August 27 1859 Edwin Drake drilled the first successful U.S. oil well near Titusville, Pa. 1883 A massive volcanic eruption on the island of Krakatoa…
View More This Day In History — Mariner II Space Probe LaunchedCategory: today
This Day In History — Krakatoa Blows Its Top
August 26 1847 Liberia was proclaimed an independent republic. 1883 A massive volcanic eruption on the island of Krakatoa blew up most of the island…
View More This Day In History — Krakatoa Blows Its TopThis Day In History — Founding of New Orleans
August 25 1718 New Orleans was founded by French settlers and named after the Duke of Orleans. 1825 Uruguay declared its independence from Brazil. 1875…
View More This Day In History — Founding of New OrleansThis Day In History — Mount Vesuvius Erupts
August 24 79 Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. 1572 70,000 French Protestants, or Huguenots, were killed in the St.…
View More This Day In History — Mount Vesuvius EruptsThis Day In History — William Wallace Executed
August 23 1305 Scottish leader and national hero, William Wallace, was executed in London. 1914 Japan declared war on Germany in World War I. 1926…
View More This Day In History — William Wallace ExecutedThis Day In History — Teddy goes for a ride
August 22 1642 The English Civil War began between supporters of King Charles I (Royalists or Cavaliers) and those of Oliver Cromwell (Roundheads). 1775 King…
View More This Day In History — Teddy goes for a rideThis Day In History — “The Big Dipper” is born
August 21 1680 Pueblo Indians drove out the Spanish and took possession of Santa Fe, N.M. 1831 Nat Turner led an insurrection of slaves in…
View More This Day In History — “The Big Dipper” is bornThis Day In History — Voyager 2 is Launched
August 20 1964 As part of his Great Society policies, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act which, among other things, established the Head…
View More This Day In History — Voyager 2 is LaunchedThis Day In History — Birthday of Bill Clinton
August 19 1812 The U.S. frigate Constitution, Old Ironsides, defeated the British ship Guerriere during the War of 1812. 1934 Germans voted to make Adolf…
View More This Day In History — Birthday of Bill ClintonThis Day In History — Women’s Suffrage Achieved
August 18 1227 Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan died in China. 1587 Virginia Dare became the first child of English parents born in North America. 1894…
View More This Day In History — Women’s Suffrage Achieved