History
On this day in 1942; Hedy Lamarr’s hidden invention helped shape wireless communication
On 11 August 1942, American actress Hedy Lamarr and avant-garde composer George Antheil received a US patent for an ingenious...
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On this day in 1793: The Louvre opened in Paris
On 10 August 1793, amid the turmoil of the French Revolution, the Louvre opened its doors in Paris as a...
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On this day in 48 BC: Pompey’s fall at Pharsalus reshaped the Roman world
On 9 August 48 BC, Julius Caesar won one of antiquity’s most decisive military victories, defeating Pompey the Great at...
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On this day in 1945: The United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France signed the London Agreement
On 8 August 1945, the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and France signed the London Agreement, establishing...
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On this day in 1888: The first of the murders committed by Jack the Ripper took place in London’s East End
On 7 August 1888, the body of Martha Tabram was discovered inside George Yard Buildings in Whitechapel, London. The brutal...
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On this day in 1940: Estonia lost its independence when the Soviet Union annexed the country
On 6 August 1940, Estonia was formally incorporated into the Soviet Union, completing a carefully orchestrated takeover that ended more...
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On this day in 1962: Marilyn Monroe died
On 5 August 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Los Angeles home. She was only 36, yet she...
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On this day in 1944: The secret annex in Amsterdam where Anne Frank were hiding was discovered by the Gestapo
On 4 August 1944, the hidden rooms above a business premises on Prinsengracht in Amsterdam were raided by German security...
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On this day in 1778: The opera house La Scala opened in Milan
On this day in 1778, Milan’s Teatro alla Scala opened its doors for the first time, beginning the history of...
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On this day in 1990: Iraq invaded Kuwait
On this day in 1990, Iraqi forces invaded neighbouring Kuwait, beginning an international crisis that would lead to the Persian...
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