Discover What Happened Today in History
After a 13-day siege, the Mexican army under General Santa Anna stormed and captured the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas. The death of all Texian defenders, including figures like Davy Crockett, became a rallying cry for the Texas Revolution.
Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev presented his first periodic table of elements to the Russian Chemical Society. His system arranged elements by atomic weight and predicted the properties of undiscovered elements, revolutionizing chemistry.
The Gold Coast became the independent nation of Ghana, led by Kwame Nkrumah. It was the first sub-Saharan African colony to achieve independence from British rule, inspiring decolonization across the continent.
The roll-on/roll-off ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsized and sank just outside the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, killing 193 people. The disaster was caused by the bow doors being left open, leading to major changes in maritime safety regulations.
The renowned Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet Michelangelo Buonarroti was born in Caprese, Republic of Florence. He would go on to create masterpieces like the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the statue of David.