Today In History

On this day –

1942 –

Former President of South Africa Jacob Zuma was born

2014 –

A forest fire swept into the port city of Valparaíso, Chile, destroying several thousand homes and claiming the lives of at least 16 people before it was extinguished several days later.

1983 –

Harold Washington was elected first African American mayor of Chicago.

1961 –

Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in outer space.

1945 –

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt died at age 63.

1892 –

A patent for the first portable typewriter was issued in the United States.

1606 –

The Union Flag, precursor to the Union Jack, was adopted as the national flag of Great Britain.