June This Day in History, Historic Events
What Historic June Events Occurred on Your Birthday?
Our “This Day in History for June” section contains historical June events categorized by month and day. See what happened on your birthday, or any day of the year. Find out what happened on this day in June.
Major Historical June Events
June 1 Historical Events
Anne Boylen is crowned Queen of England. (1533)
The term “Don’t give up the ship!’ is coined by Captain James Lawrence, U.S. Chesapeake. (1813)
Snow falls in Buffalo and Rochester, NY, Cleveland, Ohio, and other places. (1843)
Peace Bridge between the United States and Canada opens. (1927)
Superman Comic is published. (1938)
Ed Sullivan’s final show. (1971)
June 2 Historical Events
Salem Witch Trials begin. (1692)
PT Barnum’s circus begins its first tour of the U.S. (1835)
Grover Cleveland is married while in serving as U.S. president. (1886)
Congress grants U.S. citizenship to people of American Indian descent. (1924)
Ken Jennings begins his 74-day winning streak on the television game show Jeopardy. (2004)
June 3 Historical Events
Hernando de Soto claims Florida for Spain. (1537)
The first bikini bathing suit is displayed (in Paris, France). (1946)
The Rolling Stones begin their first US tour. (1964)
The last episode of the original Star Trek television series airs on NBC. (1969)
Tiananmen Massacre, Chinese troops shoot pro-democracy protestors. (1989)
June 4 Historical Events
China becomes the first to record a solar eclipse. (780 B.C.)
Roquefort cheese is first made in a cave in Roquefort, France. (1070)
WWII Battle of Midway begins. It lasts from June 4-7. (1942)
A patent for the ATM is granted to Don Wetzel, Tom Barnes, and George Chastain. (1973)
After winning 122 straight races, hurdler Edwin Moses’ winning streak is broken. (1987)
June 5 Historical Events
Harriet Beecher Stoewe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is published. (1861)
Bobby Kennedy is assassinated. (1968)
June 6 Historical Events
The YMCA is founded in London, England. (1844)
Chrysler Corporation is founded. (1925)
The first drive-in theater opened in Camden, New Jersey. (1933)
WWII D-Day. Allied forces successfully landed in Normandy, France. (1944)
Henry Morgan is the first to take his shirt off on television. (1946)
“Sex and the City” television show premieres. (1998)
June 7 Historical Events
The United Colonies makes a name change and becomes The United States. (1775)
George T. Sampson of Dayton Ohio patents the first clothes dryer, using a rack and heat from a stove. (1892)
Mahatma Gandhi performs his first of many acts of civil disobedience. (1893)
U.S. Army tests the first use of a machine gun mounted on an airplane. (1922)
June 8 Historical Events
June 8, 452 – by Attila the Hun. (452)
Congress approves the penny postcard. (1872)
Bing Crosby records “Silent Night”. (1942)
“The Milton Berle Show” premieres on NBC TV. (1948)
NFL and AFL announce plan to become NFC and AFC in one league, beginning in 1970. (1966)
June 9 Historical Events
China leases Hong Kong to the United Kingdom for 99 years. (1898)
Brinks unveils the first armored security van. (1898)
Robert Goddard patents the first rocket-powered airplane. (1931)
Disney’s Donald Duck makes his debut. (1934)
June 10 Historical Events
Dutch colonists settle on Manhattan Island. (1610)
Bridget Bishop is the first woman to be convicted and hung at Salem witch trials. (1692)
Benjamin Franklin flies a kite in a lightning storm and discovers electricity.
June 10, 1735 – Alcoholics Anonymous was founded. (1752)
John Dillinger robs his first bank in New Carlisle, OH. He stole $10,600. (1933)
In Argentina, Laslo and Georg Biro file a patent for the ballpoint pen. (1943)
NASA launches the Spirit Rover, beginning the Mars Exploration Rover program. (2003)
Celebrate Dad on Father's Day
June 11 Historical Events
Troy is sacked and burned. Estimated date 1184 B.C.
Benjamin Franklin invents the Franklin stove. (1742)
The movie E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial was released. (1982)
The talent show “American Idol” premiers on FOX television channel. It moved to ABC in 2018. (2002)
June 12 Historical Events
John Lee Richmond pitches baseball’s first “Perfect Game”. (1880)
Al Capone is indicted on 5,000 counts of prohibition and perjury. (1931)
The Baseball Hall of Fame is dedicated in Cooperstown, NY. (1939)
Anne Frank receives a diary as a birthday present. (1942)
Sonny & Cher make their first television appearance on American Bandstand. (1965)
U.S. President Ronald Reagan challenges Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. (1987)
June 13 Historical Events
The first roller coaster ride opens at Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY. It cost 5 cents a ride. (1884)
The U.S. Department of Labor is created. (1884)
Pioneer 10 becomes the first satellite to leave the solar system. (1983)
June 14 Historical Events
The U. S. Army is formed. (1775)
Isaac Fischer Jr. patents sandpaper. (1834)
Thomas J. Watson renames the Computer Tabulating Recording Company (CTR) to International Business Machines Company (IBM). (1924)
Benjamin Grushkin patents Chlorophyll. (1938)
President Richard M. Nixon installs a tape-recording system in the White House. (1971)
The original movie version of “Dracula”, starring Bela Lugosi, is released. (1975)
JP Morgan becomes the first bank to create its own cryptocurrency. (2017)
June 15 Historical Events
King John of England places the royal seal (signs) on the Magna Carta. (1215)
George Washington is appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army. (1775)
The first Teddy Bear is introduced in America. It is made by Morris and Rose Michtom. (1903)
Adolph Hitler announces the construction of the Volkswagen Beetle. (1936)
Walt Disney’s “Cinderella” is released. (1950)
Leon Spinks defeats Muhammad Ali in 15 rounds for the World Heavyweight title. (1976)
Cleveland Browns Head Coach Bill Belichick is fired. His record in Cleveland: 36-44. (1996)
June 16 Historical Events
Pope Gregory the Great issues a decree saying “God Bless You” is the proper response to a sneeze. (600)
The first issue of “Ladies Home Journal” is published. (1883)
Fidel Castro overthrows Fulgencio Batista and becomes the 16th Prime Minister of Cuba. (1959)
The premiere of Ghostbusters II. (1959)
June 17 Historical Events
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place, one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” (1775)
Charles Goodyear receives his first rubber patent. (1837)
The Statute of Liberty arrived in New York City. (1885)
U.S. Supreme Court rules against Bible reading and prayer in public schools. (1963)
Accused of murdering his wife, police chase O.J. Simpson in his Ford Bronco for 1 1/2 hours as Americans watch live on national television. (1994)
June 18 Historical Events
The three-century Tang Dynasty rule begins in China with the coronation of Li Yuan as Emperor of Gaozu. (618)
William Penn founds Philadelphia. (1682)
The War of 1812 begins as the United States declares war with Britain. (1812)
The first American fly-casting tournament was held in Utica, NY. (1861)
Women’s rights advocate Susan B. Anthony is arrested for voting in Rochester, N.Y. She is fined $100. (1873)
Sally Ride becomes the first woman in space. (1983)
June 19 Historical Events
The Federal Communications Commission is created. (1934)
After an 83-day filibuster, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is approved. (1964)
June 20 Historical Events
The U.S. Congress approves the Great Seal of the United States and the bald eagle as its symbol. (1782)
Samuel Morse patents the telegraph. (1840)
President Andrew Johnson announces the Alaska purchase from the Russian Empire. The price tag: $7.2m. (1867)
The first rocket plane to use liquid propellants is tested. (1939)
Muhammad Ali is convicted of refusing induction into the armed services. (1967)
The movie “Jaws” was released. (1975)
The Summer Solstice Occurs in June. Summer is Here!
June 21 Historical Events
The first medical diploma in America is issued to Dr. John Archer from the College of Philadelphia. (1768)
The U.S. Constitution goes into effect as New Hampshire becomes the 9th state to ratify it. (1788)
Cyrus McCormick patents the reaping machine. (1834)
The first Ferris Wheel is introduced at the Chicago Columbian Exposition. (1893)
33 1/3RPM LP record format is introduced. It is planned to replace the 78RPM format. (1948)
Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River catches fire due to pollution. (1969)
Florida passes a law that prohibits wearing thong bathing suits. (1990)
June 22 Historical Events
Hanson Gregory creates the first Doughnut. (1847)
The U.S. Congress creates the Department of Justice. (1870)
The game of lawn tennis is created. (1874)
John Dillinger is named America’s first Public Enemy Number One. (1934)
June 23 Historical Events
US Secret Service is created. (1860)
Frederick Douglas is the first African American to be nominated for U.S. Vice President. He received one vote at the Republican convention. (1888)
Contraceptive pills are first sold. (1967)
The longest game in Professional Baseball is completed. Pawtucket Red Sox beat Rochester Red Wings 3-2 in 33 innings (game began 18th April) (1981)
Brexit: The United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union. (2016)
June 24 Historical Events
Henry VII is crowned the King of England. (1509)
A 450-ton meteor crashed in Chicora, PA. north of Pittsburgh. The only casualty was one cow…. RIP. (1938)
The deadline to convert silver certificate dollar bills into silver bullion. (1968)
The Orlando Magic takes LSU Center Shaquille O’Neal with the first pick of the NBA draft. (1992)
June 25 Historical Events
Governor John Winthrop of Massachusetts introduced the fork to American dining. At first, its use was considered sacrilegious. (1630)
Custer’s Last Stand: Lt Colonel George Custer and the 7th Cavalry are wiped out by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians at the Battle of Little Big Horn. (1876)
President Herbert Hoover authorizes the construction of the Boulder Dam. It was later renamed the Hoover Dam. (1929)
Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower is appointed commander of U.S. forces in Europe during WWII. (1942)
The Beatles release their hit song All You Need is Love. (1967)
Prince releases his album “Purple Rain”. (1984)
June 26 Historical Events
The toothbrush is invented in China. (1498)
The soap opera “The Guiding Light” moves from radio and premieres on television. It runs until 2009. (1952)
The Saint Lawrence Seaway is opened. (1959)
The Bar Code, or Universal Product Code, is introduced. (1974)
The U.S. returns Iwo Jima to Japan. (1976)
The CN tower in Toronto, Canada opens. (1976)
June 27 Historical Events
The song “Happy Birthday to You” was first sung. Also, see Famous Birthdays. (1859)
The Federal Savings and Loan Association is created. (1934)
President Harry S. Truman orders U.S. Forces to South Korea to defend against invading North Korean forces. (1950)
Atari Inc. is founded. (1972)
The U.S. creates the “Do Not Call” registry to combat unwanted telemarketing calls. (2003)
June 28 Historical Events
The final draft of the U.S. Constitution is submitted to the Continental Congress. (1776)
Colonel Robert Gibbon eats a tomato on the step of the courthouse in Salem, MA. to prove that they are not poisonous. (1820)
Labor Day is established as a holiday for federal employees. (1894)
Austria’s Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie are assassinated by a Bosnian Serb, leading to the start of WWI. (1914)
The Treaty of Versailles is signed, ending WW I. (1919)
In the third round of a heavyweight boxing match, Mike Tyson bites Evander Holyfield’s ear. Tyson was disqualified from the match and later suspended from boxing. (1977)
The bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list. (2007)
Professor Stephen Hawking hosts a ‘party for time travelers’ at the University of Cambridge. Invitations are not sent out until after the party. (2009)
June 29 Historical Events
Shakespeare’s Globe Theater burns down. (1613)
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is passed after an 83-day filibuster in the U.S. Senate. (1964)
Financier Bernie Madoff is sentenced to 150 years in US maximum prison, for conducting a massive Ponzi scheme. (2009)
June 30 Historical Events
French acrobat Blondin crosses over Niagara Falls on a tightrope. (1859)
A giant fireball, most likely from an air burst of a large meteoroid or comet flattens 80 million trees near the Stony Tunguska River in Yeniseysk Governorate, Russia. (1908)
Additional Resources
Famous Birthdays Who else was born on your Birthday? Find out!
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