✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 74th day of the year

March 15

A look at March 15 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich and Mark Hoppus, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♓ZodiacPisces ◈BirthstoneAquamarine ❀Birth flowerDaffodil
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1978

    Somalia

    Somalia and Ethiopia sign a truce to end the Ethio-Somali War.

    Country in the Horn
  2. 1951

    Nationalization of the Iranian oil industry

    The Iranian oil industry is nationalized.

    History
  3. 1943

    World War II

    World War II: Third Battle of Kharkiv: The Germans retake the city of Kharkiv from the Soviet armies.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  4. 1922

    Egypt

    After Egypt gains nominal independence from the United Kingdom, Fuad I becomes King of Egypt.

    Country in Northeast Africa
  5. 1921

    Talaat Pasha

    Talaat Pasha, former Grand Vizir of the Ottoman Empire and chief architect of the Armenian genocide, is assassinated in Berlin by a 23-year-old Armenian, Soghomon Tehlirian.

    Turkish Ottoman politician (1874–1921)
  6. 1918

    Finnish Civil War

    Finnish Civil War: The battle of Tampere begins.

    1918 civil war in
  7. 1823

    Benjamin Morrell

    Sailor Benjamin Morrell erroneously reports the existence of the island of New South Greenland near Antarctica.

    American explorer (1795 –
  8. 1820

    Maine

    Maine is admitted as the twenty-third U.S. state.

    U.S. state
  9. 1311

    Battle of Halmyros

    Battle of Halmyros: The Catalan Company defeats Walter V, Count of Brienne to take control of the Duchy of Athens, a Crusader state in Greece.

    1311 battle in present-day
  10. 856

    Michael III

    Michael III, emperor of the Byzantine Empire, overthrows the regency of his mother, empress Theodora (wife of Theophilos) with support of the Byzantine nobility.

    Byzantine emperor from 842
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Famous birthday twins

Born on March 15

Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich

b. 1982

Kenyan runner

Mark Hoppus

b. 1972

American singer-songwriter and musician

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

b. 1933

American lawyer and judge

Andrew Jackson

b. 1767

American general, judge, and politician, 7th President of the United States

Joe Hahn

b. 1977

American musician, DJ, director, and visual artist

Élisée Reclus

b. 1830

French geographer and anarchist

Zarah Leander

b. 1907

Swedish actress and singer

David Cronenberg

b. 1943

Canadian actor, director, and screenwriter

Deaths

  • 1990Farzad Bazoft, Iranian-English journalist
  • 1921Talaat Pasha, Ottoman politician, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire
  • 1842Luigi Cherubini, Italian composer and theorist
  • 1711Eusebio Kino, Italian priest and missionary
  • 963Romanos II, Byzantine emperor
  • -44Julius Caesar, Roman general and statesman (born 100 BC)

Holidays & observances

  • —Ancient Roman religious observance: Ides of March
  • —Christian feast day: Aristobulus of Britannia (Roman Catholic Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Artémides Zatti
  • —Christian feast day: Clement Mary Hofbauer
  • —Christian feast day: Leocritia
  • —Christian feast day: Saint Longinus
  • —Christian feast day: Louise de Marillac
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed William Hart

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