Today In History
Historical Events
1828 – The Greek city of Patras is liberated by the French expeditionary force in Peloponnese under General Maison
1919 – KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij), Royal Dutch Airlines, is founded in Amsterdam, making it one of the world’s oldest airlines
1928 – Paavo Nurmi runs a world record 10 miles (50:15.0)
1957 – “How to Marry a Millionaire,” the first movie to become a TV sitcom, premieres
1993 – Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to American writer Toni Morrison
Famous Birthdays
1912 – Fernando Belaúnde, Peruvian politician (President of Peru 1963–68, and 1980–85), born in Lima, Peru (d. 2002)
1937 – Dino Valenti [Chester Powers, Jr.], American rock guitarist and singer (Quicksilver Messenger Service – “Fresh Air”), born in Danbury, Connecticut (d. 1994)
1941 – Larry Young [aka Khalid Yasin], American hard-bop and jazz-fusion Hammond B-3 organist (Unity), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 1978)
1946 – Bernard Lavilliers [Oulion], French jazz singer and songwriter, born in Saint-Étienne, France
1976 – Santiago Solari, Argentinian footballer, born in Rosario, Argentina
Famous Deaths
929 – Charles III, “The Simple”, King of West Francia (893-923), granted Vikings the Duchy of Normandy, dies dethroned and in prison at 50
1577 – George Gascoigne, English poet
2004 – Hildy Parks, American stage and screen actress, and Emmy Award-winning producer and writer (Tony Award presentations), dies of complications from a stroke at 78
2008 – Peter Copley, British actor (Victim, Kingdom of Heaven, King and Country), dies at 93
2008 – Leslie Hardman, Jewish Orthodox rabbi (b. 1913)
Historical Events
1571 – Battle of Lepanto: Holy League of Catholic states formed by Pope Pius V destroys an Ottoman fleet in a significant defeat off Western Greece
1882 – Chicago White Stockings (NL) beat Cincinnati Red Stockings (AA) 2-0 at Bank Street Grounds, Cincinnati
1924 – Greek government of Dikalekopoulos forms
1957 – “How to Marry a Millionaire,” the first movie to become a TV sitcom, premieres
1968 – Rioting continues in Derry, Northern Ireland, after the Royal Ulster Constabulary suppresses a civil rights march two days earlier
1975 – US decides John Lennon won’t be deported to the UK for his pot conviction
1994 – Faud Guliyev is appointed premier of Azerbaijan
2018 – China confirms it has detained Interpol chief Meng Hongwei, who resigns from his position after being reported missing
Famous Birthdays
1774 – Ferdinando Orlandi, Italian musician, singing teacher, and composer, born in Parma, Duchy of Parma (d. 1848)
1802 – Wilhelm Bernhard Molique, German violinist and composer, born in the Free Imperial City of Nuremberg, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1869)
1920 – Georg Leber, German politician (SPD), born in Obertiefenbach, Germany (d. 2012)
1926 – Jim Allen, British socialist, screenwriter and playwright (Days of Hope, Perdition), born in Collyhurst, England (d. 1999)
1935 – Thomas Keneally, Australian writer (Schindler’s List), born in Sydney, Australia
1939 – Mel Brown, American-Canadian blues guitarist and singer (Eighteen Pounds of Unclean Chitlings), born in Jackson, Mississippi (d. 2009)
1939 – Joel Brodsky, American photographer, created over 400 album covers (The Doors; Isaac Hayes; Ohio Players), born in Brooklyn, New York City (d. 2007)
1947 – Philip Malcolm “Pip” Williams, British record producer and arranger (Status Quo; Moody Blues), born in Hillingdon, Middlesex, England
1952 – Ludmilla Tourischeva, Russian gymnast (9 x Olympic medalist USSR, 4 x gold [3 x team, 1 x All Around]; 7 x World C’ship gold), born in Grozny, Russia
1973 – Priest Holmes, American football running back (Super Bowl XXXV Baltimore Ravens; 3 × First-team All-Pro; 3 × Pro Bowl; NFL rushing TD leader 2002, 03; KC Chiefs), born in Fort Smith, Arkansas
Famous Deaths
929 – Charles III, “The Simple”, King of West Francia (893-923), granted Vikings the Duchy of Normandy, dies dethroned and in prison at 50
1777 – Simon Fraser, English general (fought during American War of Independence), dies during the Battle of Bemis Heights at 48
1796 – Thomas Reid, Scottish philosopher and founder of Scottish School of Common Sense, dies at 86
1849 – Edgar Allan Poe, American writer, poet and critic (The Pit and the Pendulum) considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre (Murders in the Rue Morgue), dies in Baltimore at 40
1864 – Alexander Gardiner, US Union brigadier general, dies in battle
1922 – Marie Lloyd [Mathilda Wood], English music-hall performer (“Oh Mr Porter What Shall I Do”), dies of heart and kidney failure at 52
1963 – Gustaf Gründgens, German actor and director (M, Faust, A Glass of Water), dies from an internal hemorrhage at 63
1976 – Nikolai Lopatnikoff, Estonian-American composer (Variazioni Concertanti), dies at 73
1995 – Ariston Muguranayanga Chambati, Zimbabwean politician and businessman, Minister of Finance (1995), dies of meningitis at 59
2025 – Christopher Ponnet, American priest and social justice advocate known for performing burial ceremonies for unclaimed bodies, dies during surgery at 68