Today In History
Historical Events
1642 – English Civil War begins between Royalists and Parliamentarians
1939 – Dutch border guards take positions for German invasion
1958 – Toronto’s Boyd Carter (15 yards) and Dave Mann (116 yards) combine for a CFL record for the longest punt return in a 15-14 win over the Montreal Alouettes in Toronto
1988 – US performs a nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
2024 – Vice President Kamala Harris accepts the Democratic nomination for U.S. President on the last day of the party’s national conference in Chicago
Famous Birthdays
1874 – Edward Bairstow, English composer, born in Trinity Street, Huddersfield, England (d. 1946)
1907 – Cyril Astley Clarke, British physician and geneticist, born in Leicester, England (d. 2000)
1926 – Marc Bohan, French fashion designer, born in Paris (d. 2023)
1974 – Agustín Pichot, Argentine rugby player, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
1974 – Brimstone [William Kucmierowski], American professional wrestler, actor and radio personality (The Grindhouse Radio), born in Mineola, New York
Famous Deaths
1701 – John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath, English royalist statesman, dies at 72
1914 – Léon Amédée François Raffenel, French general (3rd Colonial Div, WWI), dies during Battle of Rossignol at 58
1977 – Sebastian Cabot, British actor (Kismet; Family Affair – “Mr. French”, Time Machine), dies at 59
2009 – Elmer Kelton, American Western novelist (b. 1926)
2011 – Nick Ashford, American songwriter, record producer (“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”; “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)”), and singer (Ashford and Simpson – “Solid”), dies of throat cancer at 70
Historical Events
1851 – Goldfields discovered in Australia
1901 – Cadillac Motor Company is founded
1909 – First international flying event, the French air show Grande Semaine d’Aviation de la Champagne, is held near Reims in France, sponsored by Moët et Chandon, Mumm, and other makers of champagne
1926 – Greek dictator Theódoros Pángalos is overthrown
1939 – Dutch border guards take positions for German invasion
1950 – First patent for controlling vehicle speed (cruise control) is granted to American inventor Ralph Teetor
1984 – The last Volkswagen Rabbit is produced
2021 – British Open Women’s Golf, Carnoustie CC: Anna Nordqvist of Sweden finishes one stroke clear of Madelene Sagström, Lizette Salas, and Georgia Hall to win her third major title
Famous Birthdays
1624 – Jean Renaud de Segrais, French writer and poet, born in Caen, France (d. 1701)
1834 – Nathaniel Harrison Harris, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Natchez, Mississippi (d. 1900)
1844 – George Washington De Long, American Arctic Explorer whose disastrous expedition provided evidence to support the theory of trans-Arctic oceanic drift, born in New York City (d. 1881)
1920 – Wolfdietrich Schnurre, German writer, born in Frankfurt (d. 1989)
1920 – Pierre A. Lauffer, Antillian poet (Patria), born in Curacao, Venezuela (d. 1981)
1921 – Sotiria Bellou, Greek rebetiko singer (“Synnefiasmeni Kyriaki” / “‘Cloudy Sunday”), born in Halia, Euboia, Greece (d. 1997)
1949 – Alfred Musema, Rwandan genocidaire, born in Byumba, Rwanda
1968 – Alexander Mostovoi, Russian footballer, born in Leningrad Oblast, Russia
1972 – Stephen Boyd, American NFL linebacker (Detroit Lions), born in Valley Stream, New York
1997 – Eddie Williams, American pastor and former fullback (Cleveland Browns), born in San Mateo, California
Famous Deaths
1584 – Jan Kochanowski, Polish writer (b. 1530)
1942 – Mikhail Fokine, Russian ballet dancer and choreographer, dies at 62
1951 – J. P. Bickell, Canadian businessman and sports team owner (Toronto Maple Leafs), dies at 66
1976 – Juscelino Kubitschek, President of Brazil (1955-60), dies at 73
1980 – James Smith McDonnell, American aircraft manufacturer, dies of a stroke at 81
1990 – Thomas W. McKnew, American Vice President, Chairman, and Chairman Emeritus of the National Geographic Society (1954-90), dies of pneumonia at 94
2008 – Gladys Powers, Canadian World War I veteran (b. 1899)
2009 – Elmer Kelton, American Western novelist (b. 1926)
2016 – (Jean-Baptiste) “Toots” Thielemans, Belgian-American jazz harmonica player, guitarist, whistler, and composer, dies at 94
2023 – Tom Courtney, American athlete (Olympic gold 800m, 4x400m relay 1956), dies of amyloidosis at 90