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

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Birthdays

1052 - King Philip I of France

1790 - Jules Dumont d'Urville (French explorer)

1912 - Jean Françaix (French composer)

1928 - Pauline Julien (French Canadian singer)

1939 - Michel Colombier (French composer and songwriter)

1952 - Anne-Marie David (French singer)

1964 - Ruth Metzler-Arnold (member of the Swiss Federal Council)


Deaths

1304 - Jehan de Lescurel (French poet and composer)

1691 - Adrien Auzout (French astronomer)

1813 - Geraud Duroc (French general)

1857 - Augustin Louis Cauchy (French mathematician)

1908 - François Coppée (French poet and novelist)

1967 - Lionel Groulx (French Canadian priest and historian)

2003 - Jean Yanne (French actor and director)


Milestones/Events

1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians

1541 - Jacques Cartier left St-Malo, France on his third voyage

1706 - War of the Spanish Succession: Battle of Ramillies

1805 - Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned King of Italy

1873 - Canadian Parliament established the North West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

1923 - Launch of Belgium's SABENA airline

2004 - Paris: Part of a Charles de Gaulle International Airport terminal collapsed, killing four people and injuring three


Errors and Omissions

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