Historical Events
- 1513
– Ponce de León Claims Florida for Spain: Spanish explorer Juan Ponce
de León became the first known European to reach Florida, claiming it for
Spain.
- 1792
– Establishment of the U.S. Mint: The Coinage Act was passed by the
United States Congress, authorizing the creation of the U.S. Mint and the
production of various denominations of gold and silver coins.
- 1801
– Battle of Copenhagen: During the Napoleonic Wars, the British Royal
Navy, led by Admiral Horatio Nelson, destroyed the Danish fleet in a
decisive naval engagement.
- 1865
– Confederate Evacuation of Richmond: As Union forces broke through
Confederate lines during the American Civil War, Confederate President
Jefferson Davis and his cabinet fled the capital, Richmond, Virginia.
- 1917
– U.S. Entry into World War I: President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress
to declare war against Germany, stating, "The world must be made safe
for democracy." Congress declared war four days later.
- 1982
– Falklands War Begins: Argentine troops invaded and seized the
disputed Falkland Islands from the United Kingdom, leading to a conflict
that lasted ten weeks.
- 2005
– Death of Pope John Paul II: Pope John Paul II, born Karol Józef
Wojtyła, passed away at the age of 84 in Vatican City. He was the first
non-Italian pope in over 450 years and played a significant role in the
decline of communism in Europe.
Notable Birthdays
- Charlemagne
(742–814): King of the Franks and Lombards; crowned as the first Holy
Roman Emperor in 800.
- Hans
Christian Andersen (1805–1875): Danish author renowned for his
literary fairy tales, including classics like The Little Mermaid
and The Ugly Duckling.
- Émile
Zola (1840–1902): Influential French novelist best known for his
naturalist works like Germinal.
- Buddy
Ebsen (1908–2003): American actor famously remembered for his role as
Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies.
- Marvin
Gaye (1939–1984): Influential American soul singer known for hits like
What's Going On and Sexual Healing.
- Emmylou
Harris (born 1947): American singer-songwriter celebrated for her
contributions to country and folk music.
- Michael
Fassbender (born 1977): Irish-German actor recognized for his roles in
films such as 12 Years a Slave and the X-Men series.
- Pedro
Pascal (born 1975): Chilean-American actor known for his roles in Game
of Thrones and The Mandalorian.
Notable Deaths
- Samuel
F. B. Morse (1791–1872): American inventor and painter, co-developer
of the Morse code and the telegraph system.
- Georges
Pompidou (1911–1974): President of France from 1969 until his death in
1974.
- Pope
John Paul II (1920–2005): Served as the head of the Roman Catholic
Church from 1978 until his death in 2005.
- Shaukat
Ali (1944–2021): Renowned Pakistani folk singer known for patriotic
and folk songs such as Jagga and Saif-ul-Malook.
International Observances
- World
Autism Awareness Day: Established by the United Nations to raise
awareness about autism spectrum disorders and promote early diagnosis and
intervention.
- International
Children's Book Day (بچوں کی کتابوں کا عالمی دن): Celebrated to
inspire a love for reading among children and to promote access to
children's literature worldwide. The date was chosen in honor of Hans
Christian Andersen's birthday, one of the most famous children's
storytellers.