2013
The world’s first lab-grown bovine stem cell burger was consumed in London.
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1973
The Soviet spacecraft Mars 6 was launched.
The spacecraft carried an array of instruments to study the surface conditions of Mars.
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1962
Nelson Mandela returned to South Africa and was arrested for illegally leaving the country.
On this day, Mandela was sentenced to five years in prison for leaving South Africa illegally and incitement in previous years across the country.
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1949
The Ambato earthquake destroyed fifty towns in Ecuador and killed over 6,000 people.
The Ambato earthquake was the largest in the Western Hemisphere in more than five years.
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1914
The first traffic lights in the US were installed in Cleveland, Ohio.
The traffic lights featured red and green colored lights and made a buzzing sound when the colors were about to change.
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1912
The first taxicab service started operating in Tokyo, Japan.
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1884
Foundations were placed on Bedloe’s Island, New York City, to become home of the Statue of Liberty.
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1864
Italian astronomer Giovanni Donati became the first person to observe the spectrum of a comet.
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1861
Flagellation, also known as flogging, whipping, or lashing, was banned by the US Army.
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1583
English explorer Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for the British crown.
This became the birth of the British Empire.
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1305
The leader in Scotland’s fight for independence, William Wallace, was captured and later trialed and executed in London.
His execution happened on August 23, 1305, when he was stripped naked, attached to a horse by the heels, and dragged through the city streets. Then he was hung, drawn, and quartered.
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1100
Henry I took to the throne as he was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, London.
Henry I announced that he had successfully restored order within the country that was in chaos.
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910 AD
The Battle of Tettenhall occurred, where the final major Viking army battled against England and was defeated by a landslide.
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