Pope Innocent IV arrives at Lyon for the First Council of Lyon

Pope Innocent IVLyonFirst Council of Lyon

The University of Leipzig opens.

University of Leipzig

St Paul's Cathedral is consecrated in London.

St Paul's Cathedral

Dedication of the Touro Synagogue, in Newport, Rhode Island, the first synagogue in what will become the United States.

Touro Synagogue

The USS Alfred becomes the first vessel to fly the Grand Union Flag (the precursor to the Stars and Stripes); the flag is hoisted by John Paul Jones.

USS Alfred (1774)Grand Union FlagFlag of the United StatesJohn Paul Jones

At Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself Emperor of the French.

Notre Dame CathedralCoronation of Napoleon IEmperor of the French

War of the Third Coalition: Battle of Austerlitz: French troops under Napoleon Bonaparte decisively defeat a joint Russo-Austrian force.

War of the Third CoalitionBattle of AusterlitzRussian EmpireAustrian Empire

Monroe Doctrine: In a State of the Union message, U.S. President James Monroe proclaims American neutrality in future European conflicts, and warns European powers not to interfere in the Americas.

Monroe DoctrineState of the Union addressJames Monroe

Manifest destiny: In a State of the Union message, U.S. President James K. Polk proposes that the United States should aggressively expand into the West.

Manifest destinyState of the Union addressJames K. Polk

Franz Joseph I becomes Emperor of Austria.

Franz Joseph I of AustriaEmperor of Austria

French President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte overthrows the Second Republic.

Napoleon IIIFrench Second Republic

Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte becomes Emperor of the French as Napoleon III.

Napoleon III

Militant abolitionist leader John Brown is hanged for his October 16 raid on Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

Abolitionism in the United StatesJohn Brown (abolitionist)October 16John Brown's raid on Harpers FerryHarpers Ferry, West Virginia

At Tremont Temple in Boston, British author Charles Dickens gives his first public reading in the United States.

Tremont TempleBostonCharles Dickens

Philippine-American War: The Battle of Tirad Pass, termed "The Filipino Thermopylae", is fought.

Philippine-American WarBattle of Tirad Pass

Puyi becomes Emperor of China at the age of two.

PuyiEmperor of China

World War I: Russia and the Central Powers sign an armistice at Brest-Litovsk, and peace talks leading to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk begin.

World War IBrest-LitovskTreaty of Brest-Litovsk

Following 19 years of Ford Model T production, the Ford Motor Company unveils the Ford Model A as its new automobile.

Ford Model TFord Motor CompanyFord Model A (1927-31)

Great Depression: In a State of the Union message, U.S. President Herbert Hoover proposes a $150 million (equivalent to $2,150,000,000 in 2016) public works program to help generate jobs and stimulate the economy.

Great DepressionState of the Union addressHerbert Hoover

New York City's LaGuardia Airport opens.

LaGuardia Airport

World War II: During the Manhattan Project, a team led by Enrico Fermi initiates the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

World War IIManhattan ProjectEnrico FermiChicago Pile-1

World War II: A Luftwaffe bombing raid on the harbour of Bari, Italy, sinks numerous cargo and transport ships, including the American SS John Harvey, which is carrying a stockpile of World War I-era mustard gas.

Air raid on BariBariSS John HarveyMustard gas

Jerusalem Riots of 1947: Riots break out in Jerusalem in response to the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine.

Jerusalem Riots of 1947JerusalemUnited Nations Partition Plan for Palestine

Korean War: Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River ended, with decisive Chinese victory, UN forces were completely expelled from North Korea.

Korean WarBattle of the Ch'ongch'on RiverUnited Nations CommandNorth Korea

Cold War: The United States Senate votes 65 to 22 to censure Joseph McCarthy for "conduct that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute".

McCarthyismUnited States SenateJoseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthy

The Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty, between the United States and Taiwan, is signed in Washington, D.C.

Sino-American Mutual Defense TreatyTaiwan

The Granma reaches the shores of Cuba's Oriente Province. Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and 80 other members of the 26th of July Movement disembark to initiate the Cuban Revolution.

Granma (yacht)CubaOriente ProvinceFidel CastroChe Guevara

In a nationally broadcast speech, Cuban leader Fidel Castro declares that he is a Marxist-Leninist and that Cuba is going to adopt Communism.

CubaFidel CastroMarxism-LeninismCommunism

Vietnam War: After a trip to Vietnam at the request of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield becomes the first American official to comment adversely on the war's progress.

Vietnam WarVietnamJohn F. KennedyU.S. Senate Majority LeaderMike Mansfield

The United States Environmental Protection Agency begins operations.

United States Environmental Protection Agency