This Day In History, March 30th.

Five Historical Events That Happened on March 30th.

  • Chinese astronomers witnessed the first Halley's Comet perihelion transit in 240 BC.

  • The United States formed the Florida Territory in 1822, with Tallahassee serving as its capital.

  • As Russia ratified the Treaty of Paris, the Crimean War came to a conclusion.

  • Alaska was purchased by the United States from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million.

  • John Hinckley Jr. shot and injured President Ronald Reagan in 1981 outside a hotel in Washington, D.C.

This Day In History, March 30th, 240 BC: The first recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet was observed by Chinese astronomers.

Chinese astronomers spotted Halley's Comet's first known perihelion passage on March 30, 240 BC. The comet is named for the British astronomer Edmond Halley, who in 1705, based on observations of earlier comets, predicted its return. Once every 76 years, the comet is visible from Earth; the most recent perihelion passage was in 1986.

1822: The Florida Territory was established in the United States, with Tallahassee as its capital.

The Florida Territory was founded in the United States on March 30th, 1822. Florida was a territory governed by the federal government at the time and wasn't yet a state. Tallahassee, which is still the state capital today, was chosen to serve as the capital of the Florida Territory. On March 3rd, 1845, Florida became the 27th state to join the Union.

Russia signed the Treaty of Paris, ending its involvement in the Crimean War in 1856.

Russia signed the Treaty of Paris on March 30, 1856, putting an end to its participation in the Crimean War. The conflict between Russia and the Ottoman Empire over sovereignty of the Holy Land, which was then a part of the Ottoman Empire, had begun the war in 1853. Several European nations, such as France, Britain, and Sardinia, were embroiled in the conflict as it swiftly grew in intensity. In Europe, new borders were drawn as a result of the Treaty of Paris, which saw Russia cede land to the Ottoman Empire and lose its sway over the Black Sea region.

In March 30th 1867: The United States bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.

Alaska was purchased from Russia by the United States on March 30th, 1867, for a sum of $7.2 million. Alaska was then referred to as Russian America and had been ruled by Russia since the late 1700s. In terms of geographic positioning and availability to natural resources, the United States' acquisition of Alaska—originally dubbed "Seward's Folly" after the US Secretary of State who brokered the deal—proved to be a wise strategic choice. As the largest state in the union, Alaska is a haven for natural beauty and riches.

1981: President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded by John Hinckley Jr. outside a hotel in Washington, D.C.

President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded outside a hotel in Washington, D.C. on March 30, 1981. Hinckley was a mentally unstable individual who had become obsessed with the actress Jodie Foster and hoped to impress her by carrying out the assassination attempt. President Reagan suffered a punctured lung and internal bleeding as a result of the shooting, but he eventually recovered. The incident prompted increased scrutiny of the Secret Service's presidential security measures, which resulted in new legislation aimed at strengthening presidential security.

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This Day In History, March 31st.

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This Day In History, March 29th.