Today In History
Historical Events
1798 – Peasants’ War begins in the Southern Netherlands against French Republican occupation
1961 – USSR performs nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeast Kazakhstan
1976 – MLB National League Championship: Cincinnati Reds beat Philadelphia Phillies, 3 games to 0
1992 – Arecibo radio telescope begins Microwave Observing Project search for occupied planets
2023 – Roman scrolls burned in Mt. Vesuvius eruption at Herculaneum are read for the first time after a computer science student develops a machine-learning algorithm; the first word deciphered is “purple”
Famous Birthdays
1903 – Josephine Hutchinson, American actress (Story of Louis Pasteur), born in Seattle, Washington (d. 1998)
1928 – Al Held, American painter and sculptor (hard edge-style), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2005)
1934 – Albert Shiryaev, Russian mathematician, known for his work in probability theory, statistics and financial mathematics, born in Shchyolkovo, Russia
1950 – Kaga Takeshi [Shigekatsu Katsuta], Japanese actor, born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
1983 – Alex Brosque, Australian footballer (Sydney FC), born in Sydney, Australia
Famous Deaths
1320 – Michael IX Palaeologus, co-ruling Byzantine Emperor (1295-1320), eldest son of Andronikos II Palaiologos and Anna of Hungary, dies at 43
1590 – Kano Eitoku, Japanese painter during the Azuchi–Momoyama period (Views in and around Kyoto), dies at 47
1915 – Edith Cavell, British nurse, executed by German firing squad in Belgium during World War I at 49
1945 – Jesse James Payne, a sharecropper, lynched in Madison County, Florida
2009 – Ian Wallace, British buffo bass-baritone opera and concert singer (“Gendarmes’ Duet”), and broadcaster (BBC’s My Music, 1964-97), dies at 90
Historical Events
1492 – Flemish rebel leader Philip of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein, surrenders his last stronghold, Sluis
1853 – John Morrissey wins the American bare-knuckle heavyweight title, when Yankee Sullivan leaves ring after 36th round to slug Morrissey’s fans
1862 – Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart completes his “second ride around McClellan” during the Raid on Chambersburg
1872 – Montreal Foot Ball Club plays its first-ever game against Quebec City, 0-0 tie
1958 – Christian Social Party win the Municipal elections in Belgium
1978 – Representatives of Israel and Egypt open peace talks in Washington, D.C.
1990 – MLB National League Championship: Cincinnati Reds beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 4 games to 2
2023 – Roman scrolls burned in Mt. Vesuvius eruption at Herculaneum are read for the first time after a computer science student develops a machine-learning algorithm; the first word deciphered is “purple”
Famous Birthdays
1763 – John Ross, English composer and organist, born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England (d. 1837)
1892 – Gilda dalla Rizza, Italian soprano, born in Verona, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1975)
1921 – Jaroslav Drobný, Czech ice hockey player (Olympic silver 1948) and tennis player (Wimbledon 1954, French Open 1951-52), born in Prague, Czech Republic (d. 2001)
1932 – Jake Edwin Garn, American politician (US Senate-R-Utah, 1974-93) and NASA astronaut (STS-51-D), born in Richfield, Utah
1944 – Angela Rippon, British journalist, newscaster and television personality (Rip-Off Britain, Top Gear), born in Plymouth, England
1946 – Marina Lewycka, Ukrainian-British novelist (A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Two Caravans), born in Kiel, Germany (d. 2025)
1958 – Jeff Keith, American rock vocalist (Tesla – “Psychotic Supper”), born in Texarkana, Arkansas
1964 – JoAnn Willette, American actress (Constance-Just 10 of Us, Real Genius), born in Lewiston, Maine
1965 – Scott O’Grady, American Air Force fighter pilot, born in Brooklyn, New York
1968 – Charles Anthony, American CFL defensive back (Toronto Argonauts), born in Las Vegas, Nevada
Famous Deaths
1576 – Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor (1564-76), dies at 49
1794 – James Lyon, American composer, dies at 59
1954 – George Welch, American World War II flying ace (Medal of Honor nominee) and test pilot, dies in a plane crash of his experiential F-100 Super Sabre at 36
1987 – Alf Landon, American Republican party politician (Governor of Kansas, 1933-37) and presidential nominee in 1936, bdies at his Topeka home at 100
1996 – David Gilroy Bevan, British politician and conservative MP for Birmingham, Yardley (1979-92), dies at 68
2001 – Quintin Hogg, British politician, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone, dies at 94 (b. 1907)
2011 – Joel “Taz” DiGregorio, American country-rock keyboardist (Charlie Daniels Band), killed in a car accident at 67
2019 – George Chambers, American rock bassist and vocalist (Chambers Brothers – “Time Has Come Today”), dies at 88
2021 – Raúl Coloma, Chilean soccer goalkeeper (13 caps; Ferrobádminton, Municipal Santiago, Ferroviaros), dies at 93
2025 – Jackie Burch, American casting director (Die Hard, The Breakfast Club), dies of cancer at 74