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On This Day in History — March 28
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Highlights of March 28
- 2025 — A magnitude-7.7 earthquake killed more than 5,000 people in Myanmar and Thailand. Read more
- 2015 — A siege of a hotel in Mogadishu by al-Shabaab militants, which began the previous day and killed at least 20 people, ended with the Somali Armed Forces recapturing the premises. Read more
- 1999 — Kosovo War: Serbian police and special forces killed around 93 Kosovo Albanians in the village of Izbica. Read more
- 1997 — In the Tragedy of Otranto, the Italian Navy vessel Sibilla collided with the Albanian civilian vessel Kateri i Radës, causing the latter to sink and leading to dozens of deaths. Read more
- 1979 — British prime minister James Callaghan was defeated by one vote in a vote of no confidence after his government struggled to cope with widespread strikes during the Winter of Discontent. Read more
- 1968 — Colonel Sun, written by Kingsley Amis, was published, becoming the first James Bond novel published after the death of Ian Fleming in 1964. Read more
- 1963 — Civil rights movement: Over one hundred high school students conducted a sit-in protest in Rome, Georgia. Read more
- 1946 — The US Department of State released the Acheson–Lilienthal Report, a proposal for the international control of nuclear weapons. Read more
- 1942 — Second World War: The port of Saint-Nazaire in German-occupied France was disabled by British naval forces. Read more
- 1935 — The Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will, directed by Leni Riefenstahl, premiered in Berlin. Read more
- 1933 — After an on-board fire that may have been the first incident of airliner sabotage, the Imperial Airways biplane City of Liverpool broke apart in mid-air, killing fifteen people. Read more
- 1918 — World War I: British and Australian troops defeated German forces at the First Battle of Dernancourt in northern France. Read more
- 1902 — The Hexham Abbey high-altar cross, amongst the most important works produced that year by the Keswick School of Industrial Art, was unveiled on Good Friday. Read more
- 1802 — German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers discovered Pallas, the second asteroid to be identified, but at the time considered to be a planet. Read more
- 1646 — Irish Confederate Wars: Donough MacCarty, 1st Earl of Clancarty, signed the First Ormond Peace for the Confederates in exchange for greater freedom of religion. Read more
- 193 — The Praetorian Guard assassinated Roman emperor Pertinax (bust pictured) and sold the imperial office in an auction to Didius Julianus. Read more
Events
- 2025 — An earthquake strikes close to Mandalay, Myanmar with a magnitude of 7.7, killing over 5400 people. Read more
- 2020 — The region of Uusimaa (with the capital city Helsinki) is temporarily isolated from the rest of Finland due to increased COVID-19 infections. Read more
- 2006 — At least one million union members, students and unemployed take to the streets in France in protest at the government's proposed First Employment Contract law. Read more
- 2005 — An earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a magnitude of 8.6 and killing over 1000 people. Read more
- 2003 — In a friendly fire incident, two American A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft attack British tanks participating in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, killing one soldier. Read more
- 2001 — Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos begins operation. Read more
- 1999 — Kosovo War: Serb paramilitary and military forces kill at least 130 Kosovo Albanians in Izbica. Read more
- 1994 — In South Africa, African National Congress security guards kill dozens of Inkatha Freedom Party protesters. Read more
- 1990 — United States President George H. W. Bush posthumously awards Jesse Owens the Congressional Gold Medal. Read more
- 1979 — A coolant leak at the Three Mile Island's Unit 2 nuclear reactor outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania leads to the core overheating and a partial meltdown. Read more
- 1979 — The British House of Commons passes a vote of no confidence against James Callaghan's government by one vote, precipitating a general election. Read more
- 1978 — The US Supreme Court hands down 5–3 decision in Stump v. Sparkman, a controversial case involving involuntary sterilization and judicial immunity. Read more
- 1970 — An earthquake strikes western Turkey at about 23:05 local time, killing 1,086 and injuring at least 1,200. Read more
- 1969 — Greek poet and Nobel Prize laureate Giorgos Seferis makes a famous statement on the BBC World Service opposing the junta in Greece. Read more
- 1968 — Brazilian high school student Edson Luís de Lima Souto is killed by military police at a student protest. Read more
- 1965 — An Mw 7.4 earthquake in Chile sets off a series of tailings dam failures, burying the town of El Cobre and killing at least 500 people. Read more
- 1963 — Civil rights movement: Over one hundred high school students conduct a sit-in protest in Rome, Georgia. Read more
- 1961 — ČSA Flight 511 crashes in Igensdorf, Germany, killing 52. Read more
- 1959 — The State Council of the People's Republic of China dissolves the government of Tibet. Read more
- 1946 — Cold War: The United States Department of State releases the Acheson–Lilienthal Report, outlining a plan for the international control of nuclear power. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: A British combined force permanently disables the Louis Joubert Lock in Saint-Nazaire in order to keep the German battleship Tirpitz away from the mid-ocean convoy lanes. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: First day of the Battle of Cape Matapan in Greece between the navies of the United Kingdom and Australia, and the Royal Italian navy. Read more
- 1939 — Spanish Civil War: Generalissimo Francisco Franco conquers Madrid after a three-year siege. Read more
- 1933 — The Imperial Airways biplane City of Liverpool is believed to be the first airliner lost to sabotage when a passenger sets a fire on board. Read more
- 1920 — Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1920 affects the Great Lakes region and Deep South states. Read more
- 1918 — General John J. Pershing, during World War I, cancels 42nd 'Rainbow' Division's orders to Rolampont for further training and diverted it to the occupy the Baccarat sector. Rainbow Division becomes "the first American division to take over an entire sector on its own, which it held longer than any other American division-occupied sector alone for a period of three months". Read more
- 1918 — Finnish Civil War: On the so-called "Bloody Maundy Thursday of Tampere", the Whites force the Reds to attack the city center, where the city's fiercest battles being fought in Kalevankangas with large casualties on both sides. During the same day, an explosion at the Red headquarters of Tampere kills several commanders. Read more
- 1910 — Henri Fabre becomes the first person to fly a seaplane, the Fabre Hydravion, after taking off from water runway Étang le Barre, near Marseille. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: In the Battle of Glorieta Pass, Union forces stop the Confederate invasion of the New Mexico Territory. The battle began on March 26. Read more
- 1860 — First Taranaki War: The Battle of Waireka begins. Read more
- 1854 — Crimean War: France and Britain declare war on Russia. Read more
- 1842 — First concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Otto Nicolai. Read more
- 1814 — War of 1812: In the Battle of Valparaíso, two American naval vessels are captured by two Royal Navy vessels. Read more
- 1809 — Peninsular War: France defeats Spain in the Battle of Medellín. Read more
- 1802 — Heinrich Wilhelm Matthäus Olbers discovers 2 Pallas, the second asteroid ever to be discovered. Read more
- 1801 — Treaty of Florence is signed, ending the war between the French Republic and the Kingdom of Naples. Read more
- 1795 — Partitions of Poland: The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, a northern fief of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, ceases to exist and becomes part of Imperial Russia. Read more
- 1776 — Juan Bautista de Anza finds the site for the Presidio of San Francisco. Read more
- 1745 — War of the Austrian Succession: In the Battle of Vilshofen, Austrian forces defeat French forces. Read more
- 1566 — The foundation stone of Valletta, Malta's capital city, is laid by Jean Parisot de Valette, Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Read more
- 1065 — The Great German Pilgrimage, which had been under attack by Bedouin bandits for three days, is rescued by the Fatimid governor of Ramla. Read more
- 364 — Roman Emperor Valentinian I appoints his brother Flavius Valens co-emperor. Read more
- 193 — After assassinating the Roman Emperor Pertinax, his Praetorian Guards auction off the throne to Didius Julianus. Read more
- 37 — Roman emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, bestowed on him by the Senate. Read more
Born on March 28
- 2004 — Anna Shcherbakova, Russian figure skater Read more
- 2001 — Wang Xiyu, Chinese tennis player Read more
- 1998 — Lance Morris, Australian cricketer Read more
- 1996 — Matt Renshaw, English-Australian cricketer Read more
- 1996 — Max Strus, American basketball player Read more
- 1995 — Jonathan Drouin, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1995 — Will Smith, American baseball player Read more
- 1994 — Jackson Wang, Hong Kong rapper Read more
- 1992 — Sergi Gómez, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1991 — Derek Carr, American football player Read more
- 1991 — Jordan McRae, American basketball player Read more
- 1991 — Lisa-Maria Moser, Austrian tennis player Read more
- 1991 — Marie-Philip Poulin, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1991 — Ondřej Palát, Czech ice hockey player Read more
- 1991 — Christian Walker, American baseball player Read more
- 1991 — Hoya, South Korean singer and dancer Read more
- 1990 — Delroy Edwards, American musician Read more
- 1990 — Laura Harrier, American actress and model Read more
- 1989 — Logan Couture, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1989 — Lukas Jutkiewicz, English footballer Read more
- 1989 — Mira Leung, Canadian figure skater Read more
- 1988 — Geno Atkins, American football player Read more
- 1988 — Ryan Kalish, American baseball player Read more
- 1987 — Yohan Benalouane, French-Tunisian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Simeon Jackson, Canadian soccer player Read more
- 1987 — Jonathan Van Ness, American hairdresser and television personality Read more
- 1986 — Mustafa Ali, American wrestler Read more
- 1986 — Bowe Bergdahl, American sergeant Read more
- 1986 — Lady Gaga, American singer-songwriter and actress Read more
- 1986 — J-Kwon, American rapper Read more
- 1986 — Barbora Strýcová, Czech tennis player Read more
- 1985 — Stefano Ferrario, Italian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Steve Mandanda, French footballer Read more
- 1985 — Stanislas Wawrinka, Swiss tennis player Read more
- 1985 — Josh Bray, American politician Read more
- 1984 — Christopher Samba, Congolese footballer Read more
- 1983 — Ladji Doucouré, French sprinter and hurdler Read more
- 1981 — Aleksandra Leo, Polish politician and lawyer Read more
- 1981 — Edwar Ramírez, American baseball player Read more
- 1981 — Julia Stiles, American actress Read more
Died on March 28
- 2026 — Marinella, Greek singer (born 1938) Read more
- 2026 — Mary Beth Hurt, American actress (born 1946) Read more
- 2026 — Liamine Zéroual, Algerian politician, 6th President of Algeria (born 1941) Read more
- 2024 — Larry Lloyd, English professional football player and coach (born 1948) Read more
- 2024 — Mark Spiro, American songwriter, record producer and recording artist (born 1957) Read more
- 2023 — Paul O'Grady, English comedian, actor and drag queen (born 1955) Read more
- 2023 — Ryuichi Sakamoto, Japanese composer, record producer, and actor (born 1952) Read more
- 2021 — Didier Ratsiraka, Malagasy politician and naval officer (born 1936) Read more
- 2021 — Joseph Edward Duncan, American serial killer (born 1963) Read more
- 2016 — James Noble, American actor (born 1922) Read more
- 2015 — Chuck Brayton, American baseball player and coach (born 1925) Read more
- 2015 — Joseph Cassidy, Canadian-English priest and academic (born 1954) Read more
- 2015 — Miroslav Ondříček, Czech cinematographer (born 1934) Read more
- 2015 — Gene Saks, American actor and director (born 1921) Read more
- 2014 — Jeremiah Denton, American admiral and politician (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — Lorenzo Semple, Jr., American screenwriter and producer (born 1923) Read more
- 2013 — George E. P. Box, English-American statistician and educator (born 1919) Read more
- 2013 — Richard Griffiths, English actor (born 1947) Read more
- 2013 — Hugh McCracken, American guitarist, harmonica player, and producer (born 1942) Read more
- 2013 — Bob Teague, American college football star and television news-reporter (born 1929) Read more
- 2013 — Gus Triandos, American baseball player and scout (born 1930) Read more
- 2012 — John Arden, English author and playwright (born 1930) Read more
- 2012 — Ioannis Banias, Greek politician (born 1939) Read more
- 2012 — Harry Crews, American novelist (born 1935) Read more
- 2012 — Addie L. Wyatt, African American labor leader (born 1924) Read more
- 2010 — June Havoc, American actress, dancer, and director (born 1912) Read more
- 2009 — Maurice Jarre, French-American composer and conductor (born 1924) Read more
- 2009 — Janet Jagan, 6th President of Guyana (born 1920) Read more
- 2006 — Pro Hart, Australian painter (born 1928) Read more
- 2006 — Charles Schepens, Belgian-American ophthalmologist and author (born 1912) Read more
- 2006 — Caspar Weinberger, American captain, lawyer, and politician, 15th United States Secretary of Defense (born 1917) Read more
- 2005 — Moura Lympany, English-Monacan pianist (born 1916) Read more
- 2005 — Robin Spry, Canadian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1939) Read more
- 2004 — Peter Ustinov, English-Swiss actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1921) Read more
- 2000 — Anthony Powell, English soldier and author (born 1905) Read more
- 1996 — Shin Kanemaru, Japanese politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Japan (born 1914) Read more
- 1994 — Eugène Ionesco, Romanian-French playwright and critic (born 1909) Read more
- 1992 — Nikolaos Platon, Greek archaeologist (born 1909) Read more
- 1987 — Maria von Trapp, Austrian-American singer (born 1905) Read more
- 1986 — Virginia Gilmore. American actress (born 1919) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Christopher Wharton; Christian feast day:
Jeanne-Marie de Maille; Christian feast day:
Józef Sebastian Pelczar; Christian feast day:
Priscus; Christian feast day:
Pope Sixtus III; Christian feast day:
Stephen Harding; Christian feast day:
March 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Serfs Emancipation Day (Tibet); Teachers' Day (Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “March 28”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.