TUESDAY, March 3, 2026

1791-Long-distance communication speeds up with the unveiling of a semaphore machine in Paris

1796-Napoléon Bonaparte is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the French Army in Italy

1807-U.S. Congress bans the slave trade within the US, effective January 1, 1808

1888-The Convention of Constantinople is signed, guaranteeing free maritime passage through the Suez Canal during war and peace

1946-Ho Chi Minh is elected President of North Vietnam

1956-French-Moroccan Agreement signed in Paris rescinds the Treaty of Fez, declaring independence of Morocco from France

1972-Jean-Bedel Bokassa appoints himself President for Life of the Central African Republic

2002-U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: U.S. conventional forces first deployed as part of Operation Anaconda