1218
War & Conflict
Fifth Crusade Departs for Egypt
Crusader forces departed from Acre to invade Egypt as part of the Fifth Crusade. The campaign would ultimately fail after initial successes at Damietta.
On This Day in History
1543
Science
Nicolaus Copernicus Dies
Copernicus died in Frombork, Poland, on the day his revolutionary work 'De Revolutionibus' was published. His heliocentric theory placed the Sun at the center of the universe.
1626
Exploration
Peter Minuit 'Buys' Manhattan
Dutch Governor Peter Minuit purchased the island of Manhattan from the Lenape people for trade goods valued at 60 guilders. The transaction became one of history's most famous real estate deals.
1844
Invention
First Telegraph Message Sent
Samuel Morse sent the first telegraph message, 'What hath God wrought,' from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore. The demonstration launched the age of instant long-distance communication.
1883
Invention
Brooklyn Bridge Opens
The Brooklyn Bridge opened to the public, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn across the East River. The engineering marvel was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time.
1941
War & Conflict
HMS Hood Sunk by Bismarck
The German battleship Bismarck sank HMS Hood, the pride of the Royal Navy, in the Denmark Strait. Only three of the Hood's 1,418 crew survived.
1962
Space
Scott Carpenter Orbits Earth
Astronaut Scott Carpenter became the second American to orbit the Earth aboard Aurora 7. He completed three orbits in the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission.