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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