Ivan the Terrible proclaimed grand prince of Moscow
On this day in 1533, the three-year-old who became Ivan the Terrible was proclaimed grand prince of Moscow upon the death of his father, Grand Prince Vasily III, with his mother ruling in Ivan’s name until her death in 1538. 1533.
The unmanned space vehicle Mars Pathfinder was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in order to explore the surface of Mars. 1996.
Several months after the death of drummer John Bonham, the British rock band Led Zeppelin announced that it was officially disbanding; the group later re-formed for short one-off performances on several occasions. 1980.
American civil rights leader Fred Hampton, a charismatic member of the Black Panthers, was shot and killed during a police raid in Chicago; his death caused public outrage, and the ensuing investigations brought greater scrutiny of the FBI‘s attempts to dismantle the Panthers and other Black organizations. 1969.
Jeff Bridges—an American actor known for his laid-back personality and his versatility—was born. 1949.
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson departed for France to attend the Paris Peace Conference, where, following the cessation of hostilities in World War I, the League of Nations was established and the Treaty of Versailles was drafted. 1918.
