On This Day — June 15

Famous events, births, and deaths from June 15 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

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53 events · 219 births · 86 deaths recorded for June 15.

🕰️ Notable Events on June 15

2013 — A bomb explodes on a bus in the Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least 25 people and wounding 22 others. Wikipedia ↗
2012 — Nik Wallenda becomes the first person to successfully tightrope walk directly over Niagara Falls. Wikipedia ↗
2001 — Leaders of the People's Republic of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan formed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Wikipedia ↗
1996 — The Troubles: The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonates a powerful truck bomb in the middle of Manchester, England, devastating the city centre and injuring 200 people. Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Israel and Vatican City establish full diplomatic relations. Wikipedia ↗
1992 — The United States Supreme Court rules in United States v. Álvarez-Machaín that it is permissible for the United States to forcibly extradite suspects in foreign countries and bring them to the United States for trial, without approval from those other countries. Wikipedia ↗
1991 — In the Philippines, Mount Pinatubo erupts in the second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th Century. In the end, over 800 people die. Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Rembrandt's painting Danaë is attacked by a man (later judged insane) who throws sulfuric acid on the canvas and cuts it twice with a knife. Wikipedia ↗
1978 — King Hussein of Jordan marries American Lisa Halaby, who takes the name Queen Noor. Wikipedia ↗
1977 — After the death of dictator (in 1975) Francisco Franco, the first democratic elections took place in Spain on this day. Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Red Army Faction co-founder Ulrike Meinhof is captured by police in Langenhagen. Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Charles Manson goes on trial for the Sharon Tate murders. Wikipedia ↗
1944 — World War II: Battle of Saipan: The United States invade Japanese-occupied Saipan. Wikipedia ↗
1944 — In the Saskatchewan general election, the CCF, led by Tommy Douglas, is elected and forms the first socialist government in North America. Wikipedia ↗
1940 — World War II: Operation Ariel begins: Allied troops start to evacuate France, following Germany's takeover of Paris and most of the nation. Wikipedia ↗
1937 — A German expedition led by Karl Wien loses sixteen members in an avalanche on Nanga Parbat. It is the worst single disaster to occur on an 8000m peak. Wikipedia ↗
1936 — First flight of the Vickers Wellington bomber. Wikipedia ↗
1934 — The United States Great Smoky Mountains National Park is founded. Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Bessie Coleman earns her pilot's license, becoming the first female pilot of African-American descent. Wikipedia ↗
1920 — A new border treaty between Germany and Denmark gives northern Schleswig to Denmark. Wikipedia ↗
1919 — John Alcock and Arthur Brown complete the first nonstop transatlantic flight when they reach Clifden, County Galway, Ireland. Wikipedia ↗
1916 — United States President Woodrow Wilson signs a bill incorporating the Boy Scouts of America, making them the only American youth organization with a federal charter. Wikipedia ↗
1904 — A fire aboard the steamboat SS General Slocum in New York City's East River kills 1,000. Wikipedia ↗
1896 — The deadliest tsunami in Japan's history kills more than 22,000 people. Wikipedia ↗
1888 — Crown Prince Wilhelm becomes Kaiser Wilhelm II; he will be the last Emperor of the German Empire. Due to the death of his predecessors Wilhelm I and Frederick III, 1888 is the Year of the Three Emperors. Wikipedia ↗
1878 — Eadweard Muybridge takes a series of photographs to prove that all four feet of a horse leave the ground when it runs; the study becomes the basis of motion pictures. Wikipedia ↗
1877 — Henry Ossian Flipper becomes the first African American cadet to graduate from the United States Military Academy. Wikipedia ↗
1864 — American Civil War: The Second Battle of Petersburg begins. Wikipedia ↗
1864 — Arlington National Cemetery is established when 200 acres (0.81 km2) around Arlington Mansion (formerly owned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee) are officially set aside as a military cemetery by U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Wikipedia ↗
1859 — Pig War: Ambiguity in the Oregon Treaty leads to the "Northwestern Boundary Dispute" between United States and British/Canadian settlers. Wikipedia ↗
1846 — The Oregon Treaty establishes the 49th parallel as the border between the United States and Canada, from the Rocky Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Wikipedia ↗
1844 — Charles Goodyear receives a patent for vulcanization, a process to strengthen rubber. Wikipedia ↗
1836 — Arkansas is admitted as the 25th U.S. state. Wikipedia ↗
1808 — Joseph Bonaparte becomes King of Spain. Wikipedia ↗
1804 — New Hampshire approves the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratifying the document. Wikipedia ↗
1776 — Delaware Separation Day: Delaware votes to suspend government under the British Crown and separate officially from Pennsylvania. Wikipedia ↗
1752 — Benjamin Franklin proves that lightning is electricity (traditional date, the exact date is unknown). Wikipedia ↗
1670 — The first stone of Fort Ricasoli is laid down in Malta. Wikipedia ↗
1667 — The first human blood transfusion is administered by Dr. Jean-Baptiste Denys. Wikipedia ↗
1648 — Margaret Jones is hanged in Boston for witchcraft in the first such execution for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Wikipedia ↗
1520 — Pope Leo X threatens to excommunicate Martin Luther in Exsurge Domine. Wikipedia ↗
1502 — Christopher Columbus lands on the island of Martinique on his fourth voyage. Wikipedia ↗
1410 — In a decisive battle at Onon River, the Mongol forces of Oljei Temur were decimated by the Chinese armies of the Yongle Emperor. Wikipedia ↗
1389 — Battle of Kosovo: The Ottoman Empire defeats Serbs and Bosnians. Wikipedia ↗
1312 — At the Battle of Rozgony, King Charles I of Hungary wins a decisive victory over the family of Palatine Amade Aba. Wikipedia ↗
1300 — The city of Bilbao is founded. Wikipedia ↗
1246 — With the death of Frederick II, Duke of Austria, the Babenberg dynasty ends in Austria. Wikipedia ↗
1219 — Northern Crusades: Danish victory at the Battle of Lyndanisse (modern-day Tallinn) establishes the Danish Duchy of Estonia. Wikipedia ↗
1215 — King John of England puts his seal to Magna Carta. Wikipedia ↗
1184 — King Magnus V of Norway is killed at the Battle of Fimreite. Wikipedia ↗
923 — Battle of Soissons: King Robert I of France is killed and King Charles the Simple is arrested by the supporters of Duke Rudolph of Burgundy. Wikipedia ↗
844 — Louis II is crowned as king of Italy at Rome by pope Sergius II. Wikipedia ↗
Assyrians record a solar eclipse that is later used to fix the chronology of Mesopotamian history. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on June 15

1997 — Madison Kocian, American gymnast Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Vincent Janssen, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Kanna Arihara, Japanese singer Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Irfan Hadžić, Bosnian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Michał Kopczyński, Polish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Mohamed Salah, Egyptian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Dafne Schippers, Dutch heptathlete and sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Emily Harman, American tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Víctor Cabedo, Spanish cyclist (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Bryan Clauson, American racing driver (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Ani Mijačika, Croatian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — James Maloney, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Trevor Plouffe, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Nadine Coyle, Irish singer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Luke Hodge, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Eva Hrdinová, Czech tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Tim Lincecum, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Mauro Rizzo, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Edison Toloza, Colombian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Derek Anderson, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Julia Fischer, German violinist and pianist Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Laura Imbruglia, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Josh McGuire, Canadian fencer Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Katie Chapman, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Mike Delany, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Abdur Razzak, Bangladeshi cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Billy Martin, American guitarist, songwriter, and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1981 — John Paintsil, Ghanaian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Jeremy Reed, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Craig Dietrich, Digital artist, scholar, and educator Wikipedia ↗
1980 — David Lyons, Australian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Christian Rahn, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Charles Zwolsman, Jr., Dutch race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Wilfred Bouma, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Zach Day, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Michael Doleac, American basketball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Jiří Ryba, Czech decathlete Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Tore Andre Flo, Norwegian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Neil Patrick Harris, American actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Justin Leonard, American golfer Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Andy Pettitte, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Christos Myriounis, Greek basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Christian Bauman, American soldier and author Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Gaëlle Méchaly, French soprano Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Leah Remini, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Žan Tabak, Croatian basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Jesse Bélanger, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Ice Cube, American rapper, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Idalis DeLeón, American singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Nasos Galakteros, Greek basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Oliver Kahn, German footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Maurice Odumbe, Kenyan cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Cédric Pioline, French tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Károly Güttler, Hungarian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Raimonds Vējonis, Latvian politician, 9th President of Latvia Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Annelies Bredael, Belgian rower Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Karim Massimov, Kazakhstani politician, 7th Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Adam Smith, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Courteney Cox, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Gavin Greenaway, English composer and conductor Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Michael Laudrup, Danish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Marina Azyabina, Russian hurdler Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Mario Gosselin, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Helen Hunt, American actress, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Brad Armstrong, American wrestler (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Chris Morris, English actor, satirist, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Andrea Rost, Hungarian soprano Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Dave McAuley, Irish boxer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Michèle Laroque, French actress, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Marieke van Doorn, Dutch field hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Alan Brazil, Scottish footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Eileen Davidson, American model and actress Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Wade Boggs, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Scott Norton, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Riccardo Paletti, Italian race car driver (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Brad Gillis, American guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Stephen Lloyd, Kenyan-English businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Yevgeny Kiselyov, Russian-Ukrainian journalist Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Lance Parrish, American baseball player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Polly Draper, American actress, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Julie Hagerty, American model and actress Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Terri Gibbs, American country music singer and keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Paul Rusesabagina, Rwandan humanitarian Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Zdeňka Šilhavá, Czech discus thrower and shot putter Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Beverley Whitfield, Australian swimmer (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Jim Belushi, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Vilma Bardauskienė, Lithuanian long jumper Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Eje Elgh, Swedish race car driver and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Xi Jinping, Chinese engineer and politician, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of China Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Raphael Wallfisch, English cellist and educator Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Satya Pal Jain, Indian lawyer and politician, Additional Solicitor General of India Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Vance A. Larson, American painter (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1951 — John Redwood, English politician, Secretary of State for Wales Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Steve Walsh, American rock singer-songwriter and musician (Kansas) Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Uğur Erdener, Turkish ophthalmologist and professor Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Ghanaian nurse and politician Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Lakshmi Mittal, Indian-English businessman Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Dusty Baker, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Simon Callow, English actor and director Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Russell Hitchcock, Australian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Jim Varney, American actor, comedian, and screenwriter (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Mike Holmgren, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Alan Huckle, English politician and diplomat, Governor of Anguilla Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Henry McLeish, Scottish footballer, academic, and politician, 2nd First Minister of Scotland Wikipedia ↗
1947 — John Hoagland, American photographer and journalist (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Noddy Holder, English rock singer-songwriter, musician, and actor Wikipedia ↗
1946 — John Horner, American paleontologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Demis Roussos, Egyptian-Greek singer-songwriter and bass player (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Miriam Defensor Santiago, Filipino judge and politician (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Robert Sarah, Guinean cardinal Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Lawrence Wilkerson, American colonel Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Robert D. Keppel, American police officer and academic Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Johnny Hallyday, French singer and actor Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Danish politician, 38th Prime Minister of Denmark Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Muff Winwood, English record producer, songwriter, and bass player Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Ian Greenberg, Canadian broadcaster, founded Astral Media Wikipedia ↗
1942 — John E. McLaughlin, American diplomat Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Peter Norman, Australian sprinter (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Neal Adams, American illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Harry Nilsson, American singer-songwriter (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Ward Connerly, American activist and businessman, founded the American Civil Rights Institute Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Billy Williams, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Pierre Billon, Swiss-Canadian author and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Waylon Jennings, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
1936 — William Levada, American cardinal Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Ruby Nash Garnett, American R&B singer (Ruby & the Romantics) Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Mohammad-Ali Rajai, Iranian politician, 2nd President of Iran (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — David Alliance, Baron Alliance, Iranian-English businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Mario Cuomo, American lawyer and politician, 52nd Governor of New York (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Zia Fariduddin Dagar, Indian singer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Bernie Faloney, American-Canadian football player and sportscaster (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Joseph Gilbert, English air marshal Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Brian Sewell, English art dealer and critic (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — John Fretwell, English soldier and diplomat, British Ambassador to France (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Miguel Méndez, American author and academic (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Marcel Pronovost, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Ross Andru, American illustrator (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Ibn-e-Insha, Indian-Pakistani poet and author (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Hugo Pratt, Italian author and illustrator (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
1926 — Alfred Duraiappah, Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer and politician (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Richard Baker, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Attilâ İlhan, Turkish poet, author, and critic (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Hédi Fried, Swedish author and psychologist Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Ezer Weizman, Israeli general and politician, 7th President of Israel (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Erland Josephson, Swedish actor and director (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Ninian Stephen, English-Australian lieutenant, judge, and politician, 20th Governor-General of Australia (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗