1509 – Henry VIII marries Catherine of Aragon. The marriage would later play a central role in the English Reformation.
1776 – Continental Congress appoints committee. A committee including Thomas Jefferson was tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence.
1963 – George Wallace’s “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door.” Alabama Governor George Wallace attempted to block school integration at the University of Alabama.
🔬 Science & Technology
2001 – Timothy McVeigh executed. Advances in forensic science and security remained topics of discussion following the case.
2009 – First human cases of H1N1 pandemic declared globally. The World Health Organization declared the H1N1 influenza pandemic.
🎭 Culture & the Arts
1934 – Jacques Cousteau marries Simone Melchior. Their partnership would support decades of ocean exploration and documentary filmmaking.
1982 – E.T. premieres. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial debuted and became one of the highest-grossing films of its era.
⚽ Sports
1997 – Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game.” Michael Jordan delivered a legendary performance in the NBA Finals.
2010 – FIFA World Cup begins in South Africa. The tournament marked the first World Cup hosted in Africa.