Today In History
Historical Events
1856 – The Great Bell is cast for the Great Clock of Westminster, London (Big Ben)
1908 – St. Louis Cardinals’ Johnny Lush pitches a second career no-hitter in a 2-0 win over the Brooklyn Superbas; a change in MLB rules makes this unofficial as the game was shortened by rain
2008 – A military junta led by Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz stages a coup in Mauritania, overthrowing President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi
2015 – American comedian Jon Stewart hosts late-night talk and satirical news program “The Daily Show” for the last time
2018 – PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi announces she will step down
Famous Birthdays
1886 – Inez Milholland, American suffragist (National Woman’s Party), labor lawyer and socialist, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1916)
1906 – Ken Strong, American College/Pro Football HOF fullback/halfback (NYU; NFL C’ship 1934 NY Giants; 4 × First-team All-Pro), born in West Haven, Connecticut (d. 1979)
1916 – E. Michael Burke, sports executive (President New York Yankees, New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden), born in Enfield, Connecticut (d. 1987)
1938 – Igor Mikhailovich Luchenok, Belarusian composer and teacher, born in Minsk, Belarus (d. 2018)
1946 – Roh Moo-hyun, South Korean politician (President of South Korea 2003-8), born in Bongha Village, South Korea (d. 2009)
Famous Deaths
1657 – Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Polish-Lithuanian military leader of Zaporozhian Cossacks (organized rebellion of Ukrainian Cossacks against the Polish), dies (b. c. 1595)
1695 – François de Harlay de Champvallon, Archbishop of Paris, dies at 69
1914 – Ellen Axson Wilson (née Ellen Louise Axson), American artist and First Lady (US, 1913-14; New Jersey, 1911-13), dies of Bright’s Disease during President Woodrow Wilson’s 1st term, at 54
1976 – Gregor Piatigorsky, Ukrainian-American cellist, dies at 73
1991 – Roland Michener, 20th Governor General of Canada (1967-74), dies at 91
Historical Events
939 – Battle at Simancas: Spain defeats the Moors
1861 – US Congress passes First Confiscation Act
1908 – St. Louis Cardinals’ Johnny Lush pitches a second career no-hitter in a 2-0 win over the Brooklyn Superbas; a change in MLB rules makes this unofficial as the game was shortened by rain
1936 – Jack Lovelock of New Zealand runs a world record time of 3:47.8 to win the gold medal in the 1,500 m at the Berlin Olympics
1986 – Phil Katz releases archiving utility PKARC for DOS
1995 – Revival of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross’s musical comedy “Damn Yankees,” starring Jerry Lewis and Bebe Neuwirth, closes at Marquis Theatre, NYC, after 519 performances
2017 – UEFA Women’s Euro Final: Dutch forward Vivianne Miedema scores 2 as the Netherlands beat Denmark 4-2 in Enschede, the Netherlands
2018 – Saudi Arabia’s state airline suspends direct flights to Toronto and expels ambassador after Canada calls for release of detained activists for civil and women’s rights
Famous Birthdays
1697 – Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor (1742-45), Prince-Elector of Bavaria (1726-45), born in Brussels (d. 1745)
1904 – Henry Iba, American Basketball HOF coach (Olympic gold 1964, 68; NCAA C’ship 1945, 46 Oklahoma State Uni) and executive (AD Oklahoma State 1935-70), born in Easton, Missouri (d. 1993)
1908 – James Lees-Milne, English writer and architectural historian, born in Wickhamford, Worcestershire (d. 1997)
1943 – Michael Anderson Jr., British actor (Clayt Monroe in “The Monroes”), born in London
1952 – Michael Silverblatt, American literary critic and radio host (Bookworm), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2026)
1952 – Vinnie Vincent [Cusano], American rock guitarist (Kiss, 1982-84; solo – “Ashes to Ashes”), born in Bridgeport, Connecticut
1968 – Jack de Gier, Dutch soccer manager (NEC, Go Ahead Eagles, FC Den Bosch), born in Schijndel, Netherlands
1973 – Vera Ann Farmiga, American actress (Down to the Bone; Up in the Air), and director (Higher Ground), born in Clifton, New Jersey
1975 – Jamie McGonnigal, American voice actor (Pokémon, One Piece), born in Weymouth, Massachusetts
1995 – Amy Forsyth, Canadian actress (The Gilded Age, CODA), born in Ontario
Famous Deaths
1820 – Antonin Vranicky, Czech composer and violinist, dies at 59
1866 – John Mason Neale, English divine, scholar and hymnwriter (b. 1818)
1928 – W. H. Grattan Flood, Irish author and composer, dies at 68
1946 – Benny Lynch, Scottish boxer (World flyweight title 1937-38), dies of malnutrition-induced respiratory failure at 33
1970 – Ingolf Dahl [Marcus], German-American pianist and composer (Allegro and Arioso), dies at 56
1979 – Kurt Kaszner [Serwicher], Austrian actor (Kiss Me Kate, Lili, Casino Royale), dies of cancer at 65
1991 – Harry Reasoner, American newscaster (60 Minutes, ABC, CBS), dies at 68
1995 – André Fleury, French organist and composer, dies at 92
2012 – Marvin Hamlisch, American composer and conductor (The Sting; A Chorus Line), dies of respiratory arrest at 68
2020 – Wilbert McClure, American boxer (Olympic gold light middleweight 1960), dies at 81