1799 – French troops in Egypt discover the Rosetta Stone, a basalt slab inscribed with three ancient languages that allows researchers over 20 years later to translate the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt.
1870 – France declares war on Prussia to begin the Franco-Prussian War, which will result in the unification of Germany and the end of the reign of French emperor Napoleon III.
2007 – Pratibha Patil is elected as the first woman President of India.
