On This Day in History

June 7

Historical Events

Front page of the Portuguese-owned treaty

1494 Treaty of Tordesillas: Spain and Portugal divide the new world along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands, off the west coast of Africa.

1628 English King Charles I ratifies the Petition of Rights.

1753 The British Museum is founded by an Act of Parliament with royal assent from King George II (opens in 1759).

1929 Vatican City becomes a sovereign state.

1965 The Supreme Court of the United States decides on Griswold v. Connecticut, effectively legalizing the use of contraception by married couples.

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Famous Birthdays

Susan Blow 1843 - 1916 Paul Gauguin 1848 - 1903

Mike Pence 65th Birthday Tom Jones 84th Birthday

Also Muammar Gaddafi, Prince Rogers Nelson and Anna Kournikova (43).

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Famous Deaths

Robert the Bruce 1274 - 1329 Jean Harlow 1911 - 1937

Also Alan Turing, Judy Holliday and Christopher Lee.

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Why an American Bought London Bridge

An iconic piece of Olde England was just what an American oil tycoon wanted for his new township in the Arizona desert. Did he get what he was after?

London Bridge in the Arizona Desert