Onlycats

The Burr–Hamilton duel took place in Weehawken, New Jersey, between Aaron Burr, the third Vice President of the United States, and Alexander Hamilton, the first and former Secretary of the Treasury, at dawn on July 11, 1804. The duel was the culmination of a bitter rivalry that had developed between both men, who had become high-profile politicians in post-colonial America. In the duel, Burr fatally shot Hamilton in the abdomen, while Hamilton fired into a tree branch above and behind Burr's head. Hamilton was taken back across the Hudson River, and he died the following day in New York.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burr%E2%80%93Hamilton_duel

I will choose “A Short History of Nearly Everything” by Bill Bryson - This book explores a wide range of scientific topics, including the history of the universe, Earth, and humanity, in an entertaining way.

If I could witness any historical event firsthand, I would choose to witness the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

The Great Fire of London in 1666, ignited by a small flame in a bakery on Pudding Lane, swiftly escalated into a devastating inferno that ravaged the city. Consuming over 13,000 houses and 87 churches, the fire's destructive path seemed unstoppable.

Yet, amidst the chaos, the remarkable fact remains that only six recorded deaths occurred, a testament to the city's successful evacuation and the absence of high casualty figures in such a catastrophic event. This historic fire prompted significant urban planning changes and the rebuilding of London, ultimately shaping the city's architectural landscape for centuries to come.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fire_of_London

After the death of Sultan Khalid, the British supported the appointment of Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini as his successor. However, Khalid's cousin, Sultan Khalid bin Barghash, declared himself the new sultan and refused to step down. The British, having significant military presence in the region, issued an ultimatum demanding Khalid's surrender by 9:00 a.m. on August 27, 1896.

When the deadline passed, the British launched a bombardment on the Sultan's palace and other strategic targets using warships anchored in the harbor. Zanzibar's defenses, consisting mainly of outdated wooden warships and a few shore batteries, were no match for the superior firepower of the British.

Hawaiian Islands annexed by the United States The U.S. Congress annexed Hawaii through a joint resolution signed by President William McKinley on this day in 1898, paving the way for the islands to become a territory (1900) and later a U.S. state (1959).