On this Date in 1908...

...the Tunguska event occurs in remote Siberia.  Setting the stage for an egregious reference error in 1984 by Ray Stantz.

On this Date in 1807...

...Russo-Turkish War: Admiral Dmitry Senyavin destroys the Ottoman fleet in the Battle of Athos.  After the battle the Admiral was overheard saying, "Why anyone would throw that many turkey shaped foot stools is beyond me."

On this Date in 1881...

...a secret treaty between Austria and Serbia is signed.  Shhhhh, don't tell anyone.

On this Date in 1946...

...in the Canadian Citizenship Act, the Parliament of Canada establishes the definition of Canadian citizenship.  Which basically consisted of the following: If you lived north of the United States you are a Canadian.

On this Date in 1409...

...Western Schism: the Roman Catholic church is led into a double schism as Petros Philargos is crowned Pope Alexander V after the Council of Pisa, joining Pope Gregory XII in Rome and Pope Benedict XII in Avignon.  Thus bringing to completion the first ever Pope Trifecta.

On this Date in 1786...

...Gavriil Pribylov discovers St. George Island of the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea.  He was able to definitively ascertain it was St George Island because of the huge banner the natives had erected over the beach.

On this Date in 1374...

...one of the first major outbreaks of dancing mania, wherein crowds of people danced themselves to exhaustion, took place in Aachen (present-day Germany), before spreading to other cities and countries.  During which was the first recorded occurrence of someone dying from doing the macarena.

On this Date in 1942...

...World War II: Germany's latest fighter, a Focke-Wulf FW190, is captured intact when it mistakenly lands at RAF Pembrey in Wales.  In the pilot's defense Wales does look a lot like Germany in the summertime.  So get off his case already.

On this Date in 1944...

...opening day of the Soviet Union's Operation Bagration against the Army Group Centre.  Everyone on the team felt it was going to be a great season.

On this Date in 1973...

...in handing down the decision in Miller v. California 413 US 15, the Supreme Court of the United States establishes the Miller Test for obscenity in U.S. law.  The test consists of the following: If the word or phrase is able to make all presiding judges blush it is considered too obscene.

On this Date in 1963...

...the so-called "red telephone" is established between the Soviet Union and the United States following the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Rumor has it that it was placed right next to the Bat-phone.

On this Date in 1586...

...English colonists leave Roanoke Island, after failing to establish England's first permanent settlement in North America.  Quitters.

On this Date in 1429...

...French forces under the leadership of Joan of Arc defeat the main English army under sir John Fastolf at the Battle of Patay. This turns the tide of the Hundred Years' War.  From this point on Sir John was forever referred to as, "The poor old sap that was beat by a girl."

On this Date in 1992...

...a 'joint understanding' agreement on arms reduction is signed by U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (this would be later codified in START II).  This, in now way, has any relation to the War on Drugs that was declared on this date in 1971 by President Richard Nixon.

On this Date in 1586...

...Mary, Queen of Scots, recognizes Philip II of Spain as her heir and successor.  Her official statement was, "Hey look, it's Philip II of Spain, my heir and successor."

On this Date in 1215...

...King John of England puts his seal to the Magna Carta.  Though why he allowed an aquatic animal to lie upon such an important document is still a mystery.

On this Date in 1940...

...the Soviet Union issued an ultimatum to Lithuania, demanding to allow an unspecified number of soldiers to enter the country and to form a new pro-Soviet government.  The official response from the Lithuanian government, "Well, all you had to do was ask nicely.  Sheesh!"

On this Date in 1952...

...Catalina affair: a Swedish Douglas DC-3 is shot down by a Soviet MiG-15 fighter.  What exactly they were doing off the coast of California is still under investigation.

On this Date in 1952...

...Catalina affair: a Swedish Douglas DC-3 is shot down by a Soviet MiG-15 fighter.  What exactly they were doing off the coast of California is still under investigation.

On this Date in 1775...

...American Revolution: British general Thomas Gage declares martial law in Massachusetts. The British offer a pardon to all colonists who lay down their arms. There would be only two exceptions to the amnesty: Samuel Adams and John Hancock, if captured, were to be hanged.  Presumably because one made beer better than anyone in England, and the other for having way to big a signature.

On this Date in 1955...

...eighty-three are killed and at least 100 are injured after an Austin-Healey and a Mercedes-Benz collide at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the deadliest ever accident in motorsports.  Since then race cars were made much smaller so only one person was necessary to drive them.

On this Date in 1871...

...Sinmiyangyo: Captain McLane Tilton leads 109 U.S. Marines in a naval attack on Han River forts on Kanghwa Island, Korea.  Local villagers are overheard wondering, "Aren't they about 80 years too early?"

On this Date in 1934...

...Donald Duck makes his debut in The Wise Little Hen.  Sparking a decades-long debate on why he wears a towel around his waist when he gets out of the bath, but does not wear pants.

On this Date in 1959...

...the USS Barbero and United States Postal Service attempt the delivery of mail via Missile Mail.  The project was considered somewhat of a failure since many of the recipients were "accidentally" blown up when the missile landed, as well as the mail it was carrying being incinerated.

On this Date in 1942...

...World War II: Japanese soldiers occupy the American islands of Attu and Kiska, in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska.  Upon completion of securing the islands a communication was intercepted on its way the Japanese naval command that read: "So, what are we doing up here again?"

On this Date in 1813...

...War of 1812: Battle of Stoney Creek – A British force of 700 under John Vincent defeats an American force two times its size under William Winder and John Chandler.  Upon realizing defeat, John Chandler was overheard saying, "Could this be anymore of a bummer?"

On this Date in 1942...

...World War II: United States declares war on Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania.  In response they collectively stated, "Hey, what'd we do?  It's that Hitler guy you want, not us!"

On this Date in 1965...

...Duane Earl Pope robbed the Farmers' State Bank of Big Springs, Nebraska, killing three people execution style and severely wounding a fourth. The crime landed Pope on the FBI Ten Most Wanted list.  Upon hearing the news The Pope says, "I have never even been to Nebraska."

On this Date in 1973...

...a Soviet supersonic Tupolev Tu-144 crashes near Goussainville, France, killing 14, the first crash of a supersonic passenger aircraft.  There was a delay in the report of the crash since locals did not hear it until a week after it happened.

On this Date in 1962...

...During the 1962 FIFA World Cup, police had to intervene multiple times in fights between Chilean and Italian players in one of the most violent games in football history.  Players from the NHL shortly afterward are overheard commenting on the event, "amateurs".

On this Date in 1862...

...American Civil War, Peninsula Campaign: Battle of Seven Pines (or the Battle of Fair Oaks) ends inconclusively, with both sides claiming victory.  At which point a new battle broke out to decide who, indeed, won the previous battle.