1703    Tsar Peter the Great founds the city of Saint Petersburg.

1756    In Saint Petersburg, Bartolomeo Rastrelli presents the newly-built Catherine Palace to Empress Elizabeth and her courtiers.

1768    Saint Isaac's Cathedral is founded in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

1837    Fire in the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg occurred.

1845    The Russian Geographical Society is founded in Saint Petersburg.

1878    The revolutionary Vera Zasulich shoots at Fyodor Trepov, the Governor of Saint Petersburg.

1895    In Saint Petersburg, Russian scientist Alexander Stepanovich Popov demonstrates to the Russian Physical and Chemical Society his invention, the Popov lightning detector — a primitive radio receiver. In some parts of the former Soviet Union the anniversary of this day is celebrated as Radio Day.

1912    ''Pravda,'' the "voice" of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, begins publication in Saint Petersburg.

1917    First demonstrations in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The beginning of the February Revolution.

1918    Moscow becomes the capital of Russia again after Saint Petersburg held this status for 215 years.

1924    Petrograd, formerly Saint Petersburg, Russia, is renamed ''Leningrad''.

1934    In the Soviet Union, Politburo member Sergei Kirov is shot dead by Leonid Nikolayev at the Communist Party headquarters in Leningrad.

1941    World War II: German troops reach Leningrad, leading to the siege of Leningrad.

1941    World War II: Siege of Leningrad begins. German forces begin a siege against the Soviet Union's second-largest city, Leningrad.

1944    Soviet forces liberate Leningrad, effectively ending a three year Nazi siege, known as the Siege of Leningrad.

1991    The name ''Saint Petersburg'' is restored to Russia's second largest city, which had been renamed ''Leningrad'' in 1924.