On This Day - June 6, 2026

National days, ongoing national weeks and months, and global observances for June 6, 2026. Plus historical events and birthdays.

2026

Ongoing National Weeks

These observances run for a full week; this calendar day falls inside the week.

Ongoing National Months

These observances last the full month; this date is part of that month-long celebration.

Showing the first 12 on this date; there are more month-long observances. See the full months list for June.

Historical Events on June 6

Events that occurred on June 6 throughout history

1639

Massachusetts grants 500 acres of land to erect a gunpowder mill intended to help early settlers defend the region.

1787

Franklin College is founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (now part of Franklin and Marshall College).

1822

Father of Gastric Physiology, William Beaumont, begins to study digestion after a man was accidentally shot in the stomach.

1862

The Chicago "L" rail system begins operation. It carried 30 passengers on a four-mile trip between Congress Street and 39th Street.

1882

Henry W. Seely patents an electric flat iron.

1900

Congress pass an act authorizing a civil code and government for the territory of Alaska after gold is discovered, bringing disorder to the area.

1925

Walter Chrysler founds the Chrysler Corporation.

1932

The Revenue Act of 1932 is enacted, creating the first gas tax in the .S. For every gallon sold, 1 cent would be collected.

1933

The first drive-in theater opens in Camden, New Jersey.

1933

The U.S Employment Service is created as a nationwide federal-state system of public, free employment offices to help connect unemployed workers with available job opportunities.

1934

President Roosevelt signs the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 into law to establish U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

1942

Dupont and the Pioneer Parachute Company develop use of an alternative to silk resulting in Adeline Gray making the first nylon parachute jump.

1944

Allies land on Normandy, France, beginning the invasion of Europe.

1966

A photo taken by Jack R. Thornell depicting civil rights activist James Meredith wins the 1967 Pulitzer Prize in Photography.

1966

Civil rights activist James Meredith is wounded by white sniper Aubrey James Norvell in Mississippi.

1969

Joe Namath resigns from NFL after Pete Rozelle, football commissioner, said he must sell his stake in a bar.

1988

George H. W. Bush makes a campaign promise to support reparations for World War II Japanese-American internees. Unfortunately, the promise broken.

Born on June 6

People born on June 6

Sam Simon

Screenwriter and co-creator of The Simpsons.

Lloyd Lindroth

Harpist referred to as "The Liberace of the Harp."

David T. Abercrombie

Co-founder of lifestyle brand Abercrombie and Fitch.

Nathan Hale

Soldier who spied for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Paul Dudley White

American heart specialist considered one of the leading cardiologists of his time.

Levi Stubbs

Lead singer for the Four Tops.

V. C. Andrews

Author of the novel Flowers in the Attic.

Roger R. Adams

American psychologist and the inventor of Heelys (rolling sneakers).

Robert Englund

Actor who played Freddy Krueger in the film Nightmare on Elm Street.

John Trumbull

Former soldier and painter who created the Declaration of Independence (1817), which still hangs in the U.S. Capitol.

Matthew Shafer

Rock musician also known as Uncle Kracker.

Frank Chee Willeto

Navajo Code Talker during WWII.

Bill Dickey

MLB catcher who played in eight World Series.

Dean Buntrock

Co-founder of Waste Management, Inc.