What Happened on March 13 in History?
On March 13, history spans from the discovery of new worlds in the stars to pivotal shifts in modern global health and civil rights.
Major Historical Events
Discovery of Uranus (1781): Astronomer William Herschel identified Uranus as the seventh planet from the Sun, initially mistaking it for a comet.
Anschluss (1938): Nazi Germany announced the annexation of Austria, a process known as the Anschluss, marking a critical step toward World War II.
End of the Winter War (1940): Finland and the Soviet Union signed a peace treaty to end the Winter War, with Finland ceding territory to the USSR.
Dunblane Massacre (1996): A gunman killed 16 children and a teacher at Dunblane Primary School in Scotland, leading to the UK banning private handgun ownership.
Election of Pope Francis (2013): Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th Pope, becoming the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas.
COVID-19 National Emergency (2020): President Donald Trump declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency in the United States.
Death of Breonna Taylor (2020): Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by police during a botched raid in Louisville, Kentucky, sparking global Black Lives Matter protests.
Cultural & Scientific Milestones
Uncle Sam's Debut (1852): The iconic Uncle Sam cartoon figure first appeared in the New York Lantern Weekly.
Earmuffs Patented (1877): 18-year-old Chester Greenwood received a patent for earmuffs.
Discovery of Pluto Announced (1930): The Lowell Observatory officially announced the discovery of Pluto, which had been spotted by Clyde Tombaugh in February.
Microsoft IPO (1986): Microsoft went public on the NASDAQ, eventually making Bill Gates the world's youngest billionaire at the time.
Notable Births
L. Ron Hubbard (1911): Founder of the Church of Scientology.
Neil Sedaka (1939): Prolific American singer-songwriter.
Common (1972): Grammy and Oscar-winning rapper and actor.
Coco Gauff (2004): American tennis star and 2023 U.S. Open champion.
Notable Deaths
Tsar Alexander II (1881): The Russian emperor was assassinated in St. Petersburg.
Susan B. Anthony (1906): Famed American civil rights activist and suffragist.
