Historical Events on March 13

  • 1862: The United States Federal Government forbids Union Army officers from returning fugitive slave. This effectively annuls the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
  • 1865: The use of African-American troops are authorized by the Confederacy during the American Civil War.
  • 1881: Alexander II of Russia is killed by a thrown bomb near his palace.
  • 1930: Harvard College Observatory receives news of the Pluto discovery.
  • 1933: After U.S President Franklin D. Roosevelt had previously closed the banks for a “bank holiday” to avoid a run on them, U.S banks reopen on this day.
  • 1943: The Jewish ghetto in Krakow is liquidated by German troops during World War II.
  • 1969: After the test of the Luna Module, Apollo 9 returns back to Earth safely.
  • 1991: It’s announced by the U.S Dept. of Justice that Exxon has agreed to pay a billion dollars for the clean-up of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.
  • 1992: An earthquake hits eastern Turkey and kills almost 500 people.
  • 1996: Sixteen children and a teacher are killed during the Dunblane School Massacre in Scotland. The shooter ends up committing suicide.
  • 1997: A mass UFO sighting is observed by hundreds of people in Arizona and by millions of people on TV. This event would be known as the Phoenix Lights Sighting.
  • 2003: It’s reported by Nature that footprints that are over 350, 000 years old have been discovered in Italy.
  • 2016: 18 people are killed and another 33 are wounded when 3 gunman attack 2 hotels in Grand Bassam.

Famous Birthdays on March 13

  • Greek diplomat and poet, Giorgos Seferis is born in 1900.
  • American author and screenwriter, Barry Hughart is born in 1934.
  • English author and screenwriter, David Nobbs is born in 1935.
  • American R&B and Gospel singer, Erma Franklin is born in 1938.
  • American actor, screenwriter and director, William H. Macy is born in 1950.
  • Spanish-American singer, actress and guitarist, Charo is born in 1951.
  • American actress Dana Delany is born in 1956.