Today in History for 28th May 2024

Historical Events

1037 – Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II removes “Constitutio the Feudis”
1941 – 1st night game at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C. (NY Yankees pip the Senators 6-5)
1979 – European Market accepts Greece as member
1986 – Democratic Labor Party wins parliamentary election in Barbados
1999 – Two Swedish police officers are murdered with their own fire arms by the bank robbers Jackie Arklöv and Tony Olsson after a dramatic car chase
2021 – Discovery of a mass grave with the remains of 215 children from Kamloops Indian Residential School announced by First Nation in British Columbia, Canada

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1883 – Clough Williams-Ellis, British architect known chiefly as the creator of the Italianate village of Portmeirion in North Wales, born in Gayton, Northamptonshire, England (d. 1978)
1912 – Herman Johannes, Indonesian scientist and politician (d. 1992)
1924 – Geoffrey Rippon, British MP, born in Penn, Buckinghamshire (d. 1997)
1940 – Hans Dulfer, Dutch funk and jazz-fusion tenor saxophonist, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands
1944 – Patricia Quinn, Lady Stephens, Northern-Irish actress, voice artist and singer (The Rocky Horror Picture Show), born in Belfast, Northern Ireland
1956 – Germaine Montenesdro, 2nd victim of NYC’s Zodiac killer (survives)

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1672 – John Trevor, English politician (b. 1626)
1811 – Henry Dundas, British minister (b. 1742)
1849 – Anne Brontë, English novelist (The Tenant of Wildfell Hall), dies at 29
1962 – Jesse Crawford, American pianist, theatre organist for silent films, and recording artist, dies at 66
1996 – Buck Bundy, TV dog (Married with Children), dies at 13
2008 – Robert Justman, American television producer (b. 1926)

More Famous Deaths »

Famous Deaths for 27th May 2024

1797 – Gracchus Babeuf, French utopian socialist, dies at 36
1910 – Robert Koch, German pioneering bacteriologist (TB, Cholera, Nobel Prize 1905), dies at 66
1964 – Jawaharlal Nehru, 1st Prime Minister of India (1947-64) and important leader of the Indian independence movement, dies of an assumed heart attack at 74
1983 – (Arnoldus) Arnold van Wyk, South African concert pianist and composer (Nagmusiek – Night Music), dies at 67
1985 – Kay Campbell, actress (All My Children), dies at 80
1986 – Gaston Duribreux, Flemish writer (Sour Dove), dies at 82
1991 – Leopold Nowak, Austrian musicologist (International Bruckner Society; Mozart’s Requiem), and educator (Vienna University, 1932-73), dies at 86
2006 – Paul Gleason, American actor (Breakfast Club, Die Hard), dies of lung cancer at 67
2007 – Gretchen Wyler, American actress, dancer (Silk Stockings), and animal rights activist, dies at 75
2021 – William Jay Sydeman, American avant-garde composer, dies at 93

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events for 27th May 2024

1660 – Denmark and Sweden sign The Treaty Of Copenhagen, ends Second Northern War
1903 – 37th Belmont: John Bullman aboard Africander wins in 2:21.75
1903 – Queen Wilhelmina opens the new Amsterdam stock exchange Beurs van Berlages, designed by influential architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage
1933 – Trailing 11-3, Yanks score 12 runs in 8th and beat White Sox 15-11
1956 – US performs nuclear test at Enwetak (atmospheric tests)
1964 – European Cup Final, Praterstadion, Vienna: Internazionale beats Real Madrid, 3-1 for their first title
1981 – John Hinckley attempts suicide by overdosing on Tylenol
1982 – New owners headed by John McMullen buy NHL’s Colorado Rockies and move the team to the New Jersey Meadowlands under the new name NJ Devils
1983 – Former EPA official Rita Lavelle indicted for contempt of Congress
2009 – UEFA Champions League Final, Rome: Barcelona beats Manchester United, 2-0; first Spanish treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League

More Historical Events »

Today in History for 27th May 2024

Historical Events

1905 – Japanese fleet destroys the Russian East Sea fleet in the Battle of Tsushima, the only decisive clash between modern steel battleships in history
1918 – Third Battle of Aisne: German offensive overcomes British forces (WWI)
1942 – Dorie Miller awarded navy cross for deeds at Pearl Harbor
1984 – Beth Henley’s “Miss Firecracker contest” premieres in NYC
2007 – Indianapolis 500: Scotsman Dario Franchitti declared the winner with 34 laps remaining when race halted by torrential rain
2009 – South Africa enters the global recession; the first recession for South Africa in 17 years

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1887 – Kazimierz Fajans, Polish-American physical chemist (Fajans’ rules), born in Warsaw, Poland (d. 1975)
1940 – Ed Van Impe, Canadian NHL hockey defenseman, 1966-77 (Stanley Cup, 1974, 1975 – Philadelphia Flyers, and 2 other teams), and broadcaster (Flyers), born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
1963 – Gonzalo Rubalcabo [González], Cuban jazz pianist, born in Havana, Cuba
1966 – John Jaha, infielder (Milwaukee Brewers), born in Portland, Oregon
1975 – Jamie Oliver, British chef and television personality, born in Claverling, England
1994 – Shawn Barber, Canadian athlete (World C’ship gold pole vault 2019; World Indoor Tour 2016), born in Las Cruces, New Mexico (d. 2024)

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1596 – Tibaldi II, Italian painter/sculptor/architect, dies
1675 – Gaspard Dughet, French painter (b. 1613)
1863 – Edward Payson Chapin, American lawyer and Union Army Colonel (posthumously elevated to Brigadier General), dies of injuries from the Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana at 31
1958 – Samuel Stritch, US cardinal/archbishop (Chicago), dies
2007 – Ron Archer, Australian cricket all-rounder (19 Tests, 1 x 100, 48 wickets; Queensland CA), dies at 73
2011 – Jeff Conaway, American actor and singer (Taxi – “Bobby”; Grease – “Kenickie”; Babylon 5 – “Zack”), dies of pneumonia and sepsis at 60

More Famous Deaths »

Famous Deaths for 26th May 2024

1831 – Ciro Menotti, Italian patriot (b. 1798)
1832 – François-Louis Perne, French composer, dies at 59
1871 – Aimé Maillart, French opera composer (Les Dragons de Villars), dies at 54
1933 – Horatio Bottomley, British financier and politician (b. 1860)
1943 – Edsel Ford, American President of Ford Motor Company (1919-1943) and son of Henry Ford, dies of stomach cancer aged 49
1954 – Franz Pfemfert, German journalist and writer, dies at 74
1995 – Severn Darden, American actor (Luv; The President’s Analyst; Saturday the 14th), dies at 65
1996 – Matima Kinuani Mpiosso, Zairen rock guitarist (Zaika Langa-Langa), dies at 45
2003 – Gerald S. Hawkins, English-American astronomer (archaeoastronomy), dies at 75
2021 – Patrick Sky [Lynch], American musician, folk singer, songwriter, record producer, and uilleann bagpiper (Songs That Made America Famous), dies of cancer at 80

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events for 26th May 2024

553 – Moon Jaguar becomes the 10th ruler of the Maya city of Copán (modern Honduras), will reign for 25 years
1647 – Alse Young becomes the first person executed as a witch in the American colonies, when she is hanged in Hartford, Connecticut
1942 – Belgium Jews are required by Nazis to wear a Jewish star
1955 – Musical adaptation of the 1927 silent film “7th Heaven”, starring Gloria DeHaven and Ricardo Montalbán, opens at ANTA Theater, NYC; runs for 44 performances
1963 – French Championships Men’s Tennis: Australian Roy Emerson beats home favourite Pierre Darmon 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
1972 – The British state-owned travel firm Thomas Cook and Son is sold to a consortium of private businesses headed by the Midland Bank
1987 – US Supreme Court ruled dangerous defendants could be held without bail
1987 – Cecilia Bolocco, 22, of Chile, crowned 36th Miss Universe
2002 – Indianapolis 500: Defending champion Hélio Castroneves of Brazil becomes fifth driver in Indy 500 history to win back-to-back races for his second of 4 race victories
2012 – Pope Benedict XVI’s butler is arrested for allegedly leaking confidential documents

More Historical Events »

Today in History for 26th May 2024

Historical Events

961 – German King Otto II crowned
1951 – Vaughan Williams’ “Pilgrim’s Progress” premieres in London
1969 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their 2nd bed-in for peace at Hotel La Reine Elizabeth, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1984 – Floods kill 14 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
1997 – NHL Western Conference Final: Detroit Red Wings beat Colorado Avalanche, 4 games to 2
2000 – Arthur C. Clarke is knighted “for services to literature” at a ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1863 – Bob Fitzsimmons, English boxer (first 3-division world champion; Middleweight 1981-96, Light Heavyweight 1903, Heavyweight 1897-99), born in Helston, England (d. 1917)
1923 – Roy Dotrice, British actor (A Moon for the Misbegotten, Amadeus) and narrator (A Song of Ice and Fire), born in Guernsey, Channel Islands (d. 2017)
1931 – Jim Frey, American MLB manager (Kansas City Royals, American League C’ship 1980; Chicago Cubs), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2020)
1941 – Imants Kalniņš, Latvian classical, choral and rock composer (“Hey, You There!”), born in Riga, Latvian SSR
1957 – Kristina Olsen, American folk singer-songwriter (“I’m Keeping This Life of Mine”), and session musician, born in San Francisco, California
1981 – Eda-Ines Etti, Estonian pop singer (Eurovision), born in Haapsalu, Estonia

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1864 – Charles Sealsfield, Austrian-American writer, dies at 71
1907 – Ida McKinley, US First Lady (1897-1901) and wife of the 25th US President William McKinley, dies at 59
1959 – Joe Kelly, American radio and television host (Quiz Kids, 1949-53), dies at 57
1977 – William Powell, American RandB singer (O’Jays – “Love Train”; “Backstabbers”), dies of cancer at 35
1979 – George Brent, American actor (Baby Face, Dark Victory, 42nd St), dies at 75
1995 – Friz Freleng, American animator for Warner Bros cartoons (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies), dies at 88

More Famous Deaths »

Famous Deaths for 25th May 2024

992 – Mieszko I, Grand Duke and ruler of Poland (960-992), dies at around 61
1934 – Gustav Holst, English composer (The Planets; Ode to Death), dies at 59
1935 – Sir Frank Watson Dyson, English astronomer, dies at 71
1965 – Sonny Boy Williamson II [Aleck Miller], American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, dies at 65
1974 – Donald Crisp, British actor and director (How Green Was My Valley, Pollyana), dies at 91
2007 – Bill Johnston, Australian cricket fast/spin bowler (40 Tests, 160 wickets @ 23.91; Victoria), dies at 85
2008 – Georgette Amowitz, French choreographer and educator, dies at 78
2008 – J. R. Simplot, American potato farmer (b. 1909)
2009 – Haakon Lie, Norwegian politician (b. 1905)
2023 – Frank Handlen, American artist of marine subjects, dies at 106

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events for 25th May 2024

1660 – King Charles II of England lands at Dover harbour on his way to London during the Restoration
1787 – Constitutional convention opens at Philadelphia, George Washington presiding
1810 – In the May Revolution, citizens of Buenos Aires expel the Spanish Viceroy Cisneros during Semana de Mayo
1904 – 38th Belmont: George Odom aboard Delhi wins in 2:06.6
1973 – 26th Cannes Film Festival: “The Hireling” directed by Alan Bridges and “Scarecrow” directed by Jerry Schatzberg jointly awarded the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film
1983 – 1st US National Missing Children’s Day is proclaimed
1992 – Jay Leno becomes permanent host of US talk show “The Tonight Show”
1992 – Oscar Luigi Scalfaro elected President of Italy
1995 – The Bosnian Serb Army kills 72 youngsters in the Bosnian city of Tuzla
2002 – Super Rugby Final, Jade Stadium, Christchurch: Crusaders win 4th title with a 31-13 thumping of the ACT Brumbies; flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens boots 3 penalties, 2 conversions and a dropped goal for the winners

More Historical Events »

Today in History for 25th May 2024

Historical Events

1948 – 30th PGA Championship Men’s Golf, Norwood Hills CC: Ben Hogan scores a convincing 7 and 6 win over Mike Turnesa in the Tuesday final for his 2nd PGA crown
1956 – Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Haurietis aquas
1981 – Daniel Goodwin scales outside of Chicago’s Sears Tower in 7 hours
1991 – Stanley Cup Final, Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington, MN: Pittsburgh Penguins beat Minnesota North Stars, 8-0 for a 4-2 series win; Penguins’ first Final series appearance
2000 – 53rd Cannes Film Festival: “Dancer in the Dark” directed by Lars von Trier and starring Björk (Best Actress) wins the Palme d’Or
2011 – 46th Academy of Country Music Awards: Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and Brad Paisley win

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1865 – Frederick Augustus III, King of Saxony (1904-18), born in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony (d. 1932)
1883 – Elsa Maxwell, American writer (Jack Paar Show), born in Keokuk, Iowa (d. 1963)
1932 – John Gregory Dunne, American writer (Up Close and Personal, True Confessions), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 2003)
1937 – Mark Shields, American political journalist and commentator (PBS NewsHour, 1988-2020; CNN Capitol Gang, 1998-2005), born in Weymouth, Massachusetts (d. 2022)
1937 – (Trevor) Tom Phillips, English visual artist, printmaker and collagist, born in Clapham, England (d. 2022)
1959 – Cathryn Harrison, English actress (Old Woman in Black Moon), born in London, England

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1914 – Paolo Giorza, Italian-Australian composer, dies at 81
1981 – Roy Brown, American RandB singer, songwriter (“Good Rockin’ Tonight”), dies of a heart attack at 55
1981 – Fredric Warburg, British publisher (Animal Farm) and author, dies at 82
1996 – Bernard Sendall, British deputy director general of British Independent Television Authority and author (Independent Television in Britain), dies at 83
2003 – Sloan Wilson, American novelist (“The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit”; “A Summer Place”), dies at 83
2011 – Leonora Carrington, British-Mexican Surrealist artist, dies aged 94

More Famous Deaths »