Year of the Six Emperors: The Roman Senate outlaws emperor Maximinus Thrax for his bloodthirsty proscriptions in Rome and nominates two of its members, Pupienus and Balbinus, to the throne.

Year of the Six EmperorsRoman SenateMaximinus ThraxProscriptionAncient Rome

Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral lands in Brazil.

Pedro Álvares CabralBrazil

Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés establishes a settlement at Veracruz, Mexico.

ConquistadorHernán CortésVeracruz (city)

Treaty of Zaragoza divides the eastern hemisphere between Spain and Portugal along a line 297.5 leagues or 17° east of the Moluccas.

Treaty of ZaragozaMoluccas

The Capture of Ormuz by the East India Company ends Portuguese control of Hormuz Island.

Capture of Ormuz (1622)East India CompanyHormuz Island

The second day of the Battle of Eckmühl: The Austrian army is defeated by the First French Empire army led by Napoleon and driven over the Danube in Regensburg.

Battle of EckmühlAustrian EmpireFirst French EmpireNapoleonDanube

Texas Revolution: A day after the Battle of San Jacinto, forces under Texas General Sam Houston identify Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna among the captives of the battle when one of his fellow captives mistakenly gives away his identity.

Texas RevolutionBattle of San JacintoRepublic of TexasSam HoustonAntonio López de Santa Anna

The U.S. Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864 that mandates that the inscription In God We Trust be placed on all coins minted as United States currency.

United States CongressCoinage Act of 1864United States currency

The first game in the history of the National League was played at the Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia. This game is often pointed to as the beginning of the MLB.

National LeagueMLB

At noon, thousands rush to claim land in the Land Rush of 1889. Within hours the cities of Oklahoma City and Guthrie are formed with populations of at least 10,000.

Land Rush of 1889Oklahoma CityGuthrie, Oklahoma

Spanish-American War: The USS Nashville captures a Spanish merchant ship.

Spanish-American WarUSS Nashville (PG-7)

The 1906 Summer Olympics, not now recognized as part of the official Olympic Games, open in Athens.

1906 Summer OlympicsOlympic GamesAthens

The use of poison gas in World War I escalates when chlorine gas is released as a chemical weapon in the Second Battle of Ypres.

Poison gas in World War IChlorineChemical warfareSecond Battle of Ypres

The United Kingdom, Japan and the United States sign the London Naval Treaty regulating submarine warfare and limiting shipbuilding.

London Naval TreatySubmarineShipbuilding

The 1st Air Commando Group using Sikorsky R-4 helicopters stage the first use of helicopters in combat with combat search and rescue operations in the China Burma India Theater.

1st Air Commando GroupSikorsky R-4Military helicopterCombat search and rescueChina Burma India Theater

World War II: Operation Persecution is initiated: Allied forces land in the Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura) area of New Guinea.

World War IIOperation PersecutionAllies of World War IIJayapuraNew Guinea

World War II: Prisoners at the Jasenovac concentration camp revolt. Five hundred twenty are killed and around eighty escape.

Jasenovac concentration camp

World War II: Führerbunker: After learning that Soviet forces have taken Eberswalde without a fight, Adolf Hitler admits defeat in his underground bunker and states that suicide is his only recourse.

FührerbunkerSoviet UnionEberswaldeAdolf HitlerSuicide

Arab-Israeli War: Haifa, a major port of Israel, is captured from Arab forces.

1948 Arab-Israeli WarHaifaIsraelBattle of Haifa (1948)

Korean War: The Chinese People's Volunteer Army begin assaulting positions defended by the Royal Australian Regiment and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the Battle of Kapyong.

Korean WarPeople's Volunteer ArmyRoyal Australian RegimentPrincess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryBattle of Kapyong

Red Scare: Witnesses begin testifying and live television coverage of the Army-McCarthy hearings begins.

Second Red ScareArmy-McCarthy hearings

British yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston wins the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race and completes the first solo non-stop circumnavigation of the world.

Robin Knox-JohnstonSunday Times Golden Globe Race

The first Earth Day is celebrated.

Earth Day

Vietnam War: Increased American bombing in Vietnam prompts anti-war protests in Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco.

Vietnam WarVietnamOpposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War

Optical fiber is first used to carry live telephone traffic.

Optical fiber

The German magazine Stern claims the "Hitler Diaries" had been found in wreckage in East Germany; the diaries are subsequently revealed to be forgeries.

Stern (magazine)Hitler DiariesEast GermanyForgery

In a series of explosions in Guadalajara, Mexico, 206 people are killed, nearly 500 injured and 15,000 left homeless.

1992 Guadalajara explosionsGuadalajara

Eighteen-year-old Stephen Lawrence is murdered in a racially motivated attack while waiting for a bus in Well Hall, Eltham.

Murder of Stephen LawrenceWell HallEltham

Haouch Khemisti massacre in Algeria where 93 villagers are killed.

Haouch Khemisti massacreAlgeria

In a pre-dawn raid, federal agents seize six-year-old Elián González from his relatives' home in Miami.

Elián González affairMiami