180
Ancient
Marcus Aurelius Dies
Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-king, died at Vindobona (Vienna). His death ended the era of the 'Five Good Emperors' and is often cited as the beginning of Rome's decline.
On This Day in History
461
Religion
St. Patrick Dies in Ireland
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who brought Christianity to the Irish people, died. His legacy is celebrated worldwide on St. Patrick's Day.
1776
War & Conflict
British Evacuate Boston
British forces evacuated Boston after George Washington's Continental Army fortified Dorchester Heights with cannons captured at Fort Ticonderoga. The evacuation was the first major American victory.
1861
Politics
Kingdom of Italy Proclaimed
The Kingdom of Italy was officially proclaimed with Victor Emmanuel II as king, unifying most of the Italian peninsula. The unification movement, known as the Risorgimento, had taken decades.
1941
Culture
National Gallery of Art Opens in Washington
The National Gallery of Art opened in Washington, D.C., with a collection donated by Andrew Mellon. It has grown into one of the world's premier art museums.
1950
Science
Element 98, Californium, First Synthesized
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley synthesized element 98, which they named Californium. The radioactive element has applications in nuclear reactors and medical devices.
1969
Politics
Golda Meir Becomes Prime Minister of Israel
Golda Meir became the fourth Prime Minister of Israel and one of the first female heads of government in the modern world. She led Israel through the Yom Kippur War.