On July 7, 1456, Joan of Arc was officially cleared of all charges — 25 years after she had already been burned at the stake. The Catholic Church held a retrial, known as the “nullification trial,” and declared that Joan had been wrongly accused and executed. It was too late to save her, but the decision finally cleared her name and set the record straight.

Back in 1431, Joan was found guilty of heresy and cross-dressing (for wearing a soldier’s uniform) after leading French troops to major victories during the Hundred Years’ War. She was just 19 years old when English-backed church officials burned her alive in the center of Rouen. The whole trial had been more political than religious — and everyone knew it.

After the war, even the French crown wanted to fix the mistake. King Charles VII, whom Joan had helped crown, pushed for a second investigation. Over 100 witnesses testified, and the retrial concluded that the original court was full of bias, lies, and legal errors. The Pope himself agreed, calling her trial a sham.

So on July 7, 1456, Joan of Arc was finally acquitted of heresy and recognized as the national hero she truly was. Centuries later, in 1920, the Church would go even further — officially declaring her a saint.

On July 7, 1865, just three months after President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, four people were hanged for their roles in the conspiracy. They included Lewis Powell, David Herold, George Atzerodt, and Mary Surratt — the first woman ever executed by the U.S. government. All had been connected to John Wilkes Booth, who pulled the trigger on April 14.

The assassination plot originally aimed to kidnap Lincoln, not kill him. But after the Civil War ended, Booth shifted gears. His crew planned to take out Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward all in one night. Only Lincoln was killed — but the plot was bigger than just one man.

After Booth was tracked down and killed, the government moved quickly. A military tribunal tried the conspirators in a highly publicized case. The four were sentenced to hang, and on a hot July afternoon, they were executed by hanging in the courtyard of the Old Arsenal Penitentiary in Washington, D.C.

So on July 7, 1865, just months after the Civil War ended, the nation got a harsh dose of post-war justice. The executions sent a clear message: plotting against the President — even as the country tried to heal — wouldn’t be taken lightly.

Brooklyn Bridge Fall🌉
In 1929, a man named James Adams jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge and survived the fall — only to be promptly arrested. When questioned, Adams called it a “publicity stunt”, hoping for fame or press coverage. The police weren’t amused. He may have beaten the odds against gravity, but not the law. In New York, even surviving can be a crime. 🌉

London Fog💨
In 1856, a London fog rolled in so dense that people couldn’t see their own feet, and several pedestrians accidentally walked straight into the Thames and drowned. The fog was one of many infamous “pea soupers”, caused by a toxic mix of coal smoke and moisture. It wasn’t just gloomy — it was deadly, thick enough to swallow entire streets and turn day into a choking, yellow night. 🌫️☠️

Mexican Nuke☢️
In 1957, a U.S. bomber accidentally dropped a nuclear bomb over New Mexico — and the only thing that kept it from detonating was one final safety switch that didn’t fail. The warhead hit the ground with a forceful impact, but no explosion followed. It was one of several Cold War near-disasters, quietly covered up for years. One click from catastrophe. 💣🔒🇺🇸

Hot Air Mishap🎈
In 1863, Union balloonist Thaddeus Lowe drifted too far during a reconnaissance mission and landed behind Confederate lines. Instead of panicking, he talked his way out by posing as a harmless traveling scientist studying air currents. The ruse worked, and he escaped safely — later receiving commendation for his quick thinking and smooth lying. When in doubt, improvise. 🎈🎩🗺️

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