Lord Byron once wrote: “The best prophet of the future is the past.” And we here at Mpasho.co.ke aim to give you a glimpse into history so as to help you better navigate the future. Hahaha! I lie. Use it as you please.

1687-Isaac Newton’s great work PRINCIPIA published by Royal Society in England. Outlines his laws of motion and universal gravitation.

1811-Venezuelan Declaration of Independence: 7 provinces declare themselves independent of Spain.

1830-France invaded Algeria, and began a 40 year conquest.

1852-Frederick Douglass, fugitive slave, delivers his ‘What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?’ speech to the Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, condemns the celebration as hypocritical sham.

1865-Great Britain creates world’s 1st speed limit law.

1865-William Booth founded the Salvation Army in London.

1946-The bikini, created by Louis Reard, was modeled by Micheline Bernardini during a poolside fashion show in Paris.

1950-Law of Return passes, guarantees all Jews right to live in Israel.

1959-David Ben-Gurion’s Israeli government resigns.

1971-26th amendment to the US constitution certified (reduces voting age to 18).

1973-General Juvénal Habyarimana becomes president of Rwanda in a military coup d’état.

1975-Wimbledon Men’s Tennis: Arthur Ashe becomes first African-American to win Wimbledon, beats Jimmy Connors 6-1, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.

1975-Cape Verde Islands gain independence after 500 years of Portuguese rule.

1977-Pakistan’s army, led by General Mohammad Zia ul-Haq, seized power from President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZUL’-fih-kahr ah-LEE’ BOO’-toh). (Bhutto was executed in 1979.)

1983-France invades Algeria.

1983-Woman gives birth to baby 84 days after brain death (Roanoke, Virginia).

1989-South African President P. W. Botha visits ANC leader Nelson Mandela.

1994-Amazon founded in Bellevue, Washington by Jeff Bezos.

2003-Wimbledon Women’s Tennis: Serena Williams successfully defends her title beating older sister Venus 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

2008-Wimbledon Women’s Tennis: Venus Williams successfully defends her title beating younger sister Serena 7-5, 6-4.

2012-The Shard, the tallest building in Europe, is opened in London, at 309.6 metres (1,016 ft).

2017-Arsenal FC breaks club transfer record, paying about €53m for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette.

Click here for more stories like this