What Happened Today in History on June 7

The Crusaders begin the Siege of Jerusalem, a pivotal event during the First Crusade that eventually leads to the capture of the city. On June 15, the Crusaders enter Jerusalem and establish the Kingdom of Jerusalem, marking the culmination of the First Crusade.

Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas on June 7, 1494, dividing the New World into Spanish and Portuguese spheres of influence; establishing a new demarcation line between the two crowns, running from pole to pole, 370 leagues to the west of the Cape Verde islands. Expand +

The first recorded victims of the Great Plague of London die. The Plague was a bubonic plague epidemic which killed approximately between 75,000 and 100,000 of its 460,000 inhabitants. This outbreak was the last major plague epidemic in England since the Black Death of 1348. More

Jamaica's Port Royal is consumed by an earthquake estimated to be a 7.4 magnitude, causing two thirds of the town to sink into the sea and destroying every building or other substantial  structure in the Island, A series of fires and hurricanes followed. The town was never restored to its former British Naval base glory and remains a small fishing village today.  Two thousand people died immediately and an additional 3000 died of injuries and disease shortly after. More

Chief Seattle (Si’ahl) passes away (1780-1866), thirteen years after the city was named for him. He was buried in the Suquamish Tribal Cemetery, not far from Seattle. The name “Seattle” is an Anglicization of Si'ahl. Chief Seattle's mother Sholeetsa, was Duwamish and his father Shweabe was chief of the the Suquamish Tribe. It is said that Si’ahl was born at his mother's Duwamish village of Stukw on the Black River, in what is now the city of Kent. More

Mahatma Gandhi 's first act of civil disobedience took place in South Africa when he went there to work for an Indian company after studying to become a lawyer in England. When railroad officials made Gandhi sit in a third-class coach even though he had purchased a first-class ticket, Gandhi refused and police forced him off the train. This event changed his life. More

Norway’s national assembly (Storting) declares an end to the Norway Union and Independence from Sweden. The declaration followed Sweden's refusal for Norway to have its own national flag and consular service in order to promote its maritime commerce.
National Day, commemorating the Independence from Denmark and the Constitution of Norway is celebrated on May 17, 1814. A treaty of separation was signed on October 26, 1905. Norway chose Prince Charles of Denmark as its king, who assumed the name of Haakon VII and ruled until 1957.

The first successful ascent of Denali - Mount McKinley takes place. Four Alaskan men became the first climbers to reach the 20,310' summit of the highest peak in North America, for the first time. The four climbers; Walter Harper, Harry Karstens, Hudson Stuck and Robert Tatum made history. More

The Lateran Treaty is ratified, officially recognizing the Vatican City as a sovereign State and the Pope's independence. The treaty was originally signed February 11, 1929, by Benito Mussolini for Italy and by Pietro Gasparri, Cardinal Secretary of State.

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Connecticut law banning contraception. With this decision, the Supreme Court guaranteed the right to privacy, including freedom from government intrusion into matters of birth control.