World Events Today
- Regent’s Canal in London opened today in 1820, it connected the Grand Union Canal with the River Thames
- The German-born Dutch-Jewish diarist Anne Frank made her last diary entry today in 1944, she and her family were arrested 3 days later
- The Māori Language Act became effective today in 1987 in New Zealand, it gave official language status to the Māori language
Entertainment Events Today
- Adolf Hitler opened the 11th Summer Olympic Games today in 1936 in Berlin in Nazi Germany
- MTV was launched today in 1981
- The novel A Game of Thrones, by the American author George R R Martin, was published today in 1996
Family Events Today
- The American author Herman Melville, who wrote the novel Moby-Dick, was born today in 1819 in New York
- Martha Jane Cannary, better known as the American frontierswoman Calamity Jane, friend of Wild Bill Hickok, died today in 1903 aged 51
- The British writer and composer Lionel Bart, who created the musical Oliver!, was born today in 1930 in London
Main Event Today
- The Slavery Abolition Act came into effect today in 1834, it meant that slavery was officially abolished across the British Empire
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Milkshake Day