This Day In European History
20th June
Events1547: The last unbeaten member of the Schmalkaldic League – Philip, Langrave of Hesse - surrenders to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
1789: The Tennis Court Oath is taken by the French National Assembly, a stage in the French Revolution.
1837: Queen Victoria comes to the British throne but, because Salic Law forbids female monarchs, she does not inherit the Kingdom of Hanover from her father; this separates from Britain under a new king.
Births
1566: King Sigismund III Vasa of Poland.
1615: Salvator Rosa, Italian painter.
1674: Nicholas Rowe, English writer.
1723: Adam Ferguson, Scottish philosopher.
1819: Jacques Offenbach, French composer.
1861: Frederick Hopkins, English biochemist.
1887: Kurt Schwitters, German poet and artist.
1891: John Costello, Irish prime minister.
Deaths
840: Emperor Louis I, the Pious.
1597: William Barents, Dutch explorer who gave his name to the Barents Sea.
1649: Richard Brandon, British executioner.
1836: Emmanuel Sieyes, French clergyman.
1837: King William IV of Great Britain and Ireland.
