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On This Day in History — March 29

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Highlights of March 29

2017 — British prime minister Theresa May invoked Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, formally beginning the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. Read more
2014 — The first same-sex marriages in England and Wales took place following the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013. Read more
2010 — Islamist separatists of the Caucasus Emirate detonated two bombs on the Moscow Metro, killing 40 people and injuring 102 others. Read more
1999 — The Chamoli earthquake, one of the strongest to hit the foothills of the Himalayas in more than 90 years, killed at least 100 people. Read more
1982 — Queen Elizabeth II granted royal assent to the Canada Act 1982, which ended any remaining constitutional dependence of Canada on the United Kingdom by a process known as patriation. Read more
1981 — Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen jointly won the Men's Elite Race and Joyce Smith won the Women's Elite Race in the inaugural London Marathon. Read more
1975 — Jeff Beck released Blow by Blow, his most successful album in the U.S., reaching the top five and selling over one million copies. Read more
1974 — NASA's Mariner 10 became the first space probe to make a flyby of Mercury. Read more
1974 — A group of farmers in the Chinese province of Shaanxi discovered a vast collection of terracotta statues (pictured) depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. Read more
1968 — The funeral of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, began in Moscow with tens of thousands of people in attendance. Read more
1951 — The King and I, a musical about Mongkut of Siam by Rodgers and Hammerstein, premiered on Broadway. Read more
1941 — The North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement to define technical standards for AM band radio stations came into effect. Read more
1941 — Second World War: British and Australian ships defeated Italian Regia Marina vessels at the Battle of Cape Matapan. Read more
1882 — The Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization, was founded by Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. Read more
1865 — American Civil War: The Appomattox campaign opened with the Battle of Lewis's Farm, in which the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was forced into a series of retreats that would culminate in their surrender. Read more
1831 — Authorities held an inquest at New Town, Tasmania, into the deaths of a woman and two children who were fatally poisoned after eating smooth toadfish. Read more
1823 — Joaquín de Oreamuno led a coup d'état that overthrew Rafael Francisco Osejo, attempting to restore allegiance to the Mexican Empire. Read more
1807 — German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers discovered Vesta, the brightest asteroid and second-most massive body in the asteroid belt. Read more
1800 — William Matthews was ordained as the first Catholic priest born in British America. Read more
1461 — Wars of the Roses: The Yorkists defeated the Lancastrian army at the Battle of Towton, allowing Edward IV to secure the English throne. Read more
1430 — After an eight-year siege, the Ottoman Empire captured the city of Thessalonica from the Republic of Venice. Read more
845 — Viking expansion: Viking raiders, possibly led by the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok, plundered and occupied Paris, holding the city for a large ransom. Read more

Events

2021 — The ship Ever Given is dislodged from the Suez Canal. Read more
2017 — Prime Minister Theresa May invokes Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, formally beginning the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. Read more
2015 — Air Canada Flight 624 skids off the runway at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, after arriving from Toronto shortly past midnight. All 133 passengers and five crews on board survive, with 23 treated for minor injuries. Read more
2014 — The first same-sex marriages in England and Wales are performed. Read more
2013 — At least 36 people are killed when a 16-floor building collapses in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Read more
2010 — Two suicide bombers hit the Moscow Metro system at the peak of the morning rush hour, killing 40. Read more
2004 — Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia join NATO as full members. Read more
2004 — The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat certifies Taipei 101 as the world's tallest building, based on the building having been topped out on 1 July 2003, even though the building was not completed until 31 December 2004. Read more
2002 — In reaction to the Passover massacre two days prior, Israel launches Operation Defensive Shield against Palestinian militants, its largest military operation in the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. Read more
2001 — A Gulfstream III crashes on approach to Aspen/Pitkin County Airport in Aspen, Colorado. All 18 people on board are killed. Read more
1999 — The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above the 10,000 mark (10,006.78) for the first time, during the height of the dot-com bubble. Read more
1999 — A magnitude 6.8 earthquake in India strikes the Chamoli district in Uttar Pradesh, killing 103. Read more
1990 — The Czechoslovak parliament is unable to reach an agreement on what to call the country after the fall of Communism, sparking the so-called Hyphen War. Read more
1984 — The Baltimore Colts load their possessions onto fifteen Mayflower moving trucks in the early morning hours and transfer their operations to Indianapolis. Read more
1982 — The Canada Act 1982 receives the Royal Assent from Queen Elizabeth II, setting the stage for the Queen of Canada to proclaim the Constitution Act, 1982. Read more
1979 — Quebecair Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport in Quebec City, killing 17. Read more
1974 — NASA's Mariner 10 becomes the first space probe to fly by Mercury. Read more
1974 — The Terracotta Army is discovered in Shaanxi province, China. Read more
1973 — Vietnam War: The last United States combat soldiers leave South Vietnam. Read more
1973 — Operation Barrel Roll, a covert American bombing campaign in Laos to stop communist infiltration of South Vietnam, ends. Read more
1971 — My Lai massacre: Lieutenant William Calley is convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison. Read more
1968 — The funeral of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, begins in Moscow, with thousands of people in attendance. Read more
1962 — Arturo Frondizi, the president of Argentina, is overthrown in a military coup by Argentina's armed forces, ending an 11+1⁄2 day constitutional crisis. Read more
1961 — The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, allowing residents of Washington, D.C., to vote in presidential elections. Read more
1957 — The New York, Ontario and Western Railway makes its final run, the first major U.S. railroad to be abandoned in its entirety. Read more
1951 — Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage. Read more
1951 — Hypnosis murders in Copenhagen. Read more
1947 — The Malagasy Uprising against French colonial rule begins in Madagascar. Read more
1942 — The Bombing of Lübeck in World War II is the first major success for the RAF Bomber Command against Germany and a German city. Read more
1941 — The North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement goes into effect at 03:00 local time. Read more
1941 — World War II: British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy forces defeat those of the Italian Regia Marina off the Peloponnesian coast of Greece in the Battle of Cape Matapan. Read more
1936 — The 1936 German parliamentary election and referendum seeks approval for the recent remilitarization of the Rhineland. Read more
1927 — Sunbeam 1000hp breaks the land speed record at Daytona Beach, Florida. Read more
1882 — The Knights of Columbus is established. Read more
1879 — Anglo-Zulu War: Battle of Kambula: British forces defeat 20,000 Zulus. Read more
1871 — Royal Albert Hall is opened by Queen Victoria. Read more
1867 — Queen Victoria gives Royal Assent to the British North America Act which establishes Canada on July 1. Read more
1857 — Sepoy Mangal Pandey of the 34th Regiment, Bengal Native Infantry mutinies against the East India Company's rule in India and inspires the protracted Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny. Read more
1849 — The United Kingdom annexes the Punjab. Read more
1847 — Mexican–American War: United States forces led by General Winfield Scott take Veracruz after a siege. Read more
1809 — King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden abdicates after a coup d'état. Read more
1809 — At the Diet of Porvoo, Finland's four Estates pledge allegiance to Alexander I of Russia, commencing the secession of the Grand Duchy of Finland from Sweden. Read more
1806 — Construction is authorized of the Great National Pike, better known as the Cumberland Road, becoming the first United States federal highway. Read more
1792 — King Gustav III of Sweden dies after being shot in the back at a midnight masquerade ball at Stockholm's Royal Opera 13 days earlier. Read more
1632 — Treaty of Saint-Germain is signed returning Quebec to French control after the English had seized it in 1629. Read more
1549 — The city of Salvador, Bahia, the first capital of Brazil, is founded. Read more
1461 — Battle of Towton: Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Edward IV of England, bringing a temporary stop to the Wars of the Roses. Read more
1430 — The Ottoman Empire under Murad II captures Thessalonica from the Republic of Venice. Read more
1139 — Pope Innocent II issues the bull Omne datum optimum in which he endorses the Knights Templar and approves the Templar Rule. Read more

Born on March 29

2004 — Kim Ju-chan, South Korean footballer Read more
1996 — Wade Baldwin IV, American basketball player Read more
1994 — Jung Jae-won, South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, and actor Read more
1994 — Matt Olson, American baseball player Read more
1994 — Tom Wilson, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1993 — Thorgan Hazard, Belgian footballer Read more
1991 — Irene, South Korean idol, actress and television host Read more
1991 — N'Golo Kanté, French footballer Read more
1990 — Lyle Taylor, English footballer Read more
1989 — James Tomkins, English footballer Read more
1986 — Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, English footballer Read more
1986 — Lucas Elliot Eberl, American actor and director Read more
1985 — Fernando Amorebieta, Venezuelan footballer Read more
1983 — Efstathios Aloneftis, Greek-Cypriot footballer Read more
1983 — Chokwe Antar Lumumba, American attorney, activist and politician Read more
1981 — Jasmine Crockett, American attorney and politician Read more
1981 — Megan Hilty, American actress and singer Read more
1981 — PJ Morton, American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer Read more
1981 — Jlloyd Samuel, Trinidadian footballer (died 2018) Read more
1980 — Hamzah bin Hussein, Jordanian prince Read more
1980 — Molly Brodak, American poet and writer (died 2020) Read more
1980 — Chris D'Elia, American stand-up comedian, actor and writer Read more
1980 — Bill Demong, American skier Read more
1979 — Luis Ortiz, Cuban boxer Read more
1978 — Ian Holding, Zimbabwean writer Read more
1977 — Nina Riggs, American writer and poet (died 2017) Read more
1976 — Jennifer Capriati, American tennis player Read more
1974 — Alex Cuba, Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter Read more
1973 — Marc Overmars, Dutch footballer and coach Read more
1972 — Ernest Cline, American novelist, poet and screenwriter Read more
1972 — Stina Leicht, American author Read more
1972 — Priti Patel, British Indian politician, Secretary of State for the Home Department Read more
1971 — Robert Gibbs, American political adviser, 28th White House Press Secretary Read more
1971 — Lara Logan, South African television and radio journalist and war correspondent Read more
1971 — Hidetoshi Nishijima, Japanese actor Read more
1970 — J. A. Konrath, American author Read more
1969 — Ted Lieu, American politician and AFRC colonel Read more
1969 — Jimmy Spencer, American football player and coach Read more
1968 — Chris Calloway, American football player Read more
1968 — Lucy Lawless, New Zealand actress Read more

Died on March 29

2025 — Richard Chamberlain, American actor (born 1934) Read more
2024 — Gerry Conway, English folk and rock drummer/percussionist (born 1947) Read more
2024 — Louis Gossett Jr., American actor (born 1936) Read more
2023 — John Kerin, Australian politician (born 1937) Read more
2023 — Vivan Sundaram, Indian contemporary artist (born 1943) Read more
2022 — Charles Jeffrey, British botanist (born 1934) Read more
2022 — Jennifer Wilson, English actress (born 1932) Read more
2021 — Bashkim Fino, Albanian politician, 29th Prime Minister of Albania (born 1962) Read more
2021 — Sarah Onyango Obama, Kenyan educator and philanthropist (born 1921) Read more
2020 — Joe Diffie, American country music singer (born 1958) Read more
2020 — Alan Merrill, American musician (born 1951) Read more
2020 — Krzysztof Penderecki, Polish composer and conductor (born 1933) Read more
2019 — Agnès Varda, French film director (born 1928) Read more
2018 — Anita Shreve, American author (born 1946) Read more
2017 — Alexei Abrikosov, Russian physicist, 2003 Nobel laureate in Physics (born 1928) Read more
2016 — Patty Duke, American actress (born 1946) Read more
2015 — William Delafield Cook, Australian-English painter (born 1926) Read more
2014 — Marc Platt, American actor and dancer (born 1913) Read more
2013 — Reginald Gray, Irish-French painter (born 1930) Read more
2013 — Brian Huggins, English-Canadian journalist and actor (born 1931) Read more
2013 — Ralph Klein, Canadian journalist and politician, 12th Premier of Alberta (born 1942) Read more
2013 — Art Phillips, Canadian businessman and politician, 32nd Mayor of Vancouver (born 1930) Read more
2012 — Pap Cheyassin Secka, Gambian lawyer and politician, 8th Attorney General of the Gambia (born 1942) Read more
2012 — Bill Jenkins, American race car driver and engineer (born 1930) Read more
2011 — Ângelo de Sousa, Portuguese painter and sculptor (born 1938) Read more
2011 — Iakovos Kambanellis, Greek author, poet, playwright, and screenwriter (born 1921) Read more
2009 — Vladimir Fedotov, Russian footballer and manager (born 1943) Read more
2009 — Andy Hallett, American actor and singer (born 1975) Read more
2007 — Larry L'Estrange, English rugby player and soldier (born 1934) Read more
2006 — Salvador Elizondo, Mexican author and poet (born 1932) Read more
2004 — Lise de Baissac, Mauritian-born SOE agent (born 1905) Read more
2004 — Joel Feinberg, American philosopher and academic (born 1926) Read more
2003 — Carlo Urbani, Italian physician and microbiologist (born 1956) Read more
2001 — Helge Ingstad, Norwegian lawyer, academic, and explorer (born 1899) Read more
2001 — John Lewis, American pianist and composer (born 1920) Read more
1999 — Joe Williams, American jazz singer (born 1918) Read more
1997 — Norman Pirie, British biochemist and virologist (born 1907) Read more
1996 — Bill Goldsworthy, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1944) Read more
1995 — Mort Meskin, American illustrator (born 1916) Read more
1995 — Terry Moore, American baseball player and coach (born 1912) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Armogastes; Christian feast day: Berthold of Calabria; Christian feast day: Gwynllyw; Christian feast day: Jonas and Barachisius; Christian feast day: Ludolph of Ratzeburg; Christian feast day: March 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Boganda Day (Central African Republic); Commemoration of the 1947 Rebellion (Madagascar); National Vietnam War Veterans Day (United States); Day of the Young Combatant (Chile); Youth Day (Taiwan)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “March 29”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.