1867
Science
Alfred Nobel Patents Dynamite
Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel received a patent for dynamite, which he had developed as a safer alternative to nitroglycerin. The fortune he made funded the Nobel Prizes established in his will.
On This Day in History
1783
War & Conflict
British Evacuate New York
The last British troops departed New York City, marking the definitive end of British military presence in the United States. George Washington triumphantly entered the city the same day.
1915
Science
Einstein Presents General Relativity
Albert Einstein presented his general theory of relativity to the Prussian Academy of Sciences. The theory, describing gravity as the curvature of spacetime, revolutionized physics and cosmology.
1963
Politics
JFK Funeral and Burial
President Kennedy was buried at Arlington National Cemetery following a state funeral attended by world leaders. Jackie Kennedy's eternal flame at the gravesite became an enduring symbol.
1758
War & Conflict
British Capture Fort Duquesne
British forces captured Fort Duquesne from the French, renaming it Fort Pitt. The settlement grew into the city of Pittsburgh, a strategic gateway to the American West.
1986
Politics
Iran-Contra Scandal Revealed
Attorney General Edwin Meese revealed that profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to Nicaraguan Contra rebels. The scandal rocked the Reagan administration.
1952
Entertainment
Mousetrap Opens in London
Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in London. The murder mystery became the longest-running show in the world, still playing after over 70 years.