1666 – Rear Admiral Robert Holmes leads a raid on the Dutch island of Terschelling, destroying 150 merchant ships in the Vlie estuary, and pillaging the town of West-Terschelling, an act later known as “Holmes’s Bonfire”.
1790 – Robert Gray’s Columbia Rediviva returns to Boston after 3 year journey, 1st American ship to circumnavigate the Globe
1910 – Chicago resident Alva Fisher receives US patent for an electric washing machine
1930 – 113°F (45°C) at Perryville, Tennessee (state record)
1936 – Helen Stephens claims the women’s sprint double at the Berlin Olympics having won the 100m and as part of the victorious American 4 x 100m relay team
1950 – Lusty Song riden by Delvin Miller wins the Hambletonian in Goshen, New York
1961 – James Benton Parsons is 1st African American to be nominated to a US Federal District Court
1966 – The Beatles release their “Yellow Submarine” single and its album “Revolver” in the US
1997 – Security guard Abner Louima, attacked by NYC police
2020 – Disputed Belarusian presidential election sees long time dictator Alexander Lukashenko officially win 80% of the votes but unofficially lose 60-70% of the votes to main opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Sparks widespread protests in Belarus and international condemnation.
Author: gil7
Today in History for 9th August 2024
Historical Events
1378 – Cardinals declare pope Urbanus VI lawless (anti christian/devil)
1778 – Captain James Cook reaches Cape Prince of Wales, Bering Straits
1848 – US Barnburners (anti-slavery) party merges with Free Soil Party nominating Martin Van Buren for president
1952 – General strike against overtime conscription in Belgium
1965 – Fire in Titan II silo in Searcy, Arkansas, kills 53
1977 – Military-controlled Government of Uruguay announces the return to civilian rule through general elections in 1981 to democratically elect a President and Congress
Famous Birthdays
1603 – Johannes Cocceius, Dutch reformed theologist, born in Bremen (d. 1669)
1819 – Jonathan Homer Lane, American astrophysicist who mathematically analyzed the Sun as a gaseous body, born in Geneseo, New York (d. 1880)
1944 – Terry Jenner, Australian cricket spin bowler (9 Tests, 24 wickets; WA CA, SA CA), born in Mount Lawley, Australia (d. 2011)
1967 – Deion Sanders, American College/Pro Football Hall of Fame corner-back (Super Bowl 1995, 96; 8 x Pro Bowl; Dallas Cowboys) and MLB outfielder (NY Yankees; Atlanta Braves), born in Fort Myers, Florida
1970 – Arion Salazar, American rock bassist (Third Eye Blind – “Semi-Charmed Life”), born in Oakland, California
1983 – Shane O’Brien, Canadian hockey player, born in Port Hope, Ontario
Famous Deaths
1957 – Carl Clauberg, German Nazi doctor (gynecologist, specializing in mass sterilization and other experiments on humans at Auschwitz concentration camp), dies at 58
1969 – Jay Sebring, American hair stylist, murdered by Manson family at 35
1969 – Steven Parent, American student, murdered by the Manson family at 18
1977 – Edward Chapman, British actor (Things to Come, Promoter, Rembrandt), dies at 75
1979 – Allan Frank, American actor (Charade Quiz), dies at 64
1987 – Kees de Galan, Dutch economist, dies at 55
Famous Deaths for 8th August 2024
1824 – Friedrich August Wolf, German philologist (Prolegomena), dies at 65
1940 – Johnny Dodds, American early jazz clarinetist, dies at 48
1947 – Anton Ivanovich Denikin, Russian general (led anti-Bolshevik White forces during Russian Civil war), dies at 73
1967 – Jaromir Weinberger, Czech-American composer (Czech Rhapsody), dies at 71
1982 – Kurt Edelhagen, West German jazz pianist, dies at 62
1982 – Eric Brandon, British auto racer (closely associated with development Cooper Car Company), dies at 62
1989 – Irv Cottler, American session and touring drummer (Frank Sinatra; Dinah Shore), dies of a heart attack at 71
1992 – Lou Krugman, American actor (I Want to Live), dies of cancer at 78
1998 – Mahmoud Saremi, Iranian journalist, killed by the Taliban at about 30
2005 – Ilse Werner [Ilse Charlotte Still], Dutch-German actress (Fernsehsender Paul Nipkow), dies at 84
Historical Events for 8th August 2024
1576 – Cornerstone laid for Tycho Brahe’s observatory in Uraniborg, Denmark, when built becomes the world’s most advanced research institution
1839 – Beta Theta Pi is founded in Oxford, Ohio.
1863 – American Civil War: Tennessee’s “military” Governor Andrew Johnson frees his personal slaves. Celebrated as a holiday by Tennessee African Americans (early 20th century)
1922 – Pirates set record of 46 hits in a doubleheader (against Phillies)
1940 – 31 German aircraft shot down over England
1942 – British Flower class corvette HMS Dianthus sinks U-379
1952 – Syngman Ree re-elected president of South Korea
1975 – As a result of rainfall from Typhoon Nina, the Banqiao Dam in China fails, causing the collapse of almost 6 million buildings and 229,000 deaths
1984 – Nawal El Moutawakel of Morocco becomes the first female Olympic champion of a Muslim nation, and the first of her country in the 400m hurdles at the Los Angeles Olympics
1996 – American jazz artist Mel Tormé (70), suffers a stroke, ending his 65-year singing career
Today in History for 8th August 2024
Historical Events
1911 – The millionth patent is filed in the United States Patent Office by Francis Holton for a tubeless vehicle tire.
1918 – World War I: The Allies launch the Hundred Days Offensive, beginning with the Battle of Amiens where 500 tanks and 10 Allied divisions attacked German lines
1929 – German airship Graf Zeppelin begins the first round-the-world flight by airship, leaving Lakehurst, New Jersey
1981 – At a summit South African Trade Unions resolve to defy apartheid and labour laws
1988 – Jennifer Levin’s parents file $25M suit against Dorrian Red Hand Bar
2018 – Malaysia charges former prime minister Najib Razak with three counts of money laundering
Famous Birthdays
1861 – William Bateson, English biologist (originator of term “genetics”), born in Whitby, England (d. 1926)
1911 – Rosetta LeNoire, American actress (Family Matters, The Brother from Another Planet), born in New York City (d. 2002)
1928 – Ken Scowcroft, English insurance magnate (Swinton) (d. 2018)
1930 – Joan Mondale (née Adams;), American artist, author, and wife of US vice-president Walter Mondale, born in Eugene, Oregon (d. 2014)
1944 – John Renbourn, British jazz and folk guitarist and songwriter (Pentangle), born in Marleylebone, London, England (d. 2015)
1981 – Roger Federer, Swiss tennis player (20 x Grand Slam singles titles; Olympic gold doubles 2008; Davis Cup 2014; 6 x Tour Finals), born in Bottmingen, Switzerland
Famous Deaths
1940 – Johnny Dodds, American early jazz clarinetist, dies at 48
1944 – Juliusz Kaden-Bandrowski, Polish novelist and satirist (Black Wings), dies of wounds received during the Warsaw Uprising at 59
1997 – Duncan Swift, English jazz pianist, dies at 74
2005 – Ahmed Deedat, Islamic scholar (b. 1918)
2009 – Daniel Jarque, Spanish football player, dies of a heart attack at 26
2010 – Jack Parnell, British jazz drummer, and orchestra leader (The Benny Hill Show; The Englebert Humperdick Show; Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments), dies of cancer at 87
Famous Deaths for 7th August 2024
1643 – Hendrik Brouwer, Dutch explorer and Governor of the Dutch East Indies (1632-36), dies on an expedition to Chile at 62
1798 – Johann Gottlieb Sollner, German composer and theologian, dies at 65
1834 – Joseph Marie Jacquard, French weaver and merchant who invented the programmable loom (Jacquard loom), forerunner to today’s computers, dies at 82
1902 – Rudolf von Bennigsen, German lawyer and politician, dies at 78
1960 – Salvatore Ferragamo, Italian luxury shoe designer (Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A.), dies at 62
1970 – Syd Buller, English cricket umpire (33 Tests 1956-69), dies at 60
1991 – Shapur Bahktiar, Iranian politician, Prime Minister of Iran (1979), assassinated at 77
1999 – Brion James, American actor (b. 1945)
2023 – William Friedkin, American film director, producer, writer (The Exorcist; The French Connection), dies of heart failure at 87
2023 – DJ Casper [William Perry Jr.], American club DJ and songwriter (“Cha Cha Slide”), dies of cancer at 58
Historical Events for 7th August 2024
1927 – Peace Bridge over the Niagara River between US and Canada dedicated to commemorate 100 years of peace between the two countries
1956 – Dynamite transport explodes in Colombia; about 1200 die
1961 – Soviet premier Khrushchev predicts USSR economy will surpass US
1983 – Grete Waitz of Norway wins inaugural women’s marathon at the 1st world athletics championships in Helsinki, Finland
1985 – Takao Doi, Mamoru Mohri and Chiaki Mukai are chosen to be Japan’s first astronauts
1988 – Future Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye wins his 4,000th career race aboard 2-year-old filly Fawn and Hahn in the 4th race at Del Mar
2000 – Los Angeles Lakers announce retirement of former star player and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jerry West; name Mitch Kupchak to succeed him
2010 – Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, John Randle, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
2012 – 200,000 people are evacuated from Shanghai in anticipation of Typhoon Haikui
2019 – Largest single-state immigration raid in Mississippi as nearly 700 people arrested
Today in History for 7th August 2024
Historical Events
659 – Forces from the Mayan city of Palenque, under its leader Pakal, defeat nearby Santa Elena and take its ruler captive
1885 – Five German warships anchor off Zanzibar
1964 – Turkey begins air attack on Greek Cypriots
1991 – Courts rules Manuel Noriega, may access some secret US documents
2010 – Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, John Randle, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
2016 – American swimmer Katie Ledecky sets a new world record with a time of 3:56.46 to win the gold medal in the women’s 400m freestyle at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics
Famous Birthdays
1925 – M. S. Swaminathan, Indian agricultural scientist, leader of the green revolution in India, born in Kumbakonam, Madras Presidency (d. 2023)
1929 – Don Larsen, American MLB pitcher (only perfect game in World Series history, Game 5 1956; World Series MVP 1956; NY Yankees), born in Michigan City, Indiana (d. 2020)
1942 – Carlos Monzón, Argentine boxer (Undisputed world middleweight champion 1970-74, 76-77), born in San Javier, Argentina (d. 1995)
1975 – Gaahl [Kristian Eivind Espedal], Norwegian black metal vocalist (Gorgoroth), born in Sunnfjord, Norway
1978 – Vanness Wu, Taiwanese-American singer (F4, Kangta and Vanness), born in Santa Monica, California
1988 – Melody Oliveria, American internet blogger (bowiechick)
Famous Deaths
1942 – Janusz Korczak [Henryk Goldszmit], Polish-Jewish educator and pedagogue (ran an orphanage in the Warsaw Ghetto), is gassed at Treblinka extermination camp along with the residents of his orphanage at 64
2011 – Hugh Carey, American politician and attorney (Gov-D-NY), dies at 92
2017 – David Maslanka, American composer (Angel Of Mercy; Sea Dreams), and educator, dies of colon cancer at 73
2018 – Stan Mikita, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame center (Stanley Cup 1961; Hart Memorial Trophy [MVP] 1967, 68; 6 x NHL First All-Star Team), dies of Lewy body dementia at 78
2022 – David McCullough, American author (Truman; John Adams), popular historian, TV documentary host and narrator (Seabiscuit; The Civil War), dies at 89
2023 – William Friedkin, American film director, producer, writer (The Exorcist; The French Connection), dies of heart failure at 87
Famous Deaths for 6th August 2024
1272 – Stephen V, King of Hungary and Croatia (1270-72), son of Béla IV, dies at 32 or 33
1931 – (Leon Bismarck) “Bix” Beiderbecke, American jazz cornetist – one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s, pianist, and composer (In A Mist), dies of alcoholism exacerbated pneumonia at 28
1946 – Tony Lazzeri, American Baseball HOF second baseman (World Series x 5; only player to complete natural cycle with grand slam; NY Yankees), dies from a fall caused by a heart attack at 42
1973 – Fulgencio Batista, Dictator and President of Cuba (1933-44, 1952-59), dies of a heart attack at 72
1974 – Gene Ammons, American jazz saxophonist (“The Happy Blues”), dies of bone cancer at 49
1987 – Sherwood Bailey, actor (Spud-Our Gang), dies
2001 – Larry Adler, American pop and classical harmonica player, and composer, dies of cancer at 87
2007 – Teizo Matsumura, Japanese composer (“Chinmoku / Silence”; “Hymn to Aurora”) and haiku poet, dies at 78
2009 – Willibrordus S. Rendra, Indonesian poet (Ballad orang-orang tertjina), dies at 73
2019 – Maurice Simon, American jazz saxophonist, dies at 90
Historical Events for 6th August 2024
1936 – Japanese athletes quinella the triple jump at the Berlin Olympics; Naoto Tajima wins gold and Masao Harada silver
1944 – Deportation of 70,000 Jews from Lodz Poland to Auschwitz begins
1948 – Willem Drees forms Socialist government (KVP/Social Democratics/CHU/Liberal) in the Netherlands
1964 – Prometheus, the world’s oldest tree aged at least 4,862 years old, is accidentally cut down in Nevada, USA
1967 – Pope Paul VI publishes constitution Pro comperto sane
1980 – University adm declares 5 Pac-10 schools ineligible for conference titles and post-season play due to transcript and curriculum abuses
1983 – Bomb planted by Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of ANC, explodes at a synagogue in Johannesburg, South Africa
1987 – 20th San Diego Comic-Con International opens at Holiday Inn
1988 – The Tompkins Square Park Police Riot in New York City spurs reform of the NYPD, who were responsible for the melee that transpired the night of August 6-7
1989 – Revival of musical revue “Oh! Calcutta!” closes at Edison Theater, NYC, after 5959 performances: Broadway’s longest-running musical revue