On This Day · The 166th day of the year

June 15

A look at June 15 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Tim Lincecum and Hugo Pratt, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1996

    The Troubles

    The Troubles: The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonates a powerful truck bomb in the middle of Manchester, England, devastating the city centre and injuring 200 people.

    1960s–1998 conflict in Northern
  2. 1992

    Supreme Court of the United States

    The United States Supreme Court rules in United States v. Álvarez-Machaín that it is permissible for the United States to forcibly extradite suspects in foreign countries and bring them to the United States for trial, without approval from those other countries.

    Highest court of jurisdiction
  3. 1991

    Mount Pinatubo

    In the Philippines, Mount Pinatubo erupts in the second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, killing over 800 people.

    Active stratovolcano in Luzon,
  4. 1940

    World War II

    World War II: Operation Aerial begins: Allied troops start to evacuate France, following Germany's takeover of Paris and most of the nation.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  5. 1896

    1896 Sanriku earthquake

    One of the deadliest tsunamis in Japan's history kills more than 22,000 people.

    Japanese tsunami earthquake
  6. 1864

    American Civil War

    American Civil War: The Second Battle of Petersburg begins.

    1861–1865 conflict in the
  7. 1804

    New Hampshire

    New Hampshire approves the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratifying the document.

    U.S. state
  8. 1520

    Pope Leo X

    Pope Leo X threatens to excommunicate Martin Luther in Exsurge Domine.

    Head of the Catholic
  9. 1285

    Byzantine Empire

    The Byzantine Empire and the Republic of Venice conclude a treaty. Apart from agreeng on a ten year truce, the Venetians are alloted a commercial quarter in Constantinople and are restored to earlier privileges.

    Continuation of the Roman
  10. 1215

    John, King of England

    King John of England puts his seal to Magna Carta.

    King of England from
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Famous birthday twins

Born on June 15

Tim Lincecum

b. 1984

American baseball player

Hugo Pratt

b. 1927

Italian author and illustrator

Xi Jinping

b. 1953

Chinese engineer and politician, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of China

Yuri Andropov

b. 1914

Russian politician

Alberto Sordi

b. 1920

Italian actor, director, and screenwriter

Erik Erikson

b. 1902

German-American psychologist and psychoanalyst

Courteney Cox

b. 1964

American actress and producer

Hiob Ludolf

b. 1624

German orientalist and philologist

Deaths

  • 1996Ella Fitzgerald, American singer and actress
  • 1849James K. Polk, American lawyer and politician, 11th President of the United States
  • 1383John VI Kantakouzenos, Byzantine emperor
  • 1341Andronikos III Palaiologos, Byzantine emperor
  • 1073Emperor Go-Sanjō, of Japan
  • 948Romanos I Lekapenos, Byzantine Emperor (born c. 870)

Holidays & observances

  • Arbor Day (Costa Rica)
  • Christian feast day: Abraham of Clermont (or of St Cyriacus)
  • Christian feast day: Alice (or Adelaide) of Schaerbeek
  • Christian feast day: Amos
  • Christian feast day: Blessed Albertina Berkenbrock
  • Christian feast day: Blessed Clement Vismara
  • Christian feast day: Edburga of Winchester
  • Christian feast day: Evelyn Underhill (Church of England and The Episcopal Church)

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