1066
War & Conflict
Battle of Hastings
William of Normandy defeated King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings, conquering England. The Norman Conquest transformed English language, culture, law, and architecture forever.
On This Day in History
1947
Science
Chuck Yeager Breaks Sound Barrier
US Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager flew the Bell X-1 rocket plane faster than the speed of sound over the Mojave Desert. The achievement opened the age of supersonic flight.
1962
War & Conflict
Cuban Missile Crisis Begins
A US spy plane photographed Soviet nuclear missile sites under construction in Cuba. The discovery sparked a 13-day standoff that brought the world closer to nuclear war than at any other time.
1964
Politics
Martin Luther King Jr. Wins Nobel Prize
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent resistance to racial prejudice. At 35, he was the youngest person to receive the honor at that time.
1912
Politics
Theodore Roosevelt Shot
Former President Theodore Roosevelt was shot while campaigning in Milwaukee but insisted on delivering his 90-minute speech before going to the hospital. His thick speech manuscript helped slow the bullet.
1884
Technology
George Eastman Patents Film
George Eastman received a patent for photographic film, replacing heavy glass plates. His Kodak company would later put cameras into the hands of millions with the Brownie camera.
2012
Science
Felix Baumgartner's Supersonic Skydive
Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner jumped from a balloon at 128,000 feet, becoming the first person to break the sound barrier without a vehicle. His freefall reached 843 mph.