Nov 20,1942 - Present
THE 46TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
1091 In the epic Battle of Levounion, Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos masterfully defeated the Pechenegs, securing the empire's eastern frontier.
1386 The Battle of the Vikhra River witnessed the Principality of Smolensk's valiant but unsuccessful stand against the might of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, marking a turning point in regional power dynamics.
1429 Joan of Arc, the remarkable Maid of Orléans, arrived at the besieged city, infusing hope and determination as she embarked on her divine mission to lift the Siege of Orléans.
1483 Gran Canaria, the jewel of the Canary Islands, succumbed to the Kingdom of Castile's conquest, forever altering the archipelago's destiny.
1521 Amidst the Swedish War of Liberation, Swedish forces achieved a decisive victory over their Danish adversaries in the Battle of Västerås, reshaping the region's power balance.
1624 The astute French monarch, Louis XIII, bestowed the title of Cardinal Richelieu upon his trusted adviser, marking the onset of an influential era in French politics.
1760 The siege of Quebec commenced as French forces sought to reclaim the city held by the British, setting the stage for a pivotal chapter in the French and Indian War.
1770 Renowned explorer James Cook made landfall at Australia's Botany Bay, leaving an indelible mark on the continent's cartography and history.
1781 Amid the American Revolutionary War, a fierce naval clash erupted between British and French fleets off the coast of Martinique in the Battle of Fort Royal.
1826 The skilled astronomer James Dunlop unveiled the celestial wonder known as the galaxy Centaurus A, expanding humanity's cosmic horizons.
1852 Peter Roget's innovative creation, Roget's Thesaurus, emerged into the public sphere, revolutionizing language and providing writers with an invaluable tool.
1861 Maryland's House of Delegates made a historic decision, choosing to remain within the Union during the turbulent times of the American Civil War.
1862 Union forces, under the command of David Farragut, achieved a monumental victory by capturing New Orleans, a key turning point in the American Civil War.
1864 Against the backdrop of the American Civil War, Theta Xi fraternity was founded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, fostering enduring bonds among its members.
1903 The tranquil town of Frank in Alberta, Canada, was forever scarred as a devastating landslide claimed the lives of 70 souls, leaving a somber legacy.
1910 The People's Budget, a groundbreaking legislative move, passed in the UK Parliament, setting a precedent for wealth redistribution and social reform.
1911 Tsinghua University, a bastion of learning and innovation in mainland China, was established, leaving an indelible mark on the nation's educational landscape.
1916 Amid World War I, the UK's 6th Indian Division reluctantly surrendered to Ottoman Forces at the Siege of Kut, marking a humbling moment in British military history.
1916 The Easter Rising, a fervent rebellion, concluded as Irish rebel leaders surrendered to British forces in Dublin, marking the end of a defining chapter in Irish history.
1944 Daring SOE agent Nancy Wake returned to France during World War II, assuming a pivotal role as a liaison between London and the resolute local maquis group.
1945 The Surrender of Caserta, a momentous accord, was signed by the German forces' commander in Italy, signifying a significant step toward the end of World War II in Europe.
1945 Airdrops of essential sustenance commenced over the occupied regions of the Netherlands during World War II, offering a glimmer of hope to the beleaguered populace.
1945 Tragedy struck as HMS Goodall (K479) fell victim to a torpedo from U-286 outside the Kola Inlet, marking the poignant end of Royal Navy ships in the European theatre of World War II.
1945 In the somber confines of the Führerbunker, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun exchanged vows, with Admiral Karl Dönitz designated as Hitler's successor. The tragic events unfolded as both Hitler and Braun ended their lives the following day.
1945 United States troops liberated the harrowing Dachau concentration camp, bearing witness to the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust.
1945 Brazilian forces, embodying hope and liberation, freed the Italian commune of Fornovo di Taro from the oppressive grip of German forces during World War II.
1946 The International Military Tribunal for the Far East convened, delivering indictments against former Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and 28 other Japanese leaders for war crimes, marking a pursuit of justice in the post-war era.
1951 Tibetan delegates embarked on a historic journey to Beijing, where they signed the Seventeen Point Agreement, a pivotal moment in the complex relationship between Tibet and China.
1953 Television history was made as the first U.S. experimental 3D television broadcast, featuring an episode of Space Patrol, graced the screens of Los Angeles viewers, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the future of entertainment.
1965 Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) celebrated a triumph as its seventh rocket in the Rehber series soared into the heavens, advancing the nation's aspirations in space exploration.
1967 Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, standing firm in his beliefs, refused induction into the United States Army, a principled stance that led to the stripping of his boxing title and ignited impassioned debate.
1968 The electrifying and controversial musical "Hair," an embodiment of the 1960s counterculture and anti-Vietnam War movement, made its captivating Broadway debut, leaving an indelible mark on American culture.
1970 The Vietnam War took an unexpected turn as United States and South Vietnamese forces launched an incursion into Cambodia, igniting further tensions in an already turbulent conflict.
1974 In the midst of the Watergate scandal, President Richard Nixon unveiled edited transcripts of White House tape recordings, a momentous step in the unfolding drama of political intrigue and accountability.
1975 Operation Frequent Wind marked the beginning of a poignant exodus as the U.S. initiated the evacuation of American citizens from Saigon, bringing a tumultuous chapter in U.S. history to a close.
1975 As the Vietnam War neared its end, the North Vietnamese army triumphantly completed its capture of all parts of South Vietnamese-held Trường Sa Islands, signaling a momentous shift in regional power dynamics.
1986 A catastrophic fire engulfed the Central Library of the City of Los Angeles Public Library, consuming or ravaging 400,000 books and artifacts, leaving a void in the city's cultural heritage.
1986 The USS Enterprise, a symbol of American naval prowess, etched its name in history as the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to navigate the Suez Canal, a testament to technological innovation.
1986 The eerie aftermath of the Chornobyl disaster was revealed through American and European spy satellites, capturing haunting images of the ruined 4th Reactor at the Chornobyl Power Plant, highlighting the human and environmental cost of nuclear accidents.
1991 A devastating cyclone unleashed its fury upon the Chittagong district of southeastern Bangladesh, wielding winds of approximately 155 miles per hour (249 km/h), resulting in a staggering loss of life and displacement.
1991 The earth trembled as the 7.0 Mw Racha earthquake struck Georgia, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of 270 individuals, forever altering the region's landscape.
1992 Los Angeles descended into chaos as riots erupted following the acquittal of police officers involved in the brutal beating of Rodney King, resulting in a tragic toll of lives lost and buildings in ruins.
1997 The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993, a historic treaty, came into force, ushering in a new era of global commitment to ban the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons.
2004 The automotive world bid farewell as the final Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line in Lansing, Michigan, marking the poignant end of a 107-year legacy in vehicle production.
2011 A fairytale wedding unfolded at Westminster Abbey as Prince William and Catherine Middleton exchanged vows, captivating the world's attention in a grand celebration of love and royalty.
2013 A thunderous explosion rocked an office building in Prague, believed to be caused by natural gas, resulting in the injury of 43 individuals and underscoring the vulnerabilities of urban infrastructure.
2013 Tragedy struck in the skies above Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan as National Airlines Flight 102, a Boeing 747-400 freighter aircraft, tragically crashed during takeoff, claiming the lives of seven souls.
2015 A poignant and unprecedented moment unfolded in the annals of baseball history as a game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox recorded zero attendance due to the 2015 Baltimore protests, serving as a stark reminder of the social unrest gripping the city.
