1520
Exploration
Magellan Enters the Pacific
Ferdinand Magellan emerged from the strait bearing his name into the vast Pacific Ocean. He named it 'Pacific' for its apparent peacefulness, not knowing it would take 99 days to cross.
On This Day in History
1821
Politics
Panama Declares Independence from Spain
Panama declared independence from Spain, joining Simón Bolívar's Gran Colombia. The isthmus nation's strategic location would later make it the site of the famous canal.
1893
Politics
Women Vote in New Zealand Election
New Zealand held its first election in which women could vote, making it the first self-governing country to achieve universal suffrage. About 85% of registered women voted.
1943
Politics
Tehran Conference Begins
Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met for the first time at the Tehran Conference. The 'Big Three' coordinated strategy for defeating Nazi Germany and discussed the shape of the postwar world.
1660
Science
Royal Society Founded
Twelve men meeting at Gresham College in London founded what became the Royal Society, the world's oldest national scientific institution. Members would include Newton, Darwin, Einstein, and Hawking.
1929
Exploration
Admiral Byrd Flies Over South Pole
Richard E. Byrd and his crew became the first to fly over the South Pole, completing the aerial exploration of both polar regions. The 16-hour flight covered 1,600 miles.
2016
Disaster
Chapecoense Air Disaster
A chartered flight carrying the Chapecoense football team crashed in Colombia, killing 71 of the 77 people aboard. The disaster shocked the sporting world and prompted worldwide solidarity.