1549day.year
The Jesuit priest Francis Xavier's ship reaches Japan.
In 1549, the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier arrived in Japan, marking the beginning of Catholic missions in the country.
On July 27, 1549, Francis Xavier, one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus, landed on the shores of Kagoshima in southern Japan. He was the first Jesuit missionary to set foot in Japan, initiating a sustained effort to introduce Christianity to the archipelago. Xavier learned the local language and customs to preach to both commoners and feudal lords. His mission sowed the seeds for a growing Christian community, which peaked at an estimated 300,000 converts by the early 17th century. However, the spread of Catholicism eventually provoked suspicion, leading to intense persecution and the eventual expulsion of missionaries. Xavier's voyage nonetheless opened a significant cultural exchange between Europe and Japan.
1549
Jesuit
Francis Xavier
1865day.year
Welsh settlers arrive at Chubut in Argentina.
In 1865, the first Welsh settlers landed at Chubut, Argentina, beginning the Y Wladfa colony and preserving Welsh culture in Patagonia.
Facing economic hardship and cultural pressures at home, Welsh emigrants sought a new start abroad. On July 27, 1865, the first settlers of Y Wladfa landed at the mouth of the Chubut River in Patagonia, Argentina. Led by pioneers such as Love Jones-Parry and Lewis Jones, they established colonies that preserved the Welsh language and traditions. The settlers endured harsh climates, built irrigation channels, and negotiated land with indigenous Tehuelche communities. Their legacy lives on in the Welsh-Argentine towns of Trelew and Rawson, where brass bands and Eisteddfod festivals continue.
1865
Welsh settlers
Chubut
Argentina
1919day.year
The Chicago Race Riot erupts after a racial incident occurred on a South Side beach, leading to 38 fatalities and 537 injuries over a five-day period.
The Chicago Race Riot began on July 27, 1919, after a racial confrontation at a South Side beach, resulting in 38 deaths and over 500 injuries.
In the summer of 1919, the rapid influx of African American migrants into Chicago heightened tensions over housing and jobs. On July 27, a Black teenager drifted onto a segregated white section of a South Side beach and was struck by stones thrown from the shore. Rumors and counter-rumors incited mobs against Black residents, sparking five days of violent clashes. White and Black gangs fought in the streets, targeting homes and businesses as the city's police struggled to contain the chaos. By July 31, 38 people lay dead and 537 injured, and property damage ran into the millions of dollars. The riot exposed deep racial divisions in the North and foreshadowed further unrest in the 'Red Summer' of 1919. Its legacy prompted national debate on civil rights and policing in urban America.
1919
Chicago Race Riot
South Side