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Events on June 29 in history

St-Hilaire train disaster
1864Jun, 29

Ninety-nine people are killed in Canada's worst railway disaster near St-Hilaire, Quebec.

The St-Hilaire train disaster occurred on June 29, 1864, near the present-day town of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec. A passenger train fell through an open swing bridge into the Richelieu River after the crew failed to obey a stop signal. The widely accepted death toll is 99 people.

The disaster remains the worst railway accident in Canadian history.

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Events on 1864

  • 29Apr

    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    Theta Xi fraternity is founded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the only fraternity to be founded during the American Civil War.
  • 5May

    Battle of the Wilderness

    American Civil War: The Battle of the Wilderness begins in Spotsylvania County.
  • 7May

    Battle of the Wilderness

    American Civil War: The Army of the Potomac, under General Ulysses S. Grant, breaks off from the Battle of the Wilderness and moves southwards.
  • 7May

    City of Adelaide (1864)

    The world's oldest surviving clipper ship, the City of Adelaide is launched by William Pile, Hay and Co. in Sunderland, England, for transporting passengers and goods between Britain and Australia.
  • 10May

    Battle of Spotsylvania

    American Civil War: Colonel Emory Upton leads a 10-regiment "Attack-in-depth" assault against the Confederate works at The Battle of Spotsylvania, which, though ultimately unsuccessful, would provide the idea for the massive assault against the Bloody Angle on May 12. Upton is slightly wounded but is immediately promoted to brigadier general.