TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2026

1609-Galileo Galilei demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers, including the Doge (ruler) of Venice, Leonardo Donato

1619-Slavery begins in mainland British colonies of North America when the first known African captives (approximately 20) land at Point Comfort, Virginia, before being sold or traded into servitude

1718-Hundreds of French colonists arrive in Louisiana and found New Orleans

1768-Captain James Cook departs from Plymouth, England, bound for the Pacific Ocean on his first voyage aboard the Endeavour

1894-Japanese scientist Shibasaburo Kitasato discovers the infectious agent of the bubonic plague and publishes his findings in The Lancet

1944-German commander Dietrich von Choltitz surrenders Paris to the Free French forces of Philippe Leclerc, disobeying Adolf Hitler's orders to destroy the city. President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic Charles de

1990-U.N. Security Council authorizes military action against Iraq for invading Kuwait

1991-Linux is born when Linus Torvalds sends an email announcing his project to create a new computer operating system