43 BC
Ancient
Ovid, Roman Poet, Is Born
Publius Ovidius Naso, known as Ovid, was born in Sulmo, Italy. His Metamorphoses and other works became foundational texts of Western literature and mythology.
On This Day in History
1616
Exploration
Sir Walter Raleigh Released from Tower of London
Sir Walter Raleigh was released from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment. He would mount one more expedition to South America before being executed in 1618.
1852
Civil Rights
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' was published. The anti-slavery novel sold 300,000 copies in its first year and intensified the debate over slavery that led to the Civil War.
1854
Politics
Republican Party Founded
The Republican Party was founded in Ripon, Wisconsin, primarily to oppose the expansion of slavery into new territories. The party's first president, Abraham Lincoln, was elected just six years later.
1916
Science
Einstein Publishes General Theory of Relativity
Albert Einstein published his paper on the general theory of relativity in the Annalen der Physik. The theory revolutionized understanding of gravity, space, and time.
1995
Crime
Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack
Members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin nerve gas on five Tokyo subway lines, killing 13 people and injuring thousands. It was the most serious terrorist attack in Japanese history.
2003
War & Conflict
U.S. Forces Invade Iraq
U.S. and coalition ground forces crossed into Iraq from Kuwait. The rapid advance captured Baghdad within three weeks, though the subsequent occupation lasted years.