Daily History
All stories

On This Day in History

Every story we have published, newest first. One true, surprising story from history for each day.

  1. Armistice Signed, WWI Ends War & conflict
  2. Stanley Meets Livingstone in Africa Exploration
  3. Napoleon’s Coup of 18 Brumaire Seizes Power in France Politics & state
  4. Cortés Marches into Tenochtitlán, the Aztec Capital Exploration
  5. Ögedei Khan is Born, Future Great Khan of the Mongols People
  6. Lincoln Wins 1860 Presidential Election Politics & state
  7. Physicist James Clerk Maxwell Dies, Leaving Electromagnetic Legacy Science & discovery
  8. Howard Carter Finds Entrance to Tutankhamun’s Tomb Exploration
  9. Panama Breaks Away from Colombia with U.S. Backing Politics & state
  10. 1707 Scilly Disaster Sinks Four Warships, Spurs Navigation Reform Natural disaster
  11. Magellan’s Fleet Finds the Strait Linking Atlantic and Pacific Exploration
  12. Luther Nails 95 Theses, Ignites Reformation Religion & philosophy
  13. Arthur Scherbius Born – Future Inventor of the Enigma Cipher Technology
  14. Constantine’s Triumphal Entry into Rome after Milvian Bridge Victory Politics & state
  15. Columbus Lands in Cuba, Mistakes It for Japan Exploration
  16. Constantine’s Vision of the Cross Before Milvian Bridge Religion & philosophy
  17. First Soviet Council Meets in Saint Petersburg Politics & state
  18. Dirk Hartog Lands on Australian Coast, Leaves Inscribed Plate Exploration
  19. Peace of Westphalia Ends Thirty Years' War Politics & state
  20. Meiji Era Dawn: Emperor Declares New Japan Politics & state
  21. Edison Lights Up the World: First Practical Incandescent Bulb Tested Technology
  22. Florence Nightingale pioneers modern nursing at the Crimean War People
  23. U.S. Senate Ratifies Louisiana Purchase, Doubling Nation Politics & state
  24. Planck Unveils Quantum Law, Birth of Modern Physics Science & discovery
  25. Fatimid Caliph Orders Destruction of the Holy Sepulchre Religion & philosophy
  26. Cornwallis Surrenders at Yorktown – End of the Revolutionary War War & conflict
  27. Battle of Leipzig: The ‘Battle of Nations’ Crumbles Napoleon’s Empire War & conflict
  28. Gregorian Calendar Adopted Worldwide Technology
  29. Norman Victory at Hastings Ends Anglo‑Saxon Rule War & conflict
  30. Claudius Dies, Nero Ascends the Roman Throne Politics & state
  31. Columbus Lands on San Salvador – First European Contact with the Americas Exploration
  32. Second Boer War erupts in South Africa War & conflict
  33. Charles Martel Stops the Umayyad Advance at Tours War & conflict
  34. Leeuwenhoek Sends First Microscopic 'Animalcules' to Royal Society Technology
  35. Stephenson's Rocket Wins Rainhill Trials, Igniting the Railway Age Technology
  36. Hebrew Calendar Epoch Established Religion & philosophy
  37. Bosnian Crisis: Austria‑Hungary Annexes Bosnia, Sparking WWI Tensions Politics & state
  38. Wright Brothers Set 24‑Mile Flight Record Technology
  39. Sputnik 1: Humanity’s First Satellite Soars Technology
  40. Vercingetorix Surrenders to Caesar, Ending the Gallic Wars War & conflict
  41. Saladin Seizes Jerusalem After Prolonged Siege War & conflict
  42. Congress of Vienna convenes to reshape post‑Napoleonic Europe Politics & state
  43. Suleiman the Magnificent Ascends the Ottoman Throne Politics & state
  44. Metropolitan Police Politics & state
  45. William the Conqueror lands at Pevensey, beginning the Norman invasion of England War & conflict
  46. Ford Rolls Out the First Model T Technology
  47. Drake Returns, Completes First Global Circumnavigation Exploration
  48. Balboa Spies the Pacific – First European to Reach the Ocean from the New World Exploration
  49. Byzantine Emperor Michael III Murdered, Basil I Seizes Throne Politics & state
  50. Neptune Predicted: Le Verrier, Adams & Galle Reveal New Planet Science & discovery
  51. Lincoln Issues Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation Politics & state
  52. Charles V Dies, Ending a Global Empire People
  53. Saladin Begins the Siege of Jerusalem War & conflict
  54. New Zealand Grants Women the Vote – First Nation to Do So Politics & state
  55. Constantine Defeats Licinius at Chrysopolis, Uniting the Roman Empire War & conflict
  56. Bloodiest Day: Antietam Halts Lee’s Invasion War & conflict
  57. Mayflower Sets Sail: Pilgrims Begin New World Journey Exploration
  58. Darwin’s Beagle Reaches the Galápagos – Spark for Evolution Exploration
  59. Napoleon's Moscow Invasion Ignites City Fire War & conflict
  60. Ögedei Khan Crowned Great Khan, Uniting the Mongol Empire Politics & state