The United States and coalition forces launched a military invasion of Iraq, beginning the Iraq War. The operation aimed to remove Saddam Hussein and eliminate alleged weapons of mass destruction.
📍 Baghdad, Iraq
Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted in Colombia, triggering deadly lahars that buried the town of Armero and killed over 23,000 people, making it one of the worst volcanic disasters of the 20th century.
📍 Armero, Colombia
Argentine forces landed on South Georgia Island, marking the unofficial start of hostilities in the Falklands War. The conflict over the disputed islands would soon draw the UK into military engagement.
📍 South Georgia Island, South Atlantic
The U.S. Senate approved the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, a controversial but pivotal decision to transport oil across Alaska, significantly shaping American energy policy.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Sirhan Sirhan was sentenced to death for the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment after California abolished the death penalty.
📍 Los Angeles, California, United States
American Airlines Flight 1 crashed into Jamaica Bay shortly after takeoff from Idlewild Airport (now JFK), killing all 95 people aboard. It was the worst aviation disaster in U.S. history at that time.
📍 Queens, New York, United States
Israeli Mossad agents located and later kidnapped Adolf Eichmann, a key architect of the Holocaust, in Argentina. He was brought to Israel for trial, marking a milestone in post-war justice.
📍 Buenos Aires, Argentina
The World Meteorological Organization was established by the United Nations to coordinate global weather, climate, and hydrological efforts. It became vital for international disaster response and climate monitoring.
📍 Geneva, Switzerland
Time Magazine released its first issue, becoming the first weekly news magazine in the United States. It played a major role in shaping global journalism and public opinion throughout the 20th century.
📍 New York City, United States
The U.S. Senate ratified a separate treaty with Germany, ending formal hostilities from World War I after the U.S. had rejected the Treaty of Versailles and membership in the League of Nations.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom held its first meeting, marking a milestone in the international women’s peace movement during World War I.
📍 The Hague, Netherlands
Amid escalating tensions over Cuba, Spain formally declared war on the United States. This led to the Spanish-American War, reshaping colonial control and U.S. influence in the Caribbean and Pacific.
📍 Madrid, Spain
Louis Kossuth, leader of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 and a major figure in the 19th-century struggle for democracy in Europe, died in exile. His legacy inspired generations of reformers.
📍 Turin, Italy
Wyatt Earp, one of the most iconic figures of the American Old West and a key participant in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, was born. His life became legendary in Western folklore.
📍 Monmouth, Illinois, United States
The British House of Commons passed the Reform Bill of 1832, expanding electoral representation and laying the foundation for modern parliamentary democracy in the UK.
📍 London, United Kingdom
American sealer John Davis may have become the first person to set foot on the Antarctic continent during an expedition near Hughes Bay. Though debated, it remains a key milestone in polar exploration.
📍 Hughes Bay, Antarctica
David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary and explorer renowned for his expeditions in Africa and efforts to end the slave trade, was born. His explorations contributed greatly to Western knowledge of Africa.
📍 Blantyre, Scotland
The British House of Commons passed the Act of Union with Ireland, leading to the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The union would last until Irish independence in 1922.
📍 London, United Kingdom
In the Battle of Los Alporchones, forces of the Kingdom of Castile defeated the Emirate of Granada. It marked a key moment in the Spanish Reconquista, advancing Christian control over Iberia.
📍 Lorca, Spain
The Treaty of Saint-Germain confirmed the independence of the Swiss Confederacy from Habsburg rule, solidifying Switzerland’s trajectory as a sovereign state.
📍 Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France