The Sapienza University of Rome is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII.

Sapienza University of RomePope Boniface VIII

Three Genoese galleys and a Byzantine blockade runner fight their way through an Ottoman blockading fleet a few weeks before the fall of Constantinople.

Byzantine EmpireBlockade runnerFall of Constantinople

Jacques Cartier begins his first voyage to what is today the east coast of Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Jacques CartierNewfoundland (island)

The sun dog phenomenon observed over Stockholm and depicted in the famous painting Vädersolstavlan.

Sun dogStockholmVädersolstavlan

Oliver Cromwell dissolves the Rump Parliament.

Oliver CromwellRump Parliament

Admiral Robert Blake destroys a Spanish silver fleet under heavy fire at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Robert Blake (admiral)Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1657)

Freedom of religion is granted to the Jews of New Amsterdam (later New York City).

Freedom of religionNew Amsterdam

Deposed monarch James II of England lays siege to Derry.

James II of EnglandSiege of DerryDerry

Start of Konbaung-Hanthawaddy War, a new phase in the Burmese Civil War (1740-57).

Konbaung-Hanthawaddy War

The Georgian king, Erekle II, abandoned by his Russian ally Count Totleben, wins a victory over Ottoman forces at Aspindza.

Georgia (country)Erekle IIRussian EmpireGottlieb Heinrich TotlebenOttoman Empire

American Revolutionary War: The Siege of Boston begins, following the battles at Lexington and Concord.

American Revolutionary WarSiege of BostonBattles of Lexington and Concord

George Washington arrives at Grays Ferry, Philadelphia while en route to Manhattan for his inauguration.

George WashingtonGrays Ferry, PhiladelphiaFirst inauguration of George Washington

France declares war against the "King of Hungary and Bohemia", the beginning of French Revolutionary Wars.

Francis II, Holy Roman EmperorFrench Revolutionary Wars

The Septinsular Republic is established.

Septinsular Republic

Two Austrian army corps in Bavaria are defeated by a First French Empire army led by Napoleon at the Battle of Abensberg on the second day of a four-day campaign that ended in a French victory.

First French EmpireNapoleonBattle of Abensberg

The Governor of Caracas declares independence from Spain.

Caracas

The case of Ashford v Thornton ends, with Abraham Thornton allowed to go free rather than face a retrial for murder, after his demand for trial by battle is upheld.

Ashford v ThorntonTrial by battle

Major Gordon Laing becomes the first non-Muslim to enter Timbuktu.

Alexander Gordon Laing

René Caillié becomes the second non-Muslim to enter, and the first to return from, Timbuktu, following Major Gordon Laing.

René CailliéTimbuktuAlexander Gordon Laing

U.S. Congress passes an act creating the Wisconsin Territory.

United States CongressWisconsin Territory

American Civil War: Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army in order to command the forces of the state of Virginia.

American Civil WarRobert E. LeeVirginia

Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard complete the experiment falsifying the theory of spontaneous generation.

Louis PasteurClaude BernardSpontaneous generation

Astronomer Angelo Secchi demonstrates the Secchi disk, which measures water clarity, aboard Pope Pius IX's yacht, the L'Immaculata Concezion.

Angelo SecchiSecchi diskPope Pius IX

The April Uprising begins. Its suppression shocks European opinion, and Bulgarian independence becomes a condition for ending the Russo-Turkish War.

April UprisingRusso-Turkish War (1877-78)

Pope Leo XIII publishes the encyclical Humanum genus.

Pope Leo XIIIEncyclicalHumanum genus

President William McKinley signed a joint resolution to Congress for declaration of War against Spain, beginning the Spanish-American War.

President William McKinleySpanish-American War

Pierre and Marie Curie refine radium chloride.

Pierre CurieMarie CurieRadium chloride

Opening day of competition in the New South Wales Rugby League.

New South Wales Rugby League

Opening day for baseball's Tiger Stadium in Detroit, and Fenway Park in Boston.

BaseballTiger Stadium (Detroit)DetroitFenway ParkBoston

Nineteen men, women, and children die in the Ludlow Massacre during a Colorado coal-miner's strike.

Ludlow MassacreColorado