Osun Defender History Corner: March 13 In Focus

Today, on the history corner, we take a trip in the realm of flashback and recall some events that marked this day.

March 13, 624

Battle of Badr: Muslims led by Prophet Muhammad defeat the Quraish tribe in present-day Saudi Arabia, marking a turning point in the early history of Islam.

March 13, 1781

Astronomer William Herschel discovers Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun.

March 13, 1865

American Civil War: The Confederate Congress adjourns for the last time.

March 13, 1881

Tsar Alexander II of Russia is assassinated by members of the Narodnaya Volya, a Russian revolutionary organization.

March 13, 1925

Scopes Trial: A law in Tennessee prohibits the teaching of evolution, leading to the famous trial of John T. Scopes, a high school teacher accused of violating the law.

March 13, 1938

Anschluss: German troops enter Austria, annexing the country and incorporating it into Nazi Germany.

March 13, 1954

First Indochina War: The Battle of Dien Bien Phu begins as Viet Minh forces surround French troops.

March 13, 1969

Apollo 9 returns safely to Earth after testing the lunar module for the Apollo 11 moon landing mission.

March 13, 1986

Microsoft goes public, raising $61 million in its initial public offering (IPO).

March 13, 1996

Dunblane school massacre: In Scotland, a gunman enters a primary school and kills 16 children and one teacher before committing suicide.

March 13, 1997

The Phoenix Lights, a series of unidentified flying object sightings, occur over Phoenix, Arizona, and surrounding areas.

March 13, 2003

Human genome project: Scientists announce that they have successfully sequenced 99% of the human genome.

March 13, 2008

Gold prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange hit $1,000 per ounce for the first time.

March 13, 2013

Pope Francis is elected as the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI.

March 13, 2015

Cyclone Pam strikes Vanuatu, causing widespread destruction and leaving thousands homeless.

March 13, 2016

Russia announces the withdrawal of the majority of its military forces from Syria after a successful campaign to support the Syrian government.

March 13, 2019

The European Union votes to end the practice of daylight saving time, allowing member states to decide whether to stay on summer or winter time permanently.

March 13, 2020

The World Health Organization declares the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic.

March 13, 2021

President Joe Biden signs the American Rescue Plan Act into law, providing $1.9 trillion in economic relief to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 13, 2022

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Russia of a “creeping offensive” along its border, raising tensions in the region.

Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on March 13. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.