Discover · History

On this day — March 13

A hand-curated thread of what happened on this date, across centuries.

2020

Politics

President Donald Trump declares the COVID-19 pandemic to be a national emergency in the United States.

2020

Milestone

Breonna Taylor is killed by police officers who were forcibly entering her home in Louisville, Kentucky

her death sparked extensive protests against racism and police brutality.

2020

Politics

Katerina Sakellaropoulou is sworn in as the first female President of Greece amid strict COVID-19 measures.

2016

Milestone

The Ankara bombing kills at least 37 people.

2016

Milestone

Three gunmen attack two hotels in the Ivory Coast town of Grand-Bassam

killing at least 19 people.

2015

Milestone

Serbian Army Mi-17 helicopter crashes near Belgrade airport while transporting a 5-day-old baby with respiratory problems to hospital, killing all 7 on board.

2013

Milestone

The 2013 papal conclave elects Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio taking the name Pope Francis as the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church.

2012

Milestone

The Sierre coach crash kills 28 people

including 22 children.

2003

Milestone

An article in Nature identifies the Ciampate del Diavolo as 350,000-year-old hominid footprints.

1997

Milestone

The Missionaries of Charity choose Sister Nirmala to succeed Mother Teresa as their leader.

1996

Milestone

The Dunblane massacre leads to the death of sixteen primary school children and one teacher in Dunblane

Scotland.

1993

Milestone

The 1993 Storm of the Century affects the eastern United States

dropping feet of snow in many areas.

1992

Disaster

The Mw  6.6 Erzincan earthquake strikes eastern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe).

1989

Science

Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-29 carrying the TDRS-4 satellite.

1988

Milestone

The Seikan Tunnel

the longest tunnel in the world with an undersea segment, opens between Aomori and Hakodate, Japan.

President Donald Trump declares the COVID-19 pandemic to be a national emergency in the United States.

Breonna Taylor is killed by police officers who were forcibly entering her home in Louisville, Kentucky

Katerina Sakellaropoulou is sworn in as the first female President of Greece amid strict COVID-19 measures.

The Ankara bombing kills at least 37 people.

Three gunmen attack two hotels in the Ivory Coast town of Grand-Bassam

Serbian Army Mi-17 helicopter crashes near Belgrade airport while transporting a 5-day-old baby with respiratory problems to hospital, killing all 7 on board.

The 2013 papal conclave elects Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio taking the name Pope Francis as the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church.

The Sierre coach crash kills 28 people

An article in Nature identifies the Ciampate del Diavolo as 350,000-year-old hominid footprints.

The Missionaries of Charity choose Sister Nirmala to succeed Mother Teresa as their leader.

The Dunblane massacre leads to the death of sixteen primary school children and one teacher in Dunblane

The 1993 Storm of the Century affects the eastern United States

The Mw 6.6 Erzincan earthquake strikes eastern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe).

Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-29 carrying the TDRS-4 satellite.

The Seikan Tunnel

The Mw  6.6 Erzincan earthquake strikes eastern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe).