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On This Day in History — March 11
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Highlights of March 11
- 2020 — The World Health Organization (WHO) officialy declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Read more
- 2020 — The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 virus epidemic a pandemic. Read more
- 2012 — U.S. Army soldier Robert Bales murdered sixteen civilians and wounded six others in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Read more
- 2011 — A massive earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan and triggered a nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Read more
- 2010 — During the inauguration of Chilean president Sebastián Piñera, earthquakes registering 6.9 and 7.0 .mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}Mw struck the O'Higgins Region near the city of Pichilemu, causing widespread damage. Read more
- 2009 — A teenage gunman engaged in a shooting spree at a secondary school in Winnenden, Germany, killing 16, including himself. Read more
- 2007 — Georgian authorities accused Russia of orchestrating a helicopter attack in the Kodori Valley, in the breakaway territory of Abkhazia. Read more
- 1993 — The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Janet Reno as the first female United States attorney general. Read more
- 1984 — The anime film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki was released. Read more
- 1978 — After hijacking a bus north of Tel Aviv, Israel, members of the Palestine Liberation Organization faction Fatah engaged in a shootout with police, resulting in the deaths of 38 civilians and most of the perpetrators. Read more
- 1888 — The Great Blizzard of 1888 struck the northeastern United States, producing snowdrifts in excess of 50 ft (15 m) and confining some people to their houses for up to a week. Read more
- 1851 — The first performance of Verdi's Rigoletto took place at La Fenice in Venice (poster pictured). Read more
- 1845 — Māori forces, led by chiefs Te Ruki Kawiti and Hōne Heke, attacked the British settlement of Kororāreka, New Zealand, beginning the Flagstaff War. Read more
- 1843 — During a period of activity known as the Great Eruption, Eta Carinae (pictured) briefly became the second-brightest star in the night sky. Read more
- 1708 — Queen Anne withheld royal assent from the Scottish Militia Bill, in the most recent veto by a British monarch of a bill that had been passed by Parliament. Read more
- 1669 — Mount Etna in Sicily began erupting, eventually producing the largest lava flow in the volcano's history, and damaging Catania and other towns. Read more
Events
- 2023 — The Burmese military kills at least 30 villagers, including 3 Buddhist monks, during the Pinlaung massacre in Shan State, Myanmar. Read more
- 2021 — US President Joe Biden signs the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law. Read more
- 2020 — The World Health Organization (WHO) declares the COVID-19 virus epidemic a pandemic. Read more
- 2018 — A Bombardier Challenger 604 crashes into the Zagros Mountains near the Iranian city of Shar-e-kord, killing all 11 people on board. Read more
- 2012 — A U.S. soldier kills 16 civilians in the Panjwayi District of Afghanistan near Kandahar. Read more
- 2011 — An earthquake measuring 9.0 in magnitude strikes 130 km (81 mi) east of Sendai, Japan, triggering a tsunami killing thousands of people. This event also triggered the second largest nuclear accident in history, and one of only two events to be classified as a Level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale. Read more
- 2010 — Economist and businessman Sebastián Piñera is sworn in as President of Chile. Aftershocks of the 2010 Pichilemu earthquakes hit central Chile during the ceremony. Read more
- 2009 — Winnenden school shooting: Fifteen are killed and nine are injured before recent graduate Tim Kretschmer shoots and kills himself, leading to tightened weapons restrictions in Germany. Read more
- 2008 — Space Shuttle Endeavour launches on STS-123, carrying the first component of the Japanese Kibō module to the International Space Station. Read more
- 2006 — Michelle Bachelet is inaugurated as the first female president of Chile. Read more
- 2004 — Madrid train bombings: Simultaneous explosions on rush hour trains in Madrid, Spain kill 191 people. Read more
- 2003 — The International Criminal Court holds its inaugural session in The Hague. Read more
- 1990 — Lithuania declares independence from the Soviet Union. Read more
- 1990 — Patricio Aylwin is sworn in as the first democratically elected President of Chile since 1970. Read more
- 1985 — Mikhail Gorbachev is elected to the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, making Gorbachev the USSR's de facto, and last, head of state. Read more
- 1983 — Bob Hawke is appointed Prime Minister of Australia. Read more
- 1982 — Fifteen people are killed when Widerøe Flight 933 crashes into the Barents Sea near Gamvik, Norway. Read more
- 1981 — Hundreds of students protest in the University of Pristina in Kosovo, then part of Yugoslavia, to give their province more political rights. The protests then became a nationwide movement. Read more
- 1978 — Coastal Road massacre: At least 37 are killed and more than 70 are wounded when Fatah hijack an Israeli bus, prompting Israel's Operation Litani. Read more
- 1977 — The 1977 Hanafi Siege: Around 150 hostages held in Washington, D.C., by Hanafi Muslims are set free after ambassadors from three Islamic nations join negotiations. Read more
- 1946 — Rudolf Höss, the first commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, is captured by British troops. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy attempts a large-scale kamikaze attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet anchored at Ulithi atoll in Operation Tan No. 2. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The Empire of Vietnam, a short-lived Japanese puppet state, is established. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act into law, allowing American-built war supplies to be shipped to the Allies on loan. Read more
- 1927 — In New York City, Samuel Roxy Rothafel opens the Roxy Theatre. Read more
- 1917 — World War I: Mesopotamian campaign: Baghdad falls to Anglo-Indian forces commanded by General Frederick Stanley Maude. Read more
- 1892 — The Saint-Germain bombing ushers France into the Ère des attentats (1892-1894). Read more
- 1888 — The Great Blizzard of 1888 begins along the eastern seaboard of the United States, shutting down commerce and killing more than 400 people. Read more
- 1879 — Shō Tai formally abdicates his position of King of Ryūkyū, under orders from Tokyo, ending the Ryukyu Kingdom. Read more
- 1872 — Construction of the Seven Sisters Colliery, South Wales, begins; it is located on one of the richest coal sources in Britain. Read more
- 1864 — The Great Sheffield Flood kills 238 people in Sheffield, England. Read more
- 1861 — American Civil War: The Constitution of the Confederate States of America is adopted. Read more
- 1851 — The first performance of Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi takes place in Venice. Read more
- 1848 — Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin become the first Prime Ministers of the Province of Canada to be democratically elected under a system of responsible government. Read more
- 1845 — Flagstaff War: Unhappy with translational differences regarding the Treaty of Waitangi, chiefs Hōne Heke, Kawiti and Māori tribe members chop down the British flagpole for a fourth time and drive settlers out of Kororāreka, New Zealand. Read more
- 1795 — The Battle of Kharda is fought between the Maratha Confederacy and the Nizam of Hyderabad, resulting in Maratha victory. Read more
- 1784 — The signing of the Treaty of Mangalore brings the Second Anglo-Mysore War to an end. Read more
- 1708 — Queen Anne withholds Royal Assent from the Scottish Militia Bill, the last time a British monarch vetoes legislation. Read more
- 1702 — The Daily Courant, England's first national daily newspaper, is published for the first time. Read more
- 1649 — The Frondeurs and the French government sign the Peace of Rueil. Read more
- 1641 — Guaraní forces living in the Jesuit reductions defeat bandeirantes loyal to the Portuguese Empire at the Battle of Mbororé in present-day Panambí, Argentina. Read more
- 1387 — Battle of Castagnaro: Padua, led by John Hawkwood, is victorious over Giovanni Ordelaffi of Verona. Read more
- 1343 — Arnošt of Pardubice becomes the last Bishop of Prague (3 March 1343 O.S.), and, a year later, the first Archbishop of Prague. Read more
- 843 — Triumph of Orthodoxy: Empress Theodora II restores the veneration of icons in the Orthodox churches in the Byzantine Empire. Read more
Born on March 11
- 2004 — Margarita Kolosov, German rhythmic gymnast Read more
- 2003 — Tristan Vukčević, Serbian-Swedish basketball player Read more
- 1997 — Travis Konecny, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1997 — Ray Spalding, American basketball player Read more
- 1996 — Conor Garland, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1994 — Andy Robertson, Scottish footballer Read more
- 1993 — Jodie Comer, English actress Read more
- 1993 — Anthony Davis, American basketball player Read more
- 1992 — Austin Swift, American producer and actor Read more
- 1990 — Ayumi Morita, Japanese tennis player Read more
- 1989 — Malcolm Delaney, American basketball player Read more
- 1989 — Orlando Johnson, American basketball player Read more
- 1989 — Anton Yelchin, Russian-American actor (died 2016) Read more
- 1988 — Pedro Báez, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1988 — Fábio Coentrão, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1988 — Cecil Lolo, South African footballer (died 2015) Read more
- 1987 — Marc-André Gragnani, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1987 — Tanel Kangert, Estonian cyclist Read more
- 1987 — Ngonidzashe Makusha, Zimbabwean sprinter and long jumper Read more
- 1986 — Dario Cologna, Swiss skier Read more
- 1985 — Paul Bissonnette, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1985 — Daniel Vázquez Evuy, Equatoguinean footballer Read more
- 1985 — Cassandra Fairbanks, American journalist and activist Read more
- 1985 — Stelios Malezas, Greek footballer Read more
- 1985 — Greg Olsen, American football player and commentator Read more
- 1985 — Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Australian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Rob Brown, American actor Read more
- 1983 — Lukáš Krajíček, Czech ice hockey player Read more
- 1982 — Brian Anderson, American baseball player Read more
- 1982 — Thora Birch, American actress, producer, and director Read more
- 1981 — David Anders, American actor Read more
- 1981 — Lee Evans, American football player Read more
- 1981 — Russell Lissack, English musician Read more
- 1981 — LeToya Luckett, American singer-songwriter and actress Read more
- 1980 — Rich Hill, American baseball player Read more
- 1980 — Mark Rober, American YouTuber and engineer Read more
- 1980 — Dan Uggla, American baseball player Read more
- 1979 — Elton Brand, American basketball player Read more
- 1979 — Fred Jones, American basketball player Read more
- 1979 — Benji Madden, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
Died on March 11
- 2025 — Junior Bridgeman, American basketball player and businessman (born 1953) Read more
- 2025 — Clive Revill, New Zealand actor and singer (born 1930) Read more
- 2024 — Paul Alexander, Polio survivor (born 1946) Read more
- 2022 — Rupiah Banda, President of Zambia (born 1937) Read more
- 2021 — Ray Campi, American singer and musician (born 1934) Read more
- 2021 — Takis Mousafiris, Greek composer and songwriter (born 1936) Read more
- 2018 — Ken Dodd, English comedian and singer (born 1927) Read more
- 2018 — Siegfried Rauch, German actor (born 1932) Read more
- 2018 — Karl Lehmann, German cardinal (born 1936) Read more
- 2018 — Mary Rosenblum, American science fiction and mystery author (born 1952) Read more
- 2016 — Iolanda Balaș, Romanian high jumper (born 1936) Read more
- 2016 — Doreen Massey, English geographer and political activist (born 1944) Read more
- 2015 — Walter Burkert, German philologist and scholar (born 1931) Read more
- 2015 — Jimmy Greenspoon, American singer-songwriter and keyboard player (born 1948) Read more
- 2014 — Dean Bailey, Australian footballer and coach (born 1967) Read more
- 2014 — Joel Brinkley, American journalist and academic (born 1952) Read more
- 2013 — Martin Adolf Bormann, German priest and theologian (born 1930) Read more
- 2013 — Simón Alberto Consalvi, Venezuelan journalist and politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Venezuela (born 1927) Read more
- 2012 — James B. Morehead, American colonel and pilot (born 1916) Read more
- 2010 — Hans van Mierlo, Dutch politician, Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands (born 1931) Read more
- 2006 — Bernie Geoffrion, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1931) Read more
- 2006 — Slobodan Milošević, Serbian lawyer and politician, 3rd President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (born 1941) Read more
- 2002 — James Tobin, American economist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1918) Read more
- 1999 — Herbert Jasper, Canadian psychologist, anatomist, and neurologist (born 1906) Read more
- 1999 — Camille Laurin, Canadian psychiatrist and politician (born 1922) Read more
- 1996 — Vince Edwards, American actor and director (born 1928) Read more
- 1995 — Myfanwy Talog, Welsh actress and singer (born 1945) Read more
- 1992 — Richard Brooks, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1912) Read more
- 1989 — James Kee, American lawyer and politician (born 1917) Read more
- 1989 — John J. McCloy, American lawyer and diplomat (born 1895) Read more
- 1986 — Sonny Terry, American singer and harmonica player (born 1911) Read more
- 1982 — Edmund Cooper, English poet and author (born 1926) Read more
- 1982 — Horace Gregory, American poet, translator, and academic (born 1898) Read more
- 1978 — Claude François, French entertainer (born 1939) Read more
- 1971 — Philo Farnsworth, American inventor, developer of the first all electronic television system (born 1906) Read more
- 1971 — Whitney Young, American activist (born 1921) Read more
- 1970 — Erle Stanley Gardner, American lawyer and author (born 1889) Read more
- 1969 — John Wyndham, English author (born 1903) Read more
- 1967 — Geraldine Farrar, American soprano and actress (born 1882) Read more
- 1960 — Roy Chapman Andrews, American paleontologist and explorer (born 1884) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Alberta of Agen; Christian feast day:
Constantine; Christian feast day:
Óengus of Tallaght; Christian feast day:
Sophronius of Jerusalem; Christian feast day:
Vindicianus; Day of Restoration of Independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 (Lithuania); Moshoeshoe Day (Lesotho); Saudi Flag Day
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “March 11”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.