Today In History
Historical Events
1922 – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk takes Constantinople from Mehmed VI, proclaiming the Republic of Turkey and bringing an end to the Ottoman Empire
1938 – German colonel-general Gerd von Runstedt retires
1941 – Yugoslav nationalist force the Chetniks attacks Tito’s partisans in Uzice, Yugoslavia
1947 – First Aloha Week Parade held in Hawaii
1996 – Shaquille O’Neil makes his Hollywood debut as Los Angeles Lakers beat Phoenix Suns, 96-82 at the Forum, Inglewood; O’Neil scores 23 points and pulls down 14 rebounds in 35 minutes
Famous Birthdays
1923 – Edward de Jongh, Antillian author (The Arch), born in Ambon, Dutch East Indies (d. 2007)
1924 – Robert Rapoport, American social anthropologist, born in Brockton, Massachusetts (d. 1996)
1958 – Jim Steinmeyer, American inventor and designer of magical illusions, born in Oak Park, Illinois
1961 – Petr Pavel, Czech military officer and politician (Czech Republic President, 2023- ), born in Planá, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Rebublic)
1963 – Billy Gunn [Monty Sopp], American professional wrestler (WWE Raw, TNA iMPACT! Wrestling), born in Orlando, Florida
Famous Deaths
1835 – William Motherwell, Scottish poet and civil servant, dies at 38
1956 – Pietro Badoglio, 41st Prime Minister of Italy (1943-44) and Italian General (1922-43), dies at 85
1962 – Ricardo Rodríguez, Mexican auto racer (youngest F1 driver ever to race for Ferrari), dies in practice accident at 20
1964 – Henry “Doc” Carlson, American Basketball Hall of Fame collegiate coach (University of Pittsburgh, 1922-53: 367–248 [.597]), originated figure 8 play, dies at 70
2011 – Dorothy Howell Rodham, Mother of US First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, dies at 92
Historical Events
1179 – Phillip II crowned King of France at age 14 in Reims, with his father Louis VII in ill health
1877 – Dutch government of Heemskerk-Van Lynden resigns
1921 – National Birth Control League and Voluntary Parenthood League merge as American Birth Control League
1938 – Seabiscuit, with George Woolf aboard, beats 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral by 3 lengths in Pimlico track record time to win $15,000 in what is regarded as one of the greatest match races in horse racing history
1970 – Swedish pop group Festfolk, later known as ABBA, play their first ever concert, at a restaurant in Gothenburg, Sweden
1994 – Chicago Bulls retire basketball superstar Michael Jordan’s jersey #23 in a 2-hour ceremony at the United Center
2001 – In the Wallabies’ 400th rugby union Test match in history, Australia routs Spain 92-10 (Australian record score) in Madrid; Matt Burke kicks an Australian record 10 conversions
2020 – Super typhoon Goni makes landfall on Catanduanes island, Philippines, leaving at least 16 dead and 370,000 people displaced
Famous Birthdays
1921 – Ilse Aichinger, Austrian writer (Die größere Hoffnung), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2016)
1924 – Suleyman Demirel, President of Turkey (1993-2000) and Prime Minister, born in Isparta, Atabey (d. 2015)
1935 – Edward Said, Palestinian-American literary critic, writer (Orientalism), and educator, born in Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine (d. 2003)
1936 – Jack Rowell, English rugby union coach (England 1994-97 29 games; 8 x John Player/Pilkington Cups, 5 x League C’ships Bath RUFC), born in Hartlepool, England (d. 2024)
1942 – Larry Flynt, American magazine publisher (Hustler), born in Lakeville, Kentucky (d. 2021)
1961 – Louise Boije af Gennäs, Swedish author and scriptwriter (Taking What You Want, Stars Without Vertigo), born in Stockholm, Sweden
1963 – Antonella Ella, Italian actress (Tonight in That Building), born in Turin, Italy
1966 – Danny Everett, American athlete (Olympic gold 4x400m relay 1988), born in Van Alstyne, Texas
1971 – Laura Moss, American actress (Amanda Cory in “Another World”), born in Kings Mountain, Ohio
1976 – Matt Chapman, American cartoonist and voice actor (Homestar Runner), born in Indiana
Famous Deaths
1750 – Gustaaf Willem, baron van Imhoff, Dutch statesman (Governor of Ceylon 1736-40, Governor of the Dutch East Indies 1743-50), dies at 45
1935 – Émile Francqui, Belgian soldier and diplomat, dies at 72
1955 – W H van Eemlandt [Haasse], author (Treasure Hunter of Amstel), dies
1976 – Oscar Beregi Jr, Hungarian actor (Young Frankenstein, Panic in City), dies of a heart attack at 58
1982 – Leighton Lucas, British composer and conductor, dies at 79
1985 – Phil Silvers [Silver], American stage and screen comic actor (Sgt Bilko / The Phil Silvers Show; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), dies in his sleep at 73
1987 – René Lévesque, Canadian politician (Premier of Quebec, 1976-85), dies of a heart attack at 65
1995 – Desmond Shawe-Taylor, British critic and writer (co-author of The Record Guide), dies at 88
2008 – Jacques Piccard, Swiss deep sea explorer (one of the first to explore the Mariana Trench), dies at 86
2023 – Ady Barkan, American lawyer and activist (Be a Hero PAC), dies of ALS complications at 39