Today in News History

On June 29, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1853, Adrien-Henri de Jussieu, French botanist and academic (born 1797) passed away. In 1864, At least 99 people, mostly German and Polish immigrants, are killed in Canada's worst railway disaster after a train fails to stop for an open drawbridge and plunges into the Rivière Richelieu near St-Hilaire, Quebec. In 1880, France annexes Tahiti, renaming the independent Kingdom of Tahiti as "Etablissements de français de l'Océanie". In 1900, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, French poet and pilot (died 1944) was born. In 1921, Frédéric Dard, French author and screenwriter (died 2000) was born. In 1922, France grants "one square kilometer" at Vimy Ridge "freely, and for all time, to the Government of Canada, the free use of the land exempt from all taxes". In 1943, Louis Nicollin, French entrepreneur and chairman of Montpellier HSC (died 2017) was born. In 1982, Pierre Balmain, French fashion designer, founded Balmain (born 1914) passed away. In 2015, Charles Pasqua, French businessman and politician, French Minister of the Interior (born 1927) passed away. In 2017, Louis Nicollin, French entrepreneur and chairman of Montpellier HSC from 1974 to his death (born 1943) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.