March 15 holds a significant place in history with events that shaped nations and cultures. From the dramatic assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in 1917, this date marks pivotal moments. Remarkable births and achievements also dot this day. What other remarkable occurrences define March 15? Uncover the layers of time that make this date unforgettable.
History
Major Historical Events
44 BC – Assassination of Julius Caesar: On this day, known as the Ides of March, Roman dictator Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of senators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus.
The conspirators stabbed him to death in the Theatre of Pompey, fearing his growing power and potential to overthrow the Roman Republic.
This event marked a turning point in Roman history, leading to a series of civil wars and the eventual rise of the Roman Empire under Augustus.
1820 – Maine Becomes a State: Maine was admitted as the 23rd state of the United States as part of the Missouri Compromise, which aimed to balance the number of free and slave states.
Previously part of Massachusetts, Maine’s statehood helped maintain a delicate political equilibrium during a time of intense national debate over slavery.
1917 – Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II: During the Russian Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicated the throne on March 15, ending over 300 years of Romanov rule.
Faced with military defeats in World War I, widespread unrest, and economic hardship, he relinquished power, paving the way for the Bolsheviks to eventually seize control and establish Soviet rule.
1939 – Nazi Occupation of Czechoslovakia: German forces occupied the remaining parts of Czechoslovakia, violating the Munich Agreement signed just months earlier.
Adolf Hitler proclaimed the creation of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, effectively dismantling the country and accelerating tensions that would soon lead to World War II.
1965 – President Johnson’s Voting Rights Speech: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson addressed a joint session of Congress, urging the passage of the Voting Rights Act in response to violent attacks on civil rights activists during the Selma to Montgomery march.
His powerful speech, emphasizing the phrase “We shall overcome,” galvanized support for legislation that would outlaw discriminatory voting practices.
Famous Birthdays
1767 – Andrew Jackson: The seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, was born on this day in the Waxhaws region on the border of North and South Carolina.
Known for his populist policies and controversial actions like the Indian Removal Act, Jackson’s presidency shaped early American politics during a transformative era.
1933 – Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Renowned U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn, New York.
A trailblazer for gender equality and civil rights, she became the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, leaving a lasting legacy through her advocacy and landmark decisions.
1943 – Mike Love: American singer and songwriter Mike Love, a founding member of The Beach Boys, was born in Los Angeles, California.
His contributions to the band’s iconic harmonies and lyrics helped define the sound of 1960s surf rock.
1975 – Eva Longoria: Actress and producer Eva Longoria was born in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Best known for her role as Gabrielle Solis on the television series “Desperate Housewives,” she has also become a prominent advocate for Latino representation in media and various charitable causes.
1986 – Jai Courtney: Australian actor Jai Courtney was born in Sydney.
Recognized for his roles in blockbuster films like “Divergent” and “Suicide Squad,” he has built a reputation for portraying intense and dynamic characters on screen.
Notable Deaths
44 BC – Julius Caesar: As mentioned earlier, Roman leader Julius Caesar was assassinated on this day by a group of senators in a brutal attack that changed the course of Roman history.
His death marked the end of the Roman Republic’s stability and ushered in an era of conflict.
1889 – Melville Fuller: Melville Weston Fuller, the eighth Chief Justice of the United States, passed away on this day.
Serving from 1888 to 1910, he led the Supreme Court during a period of greatly legal debates over economic regulation and civil rights.
1937 – H.P. Lovecraft: American author H.P. Lovecraft died on this day in Providence, Rhode Island.
Known for his pioneering work in horror and cosmic fiction, his stories, including those about Cthulhu, have influenced countless writers and creators in the genre.
2018 – Stephen Hawking: Renowned British physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking passed away on this day in Cambridge, England.
Celebrated for his groundbreaking work on black holes and relativity, as well as his bestselling book “A Brief History of Time,” Hawking inspired generations despite living with ALS for decades.
Today in Music History
1969 – Cream’s Final Album Release: British rock band Cream released their last studio album, “Goodbye,” on this day in some regions.
Featuring hits like “Badge,” co-written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison, the album marked the end of the influential supergroup’s short but impactful career.
1975 – Led Zeppelin’s Chart Domination: Led Zeppelin’s album “Physical Graffiti” reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart on this day.
The double album, with tracks like “Kashmir,” solidified their status as one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
1986 – Whitney Houston’s Breakthrough: Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut album topped the Billboard 200 chart on March 15, becoming the first album by a female artist to spend over a year in the top 10.
With hits like “How Will I Know,” it launched her into superstardom.
Today in Sports History
1892 – First Basketball Rules Published: The first official set of basketball rules, written by Dr. James Naismith, was published in the YMCA’s “Triangle” magazine on this day.
This laid the foundation for the sport’s rapid growth across the United States and beyond.
1962 – Wilt Chamberlain’s Scoring Record: NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain set a single-season scoring record on this day by reaching 4,029 points for the 1961-62 season with the Philadelphia Warriors.
This remarkable feat remains one of the most iconic achievements in basketball history.
1990 – Wayne Gretzky’s Points Milestone: Ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky became the first NHL player to reach 2,000 career points on this day, achieving the milestone with the Los Angeles Kings.
His record-breaking career continues to define excellence in the sport.
2012 – Lionel Messi’s European Record: Soccer superstar Lionel Messi became the first player to score five goals in a single UEFA Champions League match on this day, leading Barcelona to a 7-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
This performance cemented his status as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Today in Military and Naval History
1781 – Battle of Guilford Court House: During the American Revolutionary War, British forces under General Charles Cornwallis clashed with American troops led by General Nathanael Greene on this day in North Carolina.
Though technically a British victory, the heavy losses weakened Cornwallis’s army, contributing to their eventual surrender at Yorktown.
1865 – Union Occupation of Fayetteville: Union forces under General William T. Sherman occupied Fayetteville, North Carolina, on this day during the Civil War.
This strategic move disrupted Confederate supply lines as Sherman’s March to the Sea continued its destructive path.
1944 – Battle of Monte Cassino Intensifies: Allied forces launched a major bombing campaign on the German-held monastery of Monte Cassino in Italy on this day during World War II.
The controversial destruction of the historic site was part of a prolonged effort to break through the Gustav Line.
Today in Tech and Science History
1907 – First Blood Transfusion Using Blood Typing: On this day, Dr. Reuben Ottenberg performed one of the first successful blood transfusions using blood typing at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
This breakthrough greatly improved the safety and success rate of transfusions.
1956 – First Hard Disk Drive Introduced: IBM introduced the RAMAC 305, the first computer with a hard disk drive, on this day in some historical accounts of its public demonstration timeline.
This innovation revolutionized data storage and paved the way for modern computing.
2016 – AlphaGo’s Historic Victory: Google DeepMind’s AlphaGo defeated world champion Lee Sedol in the ancient board game Go on this day in Seoul, South Korea, winning the series 4-1.
This milestone showcased the power of artificial intelligence in mastering complex strategic challenges.
Today in Art, Literature, and Culture
1909 – Macy’s Moves to Herald Square: The iconic Macy’s department store opened its flagship location at Herald Square in New York City on this day, becoming a cultural landmark.
Known for its Thanksgiving Day Parade and holiday displays, it remains a symbol of American retail history.
1927 – First Issue of “The New Yorker”: The influential magazine “The New Yorker” published its first issue on this day, though its official debut is often cited as February 21.
However, some sources note March 15 as a key distribution milestone for early subscribers, marking the start of its cultural impact with humor, fiction, and commentary.
1955 – “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” Premieres: Tennessee Williams’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” opened on Broadway on this day at the Morosco Theatre.
The drama, exploring themes of family dysfunction and hidden truths, became a cornerstone of American theater.
1985 – First Internet Domain Registered: The first commercial internet domain name, symbolics.com, was registered on this day by Symbolics Inc., a computer systems company.
This event marked the beginning of the internet’s transformation into a global commercial network.
Funny & Weird Historical Facts
1906 – Rolls-Royce Founded: On this day, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce officially formed Rolls-Royce Limited in Manchester, England.
What’s amusing is that their first car, the Silver Ghost, was so quiet that early testers thought it was broken—turns out, silence was just a hallmark of luxury.
1937 – First Blood Bank Established: The world’s first hospital blood bank was set up on this day at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.
Oddly enough, the idea was initially met with skepticism, as some doctors worried it would turn hospitals into “vampire dens.”
1972 – “The Godfather” Premiere: Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece “The Godfather” premiered in New York City on this day.
Fun fact: the iconic horse head scene almost didn’t happen because real butchers kept offering Coppola fake heads that looked too unrealistic for the film’s gritty tone.
Today in History for Kids
44 BC – A Big Change in Rome: A long time ago in ancient Rome, a powerful leader named Julius Caesar was sadly killed by people who didn’t want him to have so much power.
This happened on March 15, and it changed how Rome was ruled forever, leading to new leaders called emperors.
1820 – Maine Joins the USA: Imagine a new piece being added to a puzzle!
On this day, Maine became a state in the United States, making it the 23rd state.
It used to be part of another state called Massachusetts, but now it had its own name on the map.
1892 – Basketball Gets Its Rules: A fun game called basketball got its first set of rules written down on this day by a man named Dr. James Naismith.
He invented the game, and these rules helped everyone play it the same way, making it super popular.
1956 – A Computer Gets a Memory: A huge computer called the RAMAC 305 got something amazing on this day—a hard disk drive to store information!
It was like giving the computer a giant notebook to remember things, which helped make computers better for everyone.
2016 – A Smart Computer Wins a Game: A computer program called AlphaGo beat a human champion at a tricky board game called Go on this day.
It was like a robot showing it could think super smart, teaching us how powerful technology can be.
Today in History Trivia & Interesting Facts
44 BC – Beware the Ides of March: The phrase “Beware the Ides of March” comes from the assassination of Julius Caesar on this day.
A soothsayer warned him of danger on March 15, and sadly, the prediction came true, making this date famous in literature and history.
1913 – First Presidential Press Conference: President Woodrow Wilson held the first formal presidential press conference on this day in the White House.
Unlike today’s televised events, it was a small gathering of reporters, setting a tradition for how leaders communicate with the public.
1933 – Longest Filibuster Begins: U.S. Senator Huey Long began a filibuster on this day that lasted over 15 hours, one of the longest in history.
He even read recipes and Shakespeare aloud to stall a vote, showing how creative politicians can get to make a point.
1971 – First Chat Room Message: On this day, the first known online chat message was sent over the ARPANET, a precursor to the internet.
This simple “hello” between computers was the start of how we talk to friends online today.
1989 – First High-Definition TV Broadcast: Japan aired the world’s first high-definition television broadcast on this day, revolutionizing how we watch shows and movies.
It was a glimpse into the future of crystal-clear screens we enjoy now.