On This Day In History
July 8th
1099 First Crusade: 15,000 starving Christian soldiers march in religious procession around Jerusalem as its Muslim defenders look on
1497 Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama departs on his first voyage, will become the 1st European to reach India by sea
1777 Independent Vermont introduces a new constitution, prohibiting slavery
1800 Dr Benjamin Waterhouse gives 1st cowpox vaccination in the US to his son to prevent smallpox
1853 Commodore Matthew C. Perry sails his frigate Susquehanna into Tokyo Bay, opening Japan to Western influence and trade
1948 500th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated in Moscow
1949 South Africa’s Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act commences, prohibiting marriage or a sexual relationship between White people and people of other races
Did You Know?
The Mounties (North West Mounted Police) begin their March West from Fort Dufferin
Today in History in 1874
Would You Believe?
Alfred Carlton Gilbert‘s patent for the Erector Set is issued, it becomes one of the most popular toys of all time
Today in History in 1913