On This Day — 15 June
2000s
2013
A bomb explodes on a bus in the Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least 25 people and wounding 22 others.
June 2013 Quetta attacks
1900s
1996
The Troubles: The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonates a powerful truck bomb in the middle of Manchester, England, devastating the city centre and injuring 200 people.
The Troubles
1992
The United States Supreme Court rules in United States v. Álvarez-Machaín that it is permissible for the United States to forcibly extradite suspects in foreign countries and bring them to the United States for trial, without approval from those other countries.
Supreme Court of the United States
1991
In the Philippines, Mount Pinatubo erupts in the second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, killing over 800 people.
Mount Pinatubo
1977
After the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, the first democratic elections take place in Spain.
Francisco Franco
1972
Cathay Pacific Flight 700Z is destroyed by a bomb over Pleiku, Vietnam (then South Vietnam) and kills 81 people.
Cathay Pacific Flight 700Z
1944
World War II: The United States invades Saipan, capital of Japan's South Seas Mandate.
Battle of Saipan
1944
In the Saskatchewan general election, the CCF, led by Tommy Douglas, is elected and forms the first socialist government in North America.
1944 Saskatchewan general election
1940
World War II: Operation Aerial begins: Allied troops start to evacuate France, following Germany's takeover of Paris and most of the nation.
World War II
1920
Following the 1920 Schleswig plebiscites, Northern Schleswig is transferred from Germany to Denmark.
1920 Schleswig plebiscites
1919
John Alcock and Arthur Brown complete the first nonstop transatlantic flight when they reach Clifden, County Galway, Ireland.
John Alcock (RAF officer)
1904
A fire aboard the steamboat SS General Slocum in New York City's East River kills 1,000.
PS General Slocum
1800s
1896
One of the deadliest tsunamis in Japan's history kills more than 22,000 people.
1896 Sanriku earthquake
1864
American Civil War: The Second Battle of Petersburg begins.
American Civil War
1859
Ambiguity in the Oregon Treaty leads to the "Northwestern Boundary Dispute" between American and British/Canadian settlers.
Pig War (1859)
1846
The Oregon Treaty extends the border between the United States and British North America, established by the Treaty of 1818, westward to the Pacific Ocean.
Oregon Treaty
1834
The looting of Safed commences.
1834 looting of Safed
1804
New Hampshire approves the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratifying the document.
New Hampshire
Before 1800
1607
Virginia Colonists finished building James's Fort, to defend against Spanish and Indian attacks.
Jamestown, Virginia
1520
Pope Leo X threatens to excommunicate Martin Luther in Exsurge Domine.
Pope Leo X
1410
In a decisive battle at Onon River, the Mongol forces of Oljei Temur were decimated by the Chinese armies of the Yongle Emperor.
Yongle Emperor's campaigns against the Mongols
1410
Ottoman Interregnum: Süleyman Çelebi defeats his brother Musa Çelebi outside the Byzantine capital, Constantinople.
Ottoman Interregnum
1312
At the Battle of Rozgony, King Charles I of Hungary wins a decisive victory over the family of Palatine Amade Aba.
Battle of Rozgony
1310
The Tiepolo conspiracy, seeking to seize power in the Republic of Venice, is thwarted after bloody street clashes in Venice. The suppression of the revolt will lead to the creation of the Council of Ten.
Tiepolo conspiracy
1246
With the death of Frederick II, Duke of Austria, the Babenberg dynasty ends in Austria.
Frederick II, Duke of Austria
1219
Northern Crusades: Danish victory at the Battle of Lindanise (modern-day Tallinn) establishes the Danish Duchy of Estonia.
Northern Crusades
1215
King John of England puts his seal to Magna Carta.
John, King of England
1184
The naval Battle of Fimreite is won by the Birkebeiner pretender Sverre Sigurdsson. Sigurdsson takes the Norwegian throne and King Magnus V of Norway is killed.
Battle of Fimreite
923
Battle of Soissons: King Robert I of France is killed and King Charles the Simple is arrested by the supporters of Duke Rudolph of Burgundy.
Battle of Soissons (923)
844
Louis II is crowned as king of Italy at Rome by pope Sergius II.
Louis II of Italy
-763
Assyrians record a solar eclipse that is later used to fix the chronology of Mesopotamian history.
Assyria