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1987

First ever Rugby World Cup kicks off with New Zealand playing Italy at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand

First ever Rugby World Cup kicks off with New Zealand playing Italy at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.

1994

Four men are convicted of bombing the World Trade Center in New York in 1993; each one is sentenced to 240 years in pris

Four men are convicted of bombing the World Trade Center in New York in 1993; each one is sentenced to 240 years in prison.

1683

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, opens as the world's first university museum

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, opens as the world's first university museum.

1935

Jesse Owens of Ohio State University breaks three world records and ties a fourth at the Big Ten Conference Track and Fi

Jesse Owens of Ohio State University breaks three world records and ties a fourth at the Big Ten Conference Track and Field Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

2002

The last steel girder is removed from the original World Trade Center site

The last steel girder is removed from the original World Trade Center site. Cleanup duties officially end with closing ceremonies at Ground Zero in Manhattan, New York City.

2008

Usain Bolt breaks the world record in the 100m sprint, with a wind-legal (+1

Usain Bolt breaks the world record in the 100m sprint, with a wind-legal (+1.7 m/s) 9.72 seconds.

1962

During the FIFA World Cup, police had to intervene multiple times in fights between Chilean and Italian players in one o

During the FIFA World Cup, police had to intervene multiple times in fights between Chilean and Italian players in one of the most violent games in football history.

1986

An alleged state of war lasting 335 years between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly declared peace bringing an end

An alleged state of war lasting 335 years between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly declared peace bringing an end to any hypothetical war that may have been legally considered to exist.

1797

War of the First Coalition: The Peace of Leoben is signed by Napoleon Bonaparte and Maximilian, Count of Merveldt, creat

War of the First Coalition: The Peace of Leoben is signed by Napoleon Bonaparte and Maximilian, Count of Merveldt, creating an armistice between France and Austria, setting the stage for the Treaty of�

1983

Cold War: American schoolgirl Samantha Smith is invited to visit the Soviet Union by its leader Yuri Andropov after he r

Cold War: American schoolgirl Samantha Smith is invited to visit the Soviet Union by its leader Yuri Andropov after he read her letter in which she expressed fears about nuclear war.

1296

First War of Scottish Independence: John Balliol's Scottish army is defeated by an English army commanded by John de War

First War of Scottish Independence: John Balliol's Scottish army is defeated by an English army commanded by John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey at the Battle of Dunbar.

1975

Vietnam War: Operation Frequent Wind: The U

Vietnam War: Operation Frequent Wind: The U.S. begins to evacuate U.S. citizens from Saigon before an expected North Vietnamese takeover. U.S. involvement in the war comes to an end. This happens afte�

1815

Neapolitan War: Joachim Murat, King of Naples, is defeated by the Austrians at the Battle of Tolentino, the decisive eng

Neapolitan War: Joachim Murat, King of Naples, is defeated by the Austrians at the Battle of Tolentino, the decisive engagement of the war.

1846

Mexican–American War: American forces led by Zachary Taylor defeat a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first

Mexican–American War: American forces led by Zachary Taylor defeat a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first major battle of the war.

1865

American Civil War: The Battle of Palmito Ranch: The first day of the last major land action to take place during the Ci

American Civil War: The Battle of Palmito Ranch: The first day of the last major land action to take place during the Civil War, resulting in a Confederate victory.

1864

American Civil War: The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House: Union troops assault a Confederate salient known as the "Mul

American Civil War: The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House: Union troops assault a Confederate salient known as the "Mule Shoe", with some of the fiercest fighting of the war, much of it hand-to-hand�

1997

The United States government acknowledges the existence of the "Secret War" in Laos and dedicates the Laos Memorial in h

The United States government acknowledges the existence of the "Secret War" in Laos and dedicates the Laos Memorial in honor of Hmong and other "Secret War" veterans.

1811

Peninsular War: The allies Spain, Portugal and United Kingdom fight an inconclusive battle against the French at the Alb

Peninsular War: The allies Spain, Portugal and United Kingdom fight an inconclusive battle against the French at the Albuera. It is, in proportion to the numbers involved, the bloodiest battle of the�

1861

American Civil War: Union troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia, with Colonel Elmer E

American Civil War: Union troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia, with Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth becoming the first Union officer to be killed during the war.

1812

War of 1812: U

War of 1812: U.S. President James Madison asks the Congress to declare war on the United Kingdom.