From the archives
Classic headlineTyphoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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- Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds DeadHall of Fame◆
- 1991First Novelists, Don't Fret: There's Money in NewnessThe New York Times◆
- 2012London cab firm drivers told to defy bus lane lawThe Guardian◆
- 2011Mystery bird: olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularisThe Guardian◆
- 1755A Dictionary of the English Language by Samuel Johnson was first published, becoming one of the most influential dictionaries in the history of English.Wikipedia◆
- 1632Thirty Years' War: A Swedish–German army defeated the forces of the Catholic League at the Battle of Rain, mortally wounding their commander Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly.Wikipedia◆
- 1071Byzantine–Norman wars: After a siege of almost three years, Italo-Norman forces conquered the city of Bari, the capital of the Catepanate of Italy, ending more than five centuries of Byzantine presence in the region.Wikipedia◆
- 1817Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc found the American School for the Deaf (then called the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons), the first American school for deaf students, in Hartford, Connecticut.Wikipedia◆
- 1071Bari, the last Byzantine possession in southern Italy, is surrendered to the Norman Robert Guiscard.Wikipedia◆
- 2019A fire severely damaged Notre-Dame de Paris, destroying the cathedral's timber spire and much of the roof.Wikipedia◆
- 1958On Walter O'Malley's initiative, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants played the first Major League Baseball game on the U.S. West Coast.Wikipedia◆
- 1957The Indiaman departed Victoria Coach Station, London, as part of the first UK–India bus service.Wikipedia◆
- 1952The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered, strategic bomber operated by the U.S. Air Force for most of the aircraft's history, made its first flight.Wikipedia◆
- 1947Jackie Robinson, the first African American to break the baseball color line, played his first game in Major League Baseball.Wikipedia◆
- Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds DeadHall of Fame◆
- 1991First Novelists, Don't Fret: There's Money in NewnessThe New York Times◆
- 2012London cab firm drivers told to defy bus lane lawThe Guardian◆
- 2011Mystery bird: olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularisThe Guardian◆
- 1755A Dictionary of the English Language by Samuel Johnson was first published, becoming one of the most influential dictionaries in the history of English.Wikipedia◆
- 1632Thirty Years' War: A Swedish–German army defeated the forces of the Catholic League at the Battle of Rain, mortally wounding their commander Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly.Wikipedia◆
- 1071Byzantine–Norman wars: After a siege of almost three years, Italo-Norman forces conquered the city of Bari, the capital of the Catepanate of Italy, ending more than five centuries of Byzantine presence in the region.Wikipedia◆
- 1817Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc found the American School for the Deaf (then called the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons), the first American school for deaf students, in Hartford, Connecticut.Wikipedia◆
- 1071Bari, the last Byzantine possession in southern Italy, is surrendered to the Norman Robert Guiscard.Wikipedia◆
- 2019A fire severely damaged Notre-Dame de Paris, destroying the cathedral's timber spire and much of the roof.Wikipedia◆
- 1958On Walter O'Malley's initiative, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants played the first Major League Baseball game on the U.S. West Coast.Wikipedia◆
- 1957The Indiaman departed Victoria Coach Station, London, as part of the first UK–India bus service.Wikipedia◆
- 1952The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered, strategic bomber operated by the U.S. Air Force for most of the aircraft's history, made its first flight.Wikipedia◆
- 1947Jackie Robinson, the first African American to break the baseball color line, played his first game in Major League Baseball.Wikipedia◆
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Leonardo da Vinci1452
15 April in history
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What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — April 15
1755 First everA Dictionary of the English Language by Samuel Johnson was first published, becoming one of the most influential dictionaries in the history of English.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1632 Oddly trueThirty Years' War: A Swedish–German army defeated the forces of the Catholic League at the Battle of Rain, mortally wounding their commander Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1071 Oddly trueByzantine–Norman wars: After a siege of almost three years, Italo-Norman forces conquered the city of Bari, the capital of the Catepanate of Italy, ending more than five centuries of Byzantine presence in the region.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1817 First everThomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc found the American School for the Deaf (then called the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons), the first American school for deaf students, in Hartford, Connecticut.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1071 Oddly trueBari, the last Byzantine possession in southern Italy, is surrendered to the Norman Robert Guiscard.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2012The GuardianLondon cab firm drivers told to defy bus lane lawTransport for London threatens prosecutions and licence withdrawal against taxi drivers who contravene regulations
Read on The Guardian →- 2011The GuardianMystery bird: olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis
This lovely Malaysian mystery bird abandons its completed nest for a week or so before returning to lay its eggs
Read on The Guardian → - 1991The New York TimesFirst Novelists, Don't Fret: There's Money in Newness
Suddenly, first novels are hot. "Damage," a short erotic novel by the English writer Josephine Hart, is on best-selle…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
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When was “A Dictionary of the English Language by Samuel Johnson was first published, becoming one of the most influential dictionaries in the history of English.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
A Dictionary of the English Language by Samuel Johnson was first published, becoming one of the most influential dictionaries in the history of English.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1632 Oddly true
Thirty Years' War: A Swedish–German army defeated the forces of the Catholic League at the Battle of Rain, mortally wounding their commander Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1071 Oddly true
Byzantine–Norman wars: After a siege of almost three years, Italo-Norman forces conquered the city of Bari, the capital of the Catepanate of Italy, ending more than five centuries of Byzantine presence in the region.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
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Born on this day
1
1452Birth
Leonardo da Vinci born
Leonardo da Vinci, polymath, was born on this day in 1452. Renaissance genius, painter of the Mona Lisa.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Suicide
1890Death
Vincent van Gogh dies
Vincent van Gogh, painter, died on this day in 1890. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Post-Impressionist whose work deeply influenced 20th-century art.
Suicide
30 BCDeath
Cleopatra dies
Cleopatra, queen of the ptolemaic kingdom, died on this day in 30 BC. Suicide (historically debated, asp bite). Remembered as: The last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.
Accident
2012Death
Whitney Houston dies
Whitney Houston, singer and actress, died on this day in 2012. Accidental drowning. Remembered as: One of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Assassinated
1948Death
Death of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
Assassinated
1865Death
Abraham Lincoln dies
Abraham Lincoln, politician, died on this day in 1865. Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Remembered as: 16th President of the US, led the nation during the Civil War.
Famous birthdays
1 this weekToday · 15 April
- Leonardo da VinciItalian polymath (1452–1519)Born 1452 · 574 years ago today
Coming up this week
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Celebration15 April
World Art Day
Promotes the development and enjoyment of art globally, on Leonardo da Vinci's birthday.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 15 April.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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