World Events Today
- The Napoleonic Wars, a series of conflicts between the French Empire and its allies against various European powers, mainly the British, started today in 1803
- During World War II and after 4 months of fighting, The Battle of Monte Cassino ended today in 1944, it helped pave a road for the Allied assault on Rome
- Apollo 10 launched today in 1969, it was the first spacecraft to carry a color television camera and, make a live color television transmission from space
Entertainment Events Today
- The epic war movie Braveheart, starring Mel Gibson as the Scottish legend William Wallace, was released today in 1995
- Eimear Quinn, representing Ireland, won the 41st Eurovision Song Contest today in 1996, she sang The Voice
- The computer-animated comedy movie Shrek, starring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, went on general release today in 2001 in the United States
Family Events Today
- Franz Capra, who produced and directed the movie classic It’s a Wonderful Life, was born today in 1897 in Bisacquino, Italy
- The American singer, actor and television personality Pierino Ronald Como, better known as Perry Como, whose career spanned half a century, was born today in 1912 in Pennsylvania
- Karol Józef Wojtyła, better known as Pope Saint John Paul II, was born today in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland
Main Event Today
- Napoleon was declared Emperor of the French today in 1804 by the French Senate, the French people overwhelmingly confirmed the title in a referendum later in the year
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Visit Your Relatives Day