Important Events From Today in History – 06 September

Today in History

• 2007 Israel Conducts Operation Orchard

  The Israeli Air Force conducted a military operation to destroy a suspected nuclear reactor in the Deir el-Zor region of Syria.

• 1999 Suai Church Massacre

  After the results of an independence referendum were announced, pro-Indonesia militia killed over 200 people who had sought refuge in a church in Suai, East Timor.

• 1968 Swaziland Gains Independence From the British

  1902, the Southern African state became a British protectorate following the Anglo-Boer War. King Sobhuza became the nation’s ruler and reigned until 1982, even after gaining independence. His son, Mswati III, succeeded him as ruler of the country.

• 1870 A Woman casts her Vote in the US for the first time

  Louisa Ann Swain participated in Wyoming state elections. Although women were not granted the right to vote in the United States until 1920, Wyoming’s governor, John A. Campbell, signed a bill granting women the right to vote on December 13, 1869. Women could vote in local and state elections but not in national elections.

• 1522 Victoria Becomes the First Ship to Circumnavigate the World

  The Spanish ship, led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, set sail from Spain on September 20, 1519, in search of a better route to Indonesia. The expedition began with five ships, including the Victoria, and 260 crew members. Magellan died during the voyage, and only Victoria and her 18 crew members made it back to Seville, Spain, after circumnavigating the globe.