On This Day in History — June 11

Highlights of June 11

• 2012 — Two earthquakes struck northern Afghanistan, triggering a massive landslide that buried a village and killed 75 people. Read more
• 2008 — Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper apologised to the First Nations for past governments' policies of forced assimilation. Read more
• 2007 — Mudslides caused by heavy monsoon rainfall and exacerbated by hill cutting killed at least 128 people in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Read more
• 2001 — Timothy McVeigh, detonator of a truck bomb in front of the Oklahoma federal building, was executed by lethal injection for using a weapon of mass destruction, among other charges. Read more
• 2001 — Robert Edward Dyer was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment for conducting a six-month-long letter-bomb campaign against the British supermarket chain Tesco. Read more
• 1963 — Vietnamese monk Thích Quảng Đức burned himself to death in Saigon to protest the persecution of Buddhists by Catholic South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem's administration. Read more
• 1963 — The University of Alabama was desegregated as Governor George Wallace stepped aside after defiantly blocking the entrance to an auditorium (pictured). Read more
• 1923 — Kitosh, an African labourer, died after having been flogged by his British employer, in a case that eventually led to reform of the legal system of the Kenya Colony. Read more
• 1920 — During their national convention in Chicago, Republican Party leaders gathered in negotiations at The Blackstone Hotel (pictured) to select their presidential candidate, leading to the phrase "smoke-filled room". Read more
• 1917 — Alexander (pictured) was crowned King of Greece, succeeding his father Constantine I, who had abdicated. Read more
• 1914 — Around 2,000 members of European society attended a ball at Kenwood House, England, in one of the last major social events before the outbreak of the First World War. Read more
• 1847 — Prince Afonso died at the age of two, leaving his father Pedro II, the last emperor of Brazil, without a male heir. Read more
• 1837 — Tensions between Yankees and Irish Americans in Boston, Massachusetts, erupted in the Broad Street Riot. Read more
• 1775 — The Battle of Machias, the first naval engagement of the American Revolutionary War, commenced in and around the port of Machias in what is now eastern Maine. Read more
• 1724 — J. S. Bach led his cantata O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, in Leipzig on the first Sunday after Trinity, beginning his chorale cantata cycle. Read more
• 1594 — Philip II of Spain recognized the sovereign rights of the principalía, local Philippine nobles and chieftains who had converted to Catholicism. Read more
• 1509 — Catherine of Aragon (pictured) married King Henry VIII of England, becoming the first of his six wives. Read more
• 1345 — Inspecting a new prison without being escorted by his bodyguard, the megas doux Alexios Apokaukos, chief minister of the Byzantine Empire, was lynched by the prisoners. Read more
• 806 — Arab–Byzantine wars: The Abbasid army departed Raqqa in northern Syria to begin an invasion of Byzantine-controlled Asia Minor. Read more

Events

• 2013 — Greece's public broadcaster ERT is shut down by then-prime minister Antonis Samaras. It would be opened exactly two years later by then-prime minister Alexis Tsipras. Read more
• 2012 — Seventy-five people die in a landslide triggered by two earthquakes in Afghanistan; an entire village is buried. Read more
• 2010 — The first FIFA World Cup held on African soil kicks off in South Africa. Read more
• 2008 — Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper makes a historic official apology to Canada's First Nations in regard to abuses at a Canadian Indian residential school. Read more
• 2008 — The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is launched into orbit. Read more
• 2007 — Mudslides in Chittagong, Bangladesh, kill 130 people. Read more
• 2004 — Cassini–Huygens makes its closest flyby of the Saturn moon Phoebe. Read more
• 2002 — Antonio Meucci is acknowledged as the first inventor of the telephone by the United States Congress. Read more
• 2001 — Timothy McVeigh is executed for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing. Read more
• 1998 — Compaq Computer pays US$9 billion for Digital Equipment Corporation in the largest high-tech acquisition. Read more
• 1987 — Diane Abbott, Paul Boateng and Bernie Grant are elected as the first black MPs in Great Britain. Read more
• 1981 — A magnitude 6.9 earthquake at Golbaf, Iran, kills at least 2,000. Read more
• 1978 — Altaf Hussain founds the student political movement All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation (APMSO) in Karachi University. Read more
• 1971 — The U.S. Government forcibly removes the last holdouts to the Native American Occupation of Alcatraz, ending 19 months of control. Read more
• 1970 — After being appointed on May 15, Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington officially receive their ranks as U.S. Army general officers, becoming the first women to do so. Read more
• 1968 — Lloyd J. Old identifies the first cell surface antigens that could differentiate among different cell types. Read more
• 1964 — World War II veteran Walter Seifert attacks an elementary school in Cologne, Germany, killing at least eight children and two teachers, and seriously injuring several more, with a home-made flamethrower and a lance. Read more
• 1963 — American Civil Rights Movement: Governor of Alabama George Wallace defiantly stands at the door of Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama in an attempt to block two black students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, from attending that school. Later in the day, accompanied by federalized National Guard troops, they are able to register. Read more
• 1963 — Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức burns himself with gasoline in a busy Saigon intersection to protest the lack of religious freedom in South Vietnam. Read more
• 1963 — John F. Kennedy addresses Americans from the Oval Office proposing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which would revolutionize American society by guaranteeing equal access to public facilities, ending segregation in education, and guaranteeing federal protection for voting rights. Read more
• 1962 — Frank Morris, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin allegedly become the only prisoners to escape from the prison on Alcatraz Island. Read more
• 1956 — Start of Gal Oya riots, the first reported ethnic riots that target minority Sri Lankan Tamils in the Eastern Province. The total number of deaths is reportedly 150. Read more
• 1955 — Eighty-three spectators are killed and at least one hundred are injured after an Austin-Healey and a Mercedes-Benz collide at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the deadliest ever accident in motorsports. Read more
• 1944 — USS Missouri, the last battleship built by the United States Navy and future site of the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, is commissioned. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: The United States agrees to send Lend-Lease aid to the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1942 — Free French Forces retreat from Bir Hakeim after having successfully delayed the Axis advance. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: The Siege of Malta begins with a series of Italian air raids. Read more
• 1938 — Second Sino-Japanese War: The Battle of Wuhan starts. Read more
• 1937 — Great Purge: The Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin executes eight army leaders. Read more
• 1936 — Inventor Edwin Armstrong demonstrates FM broadcasting to an audience of engineers at the FCC in Washington, DC. Read more
• 1936 — The London International Surrealist Exhibition opens. Read more
• 1920 — During the U.S. Republican National Convention in Chicago, U.S. Republican Party leaders gather in a room at the Blackstone Hotel to come to a consensus on their candidate for the U.S. presidential election, leading the Associated Press to coin the political phrase "smoke-filled room". Read more
• 1919 — Sir Barton wins the Belmont Stakes, becoming the first horse to win the U.S. Triple Crown. Read more
• 1917 — King Alexander assumes the throne of Greece after his father, Constantine I, is deemed to have abdicated under pressure from allied armies occupying Athens. Read more
• 1903 — A group of Serbian officers storms the royal palace and assassinates King Alexander I of Serbia and his wife, Queen Draga. Read more
• 1901 — The boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand are extended by the UK to include the Cook Islands. Read more
• 1898 — The Hundred Days' Reform, a planned movement to reform social, political, and educational institutions in China, is started by the Guangxu Emperor, but is suspended by Empress Dowager Cixi after 104 days. (The failed reform led to the abolition of the Imperial examination in 1905.) Read more
• 1895 — Paris–Bordeaux–Paris, sometimes called the first automobile race in history or the "first motor race", takes place. Read more
• 1892 — The Limelight Department, one of the world's first film studios, is officially established in Melbourne, Australia. Read more
• 1882 — Nationalist riots break out in Alexandria directed against foreign domination. More than 50 Europeans are killed, including the British consul. Read more
• 1865 — The Naval Battle of the Riachuelo is fought on the rivulet Riachuelo (Argentina), between the Paraguayan Navy on one side and the Brazilian Navy on the other. The Brazilian victory was crucial for the later success of the Triple Alliance (Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina) in the Paraguayan War. Read more
• 1837 — The Broad Street Riot occurs in Boston, fueled by ethnic tensions between Yankees and Irish. Read more
• 1825 — The first cornerstone is laid for Fort Hamilton in New York City. Read more
• 1805 — A fire consumes large portions of Detroit in the Michigan Territory. Read more
• 1788 — Russian explorer Gerasim Izmailov reaches Alaska. Read more
• 1776 — American Revolution: The Second Continental Congress appoints Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston to the Committee of Five to draft a declaration of independence. Read more
• 1775 — The Coronation of Louis XVI in Reims, the last coronation before the French Revolution. Read more
• 1775 — The American Revolutionary War's first naval engagement, the Battle of Machias, results in the capture of a small British naval vessel. Read more
• 1770 — British explorer Captain James Cook runs aground on the Great Barrier Reef. Read more
• 1748 — Denmark adopts the characteristic Nordic Cross flag later taken up by all other Scandinavian countries. Read more
• 1724 — Johann Sebastian Bach leads his cantata O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort (O eternity, you word of thunder), BWV 20, on the first Sunday after Trinity, beginning his second cycle, the chorale cantata cycle. Read more
• 1702 — Anglo-Dutch forces skirmish with French forces before the walls of Nijmegen and prevent its fall. Read more
• 1685 — James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, lands at Lyme in Dorset with loyal followers with the intent to depose king James II of England. Read more
• 1594 — Philip II recognizes the rights and privileges of the local nobles and chieftains in the Philippines, which paved way to the stabilization of the rule of the Principalía (an elite ruling class of native nobility in Spanish Philippines). Read more
• 1559 — Don Tristan de Luna y Arellano sails for Florida with a party of 1,500, intending to settle on the gulf coast (Vera Cruz, Mexico). Read more
• 1509 — Henry VIII of England marries Catherine of Aragon. Read more
• 1488 — The Battle of Sauchieburn is fought between rebel Lords and James III of Scotland, resulting in the death of the king. Read more
• 1482 — The Treaty of Fotheringhay is signed between the English and Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany, the rebellious brother of king James III of Scotland. Read more
• 1429 — Hundred Years' War: Start of the Battle of Jargeau. Read more
• 1345 — The megas doux Alexios Apokaukos, chief minister of the Byzantine Empire, is lynched by political prisoners. Read more

Born on June 11

• 2004 — Katrina Scott, American tennis player Read more
• 2001 — Billy Gilmour, Scottish footballer Read more
• 1999 — Eartha Cumings, Scottish footballer Read more
• 1999 — Kai Havertz, German footballer Read more
• 1997 — Kodak Black, American rapper Read more
• 1997 — Unai Simón, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1997 — Jorja Smith, English singer Read more
• 1996 — Philip Billing, Danish footballer Read more
• 1994 — Ivana Baquero, Spanish actress Read more
• 1992 — Davide Zappacosta, Italian footballer Read more
• 1991 — Daniel Howell, English Youtuber Read more
• 1991 — Kyle Troup, American bowler Read more
• 1990 — Christophe Lemaitre, French sprinter Read more
• 1989 — Maya Moore, American basketball player Read more
• 1988 — Jesús Fernández Collado, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1988 — Claire Holt, Australian actress Read more
• 1988 — Yui Aragaki, Japanese actress, voice actress, singer-songwriter, model, radio host Read more
• 1987 — Gonzalo Castro, German footballer Read more
• 1986 — Sebastian Bayer, German long jumper Read more
• 1986 — Shia LaBeouf, American actor Read more
• 1985 — Brad Jacobs, Canadian curler Read more
• 1984 — Andy Lee, Irish boxer Read more
• 1984 — Vágner Love, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1983 — Chuck Hayes, American basketball player Read more
• 1983 — José Reyes, Dominican baseball player Read more
• 1983 — Anna Maria Żukowska (born 1983), Polish politician and jurist Read more
• 1982 — Vanessa Boslak, French pole vaulter Read more
• 1982 — Jacques Freitag, South African high jumper (died 2024) Read more
• 1982 — Eldar Rønning, Norwegian skier Read more
• 1982 — Diana Taurasi, American basketball player Read more
• 1981 — Emiliano Moretti, Italian footballer Read more
• 1981 — Kristo Tohver, Estonian footballer and referee Read more
• 1979 — Ali Boussaboun, Moroccan-Dutch footballer Read more
• 1978 — Joshua Jackson, Canadian-American actor Read more
• 1978 — Daryl Tuffey, New Zealand cricketer Read more
• 1977 — Ryan Dunn, American stunt performer (died 2011) Read more
• 1977 — Geoff Ogilvy, Australian golfer Read more
• 1976 — Reiko Tosa, Japanese runner Read more
• 1974 — Fragiskos Alvertis, Greek basketball player, coach, and manager Read more
• 1973 — José Manuel Abundis, Mexican footballer and coach Read more

Died on June 11

• 2026 — Bajrakitiyabha, Thai royal, daughter of Vajiralongkorn (born 1978) Read more
• 2025 — Brian Wilson, American singer and songwriter, co-founder of the Beach Boys (born 1942) Read more
• 2024 — Tony Lo Bianco, American actor (born 1936) Read more
• 2024 — Howard Fineman, American journalist (born 1948) Read more
• 2024 — Françoise Hardy, French singer-songwriter and actress (born 1944) Read more
• 2024 — Majed Abu Maraheel, Palestinian long-distance runner and football player (born 1963) Read more
• 2022 — Hilary Devey, English businesswoman, television presenter (born 1957) Read more
• 2020 — Stella Pevsner, children's author (born 1921) Read more
• 2019 — Billy McKee, Irish republican and founding member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (born 1921) Read more
• 2016 — Rudi Altig, German track and road racing cyclist (born 1937) Read more
• 2015 — Ornette Coleman, American saxophonist, violinist, trumpet player, and composer (born 1930) Read more
• 2015 — Ian McKechnie, Scottish footballer and manager (born 1941) Read more
• 2015 — Ron Moody, English actor and singer (born 1924) Read more
• 2015 — Dusty Rhodes, American wrestler (born 1945) Read more
• 2014 — Ruby Dee, American actress (born 1922) Read more
• 2014 — Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Spanish conductor and composer (born 1933) Read more
• 2014 — Susan B. Horwitz, American computer scientist, engineer, and academic (born 1955) Read more
• 2014 — Mipham Chokyi Lodro, Tibetan lama and educator (born 1952) Read more
• 2014 — Benjamin Mophatlane, South African businessman (born 1973) Read more
• 2013 — Miller Barber, American golfer (born 1931) Read more
• 2013 — Robert Fogel, American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1926) Read more
• 2013 — Kristiāns Pelšs, Latvian ice hockey player (born 1992) Read more
• 2013 — Vidya Charan Shukla, Indian politician, Indian Minister of External Affairs (born 1929) Read more
• 2012 — Ann Rutherford, Canadian-American actress (born 1917) Read more
• 2012 — Teófilo Stevenson, Cuban boxer and engineer (born 1952) Read more
• 2011 — Eliyahu M. Goldratt, Israeli physicist and engineer (born 1947) Read more
• 2008 — Ove Andersson, Swedish race car driver (born 1938) Read more
• 2008 — Võ Văn Kiệt, Vietnamese soldier and politician, 5th Prime Minister of Vietnam (born 1922) Read more
• 2007 — Mala Powers, American actress (born 1931) Read more
• 2006 — Neroli Fairhall, New Zealand archer (born 1944) Read more
• 2005 — Vasco Gonçalves, Portuguese general and politician, 103rd Prime Minister of Portugal (born 1922) Read more
• 2005 — Anne-Marie Alonzo, Canadian playwright, poet, novelist, critic and publisher (born 1951) Read more
• 2004 — Egon von Fürstenberg, Swiss fashion designer (born 1946) Read more
• 2003 — David Brinkley, American journalist and author (born 1920) Read more
• 2001 — Timothy McVeigh, American terrorist (born 1968) Read more
• 2001 — Amalia Mendoza, Mexican singer and actress (born 1923) Read more
• 1999 — DeForest Kelley, American actor and screenwriter (born 1920) Read more
• 1998 — Catherine Cookson, English author (born 1906) Read more
• 1996 — Brigitte Helm, German-Swiss actress (born 1908) Read more
• 1994 — A. Thurairajah, Sri Lankan engineer and academic (born 1934) Read more

Holidays & observances

Brazilian Navy Day (Brazil); Christian feast day: Alice of Schaerbeek; Christian feast day: Barnabas the Apostle; Christian feast day: Bartholomew the Apostle (Eastern Christianity); Christian feast day: Blessed Ignatius Maloyan (Armenian Catholic Church); Christian feast day: Blessed Maria Schininà; Christian feast day: Paula Frassinetti; Christian feast day: Riagail of Bangor; Christian feast day: Rosa Francisca Dolors Molas Vallvé; Christian feast day: Blessed Yolanda of Poland; Christian feast day: June 11 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Davis Day (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada); King Kamehameha I Day (Hawaii, United States); Student Day (Honduras)

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