Nov 20,1942 - Present
THE 46TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
247 Philip the Arab orchestrates a grand millennium celebration of Rome known as the Ludi saeculares, a dazzling spectacle of festivities.
395 Aelia Eudoxia, daughter of Frankish general Flavius Bauto, weds Emperor Arcadius, solidifying her influential role as a Roman empress during Late Antiquity.
711 The Islamic conquest of Hispania unfolds as Moorish troops, led by Tariq ibn Ziyad, make their historic landing at Gibraltar, marking the beginning of Al-Andalus rule.
1296 In a pivotal clash during the First War of Scottish Independence, John Balliol's Scottish forces suffer a decisive defeat at the hands of English commander John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey, in the Battle of Dunbar.
1509 Pope Julius II imposes an interdict on the Italian state of Venice, casting a shadow over the city and its inhabitants.
1521 The Battle of Mactan in the Philippines sees the famed explorer Ferdinand Magellan meet his end at the hands of native forces led by Chief Lapulapu.
1539 The city of Bogotá, New Granada (modern-day Colombia), is officially founded by the efforts of Nikolaus Federmann and Sebastián de Belalcázar.
1565 The establishment of Cebu as the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines marks a significant chapter in the country's history.
1595 Ottoman Grand Vizier Sinan Pasha's incineration of Saint Sava's relics in Belgrade on the Vračar plateau paves the way for the grand Church of Saint Sava, now among the world's largest Orthodox churches.
1650 The Battle of Carbisdale unfolds as a Royalist army from Orkney invades mainland Scotland, only to face defeat at the hands of a Covenanter army.
1667 In a poignant moment, the blind and destitute John Milton sells his epic work, "Paradise Lost," to a printer for a meager £10, ensuring its inclusion in the Stationers' Register.
1805 During the First Barbary War, United States Marines join forces with Berbers to launch an assault on the Tripolitan city of Derna, forever etched into history as part of the Marines' Hymn.
1813 The Battle of York unfolds during the War of 1812, as American troops successfully capture the capital of Upper Canada.
1861 American President Abraham Lincoln takes the unprecedented step of suspending the writ of habeas corpus, a momentous decision in the nation's history.
1906 The inaugural meeting of the State Duma of the Russian Empire marks a significant juncture in Russia's political landscape.
1909 The Ottoman Empire experiences a change in leadership as Sultan Abdul Hamid II is overthrown, making way for his brother, Mehmed V.
1911 Following the resignation and passing of William P. Frye, a compromise is reached regarding the rotation of the office of President pro tempore of the United States Senate.
1927 The birth of Carabineros de Chile, the Chilean national police force and gendarmerie, becomes a vital development in the nation's law enforcement.
1936 A significant moment in labor history occurs as the United Auto Workers (UAW) achieve autonomy, parting ways with the American Federation of Labor.
1941 In the throes of World War II, German troops make their entry into Athens, marking a pivotal moment in the European theater of the conflict.
1945 The conclusion of the Lapland War and the withdrawal of the last German formations from Finland to Norway signal the end of World War II in Finland, immortalized in the iconic "Raising the Flag on the Three-Country Cairn" photograph.
1945 World War II takes an unexpected turn as Italian partisans capture Benito Mussolini in Dongo, where he was attempting to escape while disguised as a German soldier.
1953 Operation Moolah offers a substantial reward of $50,000 to any pilot who defects with a fully mission-capable Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 to South Korea during the Korean War. The first pilot to succeed is to receive $100,000.
1967 Expo 67 officially kicks off in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with a spectacular opening ceremony broadcast worldwide. It eagerly welcomes the public the following day.
1976 Cyril E. King Airport in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, witnesses a tragic aviation accident as American Airlines Flight 625 crashes, resulting in the loss of 37 lives.
1978 John Ehrlichman, a former aide to U.S. President Richard Nixon embroiled in the Watergate scandal, regains freedom after serving 18 months at the Federal Correctional Institution in Safford, Arizona.
1978 Afghanistan experiences a seismic political shift as the Saur Revolution unfolds, culminating in the assassination of Afghan President Mohammed Daoud Khan and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
1978 Willow Island, West Virginia, becomes the site of the deadliest construction accident in U.S. history as a cooling tower under construction collapses, claiming the lives of 51 construction workers at the Pleasants Power Station.
1981 Xerox PARC introduces a groundbreaking innovation with the launch of the computer mouse, revolutionizing the way people interact with computers.
1986 A haunting chapter begins as authorities evacuate the city of Pripyat and its surroundings due to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, triggering a long-lasting nuclear crisis.
1987 Austrian President Kurt Waldheim, facing accusations of wartime involvement, faces a historical ban from entering the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice, underlining the importance of accountability for wartime actions.
1989 The April 27 demonstrations, spearheaded by students in response to the April 26 Editorial, become a pivotal moment during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, echoing demands for change and reform.
1992 The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is officially proclaimed, marking a significant moment in the Balkans' political landscape as Serbia and Montenegro unite under this new entity.
1992 History is made in the British House of Commons as Betty Boothroyd becomes the first woman ever elected as Speaker in its 700-year history, breaking a longstanding tradition.
1992 The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank welcome the Russian Federation and 12 other former Soviet republics as members, facilitating their economic integration into the global community.
1993 Tragedy strikes the Zambia national football team as a plane crash claims the lives of most of its members, who were en route to Dakar, Senegal, for a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Senegal.
1994 A historic turning point is reached in South Africa as the nation holds its first democratic general election, allowing black citizens to cast their votes for the first time, with the Interim Constitution coming into force.
2005 The Airbus A380, a marvel of aviation engineering, takes to the skies for its maiden test flight, marking a significant milestone in the world of aviation.
2006 Construction commences on the Freedom Tower, later renamed One World Trade Center, in New York City, symbolizing resilience and hope in the face of adversity and tragedy.
2007 Amidst political controversy with Russia, Estonian authorities undertake the removal of the Bronze Soldier, a Soviet Red Army war memorial, from Tallinn, Estonia.
2007 Archaeological history is rewritten as Israeli archaeologists unearth the tomb of the legendary Herod the Great, providing valuable insights into the past.
2011 A devastating natural catastrophe, the 2011 Super Outbreak, wreaks havoc across the Southeastern United States, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of more than 300 people while injuring countless others.
2012 Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, bears witness to a series of explosions that rock the city, resulting in injuries to at least 27 individuals in this tragic incident.
2018 The historic Panmunjom Declaration is signed, officially declaring North and South Korea's intentions to end the Korean conflict and pursue peace on the Korean Peninsula, marking a significant step towards reconciliation.
