeachment trial before the U.S. Senate.

1796

The Dutch East India Company is nationalized by the Batavian Republic.

1781

The Articles of Confederation goes into effect in the United States.

1692

Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba are brought before local magistrates in Salem Village, Massachusetts, beginning what would become known as the Salem witch trials.

1633

Samuel de Champlain reclaims his role as commander of New France on behalf of Cardinal Richelieu.

1628

Writs issued in February by Charles I of England mandate that every county in England (not just seaport towns) pay ship tax by this date.

1562

Sixty-three Huguenots are massacred in Wassy, France, marking the start of the French Wars of Religion.

1476

Forces of the Catholic Monarchs engage the combined Portuguese-Castilian armies of Afonso V and Prince John at the Battle of Toro.

1290

University of Coimbra, in Portugal, is officially chartered by King Denis.

834

Emperor Louis the Pious is restored as sole ruler of the Frankish Empire.

350

Vetranio proclaims himself Caesar after being encouraged to do so by Constantina, sister of Constantius II.

293

Emperor Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius as Caesars. This is considered the beginning of the Tetrarchy, known as the Quattuor Principes Mundi ("Four Rulers of the World").

-509

Publius Valerius Publicola celebrates the first triumph of the Roman Republic after his victory over the deposed king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus at the Battle of Silva Arsia.

Births

2001

Wander Franco, Dominican baseball player

2001

Sapnap, American YouTuber

2000

Ja'Marr Chase, American football player

1999

Oswaldo Cabrera, Venezuelan baseball player

1999

Brogan Hay, Scottish footballer

1994

Justin Bieber, Canadian singer-songwriter

1994

Asanoyama Hiroki, Japanese sumo wrestler

1994

Tyreek Hill, American football player

1994

Maximilian Philipp, German footballer

1993

Juan Bernat, Spanish footballer

1993

Michael Conforto, American baseball player

1993

Josh McEachran, English footballer

1993

Victor Rask, Swedish ice hockey player

1993

Jordan Veretout, French footballer

1992

Édouard Mendy, Senegalese footballer

1992

Tom Walsh, New Zealand athlete

1991

Joe Mantiply, American baseball player

1989

Tenille Dashwood, Australian professional wrestler

1989

Daniella Monet, American actress

1989

Emeraude Toubia, Canadian-American actress

1989

Carlos Vela, Mexican footballer

1988

Trevor Cahill, American baseball player

1988

Jarvis Varnado, American basketball player

1987

Kesha, American singer-songwriter and actress

1987

Kyle O'Reilly, Canadian professional wrestler

1986

Big E, American professional wrestler

1986

Jonathan Spector, American soccer player

1986

Alec Utgoff, Ukrainian-English actor

1985

Andreas Ottl, German footballer

1984

Alexander Steen, Canadian-Swedish ice hockey player

1984

Claudio Bieler, Argentinian footballer

1983

Daniel Carvalho, Brazilian footballer

1983

Lupita Nyong'o, Kenyan-Mexican actress

1982

Travis Diener, American-Italian basketball player

1981

Will Power, Australian race car driver

1980

Shahid Afridi, Pakistani cricketer

1980

Sercan Güvenışık, German-Turkish footballer

1980

Djimi Traoré, French-Malian footballer

1979

Mikkel Kessler, Danish boxer

1979

Bruno Langlois, Canadian cyclist

1978

Jensen Ackles, American actor and musician

1978

Donovan Patton, American actor and television host

1977

Rens Blom, Dutch pole vaulter

1974

Mark-Paul Gosselaar, American actor

1973

Jack Davenport, English actor

1973

Ryan Peake, Canadian musician and songwriter

1973

Emiliya Vacheva, Bulgarian judoka

1973

Chris Webber, American basketball player and sportscaster

1971

Ma Dong-seok, South Korean-American actor

1971

Brad Falchuk, American screenwriter, director, and producer

1970

Yolanda Griffith, American basketball player and coach

1969

Javier Bardem, Spanish actor and producer

1967

George Eads, American actor

1967

Aron Winter, Surinamese-Dutch footballer and manager

1966

Don Lemon, American journalist

1966

Zack Snyder, American director, producer, and screenwriter

1965

Booker T, American professional wrestler and sportscaster

1965

Chris Eigeman, American actor, director, screenwriter, and producer

1965

Stewart Elliott, Canadian jockey

1963

Bryan Batt, American actor

1963

Ron Francis, Canadian ice hockey player and manager

1963

Magnus Svensson, Swedish ice hockey player

1963

Russell Wong, American actor

1961

Mike Rozier, American football player

1959

Nick Griffin, English politician

1958

Nik Kershaw, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

1958

Wayne B. Phillips, Australian cricketer and coach

1958

Bertrand Piccard, Swiss psychiatrist and aviator

1956

Tim Daly, American actor, director, and producer

1956

Dalia Grybauskaitė, Lithuanian politician, 8th President of Lithuania

1955

Catherine Bach, American actress

1955

Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, member of the British royal family and Royal Navy officer

1954

Ron Howard, American actor, director, and producer

1953

Sinan Çetin, Turkish actor, director, and producer

1953

Carlos Queiroz, Portuguese footballer and manager

1953

M. K. Stalin, Indian Tamil politician, 8th and incumbent Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

1952

Dave Barr, Canadian golfer

1952

Nevada Barr, American actress and author

1952

Janice Burgess, American television executive, screenwriter, and producer (died 2024)

1952

Leigh Matthews, Australian footballer, coach, and sportscaster

1952

Jerri Nielsen, American physician and explorer (died 2009)

1952

Martin O'Neill, Northern Irish footballer and manager

1952

Brian Winters, American basketball player and coach

1951

Sergei Kourdakov, Russian-American KGB agent (died 1973)

1947

Alan Thicke, Canadian-American actor and composer (died 2016)

1946

Gerry Boulet, Canadian singer-songwriter (died 1990)

1946

Jim Crace, English author and academic

1945

Dirk Benedict, American actor and director

1944

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Indian politician, 7th Chief Minister of West Bengal

1944

John Breaux, American lawyer and politician

1944

Mike d'Abo, English singer

1944

Roger Daltrey, English singer-songwriter, producer, and actor

1943

Gil Amelio, American businessman

1943

José Ángel Iribar, Spanish footballer and manager

1943

Rashid Sunyaev, Russian-German astronomer and physicist

1942

Richard Myers, American general

1941

Robert Hass, American poet

1941

Dave Marcis, American stock car racing driver

1940

Robin Gray, Australian politician, 37th Premier of Tasmania

1940

Robert Grossman, American painter, sculptor, and author (died 2018)

1939

Leo Brouwer, Cuban guitarist, composer, and conductor

1939

Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Pakistani author

1936

Jean-Edern Hallier, French author (died 1997)

1935

Robert Conrad, American actor, radio host and stuntman (died 2020)

1934

Jean-Michel Folon, Belgian painter and sculptor (died 2005)

1934

Joan Hackett, American actress (died 1983)

1930

Monu Mukhopadhyay, Indian Bengali actor (died 2020)

1930

Gastone Nencini, Italian cyclist (died 1980)

1929

Georgi Markov, Bulgarian journalist and author (died 1978)

1928

Jacques Rivette, French director, screenwriter, and critic (died 2016)

1927

George O. Abell, American astronomer, academic, and skeptic (died 1983)

1927

Harry Belafonte, American singer-songwriter and actor (died 2023)

1927

Robert Bork, American lawyer and scholar, United States Attorney General (died 2012)

1926

Robert Clary, French-American actor and author (died 2022)

1926

Cesare Danova, Italian-American actor (died 1992)

1926

Pete Rozelle, American businessman and 3rd National Football League Commissioner (died 1996)

1926

Allan Stanley, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (died 2013)

1924

Arnold Drake, American author and screenwriter (died 2007)

1924

Deke Slayton, American soldier, pilot, and astronaut (died 1993)

1922

William Gaines, American publisher (died 1992)

1922

Yitzhak Rabin, Israeli general and politician, 5th Prime Minister of Israel, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1995)

1922

Fred Scolari, American basketball player (died 2002)

1921

Cameron Argetsinger, American race car driver and lawyer (died 2008)

1921

Terence Cooke, American cardinal (died 1983)

1921

Richard Wilbur, American poet, translator, and essayist (died 2017)

1920

Max Bentley, Canadian ice hockey player (died 1984)

1920

Howard Nemerov, American poet and academic (died 1991)

1918

João Goulart, Brazilian lawyer and politician, 24th President of Brazil (died 1976)

1918

Gladys Spellman, American educator and politician (died 1988)

1917

Robert Lowell, American poet (died 1977)

1917

Dinah Shore, American singer and actress (died 1994)

1914

Harry Caray, American sportscaster (died 1998)

1914

Ralph Ellison, American novelist and literary critic (died 1994)

1912

Gerald Emmett Carter, Canadian cardinal (died 2003)

1912

Boris Chertok, Polish-Russian engineer and academic (died 2011)

1910

Archer John Porter Martin, English chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2002)

1910

David Niven, English soldier and actor (died 1983)

1909

Eugene Esmonde, English lieutenant and pilot (died 1942)

1909

Winston Sharples, American pianist and composer (died 1978)

1906

Phạm Văn Đồng, Vietnamese lieutenant and politician, 2nd Prime Minister of Vietnam (died 2000)

1905

Doris Hare, Welsh-English actress, singer, and dancer (died 2000)

1904

Paul Hartman, American actor, singer, and dancer (died 1973)

1904

Glenn Miller, American trombonist, composer, and bandleader (died 1944)

1900

Basil Bunting, British poet (died 1985)

1899

Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski, German SS officer (died 1972)

1896

Dimitri Mitropoulos, Greek pianist, composer, and conductor (died 1960)

1896

Moriz Seeler, German playwright and producer (died 1942)

1893

Mercedes de Acosta, American author, poet, and playwright (died 1968)

1892

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, Japanese author and educator (died 1927)

1891

Ralph Hitz, Austrian-American hotelier (died 1940)

1890

Theresa Bernstein, Polish-American painter and author (died 2002)

1889

Tetsuro Watsuji, Japanese historian and philosopher (died 1960)

1888

Ewart Astill, English cricketer and billiards player (died 1948)

1888

Fanny Walden, English cricketer and umpire, international footballer (died 1949)

1886

Oskar Kokoschka, Austrian-Swiss painter, poet, and playwright (died 1980)

1880

Lytton Strachey, British writer and critic (died 1932)

1876

Henri de Baillet-Latour, Belgian businessman (died 1942)

1870

E. M. Antoniadi, Greek-French astronomer and academic (died 1944)

1863

Alexander Golovin, Russian painter and set designer (died 1930)

1852

Théophile Delcassé, French politician, French Minister of Foreign Affairs (died 1923)

1848

Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Irish-American sculptor and academic (died 1907)

1842

Nikolaos Gyzis, Greek painter and academic (died 1901)

1837

William Dean Howells, American novelist, playwright, and critic (died 1920)

1835

Philip Fysh, English-Australian politician, 12th Premier of Tasmania (died 1919)

1821

Joseph Hubert Reinkens, German bishop and academic (died 1896)

1817

Giovanni Duprè, Italian sculptor and educator (died 1882)

1812

Augustus Pugin, English architect, co-designed the Palace of Westminster (died 1852)

1810

Frédéric Chopin, Polish pianist and composer (died 1849)

1807

Wilford Woodruff, American religious leader, 4th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (died 1898)

1769

François Séverin Marceau-Desgraviers, French general (died 1796)

1760

François Buzot, French lawyer and politician (died 1794)

1732

William Cushing, American lawyer and judge (died 1810)

1724

Manuel do Cenáculo, Portuguese prelate and antiquarian (died 1814)

1683

Tsangyang Gyatso, sixth Dalai Lama (died 1706)

1683

Caroline of Ansbach, British queen and regent (died 1737)

1657

Samuel Werenfels, Swiss theologian and author (died 1740)

1647

John de Brito, Portuguese Jesuit missionary and martyr (died 1693)

1629

Abraham Teniers, Flemish painter (died 1670)

1611

John Pell, English mathematician and linguist (died 1685)

1597

Jean-Charles della Faille, Flemish priest and mathematician (died 1652)

1577

Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland (died 1635)

1554

William Stafford, English courtier and conspirator (died 1612)

1547

Rudolph Goclenius, German philosopher and lexicographer (died 1628)

1456

Vladislaus II of Hungary (died 1516)

1432

Isabella of Coimbra (died 1455)

1389

Antoninus of Florence, Italian archbishop and saint (died 1459)

1105

Alfonso VII, king of León and Castile (died 1157)

Deaths

2025

Pat Ingoldsby, Irish poet and television presenter (born 1942)

2025

Joey Molland, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1947)

2025

Angie Stone, American singer, songwriter, and actress (born 1961)

2024

Iris Apfel, American businesswoman, interior designer, and philanthropist (born 1921)

2024

Akira Toriyama, Japanese manga artist (born 1955)

2023

Just Fontaine, French footballer (born 1933)

2020

Jack Welch, American business executive (born 1935)

2019

Mike Willesee, Australian journalist and producer (born 1942)

2018

María Rubio, Mexican television, film and stage actress (born 1934)

2016

Carole Achache, French writer, photographer and actress (born 1952)

2015

Minnie Miñoso, Cuban-American baseball player and coach (born 1922)

2014

Alain Resnais, French director, cinematographer, and screenwriter (born 1922)

2013

Bonnie Franklin, American actress, dancer, and singer (born 1944)

2012

Andrew Breitbart, American journalist and publisher (born 1969)

2012

Germano Mosconi, Italian journalist (born 1932)

2010

Kristian Digby, English television host and director (born 1977)

2006

Peter Osgood, English footballer (born 1947)

2006

Jack Wild, English actor (born 1952)

2006

Nurasyura binte Mohamed Fauzi, Singaporean rape and murder victim (born 2003)

2004

Mian Ghulam Jilani, Pakistani general (born 1914)

1998

Archie Goodwin, American author and illustrator (born 1937)

1995

César Rodríguez Álvarez, Spanish footballer and manager (born 1920)

1995

Georges J. F. Köhler, German biologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1946)

1993

Joseph Christopher, American schizophrenic serial killer (born 1955)

1991

Edwin H. Land, American scientist and businessman, co-founded the Polaroid Corporation (born 1909)

1989

Vasantdada Patil, Indian politician, 5th Chief Minister of Maharashtra (born 1917)

1988

Joe Besser, American comedian and actor (born 1907)

1984

Jackie Coogan, American actor (born 1914)

1983

Arthur Koestler, Hungarian-English journalist and author (born 1905)

1980

Wilhelmina Cooper, Dutch-American model and businesswoman, founded Wilhelmina Models (born 1940)

1980

Dixie Dean, English footballer (born 1907)

1979

Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi-Kurdistan politician (born 1903)

1978

Paul Scott, English author, poet, and playwright (born 1920)

1976

Jean Martinon, French conductor and composer (born 1910)

1974

Bobby Timmons, American pianist and composer (born 1935)

1966

Fritz Houtermans, Polish-German physicist and academic (born 1903)

1952

Mariano Azuela, Mexican physician and author (born 1873)

1943

Alexandre Yersin, Swiss-French physician and bacteriologist (born 1863)

1942

George S. Rentz, American commander (born 1882)

1940

A. H. Tammsaare, Estonian author (born 1878)

1938

Gabriele D'Annunzio, Italian journalist and politician (born 1863)

1936

Mikhail Kuzmin, Russian author and poet (born 1871)

1932

Frank Teschemacher, American Jazz musician (born 1906)

1925

Homer Plessy, American political activist (born 1862 or 1863)

1922

Pichichi, Spanish footballer (born 1892)

1920

John H. Bankhead, American lawyer and politician (born 1842)

1914

Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto, English soldier and politician, 8th Governor General of Canada (born 1845)

1911

Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff, Dutch-German chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1852)

1906

José María de Pereda, Spanish author (born 1833)

1890

Rafael Campo, President of El Salvador from 1856 to 1858 (born 1813)

1889

William Henry Monk, English organist and composer (born 1823)

1884

Isaac Todhunter, English mathematician and academic (born 1820)

1882

Theodor Kullak, German pianist, composer, and educator (born 1818)

1875

Tristan Corbière, French poet and educator (born 1845)

1862

Peter Barlow, English mathematician and physicist (born 1776)

1841

Claude-Victor Perrin, Duc de Belluno, French general and politician, French Minister of Defence (born 1764)

1792

Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor (born 1747)

1792

Angelo Emo, Venetian admiral and statesman (born 1731)

1773

Luigi Vanvitelli, Italian architect, designed the Palace of Caserta (born 1700)

1768

Hermann Samuel Reimarus, German philosopher and author (born 1694)

1734

Roger North, English lawyer and author (born 1653)

1697

Francesco Redi, Italian physician and poet (born 1626)

1661

Richard Zouch, English judge and politician (born 1590)

1643

Girolamo Frescobaldi, Italian keyboardist and composer (born 1583)

1633

George Herbert, English poet and orator (born 1593)

1620

Thomas Campion, English poet and composer (born 1567)

1546

George Wishart, Scottish minister and martyr (born 1513)

1510

Francisco de Almeida, Portuguese soldier and explorer (born 1450)

1383

Amadeus VI, count of Savoy (born 1334)

1320

Ayurbarwada Buyantu Khan, Chinese emperor (born 1286)

1244

Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr, Welsh noble, son of Llywelyn the Great (born 1200)

1233

Thomas, count of Savoy (born 1178)

1131

Stephen II, king of Hungary and Croatia (born 1101)

1058

Ermesinde of Carcassonne, countess and regent of Barcelona (born 972)

991

En'yū, Japanese emperor (born 959)

977

Rudesind, Galician bishop (born 907)

965

Leo VIII, pope of the Catholic Church

589

David, Welsh bishop and saint

492

Felix III, pope of the Catholic Church

Previous Day Browse All Dates Next Day