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On This Day · The 70th day of the year

March 11

A look at March 11 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Douglas Adams and Antonin Scalia, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♓ZodiacPisces ◈BirthstoneAquamarine ❀Birth flowerDaffodil
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2020

    World Health Organization

    The World Health Organization (WHO) declares the COVID-19 virus epidemic a pandemic.

    Specialized agency of the
  2. 2011

    2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

    An earthquake measuring 9.0 in magnitude strikes 130 km (81 mi) east of Sendai, Japan, triggering a tsunami killing thousands of people. This event also triggered the second largest nuclear accident in history, and one of only two events to be classified as a Level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale.

    Megathrust earthquake off Japan's
  3. 2010

    Sebastián Piñera

    Economist and businessman Sebastián Piñera is sworn in as President of Chile. Aftershocks of the 2010 Pichilemu earthquakes hit central Chile during the ceremony.

    President of Chile (2010–2014;
  4. 2009

    2009 Winnenden shootings

    Winnenden school shooting: Fifteen are killed and nine are injured before recent graduate Tim Kretschmer shoots and kills himself, leading to tightened weapons restrictions in Germany.

    2009 shooting spree in
  5. 2006

    Michelle Bachelet

    Michelle Bachelet is inaugurated as the first female president of Chile.

    President of Chile (2006–2010;
  6. 1990

    Patricio Aylwin

    Patricio Aylwin is sworn in as the first democratically elected President of Chile since 1970.

    President of Chile from
  7. 1978

    Coastal road massacre

    Coastal Road massacre: At least 37 are killed and more than 70 are wounded when Fatah hijack an Israeli bus, prompting Israel's Operation Litani.

    1978 hijacking of an
  8. 1888

    Great Blizzard of 1888

    The Great Blizzard of 1888 begins along the eastern seaboard of the United States, shutting down commerce and killing more than 400 people.

    Severe snowstorm in the
  9. 1851

    Rigoletto

    The first performance of Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi takes place in Venice.

    1851 opera by Giuseppe
  10. 1708

    Anne, Queen of Great Britain

    Queen Anne withholds Royal Assent from the Scottish Militia Bill, the last time a British monarch vetoes legislation.

    Queen of Great Britain
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Famous birthday twins

Born on March 11

Douglas Adams

b. 1952

English author and playwright

Antonin Scalia

b. 1936

American lawyer and jurist, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

John Barrowman

b. 1967

Scottish-American actor and singer

Didier Drogba

b. 1978

Ivorian footballer

Louise Brough

b. 1923

American tennis player

Rupert Murdoch

b. 1931

Australian-American businessman and media magnate

Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke

b. 1913

German colonel and pilot

Raoul Walsh

b. 1887

American actor and director

Deaths

  • 2018Karl Lehmann, German cardinal
  • 2015Walter Burkert, German philologist and scholar
  • 2006Slobodan Milošević, Serbian lawyer and politician, 3rd President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  • 1955Alexander Fleming, Scottish biologist, pharmacologist, and botanist, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1931F. W. Murnau, German-American director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 222Elagabalus, Roman emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Alberta of Agen
  • —Christian feast day: Constantine
  • —Christian feast day: Óengus of Tallaght
  • —Christian feast day: Sophronius of Jerusalem
  • —Christian feast day: Vindicianus
  • —Day of Restoration of Independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 (Lithuania)
  • —Moshoeshoe Day (Lesotho)
  • —Saudi Flag Day

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