1700s / 18th century history on the 10th of June

1752 : Benjamin Franklin flew a kite during a thunderstorm and collected a charge in a Leyden jar when the kite was struck by lightning, enabling him to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning. Benjamin Franklin became interested in electricity in the 1740s, during a time when much was still unknown on the topic, and spent almost a decade conducting electrical experiments. He coined a number of terms used today, including battery, conductor and electrician. Benjamin Franklin also invented the lightning rod, used to protect buildings and ships.

1800s / 19th century history on the 10th of June

1886 : Mount Tarawera volcano erupted in New Zealand, killing over 120 people, and also buried the famous Pink and White Terraces. The volcanic eruptions continued for 3 months, which created a 17 km long fissures from northeast to southwest across the mountain peak.

1800s / 19th century history on the 9th of June

1891 : Cole Porter the American composer and songwriter was born in Peru, Indiana, USA (died 1964 aged 73).

1900s / 20th century history on the 9th of June

1915 : LES PAUL the American guitarist and inventor was born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA (died in 2009 aged 94). He is one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar, and his Log prototype, was the inspiration for the creation of the Gibson Les Paul electric guitar. Official website : LesPaulFoundation.org

1928 : Charles Kingsford Smith completed the 1st trans-Pacific flight, in the Southern Cross, a Fokker Trimotor monoplane.

1900s / 20th century history on the 8th of June

1925 : Barbara Bush the American 41st First Lady of the United States was born Barbara Pierce in Manhattan, New York City, USA (died in 2018 aged 92). She was the wife of George H. W., the 41st president of the United States Bush, and the mother of George W. Bush, George W. the 43rd president of the United States.

1927 : Jerry Stiller the American actor was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA (died in 2020 aged 92).

1933 : Joan Rivers the American comedian and television host was born Joan Alexandra Molinsky in  Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA (died in 2014 aged 81). Official website : JoanRivers.com

1800s / 19th century history on the 7th of June

1848 : Paul Gauguin the French Post-Impressionist artist was born Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin in Paris, France (died in 1903 aged 54).

1900s / 20th century history on the 7th of June

1913 : First successful ascent of Mt. McKinley (6,144 metres / 20,320 feet), led by Hudson Stuck, an Alaskan missionary. Mt. McKinley is the highest point on the American continent. Hudson Stuck set out from Fairbanks with 3 companions in March. Their journey was made challenging by difficult weather and a fire at one of their camps, which destroyed food and supplies.

1800s / 19th century history on the 6th of June

1844 : The YMCA originally known as the Young Men’s Christian Association was founded in London, England. The worldwide youth organization also known as The Y, is now based in Geneva, Switzerland, and has more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. Official website : YMCA.int

1859 : Queensland was established as a separate colony from New South Wales in Australia. The 6^th of June date of Queensland’s establishment is still celebrated as Queensland Day.

1900s / 20th century history on the 6th of June

1933 : The first drive-in theatre in the world opened in Camden, New Jersey, USA.

1800s / 19th century history on the 5th of June

1883 : The first Orient Express departed from Paris for Vienna. The world famous Orient Express long-distance passenger train service operated until 2009.

1900s / 20th century history on the 5th of June

1933 : FDR took United States off the gold standard, a monetary system in which currency is backed by gold, when Congress enacted a joint resolution nullifying the right of creditors to demand payment in gold. The United States had been on a gold standard since 1879, except for the embargo on gold exports during World War I, but bank failures during the Great Depression of the 1930s had frightened the public into hoarding gold, making the policy untenable.

1800s / 19th century history on the 4th of June

1876 : The Transcontinental Express train arrived in San Francisco, via the First Transcontinental Railroad, in only 83 hours and 39 minutes, after it had departed New York City, in USA.

1896 : The Ford Quadricycle was completed and given a successful test run by Henry Ford. It was the first gasoline-powered automobile.

1900s / 20th century history on the 4th of June

1800s / 19th century history on the 3rd of June

1889 : The first long-distance electric power transmission line was completed in the United States, over a distance of 23 kilometres (14 miles), from a generator at Willamette Falls to Portland, Oregon.

1900s / 20th century history on the 3rd of June

1924 : Jimmy Rogers the American singer and guitarist was born in Ruleville, Mississippi, USA (died in 1997 aged 73). He was best known as a member of Muddy Waters.

1939 : Ian Hunter the English singer and guitarist was born Ian Hunter Patterson in Oswestry, Shropshire, England. He is best known as the lead singer of Mott the Hoople rock band. Websites : ianHunter.com | Hunter-Mott.com

1800s / 19th century history on the 2nd of June

1896 : Guglielmo Marconi applied for a patent for the wireless telegraph he invented.

1900s / 20th century history on the 2nd of June

1909 : Alfred Deakin became Prime Minister of Australia for the third time.

1500s / 16th century history on the 1st of June

1533 : Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen of England. She was the second wife of King Henry VIII.

1700s / 18th century history on the 1st of June

1792 : Kentucky was admitted as the 15th state of the United States. Official websites : Kentucky.gov | KentuckyTourism.com

1800s / 19th century history on the 1st of June

1890 : Herman Hollerith’s tabulating machine was used to count census returns for the first time, at the United States Census Bureau.