Today In History
Historical Events
1619 – Remonstrant Society forms in Antwerp
1941 – Approximately 33,771 Jews are shot to death or buried alive at Babi Yar ravine near Kiev, Ukraine, by Nazi troops over two days
1943 – Pope Pius XII’s encyclical on the Divine Spirit
1990 – MLB Chicago White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 in the last game at Comiskey Park, Chicago
2024 – The UK becomes the first major economy to give up coal, ceasing operations at its last coal-fired power station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar
Famous Birthdays
1824 – Peter Milne, Scottish composer and violinist, known as the “Tarland Minstrel”, born in Kincardine O’Neil, Scotland (d. 1908)
1919 – Patricia Neway, American soprano (Consul; Maria Golovia), born in Brooklyn, New York City (d. 2012)
1942 – Dewey Martin, Canadian rock drummer (Buffalo Springfield – “For What It’s Worth”), born in Chesterville, Ontario (d. 2009)
1946 – Héctor Lavoe [Pérez], Puerto Rican salsa singer, born in Machuelo Abajo, Ponce, Puerto Rico (d. 1993)
1972 – José Lima, Dominican baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1999 Houston Astros; Detroit Tigers, LA Dodgers), born in Santiago, Dominican Republic (d. 2010)
Famous Deaths
1986 – Storm Jameson, English writer and critic, dies at 95
1993 – Paul Nowee, Dutch writer of children’s and youth books. (Arendsoog.. premiejager), dies at 57
1996 – Kenneth Muir, English scholar, dies at 89
2008 – Christa Reinig, German poet and writer (Idleness is the Root of All Love, The Tightrope Walker), dies at 82
2020 – Quino [Joaquín Salvador Lavado Tejón], Argentine cartoonist (Mafalda), dies at 88
Historical Events
1857 – US occupies Sand, Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, south of Hawaii
1862 – Minister-President of Prussia Otto von Bismarck delivers his famous “Blood and Iron” speech on the unification of German territories
1960 – On Howdy Doody’s last show, the traditionally silent clown, Clarabell the Clown, finally speaks his first and only words, whispering “Goodbye, kids”
1963 – 56th Postmaster General: John A. Gronouski of Wisconsin takes office
1969 – Atlanta’s 10th consecutive win clinches the NL West pennant
1989 – Toronto Blue Jays win AL East title
1997 – John Howard’s Australian government gun buyback scheme ends with more than 640,000 firearms compulsorily acquired, including many newly illegal semi-automatic rifles and shotguns
2023 – Bipartisan deal to avoid US government shutdown is signed just hours before the midnight deadline and provides funding for 45 days
Famous Birthdays
1800 – Decimus Burton, British architect (Hyde Park, Palm House Kew Gardens), born in London, England (d. 1881)
1833 – Ferdinand von Saar, Austrian novelist, playwright and poet, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1906)
1870 – Thomas W. Lamont, American banker; head of J.P. Morgan during the Wall Street Crash, father of Corliss Lamont, born in Claverack, New York (d. 1948)
1906 – Éamonn Ó Gallchobhair [Eamonn O Gallagher], Irish composer, born in Dundalk, Ireland (d. 1982)
1940 – Lori Burton [Dolores Squeglia], American singer, songwriter and record producer, born in New Haven, Connecticut (d. 2021)
1940 – Horst Weigang, German soccer goalkeeper (12 caps East Germany; Lokomotive Leipzig, Rot-Weiß Erfurt), born in Langenbielau, Germany (d. 2024)
1947 – Marc Bolan, British rock vocalist and guitarist (T-Rex – “Bang A Gong (Get It On)”; “Jeepster”), born in London (d. 1977)
1953 – S.M. Stirling, Canadian-American author (Draka series), born in Metz, France
1971 – Jenna Elfman, American actress (Townies, Dharma and Greg), born in Los Angeles, California
1975 – Jay Asher, American writer, born in Arcadia, California
Famous Deaths
1897 – Therese of Lisieux, French Roman-Catholic nun, made a saint in 1925, dies of tuberculosis at 24
1948 – Edith Roosevelt, US First Lady and wife of Teddy Roosevelt, dies at 87
1960 – St John Philby, British explorer and Arabist, dies at 75
1983 – William Elliott, American actor (Bridget Loves Bernie – “Otis”; Adam-12- “Officer Grant”), and jazz drummer, dies at 49
1984 – Ellsworth Bunker, US ambassador (South-Vietnam, dies at 90)
1989 – Virgil Thomson, American composer and music critic (Four Saints in Three Acts; Louisiana Story), dies at 92
1996 – Udom Patpongsiri, Thai property developer (Father of the Thai sex industry), dies at 79
2010 – Stephen J. Cannell, American TV producer (The Rockford Files, The A-Team, 21 Jump Street) and writer, dies of melanoma at 69
2012 – César Bolaños, Peruvian electro-acoustic and experimental musician and composer, dies at 81
2021 – José Pérez Francés, Spanish road racing cyclist (Tour de France 1963 overall 3rd), dies at 84