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

1768 - Charlotte Corday (French aristocrat and murderer)

1824 - Alexandre Dumas fils (French author)

1917 - Bourvil (French actor)

1938 - Isabelle Aubret (French singer)

1944 - Jean-Marie Leblanc (French cyclist)

1954 - Philippe Alliot (French racecar driver)


Deaths

1675 - Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne (Marshal of France)

1759 - Pierre Louis Maupertuis (French mathematician)

1931 - Auguste-Henri Forel (Swiss entomologist)

1946 - Gertrude Stein (American writer)

1981 - William Wyler (French-born film director)


Milestones/Events

1214 - Battle of Bouvines: Philip II of France defeated John of England

1778 - American Revolution: First Battle of Ushant - British and French fleets fought to a standoff

1794 - French Revolution: Maximilien Robespierre was arrested after encouraging the execution of more than 17,000 "enemies of the Revolution"

1941 - Japanese troops occupied French Indochina

1997 - Algeria: Si Zerrouk massacre - about 50 people killed

1999 - Interlaken, Switzerland: 21 people died in a canyoning disaster


Errors and Omissions

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