Here are some of the most significant:
- 753 BC – According to legend, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus on this day.
- 1509 – Henry VIII became King of England following the death of his father, Henry VII.
- 1789 – John Adams was sworn in as the first Vice President of the United States.
- 1836 – The Battle of San Jacinto took place in Texas, resulting in the defeat of the Mexican army and the independence of Texas.
- 1918 – German fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen, also known as the “Red Baron,” was shot down and killed over France during World War I.
- 1960 – Brasília became the capital of Brazil, replacing Rio de Janeiro.
- 1989 – Students in Beijing, China, began a pro-democracy protest in Tiananmen Square that would last for weeks, eventually leading to a violent government crackdown.
- 2004 – Five synchronized bombings in Baghdad, Iraq, killed nearly 100 people and injured more than 500.
2019 – The iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, suffered a devastating fire, causing significant damage to the structure and leading to an international outpouring of support and donations for its restoration.