Today In History
Historical Events
1939 – Clara Adams is the first woman to complete a commercial round-the-world flight from New York, lasting 16 days and 19 hours
1945 – PGA Championship Men’s Golf, Moraine CC: Byron Nelson wins his fifth and final major title and second PGA title; he defeats former MLB player Sam Byrd 4 and 3
1974 – American TV news reporter Christine Chubbuck shoots herself live on WXLT-TV in Sarasota, Florida; first person to commit suicide in a live broadcast
1994 – Gyula Horn sworn in as premier of Hungary
2018 – Wimbledon Men’s Tennis: Novak Đoković wins his fourth Wimbledon title beating South African Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6
Famous Birthdays
1837 – Stephanie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, German-born Queen of Portugal (1858-59), born in Krauchenwies Castle, Sigmaringen (d. 1859)
1904 – Dorothy Fields, American lyricist (“I’m In The Mood For Love”; “The Way You Look Tonight”), born in Allenhurst, New Jersey (d. 1974)
1959 – Vincent Lindon, French actor (The Measure of a Man), born in Paris, France
1961 – Lolita Davidovich, Canadian actress (Blaze, Jungle2Jungle), born in London, Ontario
1968 – Eddie Griffin, American comedian (Black Dynamite), born in Kansas City, Missouri
Famous Deaths
1411 – Johannes Parvus [Jean Petit], French theologist, dies
1798 – Gaetano Pugnani, Italian violinist and composer, dies at 66
1959 – Ernest Bloch, Swiss-American composer (Schelomo; Israel; Avodath Hakodesh), and educator (UC Berkeley, 1941-52), dies of cancer at 78
1992 – Hammer DeRoburt, First President of Nauru, dies at 69
2022 – Herbert W. Franke, Austrian scientist, writer, and computer art pioneer, dies at 95
Historical Events
971 – According to legend, English saint Swithun is reburied inside Winchester Cathedral against his wishes, and a terrible storm proceeds to rain for 40 days and 40 nights
1500 – Baglione family massacre at the “Blood Wedding” of Astorre Baglione and Lavinia Colonna in Perugia
1926 – VPRO (Free-thinking Protestant Radio Broadcast) forms
1928 – 22nd Tour de France: Defending champion Nicolas Frantz of Luxembourg holds yellow jersey from start to finish; his Alcyon team has all 3 podium positions
1945 – PGA Championship Men’s Golf, Moraine CC: Byron Nelson wins his fifth and final major title and second PGA title; he defeats former MLB player Sam Byrd 4 and 3
1971 – US President Richard Nixon announces he will visit the People’s Republic of China
1979 – Morarji Desai resigns as Prime Minister of India
2018 – Senior Players Championship Men’s Golf, Exmoor CC: Fijian Vijay Singh wins in a playoff with Jeff Maggert on second extra hole
Famous Birthdays
1798 – Charles H. Bell, American admiral (Union Navy), born in New York (d. 1875)
1865 – Wilhelm Wirtinger, Austrian mathematician, born in Ybbs, Austria (d. 1945)
1902 – Raymond Hackett, American husband of Blanche Sweet and actor (Faithless Lover), born in New York City (d. 1958)
1902 – Jean Rey, Belgian politician (President of the European Commission 1967-70), born in Liège, Belgium (d. 1983)
1918 – Aubrey Buxton, English TV executive (ITV, created “Survival”), born in Oxford, England (d. 2009)
1922 – Jef Houthuys, Belgian trade unionist (chairman Belgian labor union ACV 1968-87), born in Opwijk, Belgian (d. 1991)
1929 – Larry Lamb, British newspaper editor (The Sun, 1969-72 and 1975-81; Daily Express, 1983-86; The Australian, 1991-92), born in Fitzwilliam, West Riding of Yorkshire, England (d. 2000)
1938 – Carmen Callil, Australian publisher working in the UK (Virago Press), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 2022)
1961 – Lolita Davidovich, Canadian actress (Blaze, Jungle2Jungle), born in London, Ontario
1972 – Scott Foley, American actor (Scandal, Felicity), born in Kansas City, Kansas
Famous Deaths
1411 – Johannes Parvus [Jean Petit], French theologist, dies
1782 – Robert Wainwright, English composer and church organist, dies at 33
1857 – Carl Czerny, Czech-Austrian pianist, composer (Schule der Virtuosen), student of Ludwig van Beethoven, and teacher of Franz Liszt, dies at 66
1940 – Robert Wadlow, American who was world’s tallest known person (8’11.1″), dies at 22
1982 – Bill Justis, American musician and producer (Raunchy), dies of cancer at 58
1986 – Florence Halop, American actress (Night Court, 1985-86 -“Florence”; St Elsewhere, 1984-85), dies of lung cancer at 63
1992 – Johnny Martin, Australian cricketer (NSW and Australian bowler), dies at 60
1993 – Bobby Kent, alleged Florida bully murdered by his friends (b. 1973)
2003 – Elisabeth Welch, American born British-based singer (“Stormy Weather”, “Over the Moon”), and actress, dies at 99
2011 – Googie Withers, English actress and dancer (The Lady Vanishes), dies at 94