1862: The U.S. President whose Mother Tongue was Dutch
The eighth president in American history, Martin Van Buren, died on this day in 1862. His surname was of Dutch origin. In 1631, the Van Buren family moved from Buren (the...
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2001: Former Tsar Becomes Prime Minister of the Democratic Bulgaria
On this day transpired a rare occurrence of a monarch returning at the head of the state in a democratic way after he was deposed. Simeon, who became the Tsar (Emperor) o...
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1099: Godfrey of Bouillon Elected the First Ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem
On this day in 1099, Godfrey of Bouillon was elected as the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. This happened shortly after the Crusaders captured Jerusalem from the...
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1693: Two Brothers who Became British Prime Ministers
On this day British Prime Minister Thomas Pelham-Holles was born. He was the older of the two brothers who became, one after the other, British Prime Ministers. Thomas la...
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1824: Emperor of the Huge Mexican Empire Executed by Firing Squad
On this day in 1824, the first emperor of Mexico – Agustín de Iturbide – was executed. During the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, he contributed to th...
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1918: Grand Duchess Elisabeth of Russia Burned Alive
On this day in 1918, the Bolsheviks killed Elisabeth of Russia, who was a member of the imperial family. A day before Elisabeth’s execution, her sister Empress Alex...
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1979: Saddam Hussein Became President of Iraq
Saddam Hussein became President of Iraq on this day in 1979. He was born in the village of Al-Awja on the Tigris River (in 2003, he was arrested just a few kilometers fro...
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1913: The Longest-lived United States President
On this day in 1913 Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States, was born. He is particularly interesting for his longevity because he was the longest-lived of a...
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