What Happened on March 15?

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events

births

deaths

holidays

EVENTS ON MARCH 15

Explore the most important historical events that happened on March 15, featuring key moments that shaped the world.

List of Roman Catholic archbishops of New York

Year: 1875

Archbishop of New York John McCloskey is named the first cardinal in the United States.

French Third Republic

Year: 1874

France and Vietnam sign the Second Treaty of Saigon, further recognizing the full sovereignty of France over Cochinchina.

Hungarian Revolution of 1848

Year: 1848

A revolution breaks out in Hungary, and the Habsburg rulers are compelled to meet the demands of the reform party.

Benjamin Morrell

Year: 1823

Sailor Benjamin Morrell erroneously reported the existence of the island of New South Greenland near Antarctica.

English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1876–77

Year: 1877

First ever official cricket test match is played: Australia vs England at the MCG Stadium, in Melbourne, Australia.

Sikkim expedition

Year: 1888

Start of the Anglo-Tibetan War of 1888.

Tsar

Year: 1917

Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates the Russian throne, ending the 304-year Romanov dynasty.

Madeleine bombing

Year: 1894

Madeleine bombing by Désiré Pauwels during the Ère des attentats.

BIRTHS ON MARCH 15

Discover famous people and historical figures born on March 15, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.

David Cronenberg

Year of birth: 1943

David Cronenberg, Canadian actor, director, and screenwriter

Hallie Quinn Brown

Year of birth: 1845

Hallie Quinn Brown, African-American educator, writer and activist (died 1949)

Michael Scott-Joynt

Year of birth: 1943

Michael Scott-Joynt, English bishop (died 2014)

Karl Davydov

Year of birth: 1838

Karl Davydov, Russian cellist, composer, and conductor (died 1889)

Jacques Doillon

Year of birth: 1944

Jacques Doillon, French director and screenwriter

Bobby Bonds

Year of birth: 1946

Bobby Bonds, American baseball player and coach (died 2003)

Eduard Strauss

Year of birth: 1835

Eduard Strauss, Austrian composer and conductor (died 1916)

Chi Cheng (athlete)

Year of birth: 1944

Chi Cheng, Taiwanese runner

DEATHS ON MARCH 15

Look back at notable individuals who passed away on March 15, and learn about their lasting influences on history.

Miles Malleson

Year of death: 1969

Miles Malleson, English actor and screenwriter (born 1888)

Tarjei Vesaas

Year of death: 1970

Tarjei Vesaas, Norwegian author and poet (born 1897)

Aristotle Onassis

Year of death: 1975

Aristotle Onassis, Greek-Argentinian businessman (born 1906)

Abe Saperstein

Year of death: 1966

Abe Saperstein, American basketball player and coach (born 1902)

Arthur Compton

Year of death: 1962

Arthur Compton, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1892)

Rachel Field

Year of death: 1942

Rachel Field, American author and poet (born 1894)

Imanuel Lauster

Year of death: 1948

Imanuel Lauster, German engineer (born 1873)

Lester Young

Year of death: 1959

Lester Young, American saxophonist and clarinet player (born 1909)

HOLIDAYS ON MARCH 15

See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on March 15 around the world.

Louise de Marillac

Christian feast day: Louise de Marillac

Ides of March

Ancient Roman religious observance: Ides of March

Public holidays in Liberia

Joseph Jenkins Roberts' Birthday (Liberia)

Longinus

Christian feast day: Saint Longinus

March 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Christian feast day: March 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Aristobulus of Britannia

Christian feast day: Aristobulus of Britannia (Roman Catholic Church)

Clement Mary Hofbauer

Christian feast day: Clement Mary Hofbauer

Martyrs of Córdoba

Christian feast day: Leocritia

March