This Day In History : March 28

1910 France

The First Seaplane in History Takes Off

On March 28, 1910, Henri Fabre's seaplane, the Fabre Hydravion, successfully took off from the water near Martigues, France. This flight marked a pioneering achievement in aviation. The Hydravion's success demonstrated the feasibility of seaplanes.

Also on This Day in History March 28

Discover what happened on March 28 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, March 28
  • 1928 Alexandre Grothendieck

    German-French mathematician who was awarded the Fields Medal in 1966 for his work in algebraic geometry.

  • 1897 Victor Mills

    American chemical engineer who invented Pampers disposable diapers.

  • 1837 Wilhelm Friedrich Kühne

    German physiologist known for his researches on vision and the chemical changes occurring in the retina under the influence of light

  • 1793 Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

    American explorer and ethnologist noted for his discovery of the source of the Mississippi River (1832) in a lake in northern Minnesota which he named Lake Itasca, from the Latin words caput (head) and veritas (true).

  • 1819 Joseph William Bazalgette

    British civil engineer and civil engineer who designed the main drainage system for London

Deaths on This Day, March 28
  • 2013 George E.P. Box

    George Edward Pelham (“Pel”) Box was an English-American engineer and statistician began as a chemist.

  • 1849 Stephan Endlicher

    Austrian botanist who formulated a major system of plant classification.

  • 1849 Stephan Endlicher

    Austrian botanist who formulated a major system of plant classification.

  • 1903 Émile Baudot

    French engineer who received a patent on a telegraph code (1874) that by the mid-20th century had superceded Morse Code as the most commonly used telegraphic alphabet.

  • 1828 William Thornton

    British-born American architect, inventor, and public official, best known as the creator of the original design for the Capitol at Washington, D.C.

1979

Three Mile Island nuclear accident

In 1979, a nuclear accident occurred at Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.
1866

Ambulance

The first hospital ambulance service began in 1866 in the United States, specifically in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1993

Type II Supernova Detected in M81 Galaxy

In 1993, astronomers observed a Type II supernova in the M81 galaxy, also known as NGC 3031. This significant event provided valuable insights into stellar evolution and the lifecycle of massive stars. The supernova's explosion was meticulously studied, enhancing our understanding of cosmic phenomena.
2022

Florida Governor Signs Controversial "Don't Say Gay" LGBTQ Instruction Bill

On March 28, 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill into law. The legislation limits classroom instruction on LGBTQ topics in the state's schools. The bill attracted both support and opposition from various groups.
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