Learn about important dates in French and francophone history: famous birthdays, holidays and celebrations, and other milestones. If the above does not match today's date or you wish to choose a specific date, please click here

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Birthdays

1404 - Philip I (Duke of Brabant)

1839 - Francis Garnier (French explorer)

1960 - Alain Robidoux (Canadian snooker player)

1980 - Diam's (French female rapper)

Deaths

1676 - François Hédelin, abbé d'Aubignac (French writer)

1794 - André Chénier (French writer)

1842 - Dominique Jean Larrey (French surgeon)

1861 - Jonas Furrer (Swiss Federal Councilor)

1934 - François Coty (French perfume manufacturer)

1973 - Louis Stephen St.

Laurent (12th Prime Minister of Canada)

1996 - Howard Vernon (Swiss actor)

Holidays/Celebrations

Tunisia - Republic Day

Milestones/Events

864 - Charles the Bald's Edict of Pistres ordered defensive measures against the Vikings

1547 - Henry II crowned King of France

1593 - Henry IV of France publicly converted from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism

1755 - Le Grand Dérangement: Decision to deport Acadians was made in Halifax

1758 - Seven Years' War: The island battery at Fortress Louisbourg in Nova Scotia was silenced and all French warships were destroyed or taken

1759 - French and Indian War: British forces captured Fort Niagara from French, who then abandoned Fort Rouillé

1799 - Aboukir, Egypt: Napoleon I of France defeated 10,000 Ottomans under Mustafa Pasha

1909 - Louis Blériot flew from Calais to Dover, the first flight across the English Channel in a heavier-than-air machine

1958 - Cotonou, Bénin: African Regroupment Party (PRA) held its first congress

1995 - Paris: Gas bottle exploded in regional train station, killing 8 and wounding 80

1999 - Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France

2000 - Paris: Air France Flight 4590, a Concorde supersonic passenger jet, crashed just after takeoff, killing 113 people

Errors and Omissions

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