Video: 'Bridget Bishop - The First to Die in the Salem Witch Trials'
(Friday, June 10, 1692) — The first execution resulting from the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts took place today as Bridget Bishop, 60, was found guilty today of “certaine Detestable Arts called Witchcraft & Sorceries” and hanged in Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Continue reading Bridget Bishop hanged in first execution resulting from Salem witch trials 330 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 10 1692)
Video: 'Joan of Arc Biography - The life of of Joan of Arc Documentary'
(Wednesday, May 30, 1431) — Joan of Arc, a 19-year-old French woman who said she had been sent to help Charles VII during the Hundred Years’ War, was burned at the stake today at the Old Marketplace in Rouen after a pro-English church court overseen by English commanders found her guilty of heresy. Continue reading Joan of Arc, 19, burned at the stake after heresy conviction by pro-English church court 590 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 30 1431)
Video: 'Hernando de Soto - Explorer | Mini Bio | BIO'
(Sunday, May 8, 1541) — Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto today became the first European colonizer to reach the Mississippi River, the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system on the North American continent.
Continue reading Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto becomes first European colonizer to reach Mississippi River 480 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1541)
Video: '21st December 1620: The first Mayflower Pilgrims land at Plymouth to establish the Plymouth Colony'
(Thursday, December 21, 1620) — The first of the Mayflower Pilgrims landed today at Plymouth, Massachusetts, where they established the Plymouth Colony.
Continue reading The Pilgrims arrive in the New World aboard the Mayflower 400 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 21 1620)
Video: '28th November 1520: Magellan sails from the Atlantic to the Pacific'
(Wednesday, November 28, 1520; during Magellan’s circumnavigation) — On his way around the world, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan became the first European to sail into the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic Ocean today after passing through the South American strait that now bears his name.
Continue reading Ferdinand Magellan becomes first European to sail Pacific Ocean 500 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 28 1520)
Video: 'Born in the USA?'
(Monday, October 5, 1829) — Chester A. Arthur, the 21st president of the United States (1881-1885) and the 20th vice president of the United States (1881) during the administration of James A. Garfield (and succeeded to the presidency upon Garfield’s assassination), was born Chester Alan Arthur today in Fairfield, Vermont. Continue reading U.S. President Chester A. Arthur born in Fairfield, Vermont 190 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 1829)
Video: '20 and Odd: Africans' Arrival in 1619'
(Friday, August 20, 1619) — The English ship White Lion docked today at Port Comfort (now Fort Monroe) in the British colony of Virginia, carrying “20 and odd” kidnapped Angolans who had been prisoners on a Portuguese ship that was captured by the White Lion’s crew. Continue reading First enslaved Africans arrive in British North America 400 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1619)
Video: 'Guardians of Jamestown, 1619: The First General Assembly Meeting in Virginia'
(Friday, July 30, 1619) — The first elected legislative assembly in America — the House of Burgesses — convened today in Jamestown in the Virginia Colony in the choir loft of the town’s church. Continue reading First representative assembly in America convenes in Jamestown, Virginia 400 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 30 1619)
Video: '22nd November 1718: The pirate Blackbeard killed by sailors under Robert Maynard'
(Saturday, November 22, 1718) — English pirate Edward Teach — better known as Blackbeard, an English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of Britain’s North American colonies — and several of his crew were killed today by a small force of sailors led by Lieutenant Robert Maynard during a battle off present-day North Carolina. Continue reading English pirate Blackbeard killed 300 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 22 1718)
Video: 'Nero Roman Emperor (Documentary)' (June 9, A.D. 68, at 43:57)
(Thursday, June 9, A.D. 68) — Roman Emperor Nero, 30, died today outside Rome after he learned that he had been tried in absentia and condemned to death as a public enemy and then forcing his private secretary, Epaphroditos, to stab him. Continue reading Roman Emperor Nero commits suicide 1950 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 9 A.D. 68)
