Today In History
Historical Events
1884 – German consul-general Gustav Nachtigal takes possession of Cameroon
1959 – Jack Gelber’s “Connection” premieres in NYC
1960 – Mongolia adopts constitution
1961 – KUSD TV channel 2 in Vermillion, SD (PBS) begins broadcasting
1961 – 80 die in collisions in Algiers
Famous Birthdays
1654 – Antonio Maria Pacchioni, Baroque composer, baptized in Modena, Duchy of Modena and Reggio (d. 1738)
1886 – Willem Drees, Dutch politician (co-founder of the Labour Party (PvdA); Prime Minister, 1948-58), known as “Daddy Drees”, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1988)
1904 – Ernst Mayr, German-American biologist (evolutionary theory), born in Kempten, Bavaria, Germany (d. 2005)
1934 – Diane Andersen, Danish-Belgian concert pianist, born in Copenhagen, Denmark
1975 – Chris Gratton, Canadian NHL center (Canada World C’ships gold 1997; Tampa Bay Lightning), born in Brantford, Ontario
Famous Deaths
1472 – Charles of Artois, Count of Eu, French military leader (b. 1394)
1864 – Dimitris Plapoutas, Greek general and revolutionary figure in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, dies at 78
1887 – August Pott, German philological (Etymology Forschungen), dies at 84
1948 – Georges Bernanos, French writer (The Diary of the Country Priest), dies at 60
1985 – Marion Byron, American actress (Steamboat Bill Jr, Broadway Babies), dies at 73
Historical Events
1878 – The coat of arms of the Baku governorate was established
1922 – Uprising of social righteousness in Rio de Janeiro
1945 – World War II: Liberation of the Philippines declared
1946 – Wimbledon Men’s Tennis: Frenchman Yvon Petra beats Australian Geoff Brown 6-2, 6-4, 7-9, 5-7, 6-4 for his only Wimbledon title
1961 – St Louis Cardinals first baseman Bill White smashes 3 HRs and a double in 9-1 rout of Los Angeles Dodgers
1987 – A’s first baseman Mark McGwire becomes first rookie to hit 30 HRs before the MLB All-Star Game as Oakland beats Red Sox, 6-2
2019 – Former governor of Rio de Janeiro, Sérgio Cabral says he paid a $2 million bribe to secure votes for his city to be granted 2016 Olympics
2024 – US President Joe Biden gives an interview to quell fears about his stamina and cognitive abilities with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos
Famous Birthdays
1849 – William T. Stead, British newspaper editor (The Pall Mall Gazette – exposed child prostitution), born in Embleton, England (d. 1912)
1886 – Nathaniel Niles, American tennis player (US Open mixed doubles 1908; US Open men’s singles 1917 runner-up) and figure skater (US C’ship gold singles 1918, 25, 27), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1932)
1900 – Bernardus Johannes Alfrink, Dutch cardinal of Utrecht Netherlands, born in Nijkerk, Netherlands (d. 1987)
1927 – W. M. Diggelmann, Swiss writer (appeared in The self-destruction of W. M. Diggelmann), born in Zurich, Switzerland (d. 1979)
1929 – Tony Lock, English cricket spin bowler (49 Tests, 174 wickets, BB 7/35, 2 x 50; Surrey CCC, Western Australia, Leicestershire CCC), born in Limpsfield, England (d. 1995)
1934 – Philip Madoc, Welsh actor (The Life and Times of David Lloyd George), born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales (d. 2012)
1952 – Michael McNabb, American contemporary instrumental and electroacoustic composer (Dreamsong; Invisible Cities), born in Salinas, California
1955 – Michael Gismondi, American rock bassist (Michael Stanley Band, 1979-87), born in Youngstown, Ohio
1959 – Theo Verbey, Dutch composer (Fractal Symphony; After the Great War), and educator (Royal Conservatory of The Hague, 1984-2019), born in Delft, Netherlands (d. 2019)
1971 – Derek McInnes, Scottish soccer midfielder (2 caps; Rangers, WBA, Dundee United) and manager (Bristol City, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock), born in Paisley, Scotland
Famous Deaths
967 – Murakami, 62nd Emperor of Japan (946-67) who fathered 19 Imperial sons and daughters, dies at 42
1863 – Lewis Armistead, Confederate brigadier general at Gettysburg (Pickett’s Charge), dies of his injuries from the battle of Gettysburg at 46
1883 – Frederick Scotson Clark, English organist and composer, dies at 42
1913 – Alfred Lyttelton, English politician and sportsman, 1st to represent England at cricket and football, dies of a stomach abscess at 56
1950 – Private Kenneth Shadrick becomes the first identified American soldier killed in the Korean War
1965 – Porfirio Rubirosa, Dominican diplomat, race car driver, and international playboy, dies when he crashes his Ferrari into a tree at 56
1969 – Walter Gropius, architect/found (Bauhaus school of design), dies at 86
2005 – Baloo Gupte, Indian cricket leg spin bowler (3 Tests, 3 wickets; Bombay, Bengal, Railways), dies at 70
2010 – Bob Probert, Canadian NHL right wing, 1985-2002 (Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings), dies of a heart attack while boating at 45
2011 – Armon Gilliam, American NBA forward, 1987-2000 (Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, NJ Nets, and 3 other teams), and college coach, 2001-05 (Penn State), dies of a heart attack at 47