Today In History
Historical Events
1812 – Upon learning of plans by the Americans to execute a surprise attack, Laura Secord walks 32 km to warn British troops, results in a British surprise victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams
1936 – Virgin Islands receives a constitution from US (Organic Act)
1959 – Vanguard SLV-6 launched for Earth orbit (fails)
1977 – Walt Disney’s animated film “The Rescuers” is released, first Disney film to get a sequel
2002 – WLAF World Bowl 10, Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf: Berlin Thunder beats Rhein Fire, 26-20
Famous Birthdays
1888 – Harold Burton, American politician (Rep (R) Ohio 1941-45), U.S. Supreme Court justice, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1964)
1937 – Bernie McGann, Australian jazz alto saxophone player and composer, born in Granville, Australia (d. 2013)
1939 – Don Matthews, American CFL HOF coach (Grey Cup 1985 BC Lions, 1995 Baltimore Stallions, 1996-97 Toronto Argonauts, 2002 Montreal Alouettes), born in Amesbury, Massachusetts (d. 2017)
1944 – Michael Obst, German coxsman (Olympic gold 1960), born in German FR
1952 – Graham Greene, First Nations actor (Dances with Wolves; The Green Mile; Leonard on “Northern Exposure”), born in Ohsweken, Six Nations Reserve, Ontario (d. 2025)
Famous Deaths
1535 – John Fisher, English Catholic clergyman (Bishop of Rochester, 1504-35; Cardinal, 1535), martyr, and saint, executed and beheaded by order of Henry VIII at about 65
1984 – (Dillwyn) “Dill” Jones, Welsh jazz stride pianist, dies of throat cancer at 60
1992 – Chuck Mitchell, American actor (General Hospital, Porky’s, Better Off Dead), dies at 64
2015 – James Horner, American Academy Award-winning film composer (Titanic; Apollo 13; Avatar), dies in a plane crash at 61
2017 – Hervé Filion, Canadian harness racing driver (World Driving C’ship 1970; Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year 1969-74, 76, 78, 81, 89), dies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 77
Historical Events
1870 – US Congress creates Department of Justice
1936 – Harry Froboess dives 110 meters from an airship into Lake Constance at the foot of the Alps and survives
1938 – Joe Louis scores a stunning 1st round KO of German Max Schmeling at Yankee Stadium, NYC to retain his world heavyweight boxing title
1946 – English cricketer Alec Bedser takes 7-49 v India on 1st day of his 1st Test cricket at Lord’s
1957 – Kansas City stops using streetcars in its transit system
1989 – Business Day reports that SA is about to test an intermediate range ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads
1992 – Supreme Court rules “hate crime” laws violated free-speech rights
2019 – Seven-story building collapses in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, with at least 25 construction workers sleeping inside killed
Famous Birthdays
1674 – Jean Philippe Eugène de Mérode, Belgian nobleman (Marquis of Westerloo), born in Brussels, Dutch Republic (d. 1732)
1864 – Hermann Minkowski, German mathematician (work on relativity – Minkowski spacetime), born in Aleksota, Kingdom of Poland, Russian Empire (d. 1909)
1899 – Michal Kalecki, Polish economist, born in Łódź, Russian Poland (d. 1970)
1900 – Jennie Tourel [Davidovich], Russian-American mezzo-soprano (Paris Opera, 1931-38; Metropolitan Opera,1937-47), born in Vitebsk, Russian Empire (d. 1973)
1903 – Carl Hubbell, American Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (9 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1933; NL MVP 1933, 36; NY Giants), born in Carthage, Missouri (d. 1988)
1937 – John Conklin, American dramaturg and scenic designer (Metropolitan Opera; Glimmerglass Festival; San Francisco Opera), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 2025)
1939 – Don Matthews, American CFL HOF coach (Grey Cup 1985 BC Lions, 1995 Baltimore Stallions, 1996-97 Toronto Argonauts, 2002 Montreal Alouettes), born in Amesbury, Massachusetts (d. 2017)
1951 – Gerald Levinson, American contemporary classical composer (Anahata), and educator (Swarthmore College), born in Westport, Connecticut
1956 – Green Gartside [Paul Strohmeyer], Welsh rock singer-songwriter (Scritti Politti – “Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)”; ” The Word Girl”), born in Cardiff, Wales
1959 – Nicola Sirkis [Nicolas Sirchis], French rock singer and lyricist (Indochine – “3e sexe”; “La vie est belle”), born in Antony, France
Famous Deaths
1846 – Benjamin Haydon, British painter (Waiting for The Times), commits suicide at 60
1906 – Fritz Schaudinn, German zoologist (examined syphilis), dies at 34
1945 – Isamu Tsjo, Japanese chief-staff 32nd Army, commits harakiri
1950 – Julio Fonseca, Costa Rican composer, dies at 65
1969 – Judy Garland [Frances Gumm], American actress (The Wizard of Oz; Meet Me In St. Louis; Easter Parade), and singer (“Over The Rainbow”); dies at 47; coroner determines cause as unintentional, incautious overdose of prescription barbiturates
1979 – (Walter) “Pee Wee” Hunt, American jazz trombonist (Casa Loma Orchestra, 1929-43; “Twelfth Street Rag”, “Oh!”), and bandleader, dies at 72
1989 – Lucien Saulnier, Canadian politician, dies at 72
1994 – L. V. Prasad, Indian pioneering filmmaker, dies at 87
1997 – Ted Gärdestad, Swedish singer (b. 1956)
2003 – Brian Dillon, British lawyer and judge, Lord Justice of Appeal (1982-94), dies at 77