On July 1st 1997, at midnight, Hong Kong reverted back to Chinese rule in a ceremony attended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles of Wales, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. A few thousand Hong Kongers protested the turnover, which was otherwise celebratory and peaceful. In 1839, Britain … Continue reading July 1 1997 Hong Kong returned to China
Tag: History
June 29 1974 Isabela Peron takes office as Argentine president
On June 29th 1974, with Argentine President Juan Peron on his deathbed, Isabela Martinez de Peron, his wife and vice president, was sworn in as the leader of the South American country. President Isabela Peron, a former dancer and Peron's third wife, was the Western Hemisphere's first female head of government. Two days later, Juan … Continue reading June 29 1974 Isabela Peron takes office as Argentine president
June 28 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated
On June 28th 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie were shot to death by a Bosnian Serb nationalist during an official visit to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. The killings sparked a chain of events that led to the outbreak of World War I by early August. On June 28, 1919, … Continue reading June 28 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated
June 27 1985 Route 66 decertified
On June 27th 1985, after 59 years, the iconic Route 66 entered the realm of history, when the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials decertified the road and voted to remove all its highway signs. Measuring some 2,200 miles in its heyday, Route 66 stretched from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, passing … Continue reading June 27 1985 Route 66 decertified
June 26 1975 Sonny and Cher’s divorce becomes final
On June 26th 1975, after 13 years together as a couple and six years of marriage—the last three for the cameras—Sonny and Cher were legally divorced. With a string of pop hits in the mid-1960s that began with the career-defining "I Got You Babe" (1965), Sonny and Cher Bono established themselves as the most prominent … Continue reading June 26 1975 Sonny and Cher’s divorce becomes final
June 25 1900 Lord Louis Mountbatten born
On June 25th 1900, Lord Louis Mountbatten, British admiral and second cousin to King George VI, was born in Windsor, England, the fourth child of Prince Louis of Battenberg and his wife, Princess Victoria, granddaughter of Queen Victoria. He entered the Royal Navy at age 13. Among his many assignments was that of aide-de-camp to … Continue reading June 25 1900 Lord Louis Mountbatten born
June 24 1997 US Air Force reports on Roswell
On June 24th 1997, U.S. Air Force officials released a 231-page report dismissing long-standing claims of an alien spacecraft crash in Roswell, New Mexico, almost exactly 50 years earlier. Public interest in Unidentified Flying Objects, or UFOs, began to flourish in the 1940s, when developments in space travel and the dawn of the atomic age … Continue reading June 24 1997 US Air Force reports on Roswell
June 23 1902 “Mercedes” registered as a brand name
On June 23rd 1902, German automaker Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) first registered "Mercedes" as a brand name; the name would gain full legal protection the next September. Mechanical engineer Gottlieb Daimler sold his first luxury gasoline-powered automobile to the sultan of Morocco in 1899; a year later, he formed DMG in his hometown of Cannstatt, Germany. Emil … Continue reading June 23 1902 “Mercedes” registered as a brand name
June 22 1964 Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown born
On June 22nd 1964, Dan Brown, author of the international blockbuster “The Da Vinci Code” as well as other best-selling thrillers, was born in New Hampshire. Brown’s extensively researched novels are known for involving symbols, conspiracies and secret societies. Brown was raised in New Hampshire, where his father taught math at Phillips Exeter Academy and … Continue reading June 22 1964 Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown born
June 21 1965 Mr Tambourine Man released, folk-rock revolution begins
On June 21st 1965, the Byrds' debut album, Mr. Tambourine Man, marked the beginning of the folk-rock revolution. In just a few months, the Byrds had become a household name, with a #1 single and a smash-hit album that married the ringing guitars and backbeat of the British Invasion with the harmonies and lyrical depth … Continue reading June 21 1965 Mr Tambourine Man released, folk-rock revolution begins
June 20 1900 Boxer Rebellion begins in China
On June 20th 1900, in response to widespread foreign encroachment upon China's national affairs, Chinese nationalists launched the so-called Boxer Rebellion in Peking. Calling themselves I Ho Ch'uan, or "the Righteous and Harmonious Fists," the nationalists occupied Peking, killed several Westerners, including German ambassador Baron von Ketteler, and besieged the foreign legations in the diplomatic … Continue reading June 20 1900 Boxer Rebellion begins in China
June 19 1971 Carole King has her first #1 hit as a performer
On June 19th 1971, Carole King earned her first #1 single as a performer with the double-sided hit "It's Too Late/I Feel The Earth Move." Carole King began her career in music as a young newlywed and college graduate, working a 9-to-5 shift alongside her then-husband, Gerry Goffin, in Don Kirshner's songwriting factory, Aldon Music. … Continue reading June 19 1971 Carole King has her first #1 hit as a performer
June 18 1983 First American woman in space
On June 18th 1983, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the space shuttle Challenger is launched into space on its second mission. Aboard the shuttle was Dr. Sally Ride, who as a mission specialist became the first American woman to travel into space. During the six-day mission, Ride, an astrophysicist from Stanford University, operated the shuttle's robot … Continue reading June 18 1983 First American woman in space
June 17 1579 Drake claims California for England
On June 17th 1579, during his circumnavigation of the world, English seaman Francis Drake anchored in a harbour just north of present-day San Francisco, California, and claimed the territory for Queen Elizabeth I. Calling the land "Nova Albion," Drake remained on the California coast for a month to make repairs to his ship, the Golden … Continue reading June 17 1579 Drake claims California for England
June 15 1215 Magna Carta sealed
On June 15th 1215, following a revolt by the English nobility against his rule, King John put his royal seal on the Magna Carta, or "Great Charter." The document, essentially a peace treaty between John and his barons, guaranteed that the king would respect feudal rights and privileges, uphold the freedom of the church, and … Continue reading June 15 1215 Magna Carta sealed
June 14 1982 Falkland Islands War ends
On June 14th 1982, after suffering through six weeks of military defeats against Britain's armed forces, Argentina surrendered to Great Britain, ending the Falkland Islands War. The Falkland Islands, located about 300 miles off the southern tip of Argentina, had long been claimed by the British. British navigator John Davis may have sighted the islands … Continue reading June 14 1982 Falkland Islands War ends
June 13 1381 peasant army marches into London
On June 13th 1381, during the Peasants' Revolt, a large mob of English peasants led by Wat Tyler marched into London and began burning and looting the city. Several government buildings were destroyed, prisoners were released, and a judge was beheaded along with several dozen other leading citizens. The Peasants' Revolt had its origins in … Continue reading June 13 1381 peasant army marches into London
June 12 1898 Philippine independence declared
On June 12 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of the Philippines after 300 years of Spanish rule. By mid-August, Filipino rebels and U.S. troops had ousted the Spanish, but Aguinaldo's hopes for independence were dashed when the United States formally annexed the Philippines as part of … Continue reading June 12 1898 Philippine independence declared
June 11 1967 Six-Day War ends
On June 11th 1967, the Six-Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbours ends with a United Nations-brokered cease-fire. The outnumbered Israel Defence Forces achieved a swift and decisive victory in the brief war, rolling over the Arab coalition that threatened the Jewish state and more than doubling the amount of territory under Israel's control. … Continue reading June 11 1967 Six-Day War ends
June 10 1881 Tolstoy disguises himself as a peasant and leaves on a pilgrimage
On June 10th 1881, Count Leo Tolstoy sets off on a pilgrimage to a monastery disguised as a peasant. Tolstoy had already produced his two greatest masterpieces War and Peace (1865-1869) and Anna Karenina (1875-1877). The Russian nobleman was engaged in a spiritual struggle and felt torn between his responsibility as a wealthy landlord to … Continue reading June 10 1881 Tolstoy disguises himself as a peasant and leaves on a pilgrimage
June 9 1993 “Hollywood madam” Heidi Fleiss arrested
On June 9th 1993, the now-infamous madam-to-the-stars Heidi Fleiss was arrested as part of a sting operation run by the Los Angeles Police and Beverly Hills Police Departments and the U.S. Justice Department. In the 1980s, Fleiss’ then-boyfriend introduced her to the leading Beverly Hills madam Elizabeth (Alex) Adams, who, according to Fleiss, taught her … Continue reading June 9 1993 “Hollywood madam” Heidi Fleiss arrested
June 8 1984 Ghostbusters released
On June 8th 1984, the now-classic comedy Ghostbusters was released in theatres across the United States. Produced and directed by Ivan Reitman, Ghostbusters starred Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis as disgraced parapsychology professors in New York City who turn to “paranormal investigation”--hunting down and capturing ghosts---to make money after Columbia University yanks their … Continue reading June 8 1984 Ghostbusters released
June 7 1866 Chief Seattle dies near the city named for him
On June 7th 1866, thirteen years after American settlers founded the city named for him, Chief Seattle died in a nearby village of his people. Born sometime around 1790, Seattle (Seathl) was a chief of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes who lived around the Pacific Coast bay that is today called Puget Sound. He was … Continue reading June 7 1866 Chief Seattle dies near the city named for him
June 6 1949 George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four is published
On June 6th 1949, George Orwell's novel of a dystopian future, Nineteen Eighty-four, was published. The novel's all-seeing leader, known as "Big Brother," became a universal symbol for intrusive government and oppressive bureaucracy. George Orwell was the nom de plume of Eric Blair, who was born in India. The son of a British civil servant, … Continue reading June 6 1949 George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four is published
June 5 1968 Robert F Kennedy assassinated
On June 5th 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. Immediately after he announced to his cheering supporters that the country was ready to end its fractious divisions, Kennedy was shot several times by the 22-year-old Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan. He died a day … Continue reading June 5 1968 Robert F Kennedy assassinated
Craig Hill 