Search Historical Events

1962

James Meredith, an African American, is temporarily barred from entering the University of Mississippi.

James Meredith, an African American, is temporarily barred from entering the University of Mississippi.

1961

U.S. President John F. Kennedy nominates African American civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall to the Court of…

U.S. President John F. Kennedy nominates African American civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall to the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, although pro-segregation Southern senators manage to del�

2012

Somali and African Union forces launch a coordinated assault on the Somali port of Kismayo to take back the city from…

Somali and African Union forces launch a coordinated assault on the Somali port of Kismayo to take back the city from al-Shabaab militants.

1963

The 16th Street Baptist Church, an African-American church in Birmingham, Alabama, was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan,…

The 16th Street Baptist Church, an African-American church in Birmingham, Alabama, was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan, killing four girls and injuring at least 14 other people.

1914

John E. Hodge, African-American chemist (died 1996)

John E. Hodge, African-American chemist (died 1996)

1946

François Bozizé, Gabonese general and politician, President of the Central African Republic

François Bozizé, Gabonese general and politician, President of the Central African Republic

1775

African-American poet Phillis Wheatley is freed from slavery.

African-American poet Phillis Wheatley is freed from slavery.

1951

African-American college football player Johnny Bright was the victim of an on-field assault, eventually leading to…

African-American college football player Johnny Bright was the victim of an on-field assault, eventually leading to changes in NCAA football rules that mandated the use of more protective helmets with�

1929

George Stinney Jr., wrongfully convicted African-American inmate; second youngest person in the U.S. to be executed…

George Stinney Jr., wrongfully convicted African-American inmate; second youngest person in the U.S. to be executed (died 1944)

2014

The Mars Orbiter Mission makes India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit, and the first nation in the world to…

The Mars Orbiter Mission makes India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit, and the first nation in the world to do so in its first attempt.

1798

War of the First Coalition: A British garrison repelled a French attack on the Îles Saint-Marcouf off the Normandy coast

War of the First Coalition: A British garrison repelled a French attack on the Îles Saint-Marcouf off the Normandy coast, inflicting heavy losses.

1919

First Red Scare: The anarchist followers of Luigi Galleani (pictured) set off eight bombs in eight cities across the Uni

First Red Scare: The anarchist followers of Luigi Galleani (pictured) set off eight bombs in eight cities across the United States.

1953

The first Chevrolet Corvette rolls off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan

The first Chevrolet Corvette rolls off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan.

1873

At Adair, Iowa, Jesse James and the James–Younger Gang pull off the first successful train robbery in the American Old…

At Adair, Iowa, Jesse James and the James–Younger Gang pull off the first successful train robbery in the American Old West.

1992

An earthquake registering 7.7 Mw off the coast of Nicaragua became the first tsunami earthquake to be captured on…

An earthquake registering 7.7 Mw off the coast of Nicaragua became the first tsunami earthquake to be captured on modern broadband seismic networks.

1929

Jimmy Doolittle performs the first flight without a window, proving that full instrument flying from take off to…

Jimmy Doolittle performs the first flight without a window, proving that full instrument flying from take off to landing is possible.

1803

The Surrey Iron Railway, arguably the world's first public railway, opens in south London, United Kingdom.

The Surrey Iron Railway, arguably the world's first public railway, opens in south London, United Kingdom.

1964

Jerrie Mock completes the first around-the-world airplane flight by a woman

Jerrie Mock completes the first around-the-world airplane flight by a woman. Her solo flight in the Spirit of Columbus, which took 29 1/2 days, took off and landed at the Port Columbus International A�

1585

A first group of colonists sent by Sir Walter Raleigh under the charge of Ralph Lane lands in the New World to create…

A first group of colonists sent by Sir Walter Raleigh under the charge of Ralph Lane lands in the New World to create Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina.

1995

The first game of the PCA World Chess Championship 1995, pitting incumbent champion Garry Kasparov against challenger…

The first game of the PCA World Chess Championship 1995, pitting incumbent champion Garry Kasparov against challenger Viswanathan Anand, takes place on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center's Sout�