Events

Dana Air Flight 992 (July 2012 crash) Dana Air Flight 992 Dana Air Flight 992 was a domestic passenger flight that crashed into a Lagos neighbourhood on 3 July 2012, killing all 153 aboard and 10 people on the ground; the accident prompte…

Dangerously in Love World Tour Beyoncé's first solo concert tour supporting her debut album Dangerously in Love. Overview of its concept, typical setlist and production, critical response, and its role in her ca…

Dawson College shooting (September 13, 2006) Dawson College shooting A 2006 shooting at Dawson College in Montreal in which a lone gunman wounded 20 people, killed one student, and then died; the attack prompted debate about media, online subculture…

Daytona 500: NASCAR’s Premier 500-Mile Stock Car Race Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s annual 500-mile stock car race at Daytona International Speedway. Held each spring as the Cup Series season opener, it combines high-speed drafting, sto…

Death by burning (immolation): history, methods and significance Death by burning Death by burning, or immolation, is killing by exposure to fire or extreme heat. Historically used as punishment for crimes like treason, heresy and witchcraft and sometimes practi…

Death of Azaria Chamberlain and the dingo controversy Death of Azaria Chamberlain The disappearance of baby Azaria Chamberlain at Uluru (Ayers Rock) in 1980 led to a high‑profile criminal case, prolonged appeals and ultimately a 2012 finding that a dingo took th…

Death of Diana, Princess of Wales (1997) Death of Diana, Princess of Wales Detailed account of the 1997 car crash in Paris that killed Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al-Fayed, covering the crash, investigations, funeral, public reaction and cultural im…

Death of Freddie Gray and the 2015 Baltimore unrest Death of Freddie Gray The 2015 death of Freddie Gray after a police van transport in Baltimore sparked protests, criminal charges against officers, federal findings of policing failures, and reforms ami…

Death of Mark Duggan and its aftermath in England (2011–2014) Death of Mark Duggan Shooting of Mark Duggan by a Metropolitan Police officer in Tottenham on 4 August 2011, subsequent investigations and inquest, related convictions, and the wider unrest and debates…

Death of Osama bin Laden Osama bin Laden was killed on May 2, 2011 in Pakistan by U.S. special forces. The raid, intelligence background, and its political and legal aftermath had wide global impact.

Debut: the First Public Appearance and Its Cultural Meaning Debut A debut is the first public appearance or introduction of a person, work, product, or idea. This article outlines forms of debuts, historical roots, planning and reception, cultura…

Decapitation (beheading): definition, methods, history and legal status Decapitation Decapitation, or beheading, is the removal of the head from the body. This article covers causes (intentional and accidental), methods, physiological effects, historical practice,…

December 1 December 1 is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. It is associated with seasonal milestones and several international and national observance…

December 3 December 3 is a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar, the 337th day (338th in leap years) with a mix of international observances, historical events and notable birthdays and death…

December to Dismember (1995) — ECW supercard in Philadelphia December to Dismember (1995) A 1995 professional wrestling supercard produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling on December 9, 1995 at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; representative of ECW's hard-…

December to Dismember (2006) — WWE ECW Brand Pay-Per-View December to Dismember (2006) December to Dismember (2006) was an ECW-branded WWE pay-per-view held Dec 3, 2006 in Augusta, Georgia, known for its Extreme Elimination Chamber main event and for recording one of…

Decimal Day (UK) — the 1971 change to decimal currency Decimal Day Decimal Day was 15 February 1971, when the United Kingdom replaced the pre-decimal £sd system with a decimal currency of 100 pence to the pound.

Deepwater Horizon oil spill (Macondo blowout) Deepwater Horizon oil spill A 2010 deepwater blowout in the Gulf of Mexico that released millions of barrels of crude, killed 11 workers, caused widespread environmental and economic damage, and led to major…

Defenestration (throwing out of a window) Defenestration Defenestration is the act of throwing a person or object out of a window. The term has literal, historical, legal, and metaphorical uses and is most famously associated with events…

Demonstration (public protest and assembly) Demonstration A demonstration is a public gathering to express opinions or pursue change. This article explains forms, methods, legal rights, history, typical symbols, risks, and how demonstrati…

Denmark Place fire (1980): fatal arson attack in Central London Denmark Place fire A deliberately set fire on 16 August 1980 in Denmark Place, Central London, killed 37 people. Perpetrator John Thompson was convicted in 1981 and remained imprisoned until his deat…

Destruction Overview of destruction: definitions, types, causes, examples from nature and human activity, consequences, legal and ethical issues, and approaches to prevention, mitigation and r…

DGM Barbados Open Senior men's professional golf tournament in Barbados, established in 2000; the European Senior Tour season opener and the tour's only event in the Americas, played at Royal Westmo…

Diamond Jubilee A diamond jubilee is a milestone anniversary—commonly the 60th for an individual (especially a monarch) and in some traditions the 75th for organizations—marked by public ceremonie…

Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II (2012) Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II A year-long series of public and official events in 2012 marking Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the British throne, with national ceremonies, a Thames pageant and Commonwealth co…

2006 Dick Cheney hunting incident Dick Cheney hunting incident Accidental shooting of Texas attorney Harry Whittington by Vice President Dick Cheney on Feb 11, 2006; delayed disclosure, medical consequences and media, legal, and political fall…

Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee) — 1942 Allied amphibious attack on Dieppe Dieppe Raid The Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee) was a costly Allied amphibious assault on the German-held port of Dieppe, France on 19 August 1942 that influenced later Allied invasion plannin…

Disappearance of Etan Patz The 1979 disappearance of six-year-old Etan Patz in Manhattan sparked nationwide attention, new procedures for missing children, and renewed public focus on child safety and law en…

Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536–1540) Dissolution of the monasteries The suppression and takeover of English monastic houses under King Henry VIII (1536–1540), its causes, methods, consequences and lasting cultural and social effects during the Engl…

Dreyfus Affair: France's late-19th-century political and social crisis Dreyfus Affair A concise account of the Dreyfus Affair: the wrongful conviction of Alfred Dreyfus, the evidence of a frame-up, the public battle over military honor and anti-Semitism, and its las…

Dublin and Monaghan bombings: 17 May 1974 attacks in the Republic of Ireland Dublin and Monaghan bombings On 17 May 1974 three car bombs in Dublin and one in Monaghan killed 33 people and injured nearly 300. The attack, attributed to the Ulster Volunteer Force, remains the deadliest in…

Duel: ritualized personal combat to resolve honor disputes Duel A duel is a formal, often ceremonial combat between two people using comparable weapons under agreed rules to settle matters of honor. It developed in Europe and persisted into the…

Dulce Amor Tour — Selena's 1988–1989 regional concert tour Dulce Amor Tour Regional concert tour by Selena supporting the independent album Dulce Amor (1988), notable for covers, early fashion design, stage development and the singer's transition toward a…

Dunblane massacre (1996 school shooting in Scotland) Dunblane massacre On 13 March 1996 a gunman attacked Dunblane Primary School in Scotland, killing 16 children and a teacher; the tragedy prompted national grief and led to tighter firearm controls i…

Dunkirk evacuation (Operation Dynamo) — 1940 Allied withdrawal Dunkirk evacuation The Dunkirk evacuation (Operation Dynamo) was the 1940 Allied withdrawal from Dunkirk, France, that rescued hundreds of thousands of British and Allied soldiers under German encirc…

Dutch Grand Prix A Formula One motor race historically held at Circuit Zandvoort, known for its seaside dune setting, fast undulations, long hiatus after 1985, and a modern revival in the 21st cent…

Earth Hour Annual global lights-out event organized by the WWF. Participants switch off non-essential lights for one hour on the last Saturday in March to raise awareness of climate and envir…

Easter Jeep Safari — Annual Moab Off‑Road Gathering Easter Jeep Safari Nine-day off-road event in Moab, Utah, run by the Red Rock 4-Wheelers. Open to high-clearance 4x4 vehicles, it features guided trail runs, a range of difficulties, safety rules, an…

Easter Rising (1916) — Irish insurrection in Dublin Easter Rising The Easter Rising was a six-day armed insurrection in Dublin and elsewhere in April 1916 against British rule. Led by Irish republicans, it ended in surrender, executions and a shi…

École Polytechnique massacre (Montreal massacre) École Polytechnique massacre The 6 December 1989 mass shooting at École Polytechnique in Montreal, in which a gunman targeted women; 14 women were killed and others wounded. The attack spurred national debate,…

December to Dismember (professional wrestling event) ECW December to Dismember A professional wrestling event originally staged by the independent ECW in 1995 and revived once by WWE's ECW brand in 2006; noted for its extreme style and mixed reception.

ECW Heat Wave Annual summer supercard promoted by Extreme Championship Wrestling (1994–2000); converted to pay-per-view in 1998. Remembered for hardcore bouts, high-risk spots, and a passionate…

Edict of Milan Proclamation issued in 313 AD by Constantine and Licinius granting religious toleration across the Roman Empire and restoring property to persecuted religious groups.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Annual open-access arts festival in Edinburgh, founded 1947. Held late August–early September alongside the Edinburgh International Festival, showcasing thousands of theatre, comed…

Edinburgh International Festival Annual curated three‑week arts festival in Edinburgh presenting music, theatre, opera, dance, visual arts and literature each August–September; founded in 1947 to revive internatio…

Edmonton tornado (July 31, 1987) Edmonton tornado A violent tornado that struck eastern Edmonton, Alberta on July 31, 1987, causing massive destruction, 27 deaths, more than 300 injuries and major changes to severe-weather prepare…

EgyptAir Flight 864 — 1976 Boeing 707 crash in Bangkok EgyptAir Flight 864 On 25 December 1976 EgyptAir Flight 864, a Boeing 707 on a Rome–Tokyo routing, crashed into a building in Bangkok. All 52 on board and 19 on the ground died; investigators cited pi…

Eisteddfod: Welsh festival of literature, music and performance Eisteddfod A traditional Welsh festival celebrating poetry, music and performance through competitions, ceremonies and community gatherings, with medieval origins and modern national, youth a…