Search Historical Events

1914

First World War: German forces captured Rossignol in Belgium, taking more than 3,800 French prisoners.

First World War: German forces captured Rossignol in Belgium, taking more than 3,800 French prisoners.

1914

The Battle of Cer ended with the first Allied victory of World War I.

The Battle of Cer ended with the first Allied victory of World War I.

1885

Gottlieb Daimler patented the world's first internal-combustion motorcycle, the Reitwagen (replica pictured).

Gottlieb Daimler patented the world's first internal-combustion motorcycle, the Reitwagen (replica pictured).

1789

With the first use of his 1.2-metre (3.9 ft) telescope, then the largest in the world, William Herschel discovered a…

With the first use of his 1.2-metre (3.9 ft) telescope, then the largest in the world, William Herschel discovered a new moon of Saturn, later named Enceladus (pictured).

1914

First World War: The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force invaded German New Guinea, winning the Battle…

First World War: The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force invaded German New Guinea, winning the Battle of Bita Paka.

1939

Second World War: The Royal Navy lost its first warship in the war when German submarine U-29 torpedoed and sank…

Second World War: The Royal Navy lost its first warship in the war when German submarine U-29 torpedoed and sank HMS Courageous.

1914

First World War: The German submarine U-9 sank three Royal Navy cruisers, resulting in approximately 1,450 deaths.

First World War: The German submarine U-9 sank three Royal Navy cruisers, resulting in approximately 1,450 deaths.

1941

SS Patrick Henry, the first of 2,710 Liberty ships built during World War II by the United States, was launched.

SS Patrick Henry, the first of 2,710 Liberty ships built during World War II by the United States, was launched.

1918

World War I: The Battle of St Quentin Canal took place, which led to the British Fourth Army making the first breach…

World War I: The Battle of St Quentin Canal took place, which led to the British Fourth Army making the first breach of the German defensive Hindenburg Line.

1939

Second World War: General Władysław Sikorski (pictured) became the first prime minister of the Polish…

Second World War: General Władysław Sikorski (pictured) became the first prime minister of the Polish government-in-exile.

1918

First World War: British and Arab troops captured Damascus from the Ottoman Empire.

First World War: British and Arab troops captured Damascus from the Ottoman Empire.

1952

The United Kingdom successfully conducted its first nuclear test, becoming the world's third state with nuclear weapons.

The United Kingdom successfully conducted its first nuclear test, becoming the world's third state with nuclear weapons.

1918

First World War: The Japanese merhant ship Hirano Maru was sunk by a German submarine in the Celtic Sea with the loss…

First World War: The Japanese merhant ship Hirano Maru was sunk by a German submarine in the Celtic Sea with the loss of 291 lives.

1917

First World War: The Allies devastated the German defence at the Battle of Broodseinde, prompting a crisis among…

First World War: The Allies devastated the German defence at the Battle of Broodseinde, prompting a crisis among German commanders and causing a severe loss of morale in the 4th Army.

1944

World War II: The three-week-long Battle of Aachen concluded, making the city the first on German soil to be captured…

World War II: The three-week-long Battle of Aachen concluded, making the city the first on German soil to be captured by the Allies.

1863

The Football Association, world's first governing body of association football, was founded in London.

The Football Association, world's first governing body of association football, was founded in London.

1960

Congo Crisis: In order to stop the secession of South Kasai from the Republic of Congo, Armée Nationale Congolaise…

Congo Crisis: In order to stop the secession of South Kasai from the Republic of Congo, Armée Nationale Congolaise forces launched an invasion of South Kasai.

2000

Following the killing of two English football fans by Galatasaray supporters in the previous month, British and Turkish

Following the killing of two English football fans by Galatasaray supporters in the previous month, British and Turkish hooligans rioted on the day of the UEFA Cup Final in Copenhagen, Denmark.

1704

John Campbell released the first issue of The Boston News-Letter, the first continuously published newspaper in British

John Campbell released the first issue of The Boston News-Letter, the first continuously published newspaper in British North America.

2025

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV (pictured), making him the first pope born in the United Sta

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV (pictured), making him the first pope born in the United States, the first to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenship, the first from the O�