1385
Literature
Death of Katherine, Lady Berkeley
Katherine, Lady Berkeley, English benefactor and founder of the chantry school at Wotton-under-Edge, died on 13 March 1385.
View detailsThis Day
13March
25 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1479
Politics
Papal authorization of the Spanish Inquisition in Castile
Pope Sixtus IV granted Isabella and Ferdinand authority over the Spanish Inquisition in Castile via papal bull.
View details1754
Politics
Promulgation of General School Ordinance for compulsory education
Introduced state-supervised compulsory primary education on March 13, 1754.
View details1759
Science
Halley’s Comet perihelion observed
Halley’s Comet was observed at perihelion on 13 March 1759, confirming the calculations Lepaute helped produce.
View details1771
Politics
Issuance of the Robot Patent
Issued the Robot Patent regulating peasant labor on March 13, 1771.
View details1838
Arts
Appointed k.k. Kammer-Virtuosin in Vienna
In Vienna, Clara Wieck is appointed k.k. Kammer-Virtuosin by Emperor Ferdinand I, a rare imperial title for a young woman pianist.
View details1875
Literature
Awarded Doctorate of Philosophy
Stefania Wolicka received her PhD in philosophy at the University of Zurich.
View details1892
Literature
Birth of Janet Flanner
Janet Flanner was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 13, 1892.
View details1895
Activism
Death of Louise Otto-Peters
Louise Otto-Peters passed away on March 13, 1895, in Leipzig.
View details1904
Law
First woman architect licensed in California
Morgan was granted her California state architect's license, becoming the first woman licensed to practice architecture in California.
View details1905
Arts
Debut as Mata Hari at the Musée Guimet, Paris
Premiere of Mata Hari’s first public "Oriental" dance performance at the Musée Guimet in Paris.
View details1915
Science
William Sanger arrested over Family Limitation pamphlet
Margaret Sanger's husband William was arrested for distributing her contraception pamphlet, prompting her return from London.
View details1917
Science
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia
Phyllis Fraser was born on March 13, 1917, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
View details1923
1924
Activism
Death of Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin
Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin died in Boston on March 13, 1924.
View details1930
Sports
World records in 100-yard and 220-yard freestyle
Madison set two more world records at the Florida national championships: 1:00.4 in the 100-yard freestyle and 2:35 in the 220-yard freestyle.
View details1941
1980
Science
GRAMMY win for 'Fine and Mellow'
Fitzgerald won the GRAMMY for Best Jazz Vocal Album for 'Fine and Mellow' on March 13, 1980.
View details1986
Sports
First Iditarod Victory and Race Speed Record
Susan Butcher made history with her first Iditarod win and a new race record.
View details1994
Arts
Release of landmark album "Amor Prohibido"
Selena releases "Amor Prohibido," which later spends 97 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart.
View details1995
Science
Died in Walton-on-Thames, England
Odette Hallowes died aged 82 in Surrey, England, remembered as one of the most decorated heroines of the French Resistance.
View details2004
Exploration
Death of Grace Hudowalski
Grace Hudowalski died at age 98; on the same day, she was awarded the Adirondack Mountain Club's Trail Blazer Award.
View details2015
Aviation
Death in Bournemouth
Lilian Bader died in Bournemouth on 13 March 2015, aged 97, remembered as a pioneering Black servicewoman and educator.
View details2018
Politics
First woman nominated as Director of the CIA
President Trump announced Gina Haspel's nomination as the first woman to lead the CIA.
View details2019
Arts
"Gloria: A Life" presented at the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress hosts a screening and conversation with Steinem tied to the theatrical production "Gloria: A Life."
View details