American businessman, philanthropist, founded the Standard Oil Company
German general, businessman
American politician, 41st Vice President of the United States
British politician
American businessman, politician
Shelley English poet
American wife of Gerald R. Ford, 40th First Lady of the United States
Dutch mathematician, astronomer, physicist
English cricketer
English actress
15,000 starving Christian soldiers marched in a religious procession around Jerusalem, which was under Muslim control at the time. This event occurred during the First Crusade, a military campaign launched by European Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control.
Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama set off on his first voyage from Lisbon, Portugal, with four ships. He reached the city of Calicut in southern India a year later, becoming the first European to reach India by sea. This event paved the way for European colonization and trade in the Indian subcontinent.
Vermont adopted a new constitution that abolished slavery, becoming the first region in the present-day United States to do so. This move demonstrated Vermont's commitment to the ideals of liberty and equality and set an important precedent for the eventual abolition of slavery throughout the United States.
Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse administered the first cowpox vaccination in the United States to his son to prevent smallpox. The cowpox vaccine was developed by English physician Edward Jenner and proved to be a highly effective way to prevent the spread of smallpox, which was a major health threat at the time.
Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailed his frigate Susquehanna into Tokyo Bay, initiating contact between Japan and the Western world after over 200 years of self-imposed isolation. Perry negotiated a treaty that opened Japan to Western influence and trade, transforming the country's economy and culture.
The Russian Orthodox Church celebrated its 500th anniversary in Moscow, Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church is one of the largest branches of Eastern Orthodox Christianity and has played a significant role in Russian history and culture.
The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act came into effect in South Africa, prohibiting marriage or sexual relationships between white people and people of other races. This was one of the many apartheid laws that were implemented in South Africa and was designed to maintain the segregation of races in the country.
NASA launched the Space Shuttle Atlantis for its final mission, STS-135. This marked the end of NASA's 30-year Space Shuttle program, which had played a significant role in human spaceflight and space exploration. The Space Shuttle Atlantis is now on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida.