Day in History

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1814 – Francis Scott Key pens a poem which is later set to music and in 1931 becomes America's national anthem, 'The Star-Spangled Banner' (More info) 1898 – Hannibal Goodwin patents celluloid photographic film (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1813 – French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte defeats a larger force of Austrians, Russians, and Prussians at the Battle of Dresden (More info) 1859 – Petroleum is discovered in Titusville, Penn., leading to the world’s first commercially successful oil well (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 79 – Mount Vesuvius erupts, burying the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae in volcanic ash (More info) 1912 – Alaska becomes a United States territory (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1926 – Silent film star Rudolph Valentino dies from a ruptured ulcer at the age of 31, sending tens of thousands of fans into a hysterical state of mass mourning (More info) 1939 – Germany and the Soviet Union shock the world by signing the Hitler-Stalin Pact (More info)

565 – St. Columba reports seeing a monster in Loch Ness, Scotland (More info) 1848 – The United States annexes New Mexico (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1831 – Nat Turner leads black slaves in a rebellion (More info) 1858 – The famous debates between Sen. Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln begin (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1858 – President James Buchanan inaugurates the new transatlantic telegraph cable by exchanging greetings with Queen Victoria of the UK (More info) 1896 – Gold is discovered in a tributary of the Klondike River in Canada, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1878 – A yellow fever epidemic in Memphis eventually empties the city (More info) 1918 – Opha Mae Johnson becomes the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1863 – Gen. Robert E. Lee offers his resignation following his defeat in the Battle of Gettysburg (More info) 1876 – Thomas Edison patents the mimeograph (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1890 – Murderer William Kemmler becomes the first person to be executed by electric chair (More info) 1926 – Harry Houdini performs his greatest feat, spending 91 minutes underwater in a sealed tank before escaping (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1492 – Christopher Columbus sets sail from Palos de la Frontera, Spain (More info) 1900 – The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company is founded (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1842 – The Lombard Street Riot erupts in Philadelphia (More info) 1914 – Germany declares war on Russia, launching World War I (More info)