Today In History
Historical Events
1778 – Teatro alla Scala opens in Milan
1798 – Battle of the Nile: British Admiral Horatio Nelson forces the remnants of the French fleet to surrender, concluding a decisive victory for the British, who capture or destroy 11 French ships of the line and 2 frigates
1936 – American sprinter Jesse Owens wins the 100 m in 10.3 seconds in front of Adolf Hitler in a famous race at the Berlin Olympics, the first of four gold medals he wins at the Games
1970 – The second NFL work stoppage ends with NFL and Players’ Association agreeing to a 4-year, $19.1 million deal
1979 – Sam Snead, at 67 years, 2 months, and 7 days, sets the record for the oldest player to make the cut in a major – PGA Championship at Oakland Hills CC
Famous Birthdays
1938 – Terry Wogan, British broadcaster (Eurovision Song Contest, Blankety Blank), born in Limerick, Ireland (d. 2016)
1964 – Kevin Elster, American baseball infielder (Texas Rangers), born in San Pedro, California
1976 – Troy Glaus, American baseball infielder (Olympic bronze 1996), born in Tarzana, Los Angeles
1979 – Kris Jenkins, American NFL defensive tackle (Pro Bowl (20-03, 06, 08; All-Pro 2002-03; Carolina Panthers, New York Jets), born in Ypsilanti, Michigan
1986 – Charlotte Casiraghi, Daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco, born in Princess Grace Hospital Centre, La Colle, Monaco
Famous Deaths
1993 – James Donald, Scottish actor (Bridge on River Kwai, Vikings, In Which We Serve, Way Ahead), dies of stomach cancer at 76
1994 – Hidalgo Moya, American architect and designer (Skylon), dies at 74
2006 – Warren Barker, American Emmy Award-winning composer (My World and Welcome To It), dies at 83
2018 – Moshe Mizrahi, Israeli film director (Madame Rosa), dies of pneumonia at 86
2021 – Jocelyne Bourassa, Canadian golfer (LPGA Rookie of the Year 1972; Canadian Open 1973), dies at 74
Historical Events
1650 – Dutch Stadtholder William II and Amsterdam reach an accord about a standing army
1692 – Battle of Steenkerque: French defeat William III’s combined English/Dutch army
1948 – An American 1-2 in the men’s 200 m at the London Olympics with Mel Patton (21.1) defeating teammate Barney Ewell
1948 – Franklin D. Roosevelt advisor Alger Hiss is accused of being a “communist”
1954 – The Convair XFY-1 Pogo, a VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, makes its first successful flight
1958 – MLB Baltimore Orioles manager Paul Richards is ejected from both games of a doubleheader at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan
1987 – Discovery in the Orbital Processing Facility is powered up for STS-26
2015 – The Athens Stock Exchange reopens after a month and falls by 22%
Famous Birthdays
1871 – Vernon Louis Parrington, American author (Romantic Revolution, Pulitzer 1928), born in Aurora, Illinois (d. 1929)
1921 – Edith Raymond Locke, Austrian-American television presenter (Attitudes) and editor of Mademoiselle magazine (1971-80), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2020)
1923 – Shenouda III of Alexandria, Pope of the Coptic Christianity, born in Abnub, Asyut Governorate, Egypt (d. 2012)
1924 – Max van der Stoel, Dutch politician and Minister of Foreign Affairs (PvdA), born in Voorschoten, Netherlands (d. 2011)
1934 – Haystacks Calhoun, American professional wrestler, born in McKinney, Texas (d. 1989)
1937 – Andrés Gimeno, Spanish tennis player (French Open 1972), born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 2019)
1968 – Rod Beck, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1993, 94, 97; San Francisco Giants), born in Burbank, California (d. 2007)
1972 – Sandis Ozolinsh, NHL defenseman (Colorado Avalanche), born in Riga, Latvia
1975 – N. D. Kalu, American defensive end (Philadelphia Eagles), born in Baltimore, Maryland
1992 – Nadeshot [Matthew Haag], American professional gamer, Youtuber and CEO of 100 Thieves, born in Palos Hills, Illinois
Famous Deaths
1800 – Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch, German composer, dies at 63
1835 – Wenzel Müller, Austrian composer, dies at 67
1894 – George Inness, American landscape painter (Delaware Water Gap), dies at 69
1939 – August Enna, Danish opera composer (The Witch; Kleopatra), dies at 80
1954 – Colette [Sidonie-Gabrielle], French author, novelist (Gigi; La Vagabonde) and actress, dies at 81
1977 – Makarios III [Michail Moeskos], Cypriot clergyman (Archbishop of Cyprus, 1950-77), and politician (1st President of Cyprus, 1966-74), dies of a heart attack at 63
1997 – Pietro Rizzuto, Italian-Canadian politician (Senator for Repentigny, Quebec, 1976-97), dies at 83
2010 – Bobby Hebb, American soul and RandB singer-songwriter (“Sunny”), dies of lung cancer at 72
2011 – Bubba Smith, American College Football Hall of Fame defensive end (Michigan State; Pro Bowl 1970, 71; First Team All Pro 1971; Super Bowl 1971; Baltimore Colts) and actor (Police Academy), dies of acute drug intoxication and heart disease at 66
2017 – Ángel Nieto, Spanish motorcycle racer (World C’ships: 50cc 1969, 70, 72, 75, 76, 77; 125cc 1971, 72, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84; 90 Grand Prix victories), dies in a road accident at 70