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1981

The Humber Bridge opens to traffic, connecting Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

The Humber Bridge opens to traffic, connecting Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It remained the world's longest bridge span for 17 years.

1927

Prime Minister of Japan Tanaka Giichi convenes an eleven-day conference to discuss Japan's strategy in China

Prime Minister of Japan Tanaka Giichi convenes an eleven-day conference to discuss Japan's strategy in China. The Tanaka Memorial, a forged plan for world domination, is later claimed to be a secret r�

1954

Food rationing in Great Britain ends, with the lifting of restrictions on sale and purchase of meat, 14 years after it…

Food rationing in Great Britain ends, with the lifting of restrictions on sale and purchase of meat, 14 years after it began early in World War II, and nearly a decade after the war's end.

1988

The Piper Alpha drilling platform in the North Sea is destroyed by explosions and fires. One hundred sixty-seven oil…

The Piper Alpha drilling platform in the North Sea is destroyed by explosions and fires. One hundred sixty-seven oil workers are killed, making it the world's worst offshore oil disaster in terms of d�

1952

The ocean liner SS United States passes Bishop Rock on her maiden voyage, breaking the transatlantic speed record to…

The ocean liner SS United States passes Bishop Rock on her maiden voyage, breaking the transatlantic speed record to become the fastest passenger ship in the world.

1976

Japan completes its last reparation to the Philippines for war crimes committed during imperial Japan's conquest of…

Japan completes its last reparation to the Philippines for war crimes committed during imperial Japan's conquest of the country in the Second World War.

1923

The Treaty of Lausanne, settling the boundaries of modern Turkey, is signed in Switzerland by Greece, Bulgaria and…

The Treaty of Lausanne, settling the boundaries of modern Turkey, is signed in Switzerland by Greece, Bulgaria and other countries that fought in World War I.

1932

During the Great Depression, U.S. president Herbert Hoover orders the United States Army to forcibly evict the "Bonus…

During the Great Depression, U.S. president Herbert Hoover orders the United States Army to forcibly evict the "Bonus Army" of World War I veterans gathered in Washington, D.C.

1988

Japanese American internment: U.S. President Ronald Reagan signs the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, providing $20,000…

Japanese American internment: U.S. President Ronald Reagan signs the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, providing $20,000 payments to Japanese Americans who were either interned in or relocated by the Unite�

1995

Tomiichi Murayama, Prime Minister of Japan, releases the Murayama Statement, which formally expresses remorse for…

Tomiichi Murayama, Prime Minister of Japan, releases the Murayama Statement, which formally expresses remorse for Japanese war crimes committed during World War II.

1916

German admiral Wilhelm Souchon hands over the two warships under his command to the Ottomans and becomes commander of…

German admiral Wilhelm Souchon hands over the two warships under his command to the Ottomans and becomes commander of the Turkish navy, leading later to the entry of the Ottoman Empire in World War I.

2012

The Pulitzer Prize winners are announced

The Pulitzer Prize winners are announced. It was the first time since 1977 that no book won the Fiction Prize.

1910

The oldest existing indoor ice hockey arena still used for the sport in the 21st century, Boston Arena, opens for the fi

The oldest existing indoor ice hockey arena still used for the sport in the 21st century, Boston Arena, opens for the first time.

1895

The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed

The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede th�

1946

Jackie Robinson makes his regular season debut for the Montreal Royals of the International League, to make them the fir

Jackie Robinson makes his regular season debut for the Montreal Royals of the International League, to make them the first integrated modern professional baseball team.

1809

An Austrian corps is defeated by the forces of the Duchy of Warsaw in the Battle of Raszyn, part of the struggles of the

An Austrian corps is defeated by the forces of the Duchy of Warsaw in the Battle of Raszyn, part of the struggles of the Fifth Coalition. On the same day the Austrian main army is defeated by a First�

1782

John Adams secures Dutch recognition of the United States as an independent government

John Adams secures Dutch recognition of the United States as an independent government. The house which he had purchased in The Hague becomes the first American embassy.

1828

René Caillié becomes the second non-Muslim to enter Timbuktu, following Major Gordon Laing

René Caillié becomes the second non-Muslim to enter Timbuktu, following Major Gordon Laing. He would also be the first to return alive.

1789

George Washington's reception at Trenton is hosted by the Ladies of Trenton as he journeys to New York City for his firs

George Washington's reception at Trenton is hosted by the Ladies of Trenton as he journeys to New York City for his first inauguration.

1967

Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov dies in Soyuz 1 when its parachute fails to open

Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov dies in Soyuz 1 when its parachute fails to open. He is the first human to die during a space mission.