On This Day in History

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Learn what happened on this day in history. Browse historical events, famous birthdays and notable deaths for any date, all sourced from Wikipedia.

Today in numbers

51events
258born
102died

What Happened On This Day in History

Find out what happened on this day in history through today's featured event, latest article, notable birthday, and notable death. Each card opens the complete history page.

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Today's Events

Historical events that happened on this day.

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How did a disguised gunman kill 14 in the Zug parliament?

How did a disguised gunman kill 14 in the Zug parliament?

Friedrich Leibacher, disguised as a police officer, shot and killed 14 people in the Canton of Zug parliament before taking his own life.

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Martin Ryle, born on this day

Martin Ryle

Sir Martin Ryle was an English radio astronomer who developed revolutionary radio telescope systems and used them for accurate location and imaging of weak radio sources.

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Robert Montgomery, died on this day

Robert Montgomery

Robert Montgomery was an American actor, director, and producer. He began his acting career on the stage, but was soon hired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Initially assigned roles in comedies, he soon proved he was able to handle dramatic ones, as well.

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On This Day in History Articles

A new history article is published every day covering one significant event from the past. Each post explores the causes, key figures, immediate impact, and the legacy that still resonates in the world today.

How did a disguised gunman kill 14 in the Zug parliament?
September 27, 2026

How did a disguised gunman kill 14 in the Zug parliament?

Friedrich Leibacher, disguised as a police officer, shot and killed 14 people in the Canton of Zug parliament before taking his own life.

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How did Stanislav Petrov avert a nuclear war in 1983?
September 26, 2026

How did Stanislav Petrov avert a nuclear war in 1983?

Soviet officer Stanislav Petrov identified a nuclear missile warning as a computer error, preventing a retaliatory strike and potential nuclear war.

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How did Congress define Sequoia National Park's 1890 boundaries?
September 25, 2026

How did Congress define Sequoia National Park's 1890 boundaries?

On September 25, 1890, the U.S. Congress established Sequoia National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, protecting 404,064 acres of forested…

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How did fuel subsidy removal trigger the Saffron Revolution?
September 24, 2026

How did fuel subsidy removal trigger the Saffron Revolution?

Buddhist monks and students led nonviolent protests in Yangon after fuel prices surged following the removal of government subsidies in 2007.

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Israel launches airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon
September 23, 2026

Israel launches airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

On September 23, 2024, Israel began Operation Northern Arrows, launching deadly airstrikes that killed 558 people in Lebanon in a single day.

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An E-3B AWACS crashes outside Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska
September 22, 2026

An E-3B AWACS crashes outside Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska

A US Air Force E-3B Sentry crashed into a wooded area near Elmendorf AFB after ingesting Canada geese, killing all 24 crewmembers on board.

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How did the 1938 hurricane reach Category 5 strength?
September 21, 2026

How did the 1938 hurricane reach Category 5 strength?

On September 21, 1938 the Great Hurricane hit Long Island as a Category 3 storm, killing hundreds and destroying tens of thousands of homes across New…

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Civil unrest breaks out in Malé
September 20, 2026

Civil unrest breaks out in Malé

Civil unrest erupted in Malé after Hassan Evan Naseem died at Maafushi Prison. Rioters set fire to government buildings and vehicles before a curfew was…

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September

On This Day, September 27

  • 2024: Hurricane Helene devastates the Carolinas as a tropical storm, killing hundreds and injuring more.
  • 2020: Second Nagorno-Karabakh War: Azerbaijan launches an offensive against the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, inhabited predominantly by ethnic Armenians.
  • 2019: Over two million people participated in worldwide strikes to protest climate change across 2,400 locations worldwide.
  • 2014: 63 people are killed in an eruption of Mount Ontake in Japan.
  • 2012: In Minneapolis, a gunman shoots eight people, killing six and injuring 2 and then kills himself.

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