Today in history, The Roman Emperor Nerva names Trajan, an army general, as his successor in 0028.
Today in history, Henry VIII of England dies and is succeeded by his nine-year-old son Edward VI in 1547.
Today in history, Ahmed Shah, the first King of Afghanistan, occupies Delhi and annexes the Punjab in 1757.
Today in history, Surrounded by Prussian troops and suffering from famine, the French army in Paris surrenders. During the siege, balloons were used to keep contact with the outside world in 1871.
Today in history, The German navy attacks the U.S. freighter William P. Frye, loaded with wheat for Britain in 1915.
Today in history, The U.S. Coast Guard is founded to fight contraband trade and aid distressed vessels at sea in 1915.
Today in history, Albert Einstein startles Berlin by suggesting the possibility of measuring the universe in 1921.
Today in history, The Japanese attack Shanghai, China, and declare martial law in 1932.
Today in history, French General Charles DeGaulle‘s Free French forces sack south Libya oasis in 1941.
Today in history, Chiang Kai-shek renames the Ledo-Burma Road the Stilwell Road, in honor of General Joseph Stilwell in 1945.
Today in history, The U.S. Congress passes a bill allowing mobilization of troops if China should attack Taiwan in 1955.
Today in history, The space shuttle Challenger explodes just after liftoff in 1986.
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