26th September 1687: An explosion rips through the Parthenon in Athens while it’s being used as a gunpowder magazine
A mortar shell fired by Venetian troops at their Ottoman enemy struck the Parthenon directly, igniting the powder stored ...
26 Sep 0s
25th September 1513: Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa becomes the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean from the New World
Balboa's journey involved battling with native tribes and forging a way through thick jungle, before reaching the mountain range along the Chucunaque River from where he first saw the Pacific Ocean on the morning of 25 ...
25 Sep 0s
24th September 1789: The Judiciary Act becomes law in the United States of America
The Judiciary Act was passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by President George ...
24 Sep 0s
23rd September 1862: Otto von Bismarck appointed Minister-President of Prussia by King Wilhelm I
In the early 1860s, with Prussia facing a crisis over King Wilhelm I's attempts to expand and modernize the Prussian army, he appointed Otto von Bismarck as Minister-President in an attempt to break a budgetary ...
23 Sep 0s
22nd September 1888: First edition of National Geographic Magazine published
The first edition of the National Geographic Magazine was published by the National Geographic ...
22 Sep 0s
21st September 1937: J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel The Hobbit first published in the United Kingdom
The initial run of 1,500 copies of The Hobbit sold out within three months, and further runs proved similarly popular prompting Tolkien to write the Lord of the ...
21 Sep 0s
20th September 1378: Western Schism divides the Catholic Church after the contested election of Antipope Clement VII
Clement established his court in Avignon, supported by France, Scotland, and several other European states. Urban VI, meanwhile, retained control of Rome and was recognized by England, much of Germany, and parts of ...
20 Sep 0s
19th September 1970: First Glastonbury Festival took place at Worthy Farm in Somerset, known at the time as the Pilton Festival of Pop, Folk, and Blues
Organised by dairy farmer Michael Eavis, the event was billed as the Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival and attracted 1,500 people who paid a pound each to see a number of bands on a single stage and drink unlimited quantities of ...
19 Sep 0s
