In 1624, England declared war on Spain, motivated by political, religious, and trade conflicts. This marked a significant shift in European power dynamics, reshaping future alliances and warfare.
In 1801, Great Britain conducted its first official census, recording a population of nearly 10 million.
In 1849, Abraham Lincoln patented a boat lifting device, becoming the only U.S. president to be granted a patent.
In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call and said, “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to meet you.”
In 1902, a devastating earthquake struck Tochangır, Turkey, leaving the town in ruins.
In 1910, the Republic of China officially abolished slavery, which was a major step toward social reform and human rights.
In 1920, Joe Malone of the NHL’s Quebec Bulldogs set a historic record by scoring six goals against the Ottawa Senators.
In 1925, Walter Mittelholzer became the first person to fly over Mount Damavand in Iran, a landmark achievement in aviation.
In 1927, Bavaria lifted the ban on Adolf Hitler’s speeches, allowing him to once again publicly promote his ideology.
In 1933 a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Long Beach, California, killing 120 people and destroying 70 school buildings.
In 1939, a severe hailstorm struck Hyderabad, India, destroying 17 villages.
In 1945, the deadliest air raid of World War II devastated Tokyo, when B-29 bombers started fires that killed more than 100,000 people, mostly civilians.
In 1959, Dorothy Comiskey Rigney sold her 54% stake in the Chicago White Sox to Bill Veeck for $27 million.
In 1963, Wilt Chamberlain of the San Francisco Warriors scored 70 points during a 163–148 loss to the Syracuse Nationals.
In 1967, Aretha Franklin released her debut album with Atlantic Records, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, which marked a defining moment in soul music.
