In History, Today on June 15

King John of England put his seal on the Magna Carta, a document that limited the powers of the monarchy and laid the foundation for modern democracy.

During the Peasants' Revolt in England, Wat Tyler, the leader of the revolt, was killed at Smithfield by officers loyal to King Richard II.

Pope Leo X issued the papal bull Exsurge Domine, threatening Martin Luther with excommunication unless he recanted his 95 Theses.

The first human blood transfusion was administered by Dr. Jean-Baptiste Denys, the physician to King Louis XIV of France.

Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment to prove that lightning is electricity.

The Oregon Treaty was signed between the United States and Britain, establishing the 49th parallel as the boundary between U.S. and British territories in the Pacific Northwest.

Arlington National Cemetery was established when 200 acres of the grounds of Arlington House were officially set aside as a military cemetery.

The first performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera 'H.M.S. Pinafore' took place in London.

The steamship General Slocum caught fire and sank in the East River of New York City, resulting in the deaths of over 1,000 people, mostly German-American immigrants.

Duluth lynchings: Three African-American circus workers were lynched by a mob in Duluth, Minnesota, after being falsely accused of rape.

The Battle of Saipan began during World War II, as American forces landed on the island, marking a significant step in the Pacific campaign.

Spain held its first democratic elections after the death of dictator Francisco Franco, marking a significant step in the country's transition to democracy.

King Hussein of Jordan married American Lisa Halaby, who became Queen Noor of Jordan.

Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines erupted in one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, causing widespread destruction and affecting global temperatures.

The People's Republic of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan form the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to promote political, economic, and security cooperation.

The United Nations General Assembly establishes the Human Rights Council, replacing the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, to address human rights violations.

Nik Wallenda becomes the first person to successfully walk a tightrope directly over Niagara Falls.

A fire in a high-rise apartment building in London, known as the Grenfell Tower fire, results in 72 deaths and prompts widespread scrutiny of building regulations and fire safety.

Massive protests took place in Hong Kong against a proposed extradition bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China, marking the beginning of a series of large-scale demonstrations advocating for democratic reforms.

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.