Todays History

Queen Anne withholds Royal Assent from the Scottish Militia Bill, the last time a British monarch vetoes legislation

Spaniard Fray Tomás de Berlanga, the fourth Bishop of Panama, discovers the Galápagos Islands by chance on his way to Peru

Forty-two people die in the Cavalese cable car disaster, the worst cable-car accident to date

The New York Stock Exchange is founded.

Prince William of Wied arrives in Albania to begin his reign as King.

Bayer registers “Aspirin” as a trademark.

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons goes into effect after ratification by 43 nations.

A massive car bomb explodes in front of the BBC Television Centre in London, seriously injuring one person; the attack was attributed to the Real…

Second Opium War: France and the United Kingdom declare war on China.

Alexander II becomes Tsar of Russia.