This day in history. Read about what happened today. A short and interesting account of historical events and facts about this day as well as any other day of the year. Find historical birthdays, deaths, tragedies, war events, disasters and sports events.

This year in history
In the year 1877

	February 17th	French politician, Andre Maginot, was born in Paris. He is most known for having been the advocate for the creation of the defensive fortification that is known as the Maginot Line while he was minister of Defence. The Maginot Line was meant to protect France from the forces of Germany but proved completely ineffective against the mechanised warfare of the second world war.
	March 4th	The microphone was invented by German inventor, Emile Berliner.
	March 4th	Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's classical ballet, Swan Lake, was performed for the first time.
	March 16th	Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, was born in the city of Alasht in Savad Kooh county. He was the first monarch of the Pahlavi dynasty, and is credited with modernizing the nation of Iran.
	June 20th	The world's first commercial telephone service was installed in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, by Alexander Graham Bell.
	December 6th	The Washington Post newspaper was first published.

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