Discover what happened on June 15 in history, featuring major moments in American history, technological milestones, entertainment debuts, and notable events connected to Michigan history.
What Happened on June 15 in History?
Important events on this day include George Washington being appointed commander of the Continental Army, the resolution of the Ohio-Michigan border dispute that gave Michigan the Upper Peninsula, the founding of Pizza Hut, and Microsoft officially retiring Internet Explorer after nearly three decades.
JUNE 15 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1667 – Jean-Baptiste Denys administered the first fully-documented human blood transfusion. He successfully transfused the blood of a sheep to a 15-year old boy.
1752 – Benjamin Franklin experimented by flying a kite during a thunderstorm. The result was a little spark that showed the relationship between lightning and electricity (traditional date, the exact day is unknown).
1775 – George Washington was appointed head of the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress.
1836 – Arkansas became the 25th U.S. state.
1836 – Congress suggested a way to end the Ohio-Michigan “Toledo Strip” border dispute. The idea, which was adopted, gave the Toledo area to Ohio and the vast Upper Peninsula to Michigan.
1844 – Charles Goodyear was granted a patent for vulcanization, the process that strengthens rubber.
1864 – Arlington National Cemetery was established when 200 acres around Arlington Mansion (formerly owned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee) were officially set aside as a military cemetery by U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.
1877 – Henry O. Flipper became the first African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
1878 – Eadweard Muybridge took a series of photographs to prove that all four feet of a horse leave the ground when it runs. The study became the basis of motion pictures.
1898 – The U.S. House of Representatives approved the annexation of Hawaii.
1909 – Benjamin Shibe patented the cork center baseball.
1911 – The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. was incorporated in the state of New York. The company was later renamed International Business Machines (IBM) Corp.
1916 – President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill incorporating the Boy Scouts of America, making them the only American youth organization with a federal charter.
1919 – Captain John Alcock and Lt. Arthur W. Brown won $50,000 for successfully completing the first, non-stop trans-Atlantic plane flight.
1921 – Bessie Coleman became the first African American woman to earn an international aviation license.
1934 – The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was founded.
1948 – The first night game was played at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Detroit Tigers scored a 4-1 victory over the Athletics. A crowd of 54,480 fans were there that evening.
1952 – The Diary of Anne Frank, a true account of Jews hiding from the Nazis, was published.
1958 – Pizza Hut was founded by two college students, brothers Dan and Frank Carney, in Wichita, KS. Today Pizza Hut is the world’s largest pizza chain with 18,703 restaurants worldwide as of 2019.
1969 – The television show “Hee Haw” debuted on CBS.
1970 – Charles Manson went on trial for the Sharon Tate murders.
1973 – The George Lucas movie “American Graffiti, opened in theaters nationally.
1983 – In Grand Rapids, MI, the Grand Plaza West was officially completed. The building is a 29-story glass enclosed tower with 287 suites and guest rooms. Total cost of renovation was $68 million.
1985 – Rembrandt’s painting Danaë was attacked by a man (later judged insane) who threw sulfuric acid on the canvas and cut it twice with a knife.
1988 – The movie “Bull Durham”, starring Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon, premiered in theaters.
1990 – The movie “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” premiered in theaters.
1992 – It was ruled by the U.S. Supreme Court that the government could kidnap criminal suspects from foreign countries for prosecution.
1992 – Vice President Dan Quayle instructed a student to spell “potato” with an “e” on the end during a spelling bee.
1994 – The animated movie “The Lion King” premiered in theaters.
1995 – O.J. Simpson found the glove didn’t fit, which eventually lead the jury to acquit him of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
1997 – The Disney animated movie “Hercules” premiered in theaters.
2007 – Bob Barker ended his 35-year run as host of the CBS game show “The Price Is Right”.
2012 – Nik Wallenda became the first person to successfully tightrope walk over Niagara Falls.
2022 – Microsoft retired the web browser Internet Explorer in favor of its new browser, Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer had been around since 1995.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JUNE 15:
Ruby Nash Garnett – 92 years old (1934) – R&B singer
Billy Williams – 88 years old (1938) – Baseball player and coach
Ward Connerly – 87 years old (1939) – Activist and businessman, founded the American Civil Rights Institute
John E. McLaughlin – 84 years old (1942) – Diplomat
Lawrence Wilkerson – 81 years old (1945) – Colonel
John Horner – 80 years old (1946) – Paleontologist and academic
Mike Holmgren – 78 years old (1948) – Football player and coach
Dusty Baker – 77 years old (1949) – Baseball player and manager
Deney Terrio – 76 years old (1950) – Choreographer and television host
Jane Amsterdam – 75 years old (1951) – Magazine and newspaper editor ( Manhattan, inc. , New York Post )
Steve Walsh – 75 years old (1951) – Rock singer-songwriter and musician
Jim Belushi – 72 years old (1954) – Actor
Terri Gibbs – 72 years old (1954) – Country music singer and keyboard player
Polly Draper – 71 years old (1955) – Actress, producer, and screenwriter
Julie Hagerty – 71 years old (1955) – Model and actress
Lance Parrish – 70 years old (1956) – Baseball player, coach, and manager
Brett Butler – 69 years old (1957) – Baseball player and coach
Wade Boggs – 68 years old (1958) – Baseball player
Eileen Davidson – 67 years old (1959) – Model and actress
Scott Norton – 65 years old (1961) – Wrestler
Helen Hunt – 63 years old (1963) – Actress, director, and producer
Courteney Cox – 62 years old (1964) – Actress and producer
Adam Smith – 61 years old (1965) – Lawyer and politician
Ice Cube – 57 years old (1969) – Rapper, producer, and actor
Idalis DeLeón – 57 years old (1969) – Singer and actress
Christian Bauman – 56 years old (1970) – Soldier and author
Leah Remini – 56 years old (1970) – Actress and producer
Jake Busey – 55 years old (1971) – Actor, musician, and film producer
Justin Leonard – 54 years old (1972) – Golfer
Andy Pettitte – 54 years old (1972) – Baseball player
Neil Patrick Harris – 53 years old (1973) – Actor and singer
Greg Vaughan – 53 years old (1973) – Actor and model
Michael Doleac – 49 years old (1977) – Basketball player and manager
Zach Day – 48 years old (1978) – Baseball player
Tim Lincecum – 42 years old (1984) – Baseball player
Ashley Nicole Black – 41 years old (1985) – Comedian, actress, and writer
Trevor Plouffe – 40 years old (1986) – Baseball player
Bayley – 37 years old (1989) – Wrestler
Jessie Ennis – 35 years old (1991) – Actress, director, and writer
Cooper Kupp – 33 years old (1993) – Football player
Madison Kocian – 29 years old (1997) – Gymnast
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JUNE 15:
- Nature Photography Day: Celebrate Nature Photography Day by capturing the beauty of landscapes, wildlife, and everyday nature, fostering creativity, awareness, and conservation.
- National Lobster Day: National Lobster Day celebrates this decadent seafood delicacy, its rich history, fun facts, and the fishermen and festivals that bring lobster to the table.
- Beer Day Britain: Celebrate Beer Day Britain with tastings, pub visits, and the National Cheers to Beer, honoring UK brewing heritage, community spirit, and beer culture.
- National Foam Party Day: Dive into bubbly fun on National Foam Party Day, celebrating joy, dancing, and community with safe, foam-filled events for families, friends, and kids.
- World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day promotes dignity, safety, and respect for older adults, raising global awareness, education, and action to prevent elder abuse.
- National Bug Busting Day: National Bug Busting Day unites UK families and schools to detect and prevent head lice with combing, education, and community action for healthier kids.
- Sneak a Kiss Day: Celebrate Sneak a Kiss Day with playful, consent-based surprises that rekindle romance, deepen connection, and turn everyday moments into sweet memories.
- International Working Animal Day: Discover how International Working Animal Day honors working animals, raises awareness of their vital role, and promotes better welfare in vulnerable communities.
- Global Wind Day: Discover Global Wind Day, celebrating clean, renewable wind energy with community events, education, and advocacy for a more sustainable future.
- National Megalodon Day: Discover National Megalodon Day, celebrating the colossal prehistoric shark with museum visits, films, art, and activities that explore ocean history and life.
- International Women in Mining Day: Discover International Women in Mining Day, celebrating women’s contributions to mining and spotlighting the ongoing push for gender equality in the industry.
- Magna Carta Day: Discover the legacy of Magna Carta Day, celebrating the Great Charter that limited royal power and helped shape modern freedoms, justice, and civil liberties.
- National Smile Power Day: National Smile Power Day celebrates the health, confidence, and connection-boosting benefits of smiling, inspiring people to share joy and brighten others’ lives.
- Waste & Recycling Workers Week: Give a big thanks to the men and women who keep your community sanitary and hygienic on Garbage Man Day, or Waste & Recycling Workers Week.
- National Kiss a Wookiee Day: National Kiss a Wookiee Day is a playful celebration of Star Wars’ most huggable hero. Chewbacca and his fellow Wookiees take the spotlight, giving fans a chance to show some love. Whether through stuffed animals, costumes, or clever posts, the focus stays fun and lighthearted. People lean into the humor...
- National Prune Day: National Prune Day honors the humble prune. It’s a day when we celebrate this sweet, dried plum and all it brings. People talk about its taste, its natural sweetness, and the way it fits into everyday life. Discussions highlight how it boosts digestion, supports strong bones, and even helps the...
- British Heart Week: British Heart Week is a vital event dedicated to raising awareness about heart health and the importance of heart care. Organized by the British Heart Foundation, this week-long observance emphasizes the significance of cardiovascular well-being. How to Celebrate British Heart Week Get Moving Why not kick off British Heart Week with a...
- Scleroderma Awareness Week: Scleroderma Awareness Week is a special time dedicated to shedding light on a little-known but impactful disease. This week aims to bring attention to scleroderma, a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes hardening and tightening of the skin and other connective tissues. The week encourages conversations about the challenges faced by...
- Animal Rights Awareness Week: Animal Rights Awareness Week is a significant event celebrated every year during the third week of June. This week is dedicated to educating people about the importance of animal rights globally. It provides a platform to discuss how animals are unfairly used in industries such as entertainment, cosmetics, and science...
- Learning Disability Week: Understanding diverse learning needs empowers educators to create inclusive environments where every student can thrive and succeed.
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