1647 – Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, Dutch historian, poet and playwright (Grandida; Nederduytsche Historiën / History of the Netherlands), dies at 66
1968 – Doris Lloyd, English American actress (Oliver Twist), dies of heart strain at 71
1975 – Boris Klyuzner, Russian Soviet composer, dies at 65
1980 – Ida Kamińska, Polish stage and screen actress, director, and writer (The Shop on Main Street; Mother Courage and Her Children), dies at 80
1983 – Kenneth Clark, English art historian (Civilisation), dies at 79
1984 – Ann Little, actress (Roaring Road), dies at 93
1988 – Harry Babasin, American jazz bassist and cellist (Dodo Marmarosa Trio), and archivist (Los Angeles Theaseum), dies of emphysema at 67
1991 – Jean Van Joutte, Prime Minister of Belgium (1952-54), dies
1998 – Douglas Fowley, American actor (Singin’ in the Rain, Pistols ‘n’ Petticoats), dies at 86
1999 – Karnail “Bugz” Pitts, American rapper (D12), killed in a picnic dispute at 21
Author: gil7
Historical Events for 21st May 2025
1886 – 14th Preakness: S Fisher aboard Bard wins in 2:45
1918 – US House of Representatives passes amendment allowing women to vote
1945 – Nazi SS-Reichsfuehrer Heinrich Himmler captured
1966 – A “loyalist” group calling itself the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) issued a statement declaring war on the Irish Republican Army (IRA)
1969 – Civil unrest in Rosario, Argentina, aka Rosariazo, following the death of a 15-year-old student.
1988 – “Da’Butt” by EU hits #35
2006 – The Swedish ice hockey team Tre Kronor takes gold in the World Championship, becoming the first nation to hold both the World and Olympic titles separately in the same year.
2013 – American singer-songwriter Carole King receives Library of Congress Gershwin Prize at the White House in Washington, D.C.
2018 – Former US president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama sign deal with Netflix to produce films and series
2023 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes a surprise appearance at G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, with world leaders also making a statement to condemn Chinese acts of “economic coercion”
Today in History for 21st May 2025
Historical Events
1966 – Louie Louie by The Kingsmen reentered the chart and hits #97
1969 – Slovan Bratislava of Czechoslovakia win 9th European Cup Winner’s Cup against FC Barcelona of Spain 3-2 in Basel
1972 – “Heathen!” opens and closes at Billy Rose Theater NYC for 1 performance
1997 – Blue Jays pitcher Roger Clemens beats the Yankees for his 200th win
2018 – US Justice Department says it is expanding its internal investigation into whether FBI infiltrated Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign
Famous Birthdays
1923 – Armand Borel, Swiss mathematician known for his work on algebraic topology and Lie groups, born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland (d. 2003)
1940 – Tony Sheridan, British singer-songwriter and guitarist who collaborated with the pre-fame Beatles (“My Bonnie”), born in Norwich, England (d. 2013)
1976 – Christopher Tin, American film, television, and video game score composer (Baba Yetu), born in Redwood City, California
1979 – Fayçal Salhi, French-Algerian jazz guitarist and oud player, born in Khenchela, Algeria
1996 – Josh Allen, American football quarterback (Buffalo Bills), born in Firebaugh, California
Famous Deaths
1650 – James Graham, Marquis of Montrose “the Great Montrose”, Scottish general, hanged at 37
1742 – Lars Roberg, Swedish physician, natural science researcher, and educator, dies at 78
1973 – Vaughn Monroe, American singer and orchestra leader (Vaughn Monroe Show), dies at 61
1974 – Lili Kronberger, Hungarian figure skater (World C’ship gold Ladies singles 1908, 09, 10, 11), dies at 83
1992 – Elizabeth David, British cookbook writer (English Bread and Yeast Cookery), dies after a series of strokes at 72
Famous Deaths for 20th May 2025
1717 – John Trevor, British statesman (b. 1637)
1782 – William Emerson, British mathematician known for his work on fluxions, dies at 81
1910 – Jean-Baptiste Theodore Weckerlin, French composer, dies at 88
1935 – Ivans [Jacob van Schevichaven], Dutch lawyer and detective writer, dies at 68
1960 – Audrey Wurdemann, American poet, 1935 Pulitzer Prize for “Bright Ambush”, dies at 49
1961 – Nannie Helen Burroughs, American educator and civil rights activist (founded National Training School for Women and Girls), dies at 82
1994 – Dallas Pratt, American collector (The American Museum in Britain), dies at 79
2005 – William Seawell, American Army Brigadier General and CEO of Pan Am, dies at 87
2012 – Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, convicted Lockerbie bomber (Pan Am 103), dies from prostate cancer at 60
2019 – Andrew Hall, English actor (Butterflies – “Russell”), and theater director, dies of cancer at 65
Historical Events for 20th May 2025
1736 – Royal Approval is given by King George II to construct the original Westminster Bridge across the River Thames in London
1840 – York Minster badly damaged by fire
1891 – 1st public display of Thomas Edison’s prototype kinetoscope to members of the National Federation of Women’s Club
1899 – First speeding infraction by a New York cabbie driving an electric car – 12mph down Lexington Street
1913 – 38th Preakness: James Butwell aboard Buskin wins in 1:53.4
1978 – 3 PFLP members kill a police officer near El Al airlines in Orly Airport, Paris
1985 – Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 1,300 for 1st time
1992 – At height of “Black May’ political crisis in Thailand TV interview broadcast of King Bhumibol Adulyadej demanding Generals Suchinda and Chamlong work together
2009 – Quentin Tarantino film “Inglourious Basterds” premieres at the Cannes Film Festival with an ensemble cast including Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender and Diane Kruger
2018 – President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela wins a second term in an election marked by boycotts and accusations of vote rigging
Today in History for 20th May 2025
Historical Events
1217 – Second Battle of Lincoln fought near Lincoln, England, resulting in the defeat of Prince Louis of France by William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
1498 – Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrives at Calicut, India becoming the first European to reach India by sea
1868 – Republican National Convention, meets in Chicago, nominates Grant
1959 – Japanese-Americans regain their citizenship
1972 – “Hard Job Being God” closes at Edison Theater NYC after 6 performances
Famous Birthdays
1822 – Emile Erckmann [co-wrote with Alexandre Chatrian using penname Erckmann-Chatrian], French writer (Waterloo), born in Meurthe, France (d. 1899)
1917 – Richard Cobb, British historian, born in Frinton-on-Sea (d. 1996)
1925 – D. French Slaughter Jr, American politician (Rep-R-VA, 1985-91), born in Culpeper, Virginia (d. 1998)
1943 – Iain Vallance [Baron Vallance of Tummel], CEO of British Telecom and member of the House of Lords (2004-20), born in Kent, England
1984 – Kenny Vasoli, American rock singer-songwriter, and musician (Vacationer), born in Abington, Pennsylvania
Famous Deaths
1923 – Hans Goldschmidt, German chemist, dies
1925 – Elias Ammons, American politician (Governor of Colorado, 1913-15), who sent the National Guard to settle coalminer strikes, precipitating the Ludlow Massacre, die at 64
1939 – Joe Carr, American Pro Football HOF contributor (NFL President 1921-39), dies from a heart attack at 59
1996 – Julius Marmur, American biochemist and geneticist (DNA research), dies at 70
2007 – Stanley Miller, American chemist (created ‘primordial soup’ experiment to show how life might have originated on earth), dies at 77
Famous Deaths for 19th May 2025
1319 – Prince Louis, Count of Évreux, son of King Philip III of France, dies at 43
1786 – John Stanley, English blind composer and organist, dies at 74
1921 – Edward Douglass White, American politician and jurist (9th Chief Justice of the United States), dies at 75
1954 – Aart A. van Schelven, Dutch church historian (Willem of Orange), dies at 73
1970 – Ray Schalk, American Baseball Hall of Fame catcher (World Series 1917; Chicago White Sox) and manager (Chicago White Sox 1927-28), dies from cancer at 78
1988 – Virginia Farmer, actress (Cyrano de Bergerac), dies at 90
2002 – John Gorton, Australian politician, 19th Prime Minister of Australia (1968-71), dies at 90
2011 – Tom West, American technologist featured in “The Soul of a New Machine”, dies at 71
2014 – Sante Kimes ‘Dragon Lady’, American convicted con artist and murderess, dies at 79
2016 – (Angus) “Alan” Young, British-Canadian-American actor (Mister Ed – “Wilbur”), and voice actor (Scrooge McDuck), dies of natural causes at 96
Historical Events for 19th May 2025
1957 – Adone Zoli forms Italian government
1958 – Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” soundtrack album goes #1 and stays #1 for 31 weeks
1962 – “John Birch Society” single by Chad Mitchell Trio hits #99
1968 – 20th Emmy Awards: “Get Smart”, “Mission Impossible” and Barbara Bain win
1974 – Valeri Giscard d’Estaing wins French presidential election
1995 – World’s youngest doctor, Balamurali Ambati, 17, graduates from Mount Sinai
2007 – English FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, London (89,826): Chelsea beats Manchester United, 1 – 0 (a.e.t.); Didier Drogba scores 116′ winner for Blues’ 4th title
2012 – UEFA Champions League Final, Munich: Chelsea beats Bayern Munich, 4-3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw at the end of extra time; Blues’ first title
2018 – 71st Cannes Film Festival: Japanese film “Shoplifters” by Hirokazu Kore-eda wins the Palme d’Or
2161 – Syzygy: Eight of nine planets are forecast to align on the same side of the Sun
Today in History for 19th May 2025
Historical Events
1547 – Capitulation of Wittenberg: John Frederick I, Protestant Elector of Saxony, resigns after his capture by Catholic Hapsburg forces of Charles V at the Battle of Mühlberg,
1932 – Revival of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s musical “Show Boat” opens at the Casino Theater, NYC; runs for 180 performances
1935 – English Cardinal John Fisher and statesman Thomas More, both executed by Henry VIII, canonized as saints by Pope Pius XI
1962 – US performs nuclear test at Christmas Island (atmospheric)
1995 – World’s youngest doctor, Balamurali Ambati, 17, graduates from Mount Sinai
Famous Birthdays
1812 – Felix Zollicoffer, American journalist and Confederate Brigadier General who was killed in the Battle of Mill Springs, born in Maury County, Tennessee (d. 1862)
1938 – James Bilbray, American lawyer and politician (Rep-D-Nevada 1987-95), born in Las Vegas, Nevada
1948 – Boet van Dulmen, Dutch motorcycle racer (84 starts, 1 win, 4 podiums,1 pole; Finnish 500cc GP 1979), born in Ammerzoden, Netherlands (d. 2021)
1962 – Iain Harvie, Scottish rock guitarist and songwriter (Del Amitri – “Roll To Me”, “Nothing Ever Happens”), born in Glasgow, Scotland
1968 – Jeanne Basone, American actor and professional wrestler (Hollywood in “GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling”), born in Glendale, California
Famous Deaths
1319 – Prince Louis, Count of Évreux, son of King Philip III of France, dies at 43
1872 – Johan Hendrik van Dale, Dutch schoolmaster and lexicographer(Van Dale’s Great Dictionary of the Dutch Language), dies of smallpox at 44
1984 – John Betjeman, poet (Mount Zion) and English Poet Laureate (1972-1984), dies at 77
2009 – Nicholas Maw, British composer, dies at 73
2009 – Herbert York, American physicist (b. 1921)
Famous Deaths for 18th May 2025
1812 – John Bellingham, English merchant who assassinated British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval, executed by hanging at 42 or 43
1913 – Otto Reubke, German organist, conductor, and composer, dies at 70
1936 – Alexander “Alick” Maclean, British composer and conductor (Scarborough Spa Orchestra, 1912-35), dies at 63
1993 – Heinrich Albertz, German theologist and mayor of Berlin (1966-67), dies at 78
1995 – Elisha Cook Jr, American actor (Maltese Falcon, Shane, Magnum PI), dies at 91
1999 – Augustus Pablo, Jamaican musician (King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown), dies at 44
2000 – Steve Wolownik, American ethnomusicologist, balalaika player, arranger, and co-founder of the Balalaika and Domra Association of America, dies at 54
2003 – Anna Santisteban, Puerto Rican beauty contest organizer, dies at 89
2017 – Jim McElreath, American auto racer (California 500, 1970), dies at 89
2024 – Jon Wysocki, American drummer (Staind, 1995-2011 – “It’s Been Awhile”; “Eyes Wide Open”), dies of liver issues at 53