1793
Execution of King Louis XVI
France’s king was executed by guillotine in Paris after being found guilty of treason during the French Revolution, a turning point in European history.
1910
Opening of Angel Island Immigration Station
Located in San Francisco Bay, the station—often referred to as the “Ellis Island of the West”—began processing immigrants, primarily from Asia.
1924
Death of Vladimir Lenin
The founder of the Soviet Union and leader of the Bolshevik Revolution died, triggering a struggle for power that ultimately brought Joseph Stalin to prominence.
1950
Alger Hiss convicted of perjury
In a highly publicized Cold War case, the former U.S. State Department official was found guilty of lying under oath about espionage charges.
1952
Congress wins India’s first general election
Jawaharlal Nehru’s victory in independent India’s first national election firmly established his leadership.
1954
USS Nautilus launched
The world’s first nuclear-powered submarine was launched, revolutionizing naval warfare and maritime technology.
1960
Coalbrook mining disaster
A devastating mine collapse in South Africa claimed the lives of 435 workers, one of the country’s worst industrial tragedies.
1968
B-52 “Broken Arrow” nuclear incident
A U.S. Air Force bomber carrying nuclear weapons crashed near Thule Air Base in Greenland, causing radioactive contamination.
1968
Battle of Khe Sanh begins
One of the most intense and widely covered battles of the Vietnam War commenced.
1972
Manipur, Tripura, and Meghalaya gain statehood
Under the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, these regions were officially granted full state status in India.
1976
Concorde enters commercial service
The supersonic aircraft began regular passenger flights from London and Paris, marking a major advance in aviation history.
1977
Carter pardons Vietnam War draft evaders
On his first full day as U.S. president, Jimmy Carter issued a broad pardon to those who had avoided the draft.
2009
Toyota becomes the world’s largest car manufacturer
Toyota overtook General Motors to become the leading global automobile producer.
2010
Citizens United v. FEC ruling issued
A landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision significantly reshaped campaign finance laws.
2017
Women’s March held worldwide
Millions participated in demonstrations across the U.S. and around the globe advocating for women’s rights and social justice.
2020
First COVID-19 case reported in the U.S.
The United States confirmed its first known coronavirus infection in a traveler who had recently returned from Wuhan, China.
