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

1635 - Philippe Quinault (French writer)

1818 - Louis Faidherbe (French general)

1832 - Charles Lecocq (French composer)

1877 - Raoul Dufy (French painter)

1906 - Josephine Baker (American-born French singer, dancer, and actress)

1922 - Alain Resnais (French director)

1963 - Rudy Demotte (Belgian politician)

1970 - Julie Masse (French Canadian singer)


Deaths

545 - Sainte Clotilde

1875 - Georges Bizet (French composer)

1991 - Katia Krafft (French volcanologist)

1991 - Maurice Krafft (French volcanologist)


Milestones/Events

1140 - French scholar Peter Abelard was found guilty of heresy

1608 - Samuel de Champlain completed his third voyage to New France at Tadoussac, Québec

1620 - Construction of the oldest stone church in French North America, Notre-Dame-des-Anges, began at Québec City, Canada

1658 - The Pope appointed François de Laval vicar apostolic in New France

1940 - World War II: The Luftwaffe bombed Paris

1962 - Air France Boeing 707 charter crashed after aborted takeoff from Paris, killing 130

1973 - Goussainville, France: Soviet supersonic Tupolev Tu-144 crashed, killing 14, the first crash of a supersonic passenger aircraft

1997 - Lionel Jospin became Prime Minister of France


Errors and Omissions

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