Today in Francophone History

Learn about important dates in French and francophone history: famous birthdays, holidays and celebrations, and other milestones. If the above does not match today's date or you wish to choose a specific date, please click here.

To learn more about important dates in French and francophone history, bookmark Today in Francophone History and visit every day!


Birthdays

1882 - Louis Stephen St. Laurent (Prime Minister of Canada)

1965 - Princess Stéphanie of Monaco


Deaths

1328 - King Charles IV of France

1761 - Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix (French historian)


Holidays/Celebrations

US: First day of Black History Month, an ideal time to discuss Négritude in French classes


Milestones/Events

1793 - France declared war on the United Kingdom and the Netherlands

1929 - Charles Rigoulet (French) was the first person to lift over 400 pounds in the "clean and jerk" method

1968 - Canadian Armed Forces was formed by the unification of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force

1978 - Roman Polanski (French-Polish director) skipped bail and fled to France after pleading guilty to charges of statutory rape

1982 - Senegal and Gambia formed the Senegambia confederation

2005 - Canada introduced the Civil Marriage Act, making Canada the fourth country to sanction same-sex marriage


Errors and Omissions

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