Whether or not Napoleon Bonaparte had anything like the Napoleon Complex, he was certainly very sensitive to international recognition. Already the emperor of France and the leader of what would become one of the mightiest armies to sweep through Europe, he wanted to stage an event that would showcase the state’s riches and cement its legacy as the world leader. He wanted to stage the Exposition Universelle.

On this day, April 8, 1867, the Exposition Universelle opened to the public, with over 50,000 exhibitors, 15,000 of which were from France and her colonies, 6,176 from the UK, and 703 from the United States.

Among the notable exhibits was one highlighting the recent discoveries of electricity. The display impressed many, including a young author named Jules Verne, who would use everything he learned about the new force to write Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.