The Syrian Civil War began with protests in Damascus
MajorWhat started as peaceful demonstrations inspired by the Arab Spring evolved into one of the 21st century's most devastating conflicts. The war has dis...
March 15 in History
Significant events that happened on this day.
Historical Events
2011
1990
Mikhail Gorbachev was elected as the first and only President of the Soviet Union
MajorThe Soviet Congress of People's Deputies elected Gorbachev to the newly created executive presidency. The position was intended to strengthen central...
1985
The first internet domain name, symbolics.com, was registered
MajorSymbolics Computer Corporation claimed the very first .com domain, beating companies like IBM and Digital Equipment Corporation. The domain remained a...
1964
Elizabeth Taylor married Richard Burton for the first time
The tempestuous couple married in Montreal just nine days after Taylor's divorce from Eddie Fisher was finalized. Their passionate relationship became...
1937
The first blood bank in the United States opened in Chicago
Cook County Hospital's blood bank revolutionized emergency medicine by storing donated blood for later use. Previously, blood transfusions required fi...
1921
The Tallahatchie River in Mississippi mysteriously turned red for several days
Locals were terrified when the river turned blood-red, with some claiming it was a biblical plague or divine punishment. Scientists eventually determi...
1919
The American Legion was founded in Paris by World War I veterans
A group of officers and enlisted men created what would become America's largest veterans organization. They met in Paris while still in uniform, seek...
1907
Finland became the first European country to grant women the right to vote and run for office
Finnish women not only gained voting rights but also won 19 of the 200 seats in parliament in the first election. This made Finland a pioneer in gende...
1892
Jesse W. Reno patented the first escalator, originally calling it an "inclined elevator"
Reno's invention was designed as an amusement ride and debuted at Coney Island in 1896. Early riders were so nervous about stepping off that an attend...
1869
Cincinnati became the first professional baseball team, the Red Stockings, to openly pay all its players
The team went undefeated in their first season with a 57-0 record, revolutionizing the sport by proving professional baseball could be profitable. Pla...
1820
Maine was admitted as the 23rd U.S. state as part of the Missouri Compromise
Maine became a free state in a carefully orchestrated political deal to maintain the balance between slave and free states. It was separated from Mass...
1767
Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. President known for founding the Democratic Party, was born
Born in the Waxhaws region between North and South Carolina, Jackson became a polarizing figure who championed the "common man" while owning slaves an...
1493
Christopher Columbus returned to Spain after his first voyage to the Americas
MajorColumbus arrived back in Palos de la Frontera, Spain, completing his historic first transatlantic voyage. He brought with him indigenous people, gold,...
44
Julius Caesar was assassinated by Roman senators in the Theatre of Pompey
MajorOn the Ides of March, a group of senators led by Brutus and Cassius stabbed Caesar 23 times. Despite warnings from a soothsayer to "beware the Ides of...