Discover what happened on June 15 in history, featuring major moments in American history, technological milestones, entertainment debuts, and notable events connected to Michigan history.
What Happened on June 15 in History?
Important events on this day include George Washington being appointed commander of the Continental Army, the resolution of the Ohio-Michigan border dispute that gave Michigan the Upper Peninsula, the founding of Pizza Hut, and Microsoft officially retiring Internet Explorer after nearly three decades.
JUNE 15 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1667 – Jean-Baptiste Denys administered the first fully-documented human blood transfusion. He successfully transfused the blood of a sheep to a 15-year old boy.
1752 – Benjamin Franklin experimented by flying a kite during a thunderstorm. The result was a little spark that showed the relationship between lightning and electricity (traditional date, the exact day is unknown).
1775 – George Washington was appointed head of the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress.
1836 – Arkansas became the 25th U.S. state.
1836 – Congress suggested a way to end the Ohio-Michigan “Toledo Strip” border dispute. The idea, which was adopted, gave the Toledo area to Ohio and the vast Upper Peninsula to Michigan.
1844 – Charles Goodyear was granted a patent for vulcanization, the process that strengthens rubber.
1864 – Arlington National Cemetery was established when 200 acres around Arlington Mansion (formerly owned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee) were officially set aside as a military cemetery by U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.
1877 – Henry O. Flipper became the first African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
1878 – Eadweard Muybridge took a series of photographs to prove that all four feet of a horse leave the ground when it runs. The study became the basis of motion pictures.
1898 – The U.S. House of Representatives approved the annexation of Hawaii.
1909 – Benjamin Shibe patented the cork center baseball.
1911 – The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. was incorporated in the state of New York. The company was later renamed International Business Machines (IBM) Corp.
1916 – President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill incorporating the Boy Scouts of America, making them the only American youth organization with a federal charter.
1919 – Captain John Alcock and Lt. Arthur W. Brown won $50,000 for successfully completing the first, non-stop trans-Atlantic plane flight.
1921 – Bessie Coleman became the first African American woman to earn an international aviation license.
1934 – The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was founded.
1948 – The first night game was played at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Detroit Tigers scored a 4-1 victory over the Athletics. A crowd of 54,480 fans were there that evening.
1952 – The Diary of Anne Frank, a true account of Jews hiding from the Nazis, was published.
1958 – Pizza Hut was founded by two college students, brothers Dan and Frank Carney, in Wichita, KS. Today Pizza Hut is the world’s largest pizza chain with 18,703 restaurants worldwide as of 2019.
1969 – The television show “Hee Haw” debuted on CBS.
1970 – Charles Manson went on trial for the Sharon Tate murders.
1973 – The George Lucas movie “American Graffiti, opened in theaters nationally.
1983 – In Grand Rapids, MI, the Grand Plaza West was officially completed. The building is a 29-story glass enclosed tower with 287 suites and guest rooms. Total cost of renovation was $68 million.
1985 – Rembrandt’s painting Danaë was attacked by a man (later judged insane) who threw sulfuric acid on the canvas and cut it twice with a knife.
1988 – The movie “Bull Durham”, starring Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon, premiered in theaters.
1990 – The movie “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” premiered in theaters.
1992 – It was ruled by the U.S. Supreme Court that the government could kidnap criminal suspects from foreign countries for prosecution.
1992 – Vice President Dan Quayle instructed a student to spell “potato” with an “e” on the end during a spelling bee.
1994 – The animated movie “The Lion King” premiered in theaters.
1995 – O.J. Simpson found the glove didn’t fit, which eventually lead the jury to acquit him of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
1997 – The Disney animated movie “Hercules” premiered in theaters.
2007 – Bob Barker ended his 35-year run as host of the CBS game show “The Price Is Right”.
2012 – Nik Wallenda became the first person to successfully tightrope walk over Niagara Falls.
2022 – Microsoft retired the web browser Internet Explorer in favor of its new browser, Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer had been around since 1995.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JUNE 15:
Ruby Nash Garnett – 92 years old (1934) – R&B singer
Billy Williams – 88 years old (1938) – Baseball player and coach
Ward Connerly – 87 years old (1939) – Activist and businessman, founded the American Civil Rights Institute
John E. McLaughlin – 84 years old (1942) – Diplomat
Lawrence Wilkerson – 81 years old (1945) – Colonel
John Horner – 80 years old (1946) – Paleontologist and academic
Mike Holmgren – 78 years old (1948) – Football player and coach
Dusty Baker – 77 years old (1949) – Baseball player and manager
Deney Terrio – 76 years old (1950) – Choreographer and television host
Jane Amsterdam – 75 years old (1951) – Magazine and newspaper editor ( Manhattan, inc. , New York Post )
Steve Walsh – 75 years old (1951) – Rock singer-songwriter and musician
Jim Belushi – 72 years old (1954) – Actor
Terri Gibbs – 72 years old (1954) – Country music singer and keyboard player
Polly Draper – 71 years old (1955) – Actress, producer, and screenwriter
Julie Hagerty – 71 years old (1955) – Model and actress
Lance Parrish – 70 years old (1956) – Baseball player, coach, and manager
Brett Butler – 69 years old (1957) – Baseball player and coach
Wade Boggs – 68 years old (1958) – Baseball player
Eileen Davidson – 67 years old (1959) – Model and actress
Scott Norton – 65 years old (1961) – Wrestler
Helen Hunt – 63 years old (1963) – Actress, director, and producer
Courteney Cox – 62 years old (1964) – Actress and producer
Adam Smith – 61 years old (1965) – Lawyer and politician
Ice Cube – 57 years old (1969) – Rapper, producer, and actor
Idalis DeLeón – 57 years old (1969) – Singer and actress
Christian Bauman – 56 years old (1970) – Soldier and author
Leah Remini – 56 years old (1970) – Actress and producer
Jake Busey – 55 years old (1971) – Actor, musician, and film producer
Justin Leonard – 54 years old (1972) – Golfer
Andy Pettitte – 54 years old (1972) – Baseball player
Neil Patrick Harris – 53 years old (1973) – Actor and singer
Greg Vaughan – 53 years old (1973) – Actor and model
Michael Doleac – 49 years old (1977) – Basketball player and manager
Zach Day – 48 years old (1978) – Baseball player
Tim Lincecum – 42 years old (1984) – Baseball player
Ashley Nicole Black – 41 years old (1985) – Comedian, actress, and writer
Trevor Plouffe – 40 years old (1986) – Baseball player
Bayley – 37 years old (1989) – Wrestler
Jessie Ennis – 35 years old (1991) – Actress, director, and writer
Cooper Kupp – 33 years old (1993) – Football player
Madison Kocian – 29 years old (1997) – Gymnast
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JUNE 15:
- Nature Photography Day: Get out of the house and capture the beauty of nature on your own camera. Even if it’s just taking a walk with your smartphone, you’re sure to find something snap-worthy.
- National Lobster Day: Whether you’re a long-time lobster aficionado or someone who’s still hesitant about seafood, now’s the time to give this classic marine delicacy a try.
- World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Many elderly people face financial, emotional, and physical abuse. Help raise awareness and put a stop to this tragedy on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
- National Bug Busting Day: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day shines a light on a global issue that touches millions. It focuses attention on the abuse, neglect, and exploitation that older adults can face in homes, communities, and care settings, and it encourages practical action, not just sympathy. At its best, the day nudges everyone...
- Sneak a Kiss Day: Sneak a Kiss Day is a playful moment when people surprise someone special with a quick, sweet kiss. It’s about those tiny surprises, almost like hidden sparks, that brighten the everyday and make ordinary routines feel a little more cinematic. A gentle peck on the cheek or lips can signal affection...
- Global Wind Day: Harnessing the strength of natural forces, providing a sustainable and clean energy solution for a greener future.
- National Smile Power Day: Show off your dimples and pearly whites and harness the true power of a smile. It releases chemicals that make you feel happier, more confident, and more relaxed.
- Beer Day Britain: Brits, now is the time to gather together and participate in one of your country’s greatest traditions: Beer Day Britain! Grab a glass, a pint, or a pitcher to share.
- International Women in Mining Day: Exploring underground, these resilient women delve into the Earth's depths, extracting treasures that shape industries and communities.
- National Megalodon Day: Have you ever thought about the colossal creatures that once roamed our oceans? National Megalodon Day invites us to dive deep into the world of the megalodon, the largest shark ever known. This prehistoric predator, an ancestor of today's sharks, dominated the seas millions of years ago. With teeth the...
- Waste & Recycling Workers Week: Give a big thanks to the men and women who keep your community sanitary and hygienic on Garbage Man Day, or Waste & Recycling Workers Week.
- Magna Carta Day: Britain’s Magna Carta has served as the template for many new governments, outlining rights and powers. For a fun craft, try making your own Magna Carta.
- International Working Animal Day: Honoring the tireless collaborators, creatures contributing silent efforts, weaving indispensable threads into the fabric of human progress.
- National Foam Party Day: National Foam Party Day is all about fun, laughter, and a sea of bubbles. Imagine stepping into a world where the ground disappears under mountains of fluffy white foam. Music plays, people dance, and for a little while, nothing else matters. Kids jump right in, splashing and spinning, while adults...
- National Kiss a Wookiee Day: National Kiss a Wookiee Day is a playful celebration of Star Wars’ most huggable hero. Chewbacca and his fellow Wookiees take the spotlight, giving fans a chance to show some love. Whether through stuffed animals, costumes, or clever posts, the focus stays fun and lighthearted. People lean into the humor...
- National Prune Day: National Prune Day honors the humble prune. It’s a day when we celebrate this sweet, dried plum and all it brings. People talk about its taste, its natural sweetness, and the way it fits into everyday life. Discussions highlight how it boosts digestion, supports strong bones, and even helps the...
- British Heart Week: British Heart Week is a vital event dedicated to raising awareness about heart health and the importance of heart care. Organized by the British Heart Foundation, this week-long observance emphasizes the significance of cardiovascular well-being. How to Celebrate British Heart Week Get Moving Why not kick off British Heart Week with a...
- Scleroderma Awareness Week: Scleroderma Awareness Week is a special time dedicated to shedding light on a little-known but impactful disease. This week aims to bring attention to scleroderma, a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes hardening and tightening of the skin and other connective tissues. The week encourages conversations about the challenges faced by...
- Animal Rights Awareness Week: Animal Rights Awareness Week is a significant event celebrated every year during the third week of June. This week is dedicated to educating people about the importance of animal rights globally. It provides a platform to discuss how animals are unfairly used in industries such as entertainment, cosmetics, and science...
- Learning Disability Week: Understanding diverse learning needs empowers educators to create inclusive environments where every student can thrive and succeed.
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