Today in History

1356		In a landmark battle of the Hundred Years’ War, English Prince Edward defeats the French at Poitiers.
1544		Francis, the king of France, and Charles V of Austria sign a peace treaty in Crespy, France, ending a 20-year war.
1692		Giles Corey is pressed to death for standing mute and refusing to answer charges of witchcraft brought against him. He is the only person in America to have suffered this punishment.
1777		American forces under Gen. Horatio Gates meet British troops led by Gen. John Burgoyne at Saratoga Springs, NY.
1783		The first hot-air balloon is sent aloft in Versailles, France with animal passengers including a sheep, a rooster, and a duck.
1788		Charles de Barentin becomes lord chancellor of France.
1841		The first railway to span a frontier is completed between Strasbourg and Basel, in Europe.
1863		In Georgia, the two-day Battle of Chickamauga begins as Union troops under George Thomas clash with Confederates under Nathan Bedford Forrest.
1893		New Zealand becomes the first nation to grant women the right to vote.
1900		President Emile Loubet of France pardons Jewish army captain Alfred Dreyfus, twice court-martialed and wrongly convicted of spying for Germany.
1918		American troops of the Allied North Russia Expeditionary Force receive their baptism of fire near the town of Seltso against Soviet forces.
1948		Moscow announces it will withdraw soldiers from Korea by the end of the year.
1955		Argentina’s President Juan Peron is overthrown by rebels.
1957		The first underground nuclear test takes place in Nevada.
1970		The first Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts (originally called the Pilton Festival) is held near Pilton, Somerset, England.
1973		Carl XVI Gustaf is invested as King of Sweden, following the death of his grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf.
1982		The first documented emoticons, :-) and :-(, are posted on the Carnegie Mellon University Bulletin Board System by Scott Fahlman.
1985		An earthquake kills thousands in Mexico City.
1985		The Parents Music Resource Center which was formed by Tipper Gore (wife of then-Senator Al Gore) and other political wives lobbies for Parental Advisory stickers on music packaging.
1991		German hikers near the Austria-Italy border discover the naturally preserved mummy of a man from about 3,300 BC; Europe’s oldest natural human mummy, he is dubbed Otzi the Iceman because his lower half was encased in ice.
2006		A military coup in Bangkok  revokes Thailand’s constitution and establishes martial law.