451
Ancient
Battle of the Catalaunian Plains
Roman general Aetius and his Visigothic allies defeated Attila the Hun at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in Gaul. The battle halted the Hunnic invasion of Western Europe.
On This Day in History
1756
War & Conflict
Black Hole of Calcutta
British prisoners were allegedly confined in a small dungeon in Calcutta by the Nawab of Bengal, with most dying overnight. The incident, possibly exaggerated, inflamed British opinion against Indian rulers.
1782
Politics
Great Seal of the United States Adopted
The Continental Congress adopted the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the bald eagle. The seal appears on official documents, currency, and passports.
1837
Politics
Queen Victoria Ascends to the Throne
18-year-old Victoria became Queen of the United Kingdom upon the death of King William IV. Her reign of 63 years became the longest in British history until Elizabeth II.
1863
Politics
West Virginia Becomes 35th State
West Virginia was admitted to the Union as the 35th state, carved from Virginia during the Civil War. It was the only state created by separating from a Confederate state.
1893
Crime
Lizzie Borden Acquitted
Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts. The case inspired the famous children's rhyme and remains unsolved.
1975
Culture
Jaws Released in Theaters
Steven Spielberg's Jaws was released in theaters, becoming the first summer blockbuster. The film about a great white shark terrorizing a beach town grossed over $470 million.