On this day in 1868, the Edo period in Japan ended, and the Meiji Restoration began.

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On this day in 1964, a group of Chinese climbers summited Shishapangma, the 14th highest mountain in the world.

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Though it was officially published weeks later in two volumes, Carl Linnaeus's "Species Plantarum" was given the day of issue of May 1, 1753.

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On this day in 1961, the Soviet Union commissioned the K-19, a ballistic missile equipped nuclear submarine.

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On this day in 1992, riots erupted in Los Angeles in response to the acquittal of police officers charged with excessive force in the beating of Rodney King.

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On this day in 1789, acting lieutenant Fletcher Christian led a mutiny against Captain William Bligh on the HMS Bounty.

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On this day in 1882, writer and literary editor Jessie Redmon Fauset was born.

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On this day in 1920, astronomers Harlow Shapley and Heber Curtis presented their opposing points about the scale of the universe in an event sometimes called “The Great Debate.”

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On this day in 1917, American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald was born.

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This day in 1914 is widely considered the beginning of the Armenian genocide, though Armenian massacres had occurred previously.

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