Remarkable Facts About March 29: Events on This Day

ByKim Richmond Hours Updated Categories Time & Calendar

The significant collection of facts about March 29 features a pivotal moment in American military history when, in 1973, the last U.S. combat troops withdrew from Vietnam, marking the end of direct American military involvement in a divisive conflict that shaped a generation.

This consequential date also witnessed momentous discoveries, from Chinese farmers unearthing the remarkable Terracotta Army in 1974 to NASA’s Mariner 10 completing the first-ever flyby of Mercury that same year, providing humanity’s first close-up images of the innermost planet’s mysterious surface.

March 29 Facts At-a-Glance

Historical Significance: U.S. combat troops leave Vietnam (1973)
Famous Birthdays: John Tyler, Sam Walton
Cultural Observances: National Vietnam War Veterans Day
Notable Event: Discovery of the Terracotta Army (1974)
Scientific Achievement: Mariner 10’s flyby of Mercury (1974)
Entertainment Milestone: Michael Jordan’s NCAA Championship winning shot (1982)
Numerological Position: 88th day of the year
Zodiac Sign: Aries

Historical Events and Turning Points

March 29 stands as a crucial date in diplomatic history and military withdrawals that marked the end of significant conflicts.

  1. On March 29, 1461, the Battle of Towton, a pivotal event in the Wars of the Roses, saw the Yorkist army, led by Edward IV, decisively defeat the Lancastrian forces, securing Edward’s claim to the English throne.
  2. On March 29, 1867, Queen Victoria granted royal assent to the British North America Act, uniting the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada (which was then divided into Ontario and Quebec) into the Dominion of Canada, a federal state, which came into effect on July 1st.
  3. On March 29, 1871, Queen Victoria officially opened the Royal Albert Hall in London, a venue built as a tribute to her late husband, Prince Albert, and to promote the arts and sciences.
  4. On March 29, 1879, British troops of the Anglo-Zulu War fought the Battle of Kambula against the Zulu Kingdom in South Africa.
  5. On March 29, 1943, World War II meat, butter, and cheese rationing began in the United States, reflecting the sacrifices of the home front.
  6. On March 29, 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of espionage for passing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union during World War II.
  7. On March 29, 1973, the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam, marking the end of direct American military involvement in the Vietnam War, following the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in January of that year.
  8. On March 29, 1974, farmers digging a well near Xi’an, China, stumbled upon the Terracotta Army, a vast collection of life-sized terra-cotta sculptures, which is considered one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.
  9. On March 29, 1999, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 10,000 for the first time, marking a milestone in American financial markets.
  10. On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom (UK) invoked Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) which began the member state’s withdrawal, commonly known as Brexit, from the European Union (EU).

Notable Births and Achievements

March 29 has marked the birth of influential figures who have shaped politics, sports, and entertainment.

  1. John Tyler was born in Virginia on March 29, 1790, and he became the 10th U.S. President, succeeding William Henry Harrison after his death, making him the first president to assume office after a president’s death.
  2. On March 29, 1918, Samuel Moore “Sam” Walton was born in Oklahoma, later founding Walmart and becoming one of America’s most successful entrepreneurs.
  3. On March 29, 1936, Judith Guest was born in Detroit, Michigan, later authoring the acclaimed novel “Ordinary People.”
  4. On March 29, 1976, Jennifer Capriati was born in New York City, later becoming a tennis prodigy and Olympic gold medalist.

Scientific and Technological Milestones

March 29 marks several groundbreaking achievements in space exploration and technology that expanded human capabilities.

  1. On March 29, 1806, Congress authorized the construction of the Great National Pike, also known as the Cumberland Road, the first major road built by the U.S. federal government, beginning in Cumberland, Maryland.
  2. On March 29, 1807, Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers discovered the asteroid Vesta, the fourth asteroid to be identified, and it is now known to be the brightest asteroid, occasionally visible to the naked eye.
  3. On March 29, 1848, a rare event occurred: Niagara Falls stopped flowing for about 30 hours due to an ice jam at the mouth of the Niagara River, caused by strong winds pushing ice fields from Lake Erie.
  4. On March 29, 1974, NASA’s Mariner 10 became the first spacecraft to fly by Mercury, providing the first close-up images of the planet’s surface, and it did so by using a gravity assist from Venus.

Sports and Entertainment History

The world of sports and entertainment has witnessed remarkable achievements on March 29.

  1. On March 29, 1982, Michael Jordan, then a freshman for North Carolina, hit the game-winning jumper with 15 seconds left to give the Tar Heels a 63-62 victory over Georgetown in the NCAA Championship game, solidifying his emergence as a basketball star.

Modern Significance and Observances

This day continues to hold special significance through various observances and commemorations, adding to the remarkable facts about March 29 that span centuries of human history.

  1. National Vietnam War Veterans Day, observed annually on March 29th, is a day to honor and thank the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans and their families.
  2. National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, celebrated annually on March 29th, is a day to recognize and appreciate the hard work and dedication of small, family-owned businesses across America.

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