On March 30, 1842, in Jefferson, Georgia, American surgeon Dr. Crawford Williamson Long made medical history. He became the first known physician to use inhaled ether as an anesthetic during surgery. His patient, James Venable, underwent the removal of a neck tumor. Remarkably, Venable…
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On March 30, 1981, the United States was in shock. A young man tried to kill Ronald Reagan just months after he had taken office. The day started like any other, with President Reagan going about his duties. As he exited the Washington Hilton…
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On March 29, 1971, Lieutenant William L. Calley Jr. was convicted of premeditated murder for his leading role in the My Lai massacre—one of the most horrific and consequential atrocities of the Vietnam War. The conviction marked a rare instance of individual accountability in…
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On March 29, 1867, Queen Victoria gave Royal Assent to the British North America Act, a defining moment that paved the way for the birth of Canada as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire. The Act—formally titled An Act for the Union of…
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On March 28, 1939, General Francisco Franco’s Nationalist forces entered Madrid, ending nearly three years of siege and signifying the final collapse of the Second Spanish Republic. This moment marked the end of the Spanish Civil War, a deeply polarizing conflict that had drawn…
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On March 28, 1979, the United States experienced a near-miss that could have changed the nation forever when a coolant leak at the nuclear power plant on Three Mile Island nearly led to a full meltdown. Situated near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Three Mile Island was…
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Mary Mallon—better known to history as Typhoid Mary—was placed into quarantine for the second and final time. She would remain isolated for the rest of her life, becoming an infamous figure and a lasting symbol of asymptomatic disease transmission in the United States. An…
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In the early years of the United States, the issue of establishing a permanent navy was a matter of considerable debate and concern. The fledgling nation, emerging from its War of Independence, recognized maritime power’s importance for defense and commerce and took action. On…
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On March 26, 1830, a little-known print shop in Palmyra, New York, released what would become one of the most influential—and controversial—religious texts in American history: The Book of Mormon. Purporting to be a translation of ancient records inscribed on golden plates by prophets…
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The Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest and most important confrontations of World War II, concluded on March 26, 1945, after 36 days of intense combat. As the sun dipped below the horizon, it marked the end of a grueling military engagement…
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