1279
War & Conflict
Siege of Yamen Ends Song Dynasty
The Mongol fleet destroyed the Song Dynasty's last forces at the naval Battle of Yamen. The defeat ended the Song Dynasty and completed the Mongol conquest of China.
On This Day in History
1669
Culture
Samuel Pepys Closes His Diary
Samuel Pepys made his last entry in the famous diary he had kept for nine years. The diary provides an invaluable firsthand account of life in Restoration-era London.
1859
Culture
Big Ben's Bell Rings for First Time
The Great Bell of the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster, known as Big Ben, rang for the first time in London. It has become one of the most recognized landmarks in the world.
1889
Disaster
Johnstown Flood Kills Over 2,200
A catastrophic flood devastated Johnstown, Pennsylvania, after the South Fork Dam collapsed. Over 2,200 people were killed in one of the deadliest disasters in American history.
1902
War & Conflict
Treaty of Vereeniging Ends Boer War
The Treaty of Vereeniging ended the Second Boer War between the British Empire and the Boer republics in South Africa. The treaty incorporated the Boer republics into the British Empire.
1910
Politics
Union of South Africa Established
The Union of South Africa was created, merging four British colonies into a single dominion. The union laid the groundwork for the apartheid system that would come decades later.
1961
Politics
South Africa Becomes a Republic
South Africa became a republic and left the Commonwealth after its apartheid policies were condemned by other member nations. The country would not rejoin until 1994.