March 15 in history — What Happened Today in History

President Lyndon B. Johnson, responding to the Selma crisis, tells the U.S. Congress "We shall overcome" while advocating the Voting Rights Act.

At the 1961 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, South Africa announces that it will withdraw from the Commonwealth when the South African Constitution of 1961 comes into effect.

The Iranian oil industry is nationalized.

World War II: Third Battle of Kharkiv: The Germans retake the city of Kharkiv from the Soviet armies.

Germany occupies Czechoslovakia.

Carpatho-Ukraine declares itself an independent republic, but is annexed by Hungary the next day.

The first Women's Boat Race between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge takes place on The Isis in Oxford.

After Egypt gains nominal independence from the United Kingdom, Fuad I becomes King of Egypt.

Talaat Pasha, former Grand Vizir of the Ottoman Empire and chief architect of the Armenian genocide, is assassinated in Berlin by a 23-year-old Armenian, Soghomon Tehlirian.

Ukrainian War of Independence: The Kontrrazvedka is established as the counterintelligence division of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine.

The American Legion is founded.

Finnish Civil War: The battle of Tampere begins.

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

The first parliamentary elections of Finland (at the time the Grand Duchy of Finland) are held.

Madeleine bombing by Désiré Pauwels during the Ère des attentats.

The Lobau bombing is one of the first attacks of the Ère des attentats (1892-1894).

Start of the Anglo-Tibetan War of 1888.

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

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

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

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

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

Maine is admitted as the twenty-third U.S. state.

In an emotional speech in Newburgh, New York, George Washington asks his officers not to support the Newburgh Conspiracy. The plea is successful, and the threatened coup d'état never takes place.

The British under Charles Cornwallis defeat American forces under Nathanael Greene in the battle of Guilford Court House.

King Charles II of England issues the Royal Declaration of Indulgence, granting limited religious freedom to all Christians.

A dam failure causes the sudden flooding of the mining city of Potosí in present-day Bolivia leading to the death of thousands and the massive release of toxic mercury into the environment.

Mughal Emperor Akbar abolishes the jizya tax on non-Muslim subjects.

Michael Fulmer, American baseball player

Taylor Heinicke, American football player

Aleksandra Krunić, Serbian tennis player

Paul Pogba, French footballer

Mark Scheifele, Canadian ice hockey player

Devonta Freeman, American football player

Xavier Henry, American basketball player

Trayce Thompson, American baseball player

Nick Ahmed, American baseball player

Tavon Austin, American football player

JD McDonagh, Irish professional wrestler

Sam Baldock, English footballer

Gil Roberts, American sprinter

Curtis Gans, American political scientist and author (born 1937)

Mike Porcaro, American bass player (born 1955)

Scott Asheton, American drummer (born 1949)

David Brenner, American comedian, actor, and author (born 1936)

Bo Callaway, American soldier and politician, United States Secretary of the Army (born 1927)

Clarissa Dickson Wright, English chef, author, and television personality (born 1947)

Booth Gardner, American businessman and politician, Governor of Washington (born 1936)

Terry Lightfoot, English clarinet player (born 1935)

Leverne McDonnell, Australian actress (born 1963)

Peter Worsley, English sociologist (born 1924)

Mervyn Davies, Welsh rugby player (born 1946)

Dave Philley, American baseball player and manager (born 1920)

Nate Dogg, American rapper (born 1969)