Today In History

Learn what happened today in history around the world including major events across the world!

Turko-Mongol ruler Tamerlane (Timur) destroys Baghdad, killing 20,000.

Russo-Swedish War: Second Battle of Svensksund – In the Baltic Sea, the Swedish Navy captures one third of the Russian fleet.

Louisiana and South Carolina are the last states to ratify the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, guaranteeing civil rights.

First-ever Wimbledon tennis championship begins – first official lawn tennis tournament – men’s singles only.

Daniel Hale Williams III repairs the torn pericardium of a knife wound patient, James Cornish, without penicillin or blood transfusion.

British battleship HMS Vanguard explodes at Scapa Flow (the result of an internal explosion of faulty cordite), killing 804.

Henry Kissinger visits the People’s Republic of China to negotiate a detente between the US and China.

The African Union is established in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The first chairman is Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider-al-Abadi proclaims victory over Islamic State forces in Mosul.