1271 – Isabella of Aragon, wife of Philip III and Queen consort of France (1270-1), dies of complications from childbirth at 22 or 23
1844 – Johannes van den Bosch, Dutch colonial administrator (Governor-General of Dutch East Indies 1830-33), dies at 63
1893 – Samuel S. Carroll, American Brigadier General (Union Army), dies at 60
1959 – Viktor Josef Keldorfer, Austrian composer, dies at 85
1965 – Jef van Durme, Belgian composer, dies at 57
1972 – Dino Buzzati, Italian writer (The Tartar Steppe), dies at 67
1986 – Dick Scobee, US Air Force officer and astronaut, dies in the Challenger disaster at 46
1986 – Christa McAuliffe, American teacher, dies in the Challenger space shuttle disaster at 37
2020 – Bob Nave, American rock and blues Hammond B-3 organist (Lemon Pipers – “Green Tambourine”), jazz radio DJ, and philanthropist, dies at 75
2023 – Lisa Loring [DeCinces], American actress (The Addams Family – “Wednesday”; As the World Turns, 1980-83 – “Cricket”), dies following a stroke at 64
Author: gil7
Historical Events for 28th January 2024
1624 – Sir Thomas Warner founds the first English colony in the Caribbean, on Saint Kitts.
1855 – The first locomotive runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean on the Panama Railway
1939 – Australian Championships Men’s Tennis: Australian John Bromwich wins his 1st Australian title; beats doubles partner Adrian Quist 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
1954 – 1954 NFL Draft: Bobby Garrett from University of Stanford first pick by Cleveland Browns
1978 – Ted Nugent autographs a fan’s arm with his knife
1979 – Arthur Kopit’s play “Wings” premieres in NYC
1985 – Charity single “We Are the World” recorded by supergroup USA for Africa (Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, and other pop stars)
1986 – Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, killing all 7 crew members, including Christa McAuliffe who was to be the first teacher in space
1986 – Angolan revolutionary and leader of UNITA, Jonas Savimbi visits Washington, D.C.
1990 – “Independent on Sunday” begins publishing in London
Today in History for 28th January 2024
Historical Events
1932 – Japanese forces attack Shanghai.
1943 – Chic Blackhawks beats NY Rangers 10-1, Max Bentley scores 4 goals
1951 – “La Vie Commence Demain” the 1st X-rated movie, depicting artificial insemination, opens in London
1979 – Pope John Paul II addresses the Third General Conference of Latin American Episcopate in Puebla, Mexico
2006 – Australian Open Women’s Tennis: Amélie Mauresmo of France wins her first Grand Slam title; beats Justine Henin 6-1, 2-0; Henin retires from stomach cramps
2017 – US President Donald Trump and Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull have a contentious phone call over deal for US to take 1,250 refugees
Famous Birthdays
1600 – Clement IX [Giulio Rospigliosi], Italian Pope (238th: 1667-69), born in Pistoia, Italy (d. 1669)
1825 – George Edward Pickett, Major General (Confederate Army), (d. 1875)
1884 – Lucien d’Azambuja, French astronomer (studied the solar chromosphere), born in Paris, France (d. 1970)
1886 – Marthe Bibesco, Romanian writer (d. 1973)
1905 – Luther Simjian, Armenian-American Inventor (teleprompter and first self-posing portrait camera), born in Aintab, Ottoman Empire (d. 1997)
1951 – William “Billy Bass” Nelson Jr, American funk-rock-soul bassist (Funkadelic), born in Plainfield, New Jersey
Famous Deaths
1895 – François Certain Canrobert, French marshal and parliament member, dies at 85
1898 – Alexandru Flechtenmacher, Romanian composer, violinist and teacher, dies at 74
1965 – Tich Freeman, English cricket leg-spin bowler (12 Tests, 66 wickets; Kent CCC), dies at 76
1986 – Ellison Onizuka, American Air Force Major and astronaut (STS 51C, 51L), dies in the Challenger space shuttle disaster at 39
2004 – Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch, American NFL halfback and end (LA Rams), dies at 80
2021 – Cicely Tyson, American stage and screen actress (Roots; The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman), dies at 96
Famous Deaths for 27th January 2024
1740 – Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, Prime Minister of France, dies at 47
1773 – Philippe Buache, French geographer and cartographer (pioneered use of contour lines), dies at 72
1816 – Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood, British admiral in the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars, dies at 92
1850 – Philipp Roth, German composer, dies at 70
1936 – Johnny Golden, American golfer (PGA C’ship 1922, 26, 27 3rd; Ryder Cup 1927, 29 [3-0-0 record]; 9 x PGA Tour titles), dies of pneumonia at 39
1995 – Geoffrey Parsons, Australian-British concert pianist, accompanist, and harpsichord player. dies of cancer at 65
2009 – John Updike, American Novelist (b. 1932)
2012 – Kevin White, American politician, dies at 82
2022 – Charanjit Singh, Indian field hockey captain (Olympic gold 1964, silver 1960), dies from a heart attack at 90
2023 – Sylvia Syms, English actress (Asylum, Moonraker, Shirley Valentine), dies at 89
Historical Events for 27th January 2024
1534 – French King Francis I signs classified treaty with Landgrave of Hesse
1927 – Australian Championships Men’s Tennis: Gerald Patterson wins his only home title; beats countryman John Hawkes 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 18-16, 6-3
1956 – RCA records releases Elvis Presley’s single “Heartbreak Hotel”, his first million-seller (written by Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden)
1964 – Margaret Chase Smith (Sen-R-Maine) tries for Republican President bid
1969 – 9 Jews publicly executed in Damascus, Syria
1972 – The British Army and the Irish Republican Army engage in gun battles near County Armagh; British troops fire over 1,000 rounds of ammunition
1976 – “Laverne and Shirley” TV spinoff from “Happy Days” starring Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams premieres on ABC TV
1976 – Morocco-Algeria battles in West Sahara
1979 – Islanders ends 23 undefeated games at home streak (15-0-8)
1992 – Mike Tyson goes on trial for rape (he is found guilty)
Today in History for 27th January 2024
Historical Events
1880 – Thomas Edison patents electric incandescent lamp
1924 – The Natal Indian Congress and the Natal Indian Association jointly organise a mass meeting in Durban, South Africa in opposition to the Class Areas Bill
1936 – Australian Championships Women’s Tennis, Adelaide: Joan Hartigan Bathurst wins her 3rd Australian singles title; beats Nancye Wynne Bolton 6-4, 6-4
1956 – NFL’s New York Giants move their home from the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan to Yankee Stadium in The Bronx
1973 – UCLA’s basketball team wins 61st consecutive game (NCAA record)
1980 – Robert Mugabe returns to Rhodesia after 5 years in exile
Famous Birthdays
1858 – Neel Doff, Dutch born Belgian writer (Days of Hunger and Distress)and artist’s model, born in Buggenum, Netherlands (d. 1842)
1901 – Art Rooney, NFL Pittsburgh Steelers [Pirates] team founder,owner, and chairman, 1933-88, born in Coulterville, Pennsylvania (d. 1988)
1908 – William Randolph Hearst, Jr., American newspaper magnate (Hearst Newspapers) and 1955 Pulitzer Prize winner, (d. 1993)
1934 – Federico Mayor Zaragoza, UNESCO director (1987- ), born in Barcelona, Spain
1969 – Michael Kulas, Canadian singer-songwriter (James, 1997-2001), and record producer, born in Oakville, Ontario
1972 – Guillermo, Mexican-born American TV personality
Famous Deaths
1688 – Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, Empress of Manchu (1643-62), dies at 74
1773 – Philippe Buache, French geographer and cartographer (pioneered use of contour lines), dies at 72
1921 – Maurice Buckley, Australian soldier and winner of the Victoria Cross, dies at 29
1992 – Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, British actress (Eliza Dolittle), dies at 101
1996 – Tommy Mitchell, English cricket spin bowler (5 Tests, 8 wickets; Derbyshire CCC), dies at 93
2022 – Diego Verdaguer [Miguel Boccadoro], Argentine-Mexican singer-songwriter, bandoneón player, and trumpeter (“Volveré”; “Voy a Conquistarte”), dies of COVID-19 complications at 70
Famous Deaths for 26th January 2024
1844 – John Wedgwood, British ceramicist and founder of the Royal Horticultural Society, dies at 77
1850 – Francis Jeffrey, Baron Jeffrey, Scottish judge and literary critic, dies (b. 1773)
1952 – André Cheron [Duval], French-American silent and sound screen character actor (The King of Kings; Anna Karenina; Wife vs. Secretary), dies at 71
1953 – Martinus Nijhoff, Dutch poet and linguistic (spelling), dies at 58
1963 – Ole Olsen, American comedian (Olsen and Johnson), dies at 70
1975 – Lubov Orlova, Russian actress (Moscow Laughs; Man of Music; Tanya), dies at 74
1978 – Leo Genn, British lawyer and actor (Mourning Becomes Electra, Moby-Dick, Affair in Monte Carlo), dies at 72
1990 – Bob Gerard, British racing driver (b. 1914)
2013 – Edwin London, American horn player, conductor (Cleveland Chamber Orchestra; Ineluctable Modality Choir), and composer (Dream Thing on Biblical Episodes), dies at 83
2023 – Keith Thomson, New Zealand cricket batsman (2 Tests, 1 x 50; Canterbury) and field hockey centre-half (28 Tests; Canterbury), dies at 81
Historical Events for 26th January 2024
1863 – American Civil War: Massachusetts Governor receives permission from Secretary of War to raise a militia organization for men of African descent (54th Massachusetts Regiment)
1931 – “Cimarron” directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Richard Dix and Irene Dunne premieres in New York. 1st western to win Best Outstanding Production/Picture (1931)
1957 – Francis Poulenc’s opera “Dialogue des Carmelites” premieres at La Scala, in Milan
1958 – Jack Smith takes over from Art Baker as TV host of “You Asked for It”
1959 – Australian Championships Men’s Tennis: American based Peruvian Alex Olmedo wins his first Grand Slam event; beats Neale Fraser of Australia 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
1969 – Minister of Health and Social Services William Morgan resigns from the Northern Ireland government
1983 – Nazi Gestapo war criminal Klaus Barbie arrested in Bolivia
1988 – Andrew Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart’s musical “Phantom of the Opera”, directed by Hal Prince and starring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, opens at Majestic Theater, NYC ; runs for 13,981 performances, winning 7 Tony Awards, and becoming Broadway’s longest-running shows
1997 – Mario Lemieux ties NHL record with 4 goals in the 3rd period as Pittsburgh wins, 5-2 at Montreal; 39th career hat trick and 13th 4-goal game, tying NHL record shared by Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy
2021 – Antony Blinken confirmed by US Senate as Secretary of State
Today in History for 26th January 2024
Historical Events
1870 – US Congress authorises Virginia to rejoin the union
1918 – US Food Administrator Herbert Hoover calls for “wheatless” and “meatless” days to help war effort
1939 – Filming begins on film adaptation of “Gone With The Wind”
1951 – Mel Ott and Jimmie Foxx are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
1969 – 1st Australian Open Women’s Tennis: Margaret Court wins inaugural Open event; beats American Billie Jean King 6-4, 6-1
2013 – The United States Sentencing Commission is hacked by Anonymous in response to the suicide of Aaron Swartz
Famous Birthdays
1786 – Benjamin Haydon, British painter (Waiting for The Times), born in Plymouth, England (d. 1846)
1913 – William Prince, American actor (Spies Like Us, The Stepford Wives, City in Fear), born in Nichols, New York, (d. 1996)
1932 – George H Clements, first Roman Catholic Priest to adopt a child.
1943 – Thom Bell, American session musician, arranger and Grammy Award-winning “Philadelphia soul” producer (Delfonics; Stylistics; The Spinners), born in Kingston, Jamaican (d. 2022)
1977 – Vince Carter, American basketball forward (8 x NBA All Star; NBA Rookie of the Year 1999, Toronto Raptors; Olympic gold 2000), born in Daytona Beach, Florida
1981 – Reminisce [Remilekun Khalid Safaru], Nigerian singer-songwriter and rapper (Vibes and Insha Allah), born in Kaduna, Nigeria
Famous Deaths
1895 – Arthur Cayley, British mathematician (Cayley–Hamilton theorem), dies at 73
1974 – Siegfried von Vegesack, German writer, dies at 85
2006 – Carol Lambrino, son of Carol II of Romania and Zizi Lambrino (b. 1920)
2012 – Dimitra Arliss [Arlys], American actress (Rich Man Poor Man II, The Sting), dies at 79
2013 – Edwin London, American horn player, conductor (Cleveland Chamber Orchestra; Ineluctable Modality Choir), and composer (Dream Thing on Biblical Episodes), dies at 83
2022 – Janet Mead, Australian Catholic nun and pop-rock singer (The Lord’s Prayer), dies of cancer at 84
Famous Deaths for 25th January 2024
1726 – Guillaume Delisle, French cartographer (b. 1675)
1906 – Pierre-Lambert Goossens, Belgian archbishop of Mechelen and Cardinal Primate of Belgium, dies at 78
1973 – Masao Ohba, Japanese boxer (WBA flyweight champion 1970-73), dies in a car accident at 23
1998 – Attila Zoller, Hungarian-American jazz guitarist, educator (Vermont Jazz Center, 1974-98), and inventor (bi-directional pickup), dies at 70
1999 – Sarah Louise “Sadie” Delany, American author and teacher, dies at 109
2005 – William Augustus Bootle, American judge (b. 1902)
2013 – Zekkariyas [Cecil Womack], American soul songwriter, singer, and record producer (Womack and Womack – “Teardrops”), dies at 64
2017 – Robert Garcia, American politician hit by Wedtech scandal (Rep-D-NY, 1978-83), dies at 84
2021 – Barry Heywood, British director of the British Antarctic Survey, dies at 83
2023 – B. V. [Balkrishna] Doshi, Indian architect (Pritzker Prize 2- 018), dies at 95