1184
Disaster
Crowd Crush at Coronation in Erfurt
A floor collapsed during a celebration at a castle in Erfurt, Germany, killing dozens of nobles. It was one of the earliest recorded crowd disasters in European history.
On This Day in History
1509
Politics
Henry VIII Marries Catherine of Aragon
King Henry VIII married his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, at Greenwich Palace. Their inability to produce a male heir would eventually lead to England's break with Rome.
1770
Exploration
Captain Cook Runs Aground on Great Barrier Reef
Captain James Cook's ship HMS Endeavour struck the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia. The crew spent seven weeks repairing the ship before continuing their voyage.
1962
Crime
Frank Morris Escapes from Alcatraz
Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin escaped from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary using a raft made of raincoats. They were never found, and their fate remains a mystery.
1963
Civil Rights
George Wallace Stands in Schoolhouse Door
Alabama Governor George Wallace stood in the doorway of the University of Alabama to block two Black students from enrolling. He stepped aside when confronted by federal marshals.
1963
Civil Rights
Buddhist Monk Self-Immolates in Saigon
Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc burned himself to death at a Saigon intersection to protest the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government. The photograph shocked the world.
1970
Space
NASA Launches Pioneer Venus
The U.S. began an era of Venus exploration. Pioneer missions provided crucial data about the planet's dense atmosphere and extreme surface conditions.