This Day in History: March 15

44 BC Julius Caesar assassinated by Roman senators

Julius Caesar, the Roman general, and statesman was stabbed to death on the Ides of March in Rome by a group of senators, including Brutus and Cassius. His death marked the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.

1493 Christopher Columbus returns from his first voyage to the New World

Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer, returned to Spain after his first voyage to the Americas. His expedition led to the European colonization of the Americas and the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade.

1783 George Washington averts a military coup

George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, delivered an emotional speech to his officers in Newburgh, New York, asking them not to support the Newburgh Conspiracy, a plan to overthrow the Continental Congress. His plea was successful, and the coup never took place, solidifying the young country's commitment to democracy.

1895 Enrico Caruso makes his stage debut

Enrico Caruso, the Italian tenor widely regarded as one of the greatest opera singers of all time, made his debut at the Teatro Nuovo in Naples. He went on to become one of the most popular and highly-paid performers of his era.

1917 Tsar Nicholas II abdicates, ending the Romanov dynasty in Russia

Nicholas II, the last emperor of Russia, abdicated following the February Revolution. His abdication marked the end of the Romanov dynasty, which had ruled Russia since 1613. Nicholas and his family were later executed by Bolshevik forces during the Russian Civil War.

1962 Discovery of antimatter was announced by five research groups

Five research groups simultaneously announced the discovery of antimatter, a substance composed of particles with the same mass as ordinary matter but opposite charge. The discovery has significant implications for our understanding.