A sunspot is observed by Han dynasty astronomers during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, one of the earliest dated sunspot observations in China.

SunspotScience and technology of the Han dynastyHan dynastyChinese astronomyEmperor Cheng of Han

Scottish nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England pending the selection of a king.

NoblesEdward I of England

Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves Cádiz for his first voyage to the New World.

Amerigo VespucciCádizNew World

Christopher Columbus visits the Cayman Islands and names them Las Tortugas after the numerous turtles there.

Christopher ColumbusCayman IslandsTurtle

Jacques Cartier visits Newfoundland.

Jacques CartierNewfoundland (island)

England, with troops under the command of Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables, annexes Jamaica from Spain.

William Penn (Royal Navy officer)Robert VenablesJamaica

King Narai nominates his daughter Sudawadi to succeed him with Constantine Phaulkon, Mom Pi and Phetracha acting as regents. The ensuing revolution leads to the Ayutthaya Kingdom severing all ties with Europe.

NaraiSudawadiConstantine PhaulkonPhetrachaSiamese revolution of 1688

John Wilkes is imprisoned for writing an article for The North Briton severely criticizing King George III. This action provokes rioting in London.

John WilkesThe North BritonGeorge III of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of Great Britain passes the Tea Act, designed to save the British East India Company by granting it a monopoly on the North American tea trade.

Parliament of Great BritainTea ActBritish East India CompanyMonopolyTea

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette become King and Queen of France.

Louis XVI of FranceMarie Antoinette

American Revolutionary War: A small Colonial militia led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold captures Fort Ticonderoga.

American Revolutionary WarEthan AllenBenedict ArnoldCapture of Fort Ticonderoga

American Revolutionary War: Representatives from the Thirteen Colonies begin the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

Thirteen ColoniesSecond Continental CongressPhiladelphia

War of the First Coalition: Napoleon I of France wins a victory against Austrian forces at Lodi bridge over the Adda River in Italy. The Austrians lose some 2,000 men.

War of the First CoalitionNapoleon I of FranceBattle of LodiHabsburg EmpireLodi, Lombardy

First Barbary War: The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war on the United States of America.

First Barbary WarBarbary piratesTripoli

The National Gallery in London opens to the public.

National Gallery

The desecration of the grave of the viceroy of southern Vietnam Lê Văn Duyệt by Emperor Minh Mạng provokes his adopted son to start a revolt.

Northern and southern VietnamLê Văn DuyệtMinh MạngLê Văn KhôiLê Văn Khôi revolt

Panic of 1837: New York City banks fail, and unemployment reaches record levels.

Panic of 1837Unemployment

Astor Place Riot: A riot breaks out at the Astor Opera House in Manhattan, New York City over a dispute between actors Edwin Forrest and William Charles Macready, killing at least 25 and injuring over 120.

Astor Place RiotAstor Opera HouseManhattanEdwin ForrestWilliam Charles Macready

Indian Rebellion of 1857: In India, the first war of Independence begins. Sepoys mutiny against their commanding officers at Meerut.

Indian Rebellion of 1857SepoyMeerut

American Civil War: Colonel Emory Upton leads a 10-regiment "Attack-in-depth" assault against the Confederate works at The Battle of Spotsylvania, which, though ultimately unsuccessful, would provide the idea for the massive assault against the Bloody Angle on May 12. Upton is slightly wounded but is immediately promoted to brigadier general.

American Civil WarEmory UptonRegimentBattle of SpotsylvaniaBenjamin T. Brockman

American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is captured by U.S. troops near Irwinville, Georgia.

Jefferson DavisUnion (American Civil War)Irwinville, Georgia

American Civil War: In Kentucky, Union soldiers ambush and mortally wound Confederate raider William Quantrill, who lingers until his death on June 6.

KentuckyQuantrill's RaidersWilliam QuantrillJune 6

Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is crowned the Ruling Prince of the United Principalities of Romania.

Carol I of RomaniaDomitorUnited Principalities

The First Transcontinental Railroad, linking the eastern and western United States, is completed at Promontory Summit, Utah with the golden spike.

First Transcontinental RailroadPromontory SummitUtahGolden spike

Victoria Woodhull becomes the first woman nominated for President of the United States.

Victoria WoodhullPresident of the United States

The Centennial Exposition is opened in Philadelphia by U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant and Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II.

Centennial ExpositionPhiladelphiaUlysses S. GrantDom Pedro II

Romania declares itself independent from the Ottoman Empire following the Senate adoption of Mihail Kogălniceanu's Declaration of Independence.

RomaniaOttoman EmpireSenate of RomaniaMihail Kogălniceanu

The Horch & Cir. Motorwagenwerke AG is founded. It would eventually become the Audi company.

HorchAudi

Mother's Day is observed for the first time in the United States, in Grafton, West Virginia.

Mother's DayGrafton, West Virginia

Siege of Jerusalem: Titus, son of emperor Vespasian, opens a full-scale assault on Jerusalem and attacks the city's Third Wall to the northwest.

Siege of Jerusalem (AD 70)TitusVespasianJerusalem