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
1714 - César-François Cassini de Thury (French astronomer)
1818 - Charles Gounod (French composer)
1920 - François Jacob (French biologist)
1933 - Christian Ferras (French violinist)
1952 - Fabienne Thibeault (French Canadian singer)
Deaths
1734 - Claude-Louis-Hector de Villars (Marshal of France)
1762 - Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon (French writer)
Milestones/Events
1789 - France: The Third Estate declared itself the national assembly
1885 - The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor from France
1939 - Last public guillotining in France (convicted murderer Eugen Weidmann)
1940 - World War II: Operation Ariel began - Allied troops started to evacuate France, following Germany's takeover of Paris and most of the nation
1940 - World War II: Sinking of the RMS Lancastria by the Luftwaffe near Saint-Nazaire, France
Errors and Omissions
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