1541
On May 8, 1541, south of present-day Memphis, Tennessee, Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River, one of the first European explorers to ever do so. After building flatboats, de Soto and his 400 ragged troops crossed the great river under the cover of night, in order to avoid the armed Native Americans who patrolled the river daily in war canoes. From there the conquistadors headed into present-day Arkansas, continuing their fruitless two-year-old search for gold and silver in the American wilderness.
1725
John Lovewell, US Indian fighter, passed away in a battle.
1815
Malaun of Nepal was captured by General David Ochterlony.
1901
British commission claimed famine has taken 1.25 mil. lives since 1899; blames overpopulation.
1906
Prannath Thapar, former General of India, was born.
1910
Tolstoy replies to Gandhi ji that question of Passive Resistance is of greatest importance, not only for India but for humanity.
1930
Gandhi followers mob Bombay to protest his arrest.
1933
Gandhi started hunger strike to protest the British repression of untouchables.
1945
On this day in 1945, both Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe Day. Cities in both nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine.
1954
Indian Government decided to integrate Chandranagar in West Bengal which was under the rule of the French.
1959
Dalai Lama will not be allowed to campaign for Tibetan independence in India. India wants to maintain friendly relations with Communist China.
1962
Ravindra Bharti University established in West Bengal.
1963
Centenary of Indian Red Cross was celebrated. Today is birthday of its founder.
1990
A 255 kmph cyclone lashes Andhra Pradesh coast causing heavy losses to life and property.
1992
Eighth Plan outlay increased to Rs. 7,98,000 crores; Public Sector outlay goes up to 45%.
1997
India decided to import currency notes for the first time.
1997
Mumbai High Court holds that Christian women can seek divorce on the sole ground of being subjected to cruelty and need not prove infidelity on the part of their husbands or desertion.
Related Articles: