On This Day in History — June 25

Highlights of June 25

• 2022 — Russian invasion of Ukraine: Russian forces captured the city of Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine, after six weeks of fighting. Read more
• 2013 — In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the CIA acknowledged the existence of Area 51 (diagram pictured), a secretive U.S. Air Force facility in Nevada and a subject of various UFO, and other, conspiracy theories. Read more
• 2009 — Singer Michael Jackson died as a result of the combination of drugs in his body. Read more
• 1978 — The rainbow flag (original version pictured) representing gay pride was first flown at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day parade. Read more
• 1967 — More than an estimated 400 million people viewed Our World, the first live international satellite television production. Read more
• 1960 — Two cryptographers working for the U.S. National Security Agency left on vacation to Mexico, and proceeded to defect to the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1950 — The Korean War began with North Korean forces launching a pre-dawn raid over the 38th parallel into South Korea. Read more
• 1950 — The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 82 condemning the North Korean invasion of South Korea. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: U.S. Navy and Royal Navy ships bombarded Cherbourg, France, to support U.S. Army units engaged in the Battle of Cherbourg. Read more
• 1940 — Second World War: Operation Aerial, an evacuation of nearly 200,000 Allied soldiers from French ports, was completed. Read more
• 1926 — French police arrested Los Errantes, while they were preparing to assassinate Spanish king Alfonso XIII, as part of a mass raid against Spanish immigrants in Paris. Read more
• 1910 — The United States Congress passed the Mann Act, which prohibited the interstate transport of females for "immoral purposes". Read more
• 1658 — Anglo-Spanish War: The largest battle ever fought on Jamaica, the three-day Battle of Rio Nuevo, began. Read more

Events

• 2024 — Thousands of people storm Kenya's Parliament Buildings protesting the passing of the government's 2024/25 Finance Bill. Read more
• 2022 — The prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina inaugurates the longest bridge of Bangladesh, Padma Bridge. Read more
• 2022 — Russo-Ukrainian War: The Battle of Sievierodonetsk ends after weeks of heavy fighting with the Russian capture of the city, leading to the Battle of Lysychansk. Read more
• 2022 — Two people are killed and 21 more injured after a gunman opens fire at three sites in Oslo in a suspected Islamist anti-LGBTQ+ attack. Read more
• 2009 — The death of American entertainer Michael Jackson triggers an outpouring of worldwide grief as reactions online cause the flow of internet traffic to surge to unprecedented and historic levels. Read more
• 2007 — PMTair Flight 241 crashes in the Dâmrei Mountains in Kampot Province, Cambodia, killing all 22 people on board. Read more
• 1998 — In Clinton v. City of New York, the United States Supreme Court decides that the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 is unconstitutional. Read more
• 1997 — An uncrewed Progress spacecraft collides with the Russian space station Mir. Read more
• 1997 — The National Hockey League approved expansion franchises for Nashville (1998), Atlanta (1999), Columbus (2000), and Minneapolis-Saint Paul (2000). Read more
• 1996 — The Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia kills 19 U.S. servicemen. Read more
• 1996 — American rapper Jay-Z releases his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Read more
• 1993 — Kim Campbell is sworn in as the first female Prime Minister of Canada. Read more
• 1992 — Space Shuttle Columbia launches on STS-50, the first shuttle mission to carry Extended Duration Orbiter hardware. Read more
• 1991 — The breakup of Yugoslavia begins when Slovenia and Croatia declare their independence from Yugoslavia. Read more
• 1981 — Microsoft is restructured to become an incorporated business in its home state of Washington. Read more
• 1978 — The rainbow flag representing gay pride is flown for the first time during the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. Read more
• 1978 — Hosts Argentina defeat the Netherlands by a score of 3–1 in the final to win their first ever FIFA World Cup. Read more
• 1976 — Missouri Governor Kit Bond issues an executive order rescinding the Extermination Order, formally apologizing on behalf of the state of Missouri for the suffering it had caused to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Read more
• 1975 — Mozambique achieves independence from Portugal. Read more
• 1975 — Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declares a state of internal emergency in India. Read more
• 1960 — Cold War: Two cryptographers working for the United States National Security Agency left for vacation to Mexico, and from there defected to the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1950 — The Korean War begins with the invasion of South Korea by North Korea. Read more
• 1948 — The United States Congress passes the Displaced Persons Act to allow World War II refugees to immigrate to the United States above quota restrictions. Read more
• 1947 — The Diary of a Young Girl (better known as The Diary of Anne Frank) is published. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: The Battle of Tali-Ihantala, the largest battle ever fought in the Nordic countries, begins. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: United States Navy and British Royal Navy ships bombard Cherbourg to support United States Army units engaged in the Battle of Cherbourg. Read more
• 1944 — The final page of the comic Krazy Kat is published, exactly two months after its author George Herriman died. Read more
• 1943 — The Holocaust and World War II: Jews in the Częstochowa Ghetto in Poland stage an uprising against the Nazis. Read more
• 1943 — The left-wing German Jewish exile Arthur Goldstein is murdered in Auschwitz. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: The Continuation War between the Soviet Union and Finland, supported by Nazi Germany, began. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: The French armistice with Nazi Germany comes into effect. Read more
• 1938 — Dr. Douglas Hyde is inaugurated as the first President of Ireland. Read more
• 1935 — Colombia–Soviet Union relations are established. Read more
• 1913 — American Civil War veterans begin arriving at the Great Reunion of 1913. Read more
• 1910 — The United States Congress passes the Mann Act, which prohibits interstate transport of women or girls for "immoral purposes"; the ambiguous language would be used to selectively prosecute people for years to come. Read more
• 1910 — Igor Stravinsky's ballet The Firebird is premiered in Paris, bringing him to prominence as a composer. Read more
• 1906 — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania millionaire Harry Thaw shoots and kills prominent architect Stanford White. Read more
• 1900 — The Taoist monk Wang Yuanlu discovers the Dunhuang manuscripts, a cache of ancient texts that are of great historical and religious significance, in the Mogao Caves of Dunhuang, China. Read more
• 1876 — American Indian Wars: Battle of the Little Bighorn: 300 men of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer are wiped out by 5,000 Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. Read more
• 1848 — A photograph of the June Days uprising becomes the first known instance of photojournalism. Read more
• 1788 — Virginia becomes the tenth state to ratify the United States Constitution. Read more
• 1786 — Gavriil Pribylov discovers St. George Island of the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea. Read more
• 1741 — Maria Theresa is crowned Queen of Hungary. Read more
• 1678 — Venetian Elena Cornaro Piscopia is the first woman awarded a doctorate of philosophy when she graduates from the University of Padua. Read more
• 1658 — Spanish forces fail to retake Jamaica at the Battle of Rio Nuevo during the Anglo-Spanish War. Read more
• 1530 — At the Diet of Augsburg the Augsburg Confession is presented to the Holy Roman Emperor by the Lutheran princes and Electors of Germany. Read more
• 1401 — Schaffhausen massacre: 30 Jews are executed, following torture, after being accused of a blood libel in Schaffhausen (in present-day Switzerland). Read more
• 1357 — The English defeat a French fleet which aimed to bring relief to the besieged Calais in the battle of Crotoy. Read more
• 1258 — War of Saint Sabas: In the Battle of Acre, the Venetians defeat a larger Genoese fleet sailing to relieve Acre. Read more
• 841 — In the Battle of Fontenay-en-Puisaye, forces led by Charles the Bald and Louis the German defeat the armies of Lothair I of Italy and Pepin II of Aquitaine. Read more
• 524 — The Franks are defeated by the Burgundians in the Battle of Vézeronce. Read more

Born on June 25

• 2006 — Mckenna Grace, American actress, singer and songwriter Read more
• 2005 — Kylie Cantrall, American actress, singer, songwriter, dancer, and social media personality Read more
• 2002 — Benson Boone, American singer-songwriter Read more
• 2001 — Philip Broberg, Swedish professional ice hockey player Read more
• 1998 — Kyle Chalmers, Australian swimmer Read more
• 1996 — Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazilian-American race car driver Read more
• 1990 — Andi Eigenmann, Filipino actress Read more
• 1988 — Jhonas Enroth, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
• 1988 — Miguel Layún, Mexican footballer Read more
• 1988 — Therese Johaug, Norwegian cross-country skier Read more
• 1986 — Aya Matsuura, Japanese singer and actress Read more
• 1985 — Karim Matmour, Algerian footballer Read more
• 1983 — Marc Janko, Austrian footballer Read more
• 1982 — Rain, South Korean singer and actor Read more
• 1982 — Mikhail Youzhny, Russian tennis player Read more
• 1981 — Simon Ammann, Swiss ski jumper Read more
• 1979 — Richard Hughes, Scottish footballer Read more
• 1979 — Busy Philipps, American actress Read more
• 1978 — Aramis Ramírez, Dominican baseball player Read more
• 1976 — José Cancela, Uruguayan footballer Read more
• 1976 — Carlos Nieto, Argentinian-Italian rugby player Read more
• 1976 — Neil Walker, American swimmer Read more
• 1975 — Kiur Aarma, Estonian journalist and producer Read more
• 1975 — Linda Cardellini, American actress Read more
• 1975 — Albert Costa, Spanish tennis player and coach Read more
• 1975 — Vladimir Kramnik, Russian chess player Read more
• 1975 — Michele Merkin, American model and television host Read more
• 1974 — Nisha Ganatra, Canadian director, producer, and screenwriter Read more
• 1974 — Glen Metropolit, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1973 — Milan Hnilička, Czech ice hockey player Read more
• 1973 — Jamie Redknapp, English footballer and coach Read more
• 1972 — Carlos Delgado, Puerto Rican baseball player and coach Read more
• 1972 — Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, Libyan engineer and politician (died 2026) Read more
• 1971 — Karen Darke, English cyclist and author Read more
• 1971 — Jason Gallian, Australian-English cricketer and educator Read more
• 1971 — Rod Kafer, Australian rugby player and sportscaster Read more
• 1971 — Angela Kinsey, American actress Read more
• 1971 — Neil Lennon, Northern Irish-Scottish footballer and manager Read more
• 1971 — Michael Tucker, American baseball player Read more
• 1970 — Roope Latvala, Finnish guitarist Read more

Died on June 25

• 2024 — Sika Anoa‘i, American Samoan professional wrestler (born 1945) Read more
• 2024 — Bill Cobbs, American actor (born 1934) Read more
• 2023 — Simon Crean, Australian trade union leader and politician (born 1949) Read more
• 2019 — Eurig Wyn, Welsh politician (born 1944) Read more
• 2016 — Adam Small, South African writer of apartheid-period (born 1936) Read more
• 2015 — Patrick Macnee, English actor (born 1922) Read more
• 2015 — Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, Egyptian-Armenian patriarch (born 1940) Read more
• 2014 — Nigel Calder, English journalist, author, and screenwriter (born 1931) Read more
• 2014 — Ana María Matute, Spanish author and academic (born 1925) Read more
• 2014 — Ivan Plyushch, Ukrainian agronomist and politician (born 1941) Read more
• 2013 — George Burditt, American screenwriter and producer (born 1923) Read more
• 2013 — Catherine Gibson, Scottish swimmer (born 1931) Read more
• 2013 — Robert E. Gilka, American photographer and journalist (born 1916) Read more
• 2013 — Harry Parker, American rower and coach (born 1935) Read more
• 2013 — Mildred Ladner Thompson, American journalist (born 1918) Read more
• 2013 — Green Wix Unthank, American soldier and judge (born 1923) Read more
• 2012 — Shigemitsu Dandō, Japanese academic and jurist (born 1913) Read more
• 2012 — Campbell Gillies, Scottish jockey (born 1990) Read more
• 2012 — George Randolph Hearst, Jr., American businessman (born 1927) Read more
• 2012 — Lucella MacLean, American baseball player (born 1921) Read more
• 2012 — Edgar Ross, American boxer (born 1949) Read more
• 2011 — Annie Easley, American computer scientist and mathematician (born 1933) Read more
• 2011 — Goff Richards, English composer and conductor (born 1944) Read more
• 2011 — Margaret Tyzack, English actress (born 1931) Read more
• 2010 — Alan Plater, English playwright and screenwriter (born 1935) Read more
• 2010 — Richard B. Sellars, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1915) Read more
• 2009 — Farrah Fawcett, American actress and producer (born 1947) Read more
• 2009 — Michael Jackson, American singer-songwriter, producer, dancer, and actor (born 1958) Read more
• 2009 — Sky Saxon, American singer-songwriter (born 1937) Read more
• 2008 — Lyall Watson, South African anthropologist and ethologist (born 1939) Read more
• 2007 — J. Fred Duckett, American journalist and educator (born 1933) Read more
• 2007 — Jeeva, Indian director, cinematographer, and screenwriter (born 1963) Read more
• 2006 — Jaap Penraat, Dutch-American humanitarian (born 1918) Read more
• 2005 — John Fiedler, American actor and voice artist (born 1925) Read more
• 2005 — Kâzım Koyuncu, Turkish singer-songwriter and activist (born 1971) Read more
• 2004 — Morton Coutts, New Zealand inventor (born 1904) Read more
• 2003 — Lester Maddox, American businessman and politician, 75th Governor of Georgia (born 1915) Read more
• 2002 — Jean Corbeil, Canadian politician, 29th Canadian Minister of Labour (born 1934) Read more
• 1999 — Fred Trump, American real estate developer and businessman (born 1905) Read more
• 1997 — Jacques Cousteau, French oceanographer and explorer (born 1910) Read more

Holidays & observances

Arbor Day (Philippines); Christian feast day: David of Munktorp; Christian feast day: Dorothea of Montau; Christian feast day: Eurosia; Christian feast day: Maximus (Massimo) of Turin; Christian feast day: Moluag; Christian feast day: Our Lady of Medjugorje; Christian feast day: Philipp Melanchthon (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America); Christian feast day: Presentation of the Augsburg Confession (Lutheran); Christian feast day: Prosper of Aquitaine; Christian feast day: Prosper of Reggio; Christian feast day: William of Montevergine; Christian feast day: June 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Mozambique from Portugal in 1975.; Independence Day (Croatia); National Catfish Day (United States); Statehood Day (Slovenia); Statehood Day (Virginia); Teacher's Day (Guatemala); World Vitiligo Day

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