In History, Today on August 25

Protests erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an African American man.

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas as a Category 4 hurricane, causing catastrophic flooding and damage.

The Syrian government announced new chemical attack allegations amidst ongoing civil conflict, highlighting the persistent use of chemical weapons in warfare despite international efforts to control such actions.

Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the Moon, passed away at the age of 82.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined the term 'planet,' which led to the reclassification of Pluto as a 'dwarf planet.'

The Spitzer Space Telescope, a space-borne observatory, was launched by NASA to study the universe in infrared light.

American singer Aaliyah and eight others were killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas shortly after takeoff.

The second book of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, was published in the United States.

Belarus declares its independence from the Soviet Union.

The Voyager 2 spacecraft made its closest approach to Neptune, providing humanity with its first close-up images of the planet and its moons.

Voyager 2 makes its closest approach to Saturn, providing detailed images of the planet and its rings.

Zimbabwe joined the United Nations after gaining independence from the United Kingdom on April 18, 1980.

The American Nazi Party founder George Lincoln Rockwell was assassinated by a former member, John Patler, in Arlington, Virginia.

The U.S. Air Force Academy opened its doors to the first class of cadets at its campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Paris is liberated by the Allies during World War II.

The United Kingdom and Poland sign a mutual assistance treaty, ensuring mutual support in the event of a military threat.

The first use of aircraft in combat was demonstrated by Italy when planes dropped bombs during the Siege of Asmara.

The United States National Park Service is created.

Kitasato Shibasaburō and Alexandre Yersin independently discover the bacterium responsible for the bubonic plague, later named Yersinia pestis.

The eruption of Krakatoa, a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia, reached its peak of intensity, producing spectacular sunsets and tsunamis that affected coastal areas across the Indian Ocean.

Captain Matthew Webb became the first person to swim across the English Channel, from Dover to Calais, in less than 22 hours.

The first Great Moon Hoax article was published in the New York Sun, claiming the discovery of life and civilization on the Moon, attributed falsely to Sir John Herschel.

The Belgian Revolution begins, leading to the secession of the southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Uruguay declares its independence from Brazil.

British forces destroy the Library of Congress during the Burning of Washington in the War of 1812.

The American Revolutionary War witnessed the landing of British forces at Long Island, New York, setting the stage for the Battle of Long Island, one of the largest engagements of the war.

The Seven Years' War saw a significant battle at Zorndorf, where the Prussian army under Frederick the Great clashed with Russian forces led by Count Fermor. While both sides claimed victory, the battle was inconclusive with heavy casualties.

The French founded the city of New Orleans, which would become a major port and cultural center in the United States.

Galileo Galilei demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers.

The Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, is formed.

Ivan IV of Russia, known as Ivan the Terrible, was born. He was the first ruler to be crowned as Tsar of All Russia and centralized royal power, expanding Russian territory significantly during his reign.

The Eighth Crusade, led by King Louis IX of France, ends with his death from dysentery in Tunis.

The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral was laid, marking the beginning of its construction, which would continue intermittently for over 600 years.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Gisors, Philip II of France's forces defeat Richard I of England's troops. This battle was a part of the prolonged conflicts between the French and the English following the Third Crusade.

The Byzantine Emperor Constantine V celebrates a triumph in Constantinople after his successful campaigns against the Bulgars.

The Roman Emperor Gratian is killed in Lugdunum (modern-day Lyon, France) by the forces of the usurper Magnus Maximus.

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius begins, leading to the destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and several other settlements.