Today In History
Historical Events
1929 – Arab mobs attack Jews in Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine, triggering a series of violent riots
1939 – Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agree to the Molotov-Ribbentrop non-aggression pact and secretly divide Poland between themselves, setting the stage for World War II
1948 – Swedish diplomat Folke Bernadotte of the United Nations asks for aid for fugitives to Palestine
1972 – Republican convention in Miami Beach, Florida, renominates Vice President Spiro Agnew, but not unanimously as one vote goes to NBC newsman David Brinkley
2008 – Australian diver Matthew Mitcham wins the men’s 10 m platform gold medal with a final dive at the Beijing Olympics, preventing the Chinese from winning every diving event and achieving the highest score for an individual dive in Olympic history (112.10)
Famous Birthdays
1623 – Stanisław Lubieniecki, Polish astronomer, born in Raków, Kielce County, Poland (d. 1675)
1922 – Eevi Huttunen, Finnish speed skater (8 World C’ship gold 1951-59), born in Karttula, Finland (d. 2015)
1968 – Chris DiMarco, American golfer (PGA C’ship 2004 runner-up), born in Huntington, New York
1978 – Julian Casablancas, American musician, born in New York City
1984 – Joe Talbot, Welsh punk-rock singer-songwriter (Ides), born in Newport, Wales
Famous Deaths
1878 – Adolf Fredrik Lindblad, Swedish lieder and classical composer, dies at 77
1992 – Malcolm Atterbury, American actor (Jonas-Thicker than Water, Apples Way), dies at 85
1993 – Victorine Hefting, historian/wife of Bert Baker, dies at 88
1995 – Hedda J. Garza, American writer and political activist, dies at 66
2012 – Jerry Nelson, American puppeteer, dies from prostate cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 78
Historical Events
1708 – Meidingnu Pamheiba is crowned King of Manipur
1862 – Skirmish at Big Hill, Kentucky (two Federal regiments)
1940 – Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands dismisses Dutch Prime Minister Dirk Jan de Geer
1968 – Ringo temporarily quits The Beatles over a disagreement and rejoins the group after a holiday in Sardinia
1969 – 30th Venice Film Festival opens
1979 – Iranian army opens offensive against Kurds
1982 – Seattle Mariners pitcher Gaylord Perry is ejected for throwing a spitter
1992 – Wilhelm Verwoerd, grandson of former South African Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd, the main architect of apartheid, joins the African National Congress
Famous Birthdays
1852 – Arnold Toynbee, English economic historian and social reformer, born in London (d. 1883)
1924 – Ephraim Kishon, Israeli author, dramatist, screenwriter, and Oscar-nominated film director, born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2005)
1925 – Włodzimierz Kotoński, Polish composer, born in Warsaw, Poland (d. 2014)
1931 – Doris Fisher [née Feigenbaum], American businesswoman, fashion merchandiser and co-founder of the Gap, born in San Francisco, California (d. 2026)
1945 – Patti McGee, American skateboarder (first female pro skateboarder; first Women’s US C’ship 1964; first woman inducted IASC Skateboarding HOF), born in Fort Lewis, Washington (d. 2024)
1948 – Andrei Pleşu, Romanian writer and essayist, born in Bucharest, Romania
1963 – Richard Illingworth, English cricket spin bowler (9 Tests, 19 wickets; Worcestershire CCC) and international umpire, born in Bradford, England
1970 – Lawrence Frank, American basketball coach (NJ Nets 2004–09, Detroit Pistons 2011-13) and executive (NBA Executive of the Year 2020 LA Clippers), born in NYC, New York
1981 – Stephan Loboué, Ivorian footballer, born in Pforzheim, Germany
1986 – Brett Morris, Australian rugby league utility back (18 Tests; 15 NSW; St. George Illawarra, Canterbury-Bankstown, Sydney Roosters), born in Kiama, Australia
Famous Deaths
1628 – George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham and English courtier who was a favorite of King James I, assassinated by army officer John Felton at 35
1975 – Hank Patterson, American actor (Gunsmoke, Fred Ziffel-Green Acres), dies at 87
1980 – Norman Shelley, British radio actor (Churchill’s Speech), dies at 77
1981 – (Thaman) “Pete” Daily, American swing and dixieland jazz cornetist and valve trombonist (The Chicagoans), dies at 70
1989 – Helen le Clerq, Dutch dancer and choreographer, dies at 57
1992 – Malcolm Atterbury, American actor (Jonas-Thicker than Water, Apples Way), dies at 85
1994 – Rabah Stambouli, Algerian sociologist/politician, murdered at 65
2005 – Ninjalicious, Canadian author and urban explorer (b. 1973)
2016 – Steven Hill, American actor (Mission Impossible, Law and Order), dies at 94
2023 – Erkin Koray, Turkish psychedelic rock guitarist, electro baglama player, and singer, dies of lung disease at 82