Today in History

Two students enter Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado and open fire with multiple firearms, killing 13 students and teachers, wounding 25 and eventually shooting themselves.

U.S. planes bomb Haiphong for first time during the Vietnam War.

The New Orleans Citizens Committee gives free one-way ride to blacks to move North.

Operation Little Switch begins in Korea, the exchange of sick and wounded prisoners of war.

General Douglas MacArthur addresses a joint session of Congress after being relieved by President Harry Truman.

Soviet troops begin their attack on Berlin.

Pierre Laval, the premier of Vichy France, in a radio broadcast, establishes a policy of “true reconciliation with Germany.”

The first electron microscope is demonstrated.

Alex Muller, Nobel Prize-winning physicist.

The Polish Army captures Vilno, Lithuania from the Soviets.

The first National League game is played at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, then known as Weeghman Park. The park was renamed Cubs Park in 1920 and Wrigley Field, for the Chicago Cubs owner, in 1926.

Joan Miró, Spanish painter.

Adolf Hitler, Fascist dictator of Nazi Germany (1933-1945).

The first mobile home (horse-drawn) is used in a journey from London to Cyprus.

Robert E. Lee resigns from the U.S. Army.

Daniel Chester French, sculptor.

Edgar Allen Poe’s first detective story is published.

The Territory of Wisconsin is created.

Napoleon Bonaparte defeats Austria at Battle of Abensberg, Bavaria.

Louis-Napoleon (Napoleon III), emperor of France.

Aloysius Bertrand (“Gaspard de la Nuit”), French poet.

France declares war on Austria, Prussia, and Sardinia.

British troops begin the siege of Boston.

Captain Cook discovers Australia.

Ottawa Chief Pontiac is murdered by an Indian in Cahokia.

Philippe Pinel, founder of psychiatry.

English Admiral Robert Blake fights his last battle when he destroys the Spanish fleet in Santa Cruz Bay.

The Second Lateran Council opens in Rome.

Marcus Aurelius, 16th Roman emperor, philosopher.