On this day in the year 78 of the common era (CE) we mark the origin Saka Era in India, widely believed to mark the ascension of king Kanishka I of the Kushan dynasty, and the rise of the Western Satrapiess; the Saka calendar is used alongside the Gregorian calendar for determining Hindu festivals and was adopted as the official National Calendar of India. One thousand, nine hundred and thirty-seven years later, the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts opens in Yerevan, Armenia, with a collection of over 23,000 manuscripts.
On this day in the year 493 CE, king Theodorik the Great of the Ostrogoths defeats his rival, king Odoaker of the Ostrogoths at Ravenna, the two negotiate an agreement for the joint rule of the Italian peninsula; one thousand, three hundred and twenty-two years later, in 1815 CE, the United States declares war on Algiers for taking American prisoners and demanding tribute. Eighty-nine years after that, in 1904 CE, emperor Wilhelm II of Germany becomes the first person to make a sound recording of a political document, using Thomas Edison's cylinder; one year later, tsar Nicholas II of Russia agrees to summon a 'consultative assembly' and concedes other points including an edict of religious toleration, relief for Jews and the cancellation of certain debts.
On this day in 1284 CE the Statute of Rhuddlan incorporates the Principality of Wales into England; three hundred and eight years later, Trinity College in Dublin and its library are founded by royal charter of queen Elizabeth I, it is constructed on the landmark of what had formerly been the Priory of All Hallows. Forty-two years later, in 1634 CE, Samuel Cole opens the first tavern in North America, in Boston, Massachusetts; two hundred and twenty-nine years after that, in 1863 CE, Abraham Lincoln approves the charter of the National Academy of Sciences; forty years later, North Carolina becomes the first state requiring registration of nurses.
In 1791 CE the first Act of the internal revenue service is passed in the United States (U.S.); taxing distilled spirits and carriages; on this same day Congress establishes the U.S. Mint.
Forty-four years later, Congress authorizes a
U.S. Mint at New Orleans, Louisiana, with coins struck there identified with an
'O'; fourteen years after that, in 1849 CE the Gold Coinage Act authorizes a twenty-dollar
“Double Eagle” gold coin and the one-dollar “Gold Liberty” coin for circulation
in the United States. Two years later, Congress authorizes the smallest silver
coin for legal tender, a three-cent piece; ten years after that, 1863 CE,
Congress authorizes a U.S. Mint at Carson City, Nevada; coins struck there are identified
with a 'CC'. On this same day, Congress authorizes the circulation of Gold
Certificates; twelve years later Congress authorizes the twenty-cent coin, it
remains in circulation for only three years. Twenty-four years after that,
Congress authorizes the Lafayette silver dollar to go into circulation.
In 1794 CE, Richard Allen founds the African Methodist Episcopal Church; ninety-four years later, the Anti-Catholic, American Protective Association forms in Clinton, Iowa.
In 1803 CE, the impeachment trial of John Pickering begins, it marks the first impeachment of a federal judge in the United States (U.S.); ten years later, the office of Surgeon General of the United States Army is formed. Twenty-four years after that, in 1837 CE, the U.S. Congress increases the number of seats on the Unted States Supreme Court from seven to nine; eight years later, the United States Senate overrides a presidential veto (Tyler’s) for the first time. Four years after that, in 1849 CE, Congress establishes the Home Department (later renamed the Department of the Interior); fourteen years later the first wartime military conscription bill in the United States, is signed into law. Eight years after that, in 1871 CE, Congress establishes the civil service system; two years later Congress enacts the Comstock Law, making it illegal to send any "obscene, lewd, or lascivious" books through the mail. Eight years after that, in 1881 CE, the U.S. Geological Survey director is authorized for the Department of the Interior. Ten years later, Congress creates the United States Courts of Appeal; on this same day Congress also creates the Office of Superintendent of Immigration, through the Department of the Treasury, as well as the Office of Immigration. Eight years after that, in 1899 CE, George Dewey becomes the first person appointed to the rank of Admiral in the United States Navy; two years later, Congress establishes the National Bureau of Standards, in the Department of Commerce. Four years after that, in 1905 CE, U.S. Forest Service is established; ten years later, the U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was created, the predecessor of National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Two years after that, in 1917 CE, Congress passes the first tax on corporations for excess profits; six years later, the Senate rejects membership in the International Court of Justice at the Hague, Netherlands.
In 1805 CE the Louisiana-Missouri Territory forms; twelve years later, Mississippi is divided into the Alabama and Mississippi territories. Three years after that, in 1820 CE, the Missouri Compromise passes, allowing Missouri to join the United States despite slavery still being legal there; seventeen years later, United States president Andrew Jackson and Congress recognize the Republic of Texas. Eight years after that, in 1845 CE, Florida becomes the twenty-seventh state admitted to the Union; four years later, in 1849 CE, the Territory of Minnesota is organized. Fourteen years after that, the Idaho Territory is incorporated after being split from the Dakota, Nebraska, and Washington territories, the area now comprises the states of Idaho, Montana and most of Wyoming. Ninety-nine years the territory of Puerto Rico approves its first 1st self-written constitution.
In 1821 CE, American tailor and inventor Thomas L. Jennings receives a patent for his "dry-scouring" process, the forerunner of today’s modern dry-cleaning; twenty-one years later the first child labor law regulating working hours in the United States is passed in Massachusetts.
In 1845 CE the United States Congress authorizes ocean mail contracts for foreign mail delivery; two years later the United States Post Office Department is authorized to issue postage stamps. Eight years after that, in 1855 CE, Congress authorizes registered mail; eight years later, free city delivery replaces zone postage; four hundred and forty-nine letter carriers hired to carry out this mission. Ten years after that, in 1873 CE, Congress authorizes federal departmental postage stamps; twelve years later, the U.S. Post Office offers special delivery for First-Class mail. Twenty-four years later, the first international air mail service from Seattle Washington to Victoria, British Columbia.
In 1861 CE, tsar Alexander II of Russia signs the Emancipation Manifesto, freeing serfs and granting them full rights as free citizens; four years later, the United States Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands is established by Abraham Lincoln to help destitute former slaves. Four years after that, in 1869 CE, the University of South Carolina opens to all races.
In 1865 CE marks the opening of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the founding member of the HSBC Group, an international banking juggernaut to this day; twenty years later the American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T) incorporates.
In 1871 CE the United States Congress changes the status of Native American tribes from independent to dependent; sixteen years later Congress passes the Indian Appropriations Act, making Native Americans “wards” of the federal government. Nine years after that, Unites States president Harrison announces that the government would open the one million, nine-hundred-thousand acres of Native American Territory for settlement…precisely at noon on twenty-second day of the following month.
In 1879 CE, Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood becomes the first female lawyer to argues a case before the United States Supreme Court; eight years later, Anne Sullivan begins teaching six-year-old, blind and deaf Helen Keller. Twenty-six years after that, in 1913 CE, a Women’s Suffrage procession through Washington, D.C., organized by Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Inez Milholland, are joined by Ida B. Wells who was marching with her Illinois delegation despite blacks being told to march in a separate section African-Americans.
In 1923 CE Time magazine publishes its first issue featuring Joseph G. Cannon, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives; eleven years later, John Dillinger breaks out of jail using a wooden pistol. Seventy-one years after that, in 2005 CE, Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane around the world solo, without any stops or refueling, completing a journey of 40,234 km (25,000 miles) in sixty-seven hours and two minutes; eight years after that, a two-year-old girl in the Unites States becomes the first child born with HIV to be cured of it. Four years after that, the mass grave of eight hundred children and infants is discovered at a former Catholic care home in Tuam, Ireland
In 1931 CE by congressional resolution, The Star-Spangled Banner officially becomes the United States national anthem; Francis Scott Key lyrics from 1814 are set to John Stafford Smith's 18th-century tune The Anacreontic Song; also on this day, Cab Calloway records Minnie the Moocher, the first piece of Jazz music to sell one million copies. Twenty-five years after that, in 1956 CE, Elvis Presley's gets his first Top Ten hit on the Billboard charts with Heartbreak Hotel; seven years later American country blues musician "Mississippi" John Hurt is 're-discovered' by musicologist Tom Hoskins in Avalon, Mississippi. Twelve years after that. In 1971 CE, the South African Broadcasting Corporation lifts its ban on the Beatles, which had begun five years earlier when John Lennon spoke carelessly about Jesus.
In 1938 CE the American Bowling Congress' holds its largest tournament with 24,765 competitors; thirty-four years later, the sculpted figures of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson are completed at Stone Mountain Georgia. Eleven years after that, in 1983 CE, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw is admitted to hospital for surgery to repair his throwing arm, to conceal his identity he uses the alias “Tom Brady.’
In 1959 CE, N.A.S.A. launches Pioneer 4, the first probe to enter solar orbit; seventy years later, SpaceX's Dragon capsule successfully docks with the International Space Station during its demonstration run.
In 1965 CE, the United States performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site; on that same day the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics performs nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeast Kazakhstan. Two years later, the U.S. performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site; thirteen years after that France performs nuclear test at Mururoa Atoll.
In 1991 CE, Los Angeles police officers severely beat motorist Rodney King; the beating is famously captured on amateur video and later leads to riots when the police officers are acquitted. One year later, United States President George H. W. Bush apologizes for raising taxes after pledging not to.
In 1991 CE, Switzerland votes on lowering the voting age from twenty to eighteen; eleven years later, the citizens of Switzerland narrowly vote in favor of their country becoming a member of the United Nations.
In 2022 CE, Russian Federation forces seize the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.
