Author: gil7

Today in History for 3rd May 2026

Historical Events

1815 – Battle at Tolentino: Austria beats King Joachim of Naples
1855 – Antwerp-Rotterdam railway officially opens
1952 – “Call Me Madam” closes at the Imperial Theater in NYC after 644 performances
1954 – WHA TV channel 21 in Madison, Wisconsin (PBS) begins broadcasting
1994 – Wim Kok and the Labour Party win Dutch general election

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Famous Birthdays

1729 – Florian Leopold Gassmann, Bohemian composer, born in Brüx, Kingdom of Bohemia (d. 1774)
1849 – Jacob Riis, Danish-American social reformer and “muck raking” reporter (NY Tribune, NY Evening Sun), born in Ribe, Denmark (d. 1914)
1895 – Cornelius Van Til, Dutch philosopher and Christian apologist, born in Grootegast, Netherlands (d. 1987)
1915 – Stu Hart, Canadian pro wrestler and trainer (founder Stampede Wrestling; sons Bret and Owen Hart), born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (d. 2003)
1949 – Albert Sacco Jr., American chemical engineer and astronaut (STS 73), born in Boston, Massachusetts

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Famous Deaths

1442 – Engelbert I Nassau-Dillenburg (counsellor to Duke of Burgendy), dies at 71 or 72
1737 – Abraham Patras, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (1735-37), dies at 65
1988 – Johannes Driessler, German organist and composer, dies at 67
1994 – Milford Dolliole, American pioneer jazz drummer, dies at 90
2006 – Pramod Mahajan, Indian politician (b. 1949)

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Famous Deaths for 2nd May 2026

373 – Athanasius, Greek early church Father, theologian and Patriarch of Alexandria (298-373) (b. 298)
1488 – Jacob van Horne, Burgundy statesman, dies
1963 – Van Wyck Brooks, American literary historian and writer (Ordeal of Mark Twain), dies at 77
1985 – Larry Clinton, American trumpeter and bandleader, dies at 75
1986 – Henri Toivonen, Finnish rally driver (3 x World Rally C’ship round wins for Talbot, Opel, Porsche, Lancia), dies in a rally accident at 29
1993 – Will Weng, American journalist (New York Times, 1930-69), crossword puzzle editor (New York Times, 1969-77), and WWII veteran, dies of throat cancer at 86
2012 – Zvi Zeitlin, Russian-American classical violinist and music professor (Eastman School, 1967-2012), dies at 90
2018 – Cliff Watson, English rugby league front rower (30 Tests GB, 4 England; St Helens 373 games, Cronulla-Sutherland), dies of cancer at 78
2021 – Bobby Unser, American auto racer (Indianapolis 500 1968, 1975, 1981; USAC C’ship 1968, 1974), dies at 87
2023 – Tori Bowie, American athlete (Olympic gold 4×100 m relay, silver 100m, bronze 200m 2016; World C’ship gold 100m, 4x100m relay 2017), dies at 32

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Historical Events for 2nd May 2026

1598 – France and Spain sign the Peace of Vervins
1923 – MLB Washington Senator Walter Johnson pitches his 100th shutout, beats New York Yankees 3-0
1941 – Nazi occupied Netherlands lays off Jewish journalists
1943 – German troops vacate Jefna, Tunisia
1950 – Dutch PM Malan recognizes South-Africa but not People’s Republic of China
1969 – British ocean liner Queen Elizabeth II departs Southampton on its maiden voyage to New York
1982 – Argentine cruiser General Belgrano is sunk by British submarine HMS Conqueror with the loss of more than 350 men during the Falklands War
1983 – 6.7 earthquake injures 487 in Coalinga, California

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Today in History for 2nd May 2026

Historical Events

1876 – The April Uprising breaks out in Bulgaria
1878 – US stops minting the 20-cent coin due to public confusion with the quarter
1887 – Hannibal Goodwin patents celluloid photographic film (used in Thomas Edison’s Kinetoscope)
1953 – Hussein I installed as King of Jordan
1998 – 124th Kentucky Derby: Kent Desormeaux aboard Real Quiet wins in 2:02.20

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Famous Birthdays

1660 – Alessandro Scarlatti, Italian baroque composer (Tigrane), born in Palermo, Sicily, Viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire (d. 1725)
1860 – Theodor Herzl, Austrian journalist and father of modern political Zionism (World Zionist Organization), born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary (d. 1904)
1910 – Laurie Nash, Australian cricket fast-bowler (2 Tests, 10 wickets) and VFL player and coach (South Melbourne), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 1986)
1954 – Elliot Goldenthal, American concert, theater, and Academy Award-winning film score composer (Frida; Juan Darién – A Carnival Mass), born in Brooklyn, New York City
1984 – Saulius Mikoliūnas, Lithuanian footballer, born in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR

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Famous Deaths

2001 – Gina Mastrogiacomo, American actress (Goodfellas), dies at 39
2012 – Junior Seau, American Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker (12 x Pro Bowl; 6 × First-team All-Pro; NFL Defensive Player of the Year 1992; SD Chargers), commits suicide at 43
2013 – Jeff Hanneman, American haevy metal guitarist (Slayer), dies from liver failure at 49
2017 – Abelardo Castillo, Argentine writer and novelist, dies at 82
2018 – Wang Danfeng, Chinese actress, dies at 93

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Famous Deaths for 1st May 2026

1859 – John Walker, English inventor and chemist who invented the friction match, dies at 77
1903 – Luigi Arditi, Italian violinist and composer, dies at 80
1941 – Howard Johnson, American lyricist (“When the Moon Comes over the Mountain”, “M-O-T-H-E-R”), dies at 53
1976 – Alexandros Panagoulis, Greek poet and politician who fought the military junta in Greece, dies in a car accident at 36
1984 – Jüri Lossmann, Estonian athlete (Olympic silver marathon 1920), dies at 93
1989 – Sally Kirkland, American fashion editor (Vogue magazine) and manager (Lord and Taylor), dies at 76
1989 – Antonio Janigro, Italian cellist (Zagreb Soloists), dies at 71
2003 – Miss Elizabeth [Hulette], pro wrestling valet (Randy Savage), dies of overdose at 42
2012 – Charles “skip” Pitts, American soul and blues guitarist, dies from lung cancer at 65
2015 – Geoff Duke, English motorcycle racer (world 500cc champion 1951, 1953-55), dies at 92

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Historical Events for 1st May 2026

1850 – John Geary becomes the first mayor of San Francisco
1951 – Dutch Reformed Church introduces a new church choir
1967 – Bernard Malamud wins the Pulitzer Price in Fiction for “The Fixer”
1988 – Two IRA attacks in and near Roermond, Netherlands, kills three British servicemen and wounds three more
2002 – Padres closer Trevor Hoffman sets MLB record for saves for one team (321) in 4-3 win v Chicago Cubs in San Diego
2009 – Same-sex marriage is legalized in Sweden
2014 – Hundreds march through Nigerian capital calling for the release of schoolgirls abducted by Islamic militants, Boko Haram, who oppose Western education
2019 – US Attorney General William Barr testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee, defending his handling of the Mueller Report

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Today in History for 1st May 2026

Historical Events

1795 – King of Hawaiʻi Kamehameha I defeats Kalanikupule and conquers island of Oʻahu at Battle of Nuʻuanu [approx. date]
1957 – Vanguard TV-1 booster test reaches an altitude of 121 miles (195 km)
1967 – Anastasio Somoza Debayle becomes President of Nicaragua
1969 – Houston Astros hurler Don Wilson blanks Reds, 4-0 for second career no-hitter, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati
2007 – The Los Angeles May Day mêlée occurs, in which the Los Angeles Police Department’s response to a May Day pro-immigration rally becomes a matter of controversy

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Famous Birthdays

1831 – Emily Stowe, Canadian suffragist and first woman licensed to practise medicine in Canada, born in Norwich Township, Oxford County, Ontario (d. 1903)
1924 – Enriko Josif, Serbian composer and pedagogue (Lyric Symphony), born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (d. 2003)
1927 – Greta Andersen, Danish swimmer (Olympic gold 100m freestyle, silver 4×100m freestyle 1948), born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 2023)
1955 – András Törőcsik, Hungarian soccer forward (45 caps; Újpest Dozsa FC, Montpellier), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2022)
1970 – Damon Diletti, Australian field hockey goal keeper (Olympic silver 1992; Champions Trophy gold 1999), born in Perth, West Australia

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Famous Deaths

1679 – Esaias Reusner, German lutenist and composer, dies at 43
1913 – John Barclay Armstrong, Texas Ranger and U.S. Marshal (b. 1850)
1957 – Grant Mitchell, American actor (Great Lie, Laura, Cairo, Conflict), dies at 82
2018 – Chuck Missler, American evangelist and author, dies at 83
2021 – Al Jamison, American football offensive lineman (AFL All Star 1961, 62; AFL C’ship 1960, 61; Houston Oilers), dies at 83

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Famous Deaths for 30th April 2026

1642 – Dmitry Pozharsky, Russian prince (known for his military leadership during the Polish–Muscovite War 1611-12), dies at 63
1758 – François d’Agiçncourt, French composer (b. 1684)
1879 – Emma Smith, Inaugural President of the Women’s Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies at 74
1945 – Adolf Hitler, Austrian-born German dictator and Führer of Nazi Germany (1936-45), commits suicide by shooting himself at 56
1963 – Bryant Washburn, American actor (Exposure, Millionaire Kid, Nabonga), dies at 74
1977 – Clive Douglas, Australian composer (Kaditcha; Carwoola), conductor (Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1938-68, and educator, dies at 73
1983 – Joel H. Hildebrand, American chemist and educator (research led to new treatments for divers with the ‘bends’ through the use of helium and oxygen breathing mixtures), dies at 101
1996 – Jeanne Bal, American actress (Pat-Love and Marriage, Star Trek- The Man Trap), dies at 67
1999 – Darrell Sweet, British hard rock drummer (Nazareth – “Love Hurts”), dies of a heart attack at a concert soundcheck at 51
2016 – Phil Ryan, Welsh keyboardist and composer (Man; Pete Brown), dies at 69

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Historical Events for 30th April 2026

1803 – Chancellor Robert Livingston and James Monroe sign Louisiana Purchase Treaty in Paris at a cost of 15 million dollars, doubles the size of the USA
1871 – The Camp Grant Massacre of Apache Indians in Arizona Territory is committed by white and Mexican adventurers, 144 die
1939 – Lou Gehrig sets a MLB record playing his 2,130th consecutive and final game for the New York Yankees.
1972 – “Arthur Godfrey Time” ends a 27 year run on radio
1973 – Women’s tennis groups end disputes over sanctioning tournaments
1995 – After 120 years the last 15 A and S department stores close
1997 – Tajik Prest Imomali Rakhmonov wounded in assassination attempt
2019 – New type of dementia identified and named limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (Late) after misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease

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Today in History for 30th April 2026

Historical Events

1492 – Spain announces it will expel all Jews
1945 – Concentration camp Munchen-Allag freed
1977 – Revival of musical revue “A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green” closes at Little Theatre, NYC after 92 performances
1997 – Big Ben stops at 12:11 PM for 54 minutes
2012 – Manchester City defeats Manchester United 1-0 in what is claimed to be the biggest match in English Premier League history

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Famous Birthdays

1723 – Mathurin Jacques Brisson, French zoologist and naturalist (Ornithologie), born in Fontenay-le-Comte (d. 1806)
1909 – Juliana, Queen of the Netherlands (1948-80), born in Noordeinde Palace, The Hague, Netherlands (d. 2004)
1913 – Bernard Sendall, British deputy director general of the Independent Television Authority and author (Independent Television in Britain), born in Malvern, England (d. 1996)
1936 – Bernie Clifton [Quinn], British comedian (Oswald the Ostrich), born in St Helens, Lancashire, England
1982 – Kirsten Dunst, American actress (Interview with the Vampire, Spider-Man), born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey

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Famous Deaths

1848 – Friedrich Freiherr Gagern, German Dutch army commandant, dies at 53
1942 – J. C. Arthur, American botanist (studied parasitic fungi rusts), dies at 92
1983 – Joel H. Hildebrand, American chemist and educator (research led to new treatments for divers with the ‘bends’ through the use of helium and oxygen breathing mixtures), dies at 101
1998 – Nizar Qabbani, Syrian poet (b. 1926)
2007 – Gordon Scott [Werschkul], American actor (Tarzan series), dies at 80

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