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

1698 - Pierre-Louis Maupertuis (French mathematician)

1797 - Hippolyte Delaroche (French painter)

1917 - Christiane Rochefort (French writer)

1938 - Hermann Huppen (Belgian comic book artist)

1975 - Cécile de France (Belgian actress)


Deaths

1105 - Rashi (French rabbi and commentator)

1704 - Pierre-Charles Le Sueur (French fur trader and explorer)

1793 - Charlotte Corday (French aristocrat and murderer)

1885 - Jean-Charles Chapais (Canadian politician)

1894 - Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle (French poet)

1912 - Henri Poincaré (French mathematician)

1917 - Hector Malot (French writer)


Milestones/Events

1429 - Charles VII was crowned King of France

1453 - Hundred Years' War: Battle of Castillon - The French utterly defeated the English

1976 - Montréal, Canada: XXI Olympiad (Summer Olympics) opened

1791 - French Revolution: Massacre at the Champ de Mars, Paris, - 1200-1500 people killed, including women and children

1815 - Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon surrendered at Rochefort, Charente-Maritime to British forces

1816 - Sénégal: French passenger ship Medusa ran aground

1944 - Coutances, near St. Lô, France: Napalm incendiary bombs were dropped for the first time by American pilots on a fuel depot

1996 - Long Island, New York: Paris-bound TWA flight 800 exploded, killing 230 people


Errors and Omissions

If you believe anything on this page is wrong or missing, please let me know