What Happened on March 29 in History?
Notable events on March 29 range from the discovery of the Terracotta Army in China to the final withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Vietnam.
Major Historical Events
Discovery of the Terracotta Army (1974): Farmers digging a well near Xi'an, China, discovered life-sized figures of more than 8,000 soldiers and horses, leading to the unearthing of the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
Vietnam War Withdrawal (1973): The last United States combat troops departed South Vietnam, ending direct American military involvement in the conflict.
Rosenberg Espionage Conviction (1951): Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted in New York of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
First Mercury Flyby (1974): NASA's Mariner 10 became the first spacecraft to reach Mercury, providing the first close-up photographs of the planet.
Battle of Towton (1461): Fought during the Wars of the Roses, this is often cited as the bloodiest battle ever on English soil, resulting in a victory for Edward IV.
Ratification of the 23rd Amendment (1961): The amendment was certified, granting residents of Washington, D.C., the right to vote in presidential elections.
Sports & Culture
Michael Jordan’s NCAA Winning Shot (1982): 19-year-old freshman Michael Jordan hit a 16-foot jump shot with 15 seconds left to lead North Carolina to an NCAA championship victory over Georgetown.
Baltimore Colts Relocation (1984): In the early hours, the NFL's Colts moved their equipment from Baltimore to Indianapolis in moving trucks, a move done without notifying city officials.
"Lady Marmalade" Hits #1 (1975): Labelle's iconic song reached the top of the U.S. singles chart.
"The King and I" Broadway Debut (1951): The legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein musical premiered on Broadway, starring Yul Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence.
Famous Birthdays & Deaths
Births:
John Tyler (1790): The 10th President of the United States.
Cy Young (1867): Record-breaking MLB pitcher and namesake of the annual pitching award.
Sam Walton (1918): Founder of Walmart and Sam's Club.
Eric Clapton (1945): Influential British rock and blues guitarist.
Deaths:
Inge Lehmann (1888-1993): On this day in 1936, the Danish seismologist first described her theory that the Earth has a solid inner core.
Robert Falcon Scott (1912): The British explorer made his final journal entry before dying during a doomed expedition to the South Pole.
March 29 is also recognized as National Vietnam War Veterans Day in the United States and World Piano Day.
