44 BC – Julius Caesar is stabbed to death by Brutus, Cassius and several other Roman senators on the Ides of March in Rome. 221 – Liu Bei, a Chinese warlord and member of the Han royal house, declares himself Emperor of Shu-Han, claiming legitimate succession to the Han Dynasty. 1493 – Christopher Columbus returns to Spain after his first voyage to the New World. 1783 – 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’etat never takes place. 1917 – Nicholas II, the last Russian Tsar abdicates and nominates his brother Grand Duke Michael to succeed him [OS Mar 2]. 1962 – Five research groups announce the discovery of anti-matter. 2019 – Climate change strikes held by school children take place around the world inspired by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg. 2019 – The Vessel, a honeycomb viewing structure designed by Thomas Heatherwick opens at Hudson Yards development, New York City 2020 – European countries impose restrictions on gatherings and borders as COVID-19 deaths rates rise dramatically – Italy 1,809, Spain 288, France 120 2020 – US Federal Reserve slashes interest rates to near zero to support the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic
Sport: 1869 – Cincinnati Red Stockings become the 1st professional baseball team.
Music: 1945 – Billboard publishes its 1st album chart (King Cole Trio is #1).
TV & Film: 1972 – “The Godfather”, based on the book by Mario Puzo, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, premieres in NYC (Academy Awards Best Picture 1973).
