1940
Politics
Trotsky Assassinated
Soviet exile Leon Trotsky was fatally wounded with an ice axe by Ramón Mercader, an agent of Stalin, in Mexico City. The assassination eliminated Stalin's last major political rival.
On This Day in History
1968
War & Conflict
Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia
Soviet-led Warsaw Pact forces invaded Czechoslovakia, crushing the Prague Spring reform movement. The invasion ended Alexander Dubček's experiment with 'socialism with a human face.'
1882
Entertainment
Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture Premieres
Tchaikovsky's famous 1812 Overture premiered in Moscow, complete with real cannon fire. The piece, composed to commemorate Russia's victory over Napoleon, became one of the most popular orchestral works.
1619
Politics
First Africans Arrive in English America
A ship carrying '20 and odd' Africans arrived at Point Comfort, Virginia. Whether enslaved or indentured servants, their arrival marked the beginning of the African American experience.
917
War & Conflict
Battle of Achelous
Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria defeated the Byzantine Empire in one of the bloodiest medieval battles. The victory established Bulgaria as a major power in southeastern Europe.
1858
Science
Darwin and Wallace Present Evolution Theory
Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace jointly presented their theory of evolution by natural selection to the Linnean Society of London. The presentation launched a scientific revolution.
1977
Science
Voyager 2 Launched
NASA launched the Voyager 2 spacecraft on its grand tour of the outer planets. It became the only spacecraft to visit all four giant planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—and continues transmitting data from interstellar space.