Today In History
Historical Events
1882 – University of the Punjab is founded in Lahore in present-day Pakistan
1942 – German assault on Tractor factory, 1000s killed
1962 – USSR performs nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeast Kazakhstan
1983 – Grenada Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard launches a leftist coup within the revolutionary government and takes power for 3 days
2024 – Russian man is rescued after 67 days adrift in an inflatable boat after his brother and nephew die in the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia’s Far East
Famous Birthdays
1789 – Constant van Crombrugghe, Flemish monastery founder, born in Geraardsbergen, Belgium (d. 1865)
1909 – Dorothy Kingsley, American screenwriter (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), born in New York City (d. 1997)
1928 – Mary Tsingou Menzel, American mathematician and programmer who worked on the Mathematical Analyzer, Numerical Integrator and Computer (MANIAC), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2026)
1934 – Rose Wylie, British artist, born in Hythe, Kent England
1953 – Greg Evigan, American actor (BJ and the Bear: Melrose Place), born in South Amboy, New Jersey
Famous Deaths
1619 – Samuel Daniel, English poet (b. 1562)
2008 – Barrington J. Bayley, English sci-fi author (Collision Course), dies at 71
2012 – Arlen Specter, American Senator (Republican-PA, 1981- 2011), dies at 82
2019 – Sulli [Choi Jin-ri], South Korean K-pop singer (f(x)) and actress (Fashion King), takes her own life at 25
2023 – Park Seo-Bo, South Korean artist (Ecritures series), dies of cardiopulmonary arrest at 91
Historical Events
1834 – In Philadelphia, Whigs and Democrats stage a gun, stone, and brick battle for control of a Moyamensing Township election, resulting in one death, several injuries, and the burning of a block of buildings
1920 – Part of Petsamo province ceded by Soviet Union to Finland
1940 – Balham tube station in London is bombed by the German Luftwaffe during the Blitz, killing 64-66 people
1942 – Japanese battleship strikes Henderson Field, Guadalcanal
1958 – Malagasy Republic becomes autonomous republic in French Community
1970 – USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR
1979 – NHL New York Rangers retire Rod Gilbert’s uniform number 7, the first number to be retired by the team
2017 – Film producer Harvey Weinstein is expelled by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences after historical revelations of sexual harassment and rape
Famous Birthdays
1891 – Paul de Keyser, Flemish philologist and folklorist, born in Ghent, Belgium (d. 1966)
1896 – Bud Flanagan [Chaim Reuben Weintrop], English comedian (duo with Chesney Alley), born in London, England (d. 1968)
1926 – Bill Justis, American rock and roll musician (Raunchy), born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 1982)
1932 – Anatoly Larkin, Russian-American physicist, born in Kolomna, Russia (d. 2005)
1936 – Dyanne Thorne [Dorothy Ann Seib], American actress (Ilsa in “Ilsa: She Wolf of the SS”), born in Park Ridge, New Jersey (d. 2020)
1963 – Keith Byars, American College Football HOF running back (Ohio State Uni; Pro Bowl 1993 Miami Dolphins), born in Dayton, Ohio
1977 – Tina Dico [Dickow], Danish singer-songwriter, born in Åbyhøj, Aarhus, Denmark
1978 – Usher [Raymond IV], American singer (My Way, Confessions) and actor, born in Dallas, Texas
1980 – Ben Whishaw, English actor (A Very English Scandal, This Is Going to Hurt, Black Doves), born in Clifton, England
1991 – Owen Kline, American actor (The Squid and the Whale) and director (Funny Pages), born in New York City
Famous Deaths
1895 – Elisha P. Ferry, American politician (Governor of Washington, 1872-80, 1889-93), dies at 70
1969 – Arnie Herber, American Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback (NFL C’ship 1930, 31, 36, 39; First-team All-Pro 1932, 35, 36; Green Bay Packers, NY Giants), dies at 59
1977 – Bing Crosby [Harry Lillis Crosby], American singer (“White Christmas”, “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy”) and actor (“Going My Way”), dies of a heart attack at 74
1988 – Vic Raschi, American baseball pitcher (4 × MLB All-Star; 6 × World Series; AL strikeout leader 1951; NY Yankees), dies of a heart attack at 69
2006 – Gerry Studds, American politician (Rep-D-MA, 1973-97), first openly gay member of US Congress, dies at 69
2008 – Martin Peake, 2nd Viscount Ingleby, British peer, businessman and Conservative party politician Member of Parliament for North Leeds, 1929-56), dies at 82
2010 – Benoît Mandelbrot, Polish-French-American mathematician (proved Zipf’s law, discovered the Mandelbrot set), dies at 85
2011 – Chuck Ruff, American rock drummer (Edgar Winter Group – “Frankenstein”), dies after a long illness at 60
2018 – Al Fann, American actor (Alvin-He’s the Mayor), dies at 93
2020 – Rhonda Fleming [Marilyn Louis], American actress and singer nicknamed the “Queen of Technicolor” (Spellbound), dies at 97