July 8: 1st US State Abolishes Slavery, Smallpox and the Opening of Japan

On This Day in History July 8, 2020 Historical Events 1099  First Crusade: 15,000 starving Christian soldiers march in religious procession around Jerusalem as its Muslim defenders look on 1497  Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama departs on his first voyage, becoming the 1st European to reach India by sea 1777  Independent Vermont introduces a new constitution, prohibiting slavery 1800  Dr Benjamin Waterhouse gives 1st cowpox vaccination in the US to his son to prevent smallpox 1853  Commodore Matthew C. Perry sails his frigate Susquehanna into Tokyo Bay, opening Japan to Western influence and trade 1948  500th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated in Moscow More Historical Events Famous Birthdays Anjelica Huston 69th Birthday Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838 - 1917) John D. Rockefeller (1839 - 1937) Nelson Rockefeller (1908 - 1979) More Famous Birthdays Famous Deaths Ernest Borgnine (1917 - 2012) Kim Il-sung (1912 - 1994) More Famous Deaths July 8: Hindenburg Disaster Ends the Age of Zeppelins Through peace and war the sky was the limit for Zeppelin airships, named after their German inventor – until the Hindenburg disaster put an end to the dream. Read the Article You Might Like Take Our Weekly Quiz You received this email because you opted in at our website, OnThisDay.com Update Your Preferences | Unsubscribe © 2020 OnThisDay.com 2 Acacia Place, Tauranga 3110, New Zealand