Author: gil7

Today in History for 28th April 2025

Historical Events

1253 – -May 7th) Utrecht destroyed by fire
1796 – Armistice of Cherasco between Sardinia and Napoleon Bonaparte at Cherasco, Piedmont gives France territories of Piedmont, Savoy and Nice
1988 – NJ Devils set all time playoff mark for penalty minutes
1997 – Ringo Starr’s fourth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Peter Frampton, Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker, Simon Kirke, and Mark Rivera
2022 – Russian missiles strike Ukrainian city of Kyiv during a visit by UN Secretary-General António Guterres

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Famous Birthdays

1922 – Alistair MacLean, Scottish novelist (The Guns of Navarone), born in Shettleston, Glasgow, Scotland (d. 1987)
1933 – Oliver “Bops Junior” Jackson, American jazz drummer, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1994)
1944 – Alice Waters, American chef (Chez Panisse, farm-to-table movement), born in Chatham Borough, New Jersey
1968 – Howard Donald, British pop musician (Take That – “Back For Good”), born in Droylsden, Lancashire, England
1968 – Andy Flower, Zimbabwean cricket wicketkeeper and captain (63 Tests, 12 x 100, HS 232no, 160 dismissals; Mashonaland, Essex CCC, South Australia), born in Cape Town, South Africa

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Famous Deaths

1946 – Louis Bachelier, French mathematician who pioneered mathematical finance introducing Brownian motion, dies at 76
1978 – Mohammed Daoud Khan, 1st President of Afghanistan (1973-78) and Prime Minister of Afghanistan (1953-63), dies at 68
1995 – Andrew Salkey, Panamanian-born novelist, dies at 67
1999 – John Stears, British Academy Award-winning film special effects expert (Dr. No; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Star Wars), dies following a stroke at 64
2007 – Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker, German physicist and philosopher, dies at 94

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Famous Deaths for 27th April 2025

1758 – Jan Francisci, Slovak composer, dies at 66
1794 – William Jones, British orientalist and jurist, dies at 47
1871 – Sigismond Fortune Francois Thalberg, Austrian composer, dies at 59
1881 – Ludwig von Benedek, Austrian general, dies at 76
1938 – Edmond Rubbens, Belgian minister to Colonies, dies at 44
1952 – Guido Castelnuovo, Italian mathematician, dies at 86
1992 – Olivier Messiaen, French composer (L’Ame en Bourgeon; St Francois d’Assise), dies at 83
1992 – Sol K. Bright, Hawaiian steel-guitar player, singer (Hollywaiians), and songwriter (“Hawaiian Cowboy”), dies at 72
1993 – Hans Sahl, German-American anti-Nazi Jewish writer (Tie Exil im Exil), dies at 90
2015 – Gene Fullmer, American boxer (World Middleweight title 1957; NBA [WBA] World Middleweight title 1959-62), dies at 83

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Historical Events for 27th April 2025

1667 – Blind and impoverished, English poet John Milton sells the copyright of “Paradise Lost” for £10
1813 – Americans under General Zebulon Pike capture York (now Toronto) from British regulars, militia and Ojibwe natives forcing a British withdrawal to Kingston; Pike is killed
1893 – Richard “King Dick” Seddon succeeds John Balance as premier of New Zealand and leader of Liberal Party
1911 – Following the resignation and death of William P. Frye, a compromise is reached to rotate the office of President pro tempore (for the time being) of the United States Senate
1935 – Yanks pull a 1st inning triple-play and beat Philadelphia A’s 9-8
1959 – The last Canadian missionary leaves the People’s Republic of China.
1964 – John Lennon’s book of poetry and sketches “In His Own Write” is published in US
1972 – NYC Mayor John Lindsey appeals that John Lennon not be deported
2017 – NFL Draft: Texas AandM defensive end Myles Garrett first pick by Cleveland Browns
2022 – SpaceX, launches its Crew Dragon capsule with four astronauts, including Jessica Watkins – becomes 1st black woman to serve extended mission on International Space Station

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Today in History for 27th April 2025

Historical Events

1773 – British Parliament passes the Tea Act (Boston won’t like this)
1911 – Indian passive resistance in South Africa is suspended when General Jan Smuts enters into negotiations with Mahatma Gandhi
1950 – Musical revue “Tickets, Please” opens at Coronet Theater, later transferring to the Mark Hellinger Theatre, NYC; runs for 245 performances
1981 – Paul McCartney’s rock band Wings breaks-up
1997 – “Stanley” closes at Circle in the Square Theater, NYC

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Famous Birthdays

1903 – Frank Belknap Long, American writer (Rim of the Unknown), born in New York City (d. 1994)
1903 – Hans Kosterlitz, German-British biochemist (endorphins), born in Berlin (d. 1996)
1971 – Craig Keith, American football tight end (Jacksonville Jaguars), born in Raleigh, North Carolina
1972 – Maura West, American actress (As the World Turns), born in Springfield, Massachusetts
1989 – Emily Rios, American actress (Andrea Cantillo-Breaking Bad), born in Los Angeles, California

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Famous Deaths

1881 – Ludwig von Benedek, Austrian general, dies at 76
1952 – Guido Castelnuovo, Italian mathematician, dies at 86
1994 – John Preston, American writer (Gay House, Big Gay Book), dies at 48
1999 – Cyril Washbrook, English cricket batsman (37 Tests, 6 x 100, HS 195; Lancashire CCC), dies at 84
2009 – Woo Seung-yeon, South Korean actress and model, dies at 25

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Famous Deaths for 26th April 2025

1907 – Joseph Hellmesberger Jr., Austrian composer, violinist, and conductor, dies of kidney failure at 52
1918 – Cecil Coles, Scottish organist and composer (Behind the Lines), killed during WWI by sniper fire while recovering casualties on the Western Front at 29
1944 – Violette Morris, French athlete and spy for Nazi Germany, dies at 51
1965 – Aaron Avshalomov, Russian-Jewish-American composer (Kuan Yin; The Great Wall), conductor (Shanghai Municipal Orchestra, 1943-46), and librarian, dies at 70
1970 – Paul Celan, Romanian-born writer, dies at 49
1976 – Neil McCallum, British-Canadian actor (Pete-Saber of London), dies at 45
1995 – Hugh Morton, Baron Morton of Shuna, Scottish lawyer and judge, dies at 65
1996 – Stirling Silliphant, American screenwriter (In the Heat of the Night, Perry Mason), dies at 78
2004 – Claude “Fiddler” Williams, American jazz violinist and guitarist (Twelve Clouds of Joy; Count Basie), dies at 96
2015 – Marcel Pronovost, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (11 x NHL All Star games; Stanley Cup 1950, 52, 54, 55 Detroit RWs, 1967 Toronto MLs), dies at 84

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Historical Events for 26th April 2025

1677 – Emperor Leopold I forms University of Innsbruck
1947 – Vivian Ellis and A. P. Herbert’ musical “Bless the Bride” opena at the Adelphia Theatre in London; runs for 886 performances
1971 – Turkey state of siege proclaimed
1971 – San Francisco lightship replaced by automatic buoy
1974 – Malta adopts constitution
1990 – Danny Wood of New Kids, steps on a stuffed animal and twists his ankle
1992 – Revival of Henrik Ibsen’s stage drama “The Master Builder”, directed by Tony Randall, closes at Belasco Theater, NYC, after 45 performances
1995 – Baseball season begins after lengthy strike
2012 – NFL Draft: Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck first pick by Indianapolis Colts
2019 – Waorani people of Pastaza win landmark environmental case against the Ecuadorian government to protect half a million acres of their territory in the Amazon rainforest

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Today in History for 26th April 2025

Historical Events

1949 – Transjordan is officially renamed the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
1990 – Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan ties Bob Feller’s record of pitching 12 one-hitters in 1-0 win over Chicago White Sox at Arlington Stadium
1992 – “Metro” closes at Minskoff Theater NYC after 13 performances
2008 – NFL Draft: University of Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long first pick by Miami Dolphins
2012 – 70 people are killed by rocket attacks by the Syrian Army on the city of Hama

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Famous Birthdays

1718 – Esek Hopkins, American Revolutionary War admiral and Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy, born in Scituate, Rhode Island (d. 1802)
1938 – Maurice Williams, American doo-wop singer, and songwriter (Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs – “Stay”), born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (d. 2024)
1961 – Joan Chen [Chen Chong], Chinese-American actress (Heaven and Earth, The Last Emperor), born in Shanghai, China
1974 – Adil Ray, English radio presenter (BBC Asian Network), born in Birmingham, England
1981 – Matthieu Delpierre, French footballer, born in Nancy, France

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Famous Deaths

1784 – (Honora) “Nano” Nagle, Irish Catholic educator and religious order founder (Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, aka Presentation Sisters), dies of tuberculosis at about 66.
1970 – Paul Celan, Romanian-born writer, dies at 49
1983 – Vaughn Taylor, American character actor (Jailhouse Rock; Johnny Jupiter; Psycho), dies of cerebral hemorrhage at 73
1991 – Richard Hatfield, Canadian politician (26th Premier of New Brunswick), dies at 60
2019 – David McNee, Scottish law enforcement officer (City of Glasgow/Strathclyde Police Chief Constable, 1971-77; Metropolitan Police Commissioner, 1977-82), dies at 94

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Famous Deaths for 25th April 2025

1725 – Paul de Rapin, French historian known for his “History of England”, dies at 64
1728 – John Woodward, English geologist known for his collection of fossils and physician, dies at 62
1782 – Anne Bonny (née Cormac), Irish Caribbean pirate and lover of Calico Jack, dies at 85 [Note: age and date of death disputed]
1926 – Ellen Key, Swedish author and feminist (Courageous Woman), dies at 76
1951 – Jerzy Fitelberg, Polish composer, dies at 47
1960 – Ilmari Krohn, Finnish composer, dies at 92
1972 – George Sanders, Russian actor (All About Eve-Academy Award 1950), commits suicide at 65
2000 – Neils Viggo Bentzon, Danish pianist and composer (The Tempered Piano), dies at 80
2009 – John J. Marchi, American politician (NY Senate 1957-2006), dies at 87
2021 – Rajan Mishra, Indian classical music vocalist, dies of COVID-19 complications at 69

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Historical Events for 25th April 2025

1449 – Anti-pope Felix V resigns
1684 – Patent granted for thimble
1849 – The Governor General of Canada, Lord Elgin, signs the Rebellion Losses Bill, outraging Montreal’s English population and triggering the Montreal Riots.
1966 – Rare daylight meteor observed from New Jersey, US to Quebec, Canada in the early evening
1970 – Lance Mulcahy and Paul Cherry’s musical “Park” closes at John Golden Theater, NYC, after 5 performances
1976 – Portugal adopts new constitution
1988 – American news program “Nightline” goes on location to Jerusalem Israel
1990 – Hubble space telescope is placed into orbit by space shuttle Discovery
2009 – Elijah Wood is honored with the Midnight Award by the San Francisco International Film Festival
2015 – 7.8-magnitude earthquake near Kathmandu in Nepal, killing 8000, leaving over 100,000 homeless, destroying many historic sites

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Today in History for 25th April 2025

Historical Events

1914 – US President Woodrow Wilson is persuaded by Argentina, Brazil, and Chile to accept mediation in the conflict with Mexico
1927 – Spain routes 20,000 soldiers to Morocco (uprising Rifkabylen)
1972 – Hans-Werner Grosse glides 907.7 miles (1,461 km) in an AS-W-12
1976 – Portugal adopts new constitution
2022 – First airport for electric flying cars and large drones, built by Urban-Air Port, begins operations in Coventry, England

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Famous Birthdays

1840 – James Dearing, U.S. Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Campbell County, Virginia (d. 1865)
1862 – Edward Grey, British Liberal statesman and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1905-16), born in London (d. 1933)
1949 – James Fenton, English poet and journalist, born in Lincoln, England
1973 – Barbara Rittner, German tennis star (1992 Schenectady), born in Krefeld, West Germany
1980 – Bruce Martin, New Zealand cricketer, born in Whangarei, New Zealand

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Famous Deaths

1840 – Siméon-Denis Poisson, French mathematician (Poisson distribution) and physicist, dies at 58
1875 – Trinley Gyatso, 12th Dalai Lama of Tibet, dies at 18
1939 – John Foulds, British cellist, musicologist, and composer (World Requiem; Three Mantras), dies in Calcutta of cholera at 58
1975 – Mike Brant, Israeli pop singer (“Laisse-moi t’aimer” (“Let Me Love You”)), commits suicide at 28
1988 – Clifford D. Simak, American sci-fi author (Hugo, Way Station), dies at 83

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