1523
Politics
Gustav Vasa Elected King of Sweden
Gustav Vasa was elected King of Sweden, marking Swedish independence from the Kalmar Union with Denmark. His reign established Sweden as a major European power.
On This Day in History
1654
Politics
Christina of Sweden Abdicates
Queen Christina of Sweden abdicated the throne, one of the few monarchs to voluntarily give up power. She converted to Catholicism and spent the rest of her life in Rome.
1844
Culture
YMCA Founded in London
George Williams and 11 friends founded the Young Men's Christian Association in London. The YMCA would grow into a global organization promoting youth development.
1882
Invention
Henry W. Seely Patents Electric Iron
Henry W. Seely of New York patented the first electric iron. The invention would eventually make the traditional flat iron heated on a stove obsolete.
1933
Culture
First Drive-In Movie Theater Opens
The first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey. Drive-ins would become a beloved American institution during the postwar era.
1944
War & Conflict
D-Day: Allied Invasion of Normandy
Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious invasion in history, on the beaches of Normandy, France. Over 156,000 troops stormed five beaches, beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.
1984
Culture
Tetris Created
Russian programmer Alexey Pajitnov created the puzzle video game Tetris. It would become one of the best-selling and most recognizable video games of all time.