On This Day in History — June 22

Highlights of June 22

• 2023 — Irish broadcaster RTÉ announced that between 2017 and 2022 it had paid €345,000 more than had been previously disclosed to presenter Ryan Tubridy (pictured). Read more
• 2022 — An earthquake registering 6.2 Mw caused the deaths of at least 1,000 people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Read more
• 2009 — Two Metro trains collided in Washington, D.C., killing nine people and injuring eighty others. Read more
• 2002 — A magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck northwestern Iran, killing at least 230 people and injuring 1,300 others; the official response, perceived to be slow, later caused widespread public anger. Read more
• 1979 — Former British Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. Read more
• 1966 — Vietnamese Buddhist activist leader Thích Trí Quang was arrested as the military junta of Nguyễn Cao Kỳ crushed the Buddhist Uprising. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: German minister of foreign affairs Joachim von Ribbentrop presented a declaration of war to the Soviet ambassador Vladimir Dekanozov in Berlin. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: As Axis troops began their invasion of the Soviet Union, the Lithuanian Activist Front started an uprising to liberate Lithuania from Soviet occupation. Read more
• 1922 — Irish Republican Army gunmen assassinated British member of parliament Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson. Read more
• 1911 — King George V and Queen Mary (both pictured) were crowned at Westminster Abbey in London. Read more
• 1813 — War of 1812: After learning of a forthcoming American attack, Laura Secord walked 20 mi (32 km) from Queenston, Upper Canada, to warn British lieutenant James FitzGibbon (depicted). Read more
• 1812 — France declared war on Russia, starting Napoleon's invasion two days later. Read more
• 1807 — The British warship HMS Leopard pursued and attacked the American frigate USS Chesapeake (pictured) in the belief that the crew of the latter included deserters from the Royal Navy. Read more
• 1593 — Habsburg troops defeated a larger Ottoman force at the Battle of Sisak in the Kingdom of Croatia, triggering the Long Turkish War. Read more

Events

• 2025 — The United States conducts airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Read more
• 2022 — An earthquake occurs in eastern Afghanistan resulting in over 1,000 deaths. Read more
• 2015 — The Afghan National Assembly building is attacked by gunmen after a suicide bombing. All six of the gunmen are killed and 18 people are injured. Read more
• 2012 — Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo is removed from office by impeachment and succeeded by Federico Franco. Read more
• 2012 — A Turkish Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter plane is shot down by the Syrian Armed Forces, killing both of the plane's pilots and worsening already-strained relations between Turkey and Syria. Read more
• 2009 — A Washington D.C Metro train traveling southbound near Fort Totten station collides into another train waiting to enter the station. Nine people are killed in the collision (eight passengers and the train operator) and at least 80 others are injured. Read more
• 2007 — The small town of Elie, Manitoba is hit by Canada's most intense tornado on record. Read more
• 2002 — An earthquake measuring 6.5 Mw strikes a region of northwestern Iran killing at least 261 people and injuring 1,300 others and eventually causing widespread public anger due to the slow official response. Read more
• 2000 — Wuhan Airlines Flight 343 is struck by lightning and crashes into Wuhan's Hanyang District, killing 49 people. Read more
• 1990 — Cold War: Checkpoint Charlie is dismantled in Berlin. Read more
• 1986 — The famous Hand of God goal, scored by Diego Maradona in the quarter-finals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup match between Argentina and England, ignites controversy. This was later followed by the Goal of the Century. Argentina wins 2–1 and later goes on to win the World Cup. Read more
• 1984 — Virgin Atlantic launches with its first flight from London to Newark. Read more
• 1979 — Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. Read more
• 1978 — Charon, the first of Pluto's satellites to be discovered, was first seen at the United States Naval Observatory by James W. Christy. Read more
• 1969 — The Cuyahoga River catches fire in Cleveland, Ohio, drawing national attention to water pollution, and spurring the passing of the Clean Water Act and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Read more
• 1966 — Vietnamese Buddhist activist leader Thích Trí Quang was arrested as the military junta of Nguyen Cao Ky crushed the Buddhist Uprising. Read more
• 1965 — The Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea is signed. Read more
• 1962 — Air France Flight 117 crashes on approach to Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport in Guadeloupe, killing 112 people. Read more
• 1948 — The ship HMT Empire Windrush brought the first group of 802 West Indian immigrants to Tilbury, marking the start of modern immigration to the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1948 — King George VI formally gives up the title "Emperor of India", half a year after Britain actually gave up its rule of India. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The Battle of Okinawa comes to an end with an American flag-raising ceremony. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: Opening day of the Soviet Union's Operation Bagration against the Army Group Centre. Read more
• 1944 — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs into law the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the G.I. Bill. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: Erwin Rommel is promoted to Field Marshal after the Axis capture of Tobruk. Read more
• 1942 — The Pledge of Allegiance is formally adopted by U.S. Congress. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: France is forced to sign the Second Compiègne armistice with Germany, in the same railroad car in which the Germans signed the Armistice in 1918. Read more
• 1922 — British Army Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson is killed by the Irish Republican Army helping to spark the Irish Civil War. Read more
• 1918 — The Hammond Circus Train Wreck kills 86 and injures 127 near Hammond, Indiana. Read more
• 1911 — George V and Mary of Teck are crowned King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Read more
• 1911 — Mexican Revolution: Government forces bring an end to the Magonista rebellion of 1911 in the Second Battle of Tijuana. Read more
• 1907 — The London Underground's Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway opens. Read more
• 1898 — Spanish–American War: In a chaotic operation, 6,000 men of the U.S. Fifth Army Corps begins landing at Daiquirí, Cuba, about 16 miles (26 km) east of Santiago de Cuba. Lt. Gen. Arsenio Linares y Pombo of the Spanish Army outnumbers them two-to-one, but does not oppose the landings. Read more
• 1897 — British colonial officers Charles Walter Rand and Lt. Charles Egerton Ayerst are assassinated in Pune, Maharashtra, India by the Chapekar brothers and Mahadeo Vinayak Ranade, who are later caught and hanged. Read more
• 1893 — The Royal Navy battleship HMS Camperdown accidentally rams the British Mediterranean Fleet flagship HMS Victoria which sinks taking 358 crew with her, including the fleet's commander, Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon. Read more
• 1870 — The United States Department of Justice is created by the U.S. Congress. Read more
• 1839 — Cherokee leaders Major Ridge, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot are assassinated for signing the Treaty of New Echota, which had resulted in the Trail of Tears. Read more
• 1813 — War of 1812: After learning of American plans for a surprise attack on Beaver Dams in Ontario, Laura Secord sets out on a thirty kilometres (19 mi) journey on foot to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon. Read more
• 1812 — France declares war on Russia, starting Napoleon's invasion. Read more
• 1807 — In the Chesapeake–Leopard affair, the British warship HMS Leopard attacks and boards the American frigate USS Chesapeake. Read more
• 1793 — Haitian Revolution: The Battle of Cap-Français ends with French Republican troops and black slave insurgents capturing the city. Read more
• 1783 — A poisonous cloud caused by the eruption of the Laki volcano in Iceland reaches Le Havre in France. Read more
• 1774 — The British pass the Quebec Act, setting out rules of governance for the colony of Quebec in British North America. Read more
• 1633 — The Holy Office in Rome forces Galileo Galilei to recant his view that the Sun, not the Earth, is the center of the Universe in the form he presented it in, after heated controversy. Read more
• 1593 — Battle of Sisak: Allied Christian troops defeat the Ottomans. Read more
• 1555 — A Mughal army under Humayun and Bairam Khan defeats an Afghan army under Sikandar Shah Suri in the battle of Sirhind, allowing Humayun to capture Delhi and reestablish the Mughal Empire in India. Read more
• 1527 — Fatahillah expels Portuguese forces from Sunda Kelapa, now regarded as the foundation of Jakarta. Read more
• 910 — The Hungarians defeat the East Frankish army near the Rednitz River, killing its leader Gebhard, Duke of Lotharingia (Lorraine). Read more
• 816 — Election of pope Stephen IV following the death of pope Leo III earlier that month. Read more
• 813 — Battle of Versinikia: The Bulgars led by Krum defeat the Byzantine army near Edirne. Emperor Michael I is forced to abdicate in favor of Leo V the Armenian. Read more
• 431 — The Council of Ephesus, the third ecumenical council, begins, dealing with Nestorianism. Read more
• 168 BC — Battle of Pydna: Romans under Lucius Aemilius Paullus defeat Macedonian King Perseus who surrenders after the battle, ending the Third Macedonian War. Read more
• 217 BC — Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV Philopator of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Read more

Born on June 22

• 2006 — Zépiqueno Redmond, Dutch footballer Read more
• 2001 — Luciano Gondou, Argentine footballer Read more
• 1999 — Sam Retford, Australian-English actor Read more
• 1996 — Mikel Merino, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1996 — Rodri, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1994 — Sébastien Haller, French-Ivorian footballer Read more
• 1994 — Marnus Labuschagne, South African-Australian cricketer Read more
• 1994 — Carlos Vinícius Santos de Jesus, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1993 — Loris Karius, German footballer Read more
• 1993 — Danny Ward, Welsh footballer Read more
• 1992 — Ura Kazuki, Japanese sumo wrestler Read more
• 1992 — Harry Reid, British actor Read more
• 1991 — Hugo Mallo, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1990 — Sebastian Jung, German footballer Read more
• 1989 — Cédric Mongongu, Congolese footballer Read more
• 1989 — Jung Yong-hwa, South Korean singer-songwriter and actor Read more
• 1988 — Omri Casspi, Israeli basketball player Read more
• 1987 — Danny Green, American basketball player Read more
• 1987 — Lee Min-ho, South Korean actor, singer, model, creative director and businessman Read more
• 1987 — Nikita Rukavytsya, Ukrainian-Australian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Thomas Leuluai, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
• 1984 — Dustin Johnson, American golfer Read more
• 1984 — Rubén Iván Martínez, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1984 — Jerome Taylor, Jamaican cricketer Read more
• 1984 — Janko Tipsarević, Serbian tennis player Read more
• 1983 — Allar Raja, Estonian rower Read more
• 1982 — Andoni Iraola, Spanish footballer and manager Read more
• 1982 — Ian Kinsler, American baseball player Read more
• 1982 — Soraia Chaves, Portuguese actress and model Read more
• 1981 — Sione Lauaki, New Zealand rugby player (died 2017) Read more
• 1981 — Aquivaldo Mosquera, Colombian footballer Read more
• 1980 — Ilya Bryzgalov, Russian ice hockey player Read more
• 1980 — Stephanie Jacobsen, Hong Kong-Australian actress Read more
• 1979 — Joey Cheek, American speed skater Read more
• 1979 — Thomas Voeckler, French cyclist Read more
• 1978 — Champ Bailey, American football player Read more
• 1978 — Dan Wheldon, English racing driver (died 2011) Read more
• 1975 — Urmas Reinsalu, Estonian academic and politician, 28th Estonian Minister of Defence Read more
• 1974 — Jo Cox, British politician (died 2016) Read more
• 1974 — Donald Faison, American actor Read more

Died on June 22

• 2025 — Arnaldo Pomodoro, Italian sculptor (born 1926) Read more
• 2023 — Harry Markowitz, American Nobel economist (born 1927) Read more
• 2022 — Bruton Smith, American racetrack promoter (born 1927) Read more
• 2022 — Yves Coppens, French anthropologist (born 1934) Read more
• 2018 — Vinnie Paul, American musician (born 1964) Read more
• 2017 — Mao Kobayashi, Japanese newscaster and actress (born 1982) Read more
• 2017 — Quett Masire, Botswanan politician (born 1926) Read more
• 2015 — James Horner, American composer and conductor (born 1953) Read more
• 2014 — Fouad Ajami, Lebanese-American author and academic (born 1945) Read more
• 2014 — Rama Narayanan, Indian director and producer (born 1949) Read more
• 2013 — Henning Larsen, Danish architect, designed the Copenhagen Opera House (born 1925) Read more
• 2013 — Allan Simonsen, Danish race car driver (born 1978) Read more
• 2012 — Juan Luis Galiardo, Spanish actor and producer (born 1922) Read more
• 2011 — Coşkun Özarı, Turkish footballer and coach (born 1931) Read more
• 2008 — Natalia Bekhtereva, Russian neuroscientist and psychologist (born 1924) Read more
• 2008 — George Carlin, American comedian, actor, and author (born 1937) Read more
• 2008 — Dody Goodman, American actress and dancer (born 1914) Read more
• 2007 — Erik Parlevliet, Dutch field hockey player (born 1964) Read more
• 2004 — Bob Bemer, American computer scientist and engineer (born 1920) Read more
• 2004 — Mattie Stepanek, American poet and author (born 1990) Read more
• 2003 — Vasil Bykaŭ, Belarusian war novelist (born 1924) Read more
• 1997 — Ted Gärdestad, Swedish singer-songwriter (born 1956) Read more
• 1997 — Gérard Pelletier, Canadian journalist and politician (born 1919) Read more
• 1995 — Leonid Derbenyov, Russian poet and songwriter (born 1931) Read more
• 1995 — Al Hansen, American sculptor and author (born 1927) Read more
• 1993 — Pat Nixon, American educator, 37th First Lady of the United States (born 1912) Read more
• 1990 — Ilya Frank, Russian physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1908) Read more
• 1988 — Dennis Day, American singer and actor (born 1916) Read more
• 1987 — Fred Astaire, American actor and dancer (born 1899) Read more
• 1984 — Joseph Losey, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1909) Read more
• 1980 — Joseph Cohen, British solicitor, property developer, cinema magnate and Jewish community leader (born 1889) Read more
• 1979 — Louis Chiron, Monégasque race car driver (born 1899) Read more
• 1977 — Jacqueline Audry, French director and screenwriter (born 1908) Read more
• 1977 — Peter Laughner, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1952) Read more
• 1974 — Darius Milhaud, French composer and educator (born 1892) Read more
• 1970 — Đặng Thùy Trâm, Vietnamese surgeon and author (born 1942) Read more
• 1969 — Judy Garland, American actress and singer (born 1922) Read more
• 1966 — Thaddeus Shideler, American hurdler (born 1883) Read more
• 1965 — David O. Selznick, American screenwriter and producer (born 1902) Read more
• 1964 — Havank, Dutch journalist and author (born 1904) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Aaron of Aleth; Christian feast day: Alban, first recorded Martyr in Britain (commemoration, Anglicanism); Christian feast day: Blessed Pope Innocent V; Christian feast day: Eusebius of Samosata (Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church); Christian feast day: John Fisher (Catholic Church); Christian feast day: Nicetas of Remesiana; Christian feast day: Paulinus of Nola; Christian feast day: Thomas More (Catholic Church); Christian feast day: June 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Anti-Fascist Struggle Day (Croatia); Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War (Belarus); Father's Day (Guernsey, Isle of Man, and Jersey); Teachers' Day (El Salvador); Windrush Day (UK)

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