On This Day · The 164th day of the year

June 13

A look at June 13 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Ban Ki-moon and Will Claye, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2018

    Volkswagen

    Volkswagen is fined one billion euros over the emissions scandal.

    German automobile manufacturer
  2. 1983

    Pioneer 10

    Pioneer 10 becomes the first man-made object to leave the central Solar System when it passes beyond the orbit of Neptune.

    First spacecraft to visit
  3. 1952

    Catalina affair

    Catalina affair: A Swedish Douglas DC-3 is shot down by a Soviet MiG-15 fighter.

    1952 Cold War–era diplomatic
  4. 1944

    World War II

    World War II: The Battle of Villers-Bocage: German tank ace Michael Wittmann ambushes elements of the British 7th Armoured Division, destroying up to fourteen tanks, fifteen personnel carriers and two anti-tank guns in a Tiger I tank.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  5. 1917

    World War I

    World War I: The deadliest German air raid on London of the war is carried out by Gotha G.IV bombers and results in 162 deaths, including 46 children, and 432 injuries.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  6. 1850

    American League of Colored Laborers

    The American League of Colored Laborers, the first African American labor union in the United States, is established in New York City.

    Former labor union of
  7. 1805

    Lewis and Clark Expedition

    Lewis and Clark Expedition: Scouting ahead of the expedition, Meriwether Lewis and four companions sight the Great Falls of the Missouri River.

    1804–1806 American expedition
  8. 1774

    Rhode Island

    Rhode Island becomes the first of Britain's North American colonies to ban the importation of slaves.

    U.S. state
  9. 1525

    Martin Luther

    Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for priests and nuns.

    German priest, theologian and
  10. 1514

    Henry Grace à Dieu

    Henry Grace à Dieu, at over 1,000 tons the largest warship in the world at this time, built at the new Woolwich Dockyard in England, is dedicated.

    16th century carrack of
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Famous birthday twins

Born on June 13

Ban Ki-moon

b. 1944

South Korean politician and diplomat, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations

Will Claye

b. 1991

American jumper

Florent Malouda

b. 1980

French footballer

James Clerk Maxwell

b. 1831

Scottish physicist and mathematician

Kenenisa Bekele

b. 1982

Ethiopian runner

Taejong of Joseon

b. 1367

third monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea

AD 40

b. 40

Roman general

Thomas Young (scientist)

b. 1773

English physicist and physiologist

Deaths

  • 2021Ned Beatty, American actor
  • 1986Benny Goodman, American clarinet player, songwriter and bandleader
  • 1969Pralhad Keshav Atre, Indian journalist, director and producer
  • 1951Ben Chifley, Australian engineer and politician, 16th Prime Minister of Australia
  • 1886Ludwig II of Bavaria, king of Bavaria
  • 1861Henry Gray, English anatomist and surgeon

Holidays & observances

  • Christian feast day: Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church
  • Christian feast day: Aquilina
  • Christian feast day: Cetteus (Peregrinus)
  • Christian feast day: Eulogius of Alexandria
  • Christian feast day: Felicula
  • Christian feast day: G. K. Chesterton (Episcopal Church (USA))
  • Christian feast day: Gerard of Clairvaux
  • Christian feast day: Blessed Marianna Biernacka

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