Inventions, firsts, and turning points tied to today’s date — each one sourced and dated.
In 1884, delegates from 25 nations met in Washington and picked a brass line in London to anchor the entire planet's longitude.
Hunting nuisance smudges that might fool comet seekers, Charles Messier logged a faint glow that turned out to be the first spiral galaxy ever found.
At dawn on Friday, October 13, 1307, the French king sprang a meticulously planned trap on the powerful crusading order.
