1852 – Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is published in Boston
1937 – Franco’s Republican army launch their (eventually successful) counter-offensive against Italian International Brigades fighting for the Nationalists at the Battle of Guadalajara, Spain
1951 – Indonesian army offensive against Darul Islam on Java
1952 – Final ratification of peace treaty restoring sovereignty to Japan by US Senate
1987 – Yvonne van Gennip skates ladies’ world record 5 km (7:20.36)
1989 – Major League Baseball announces Reds manager Pete Rose is under investigation
1994 – “Flowering Peach” opens at Lyceum Theater NYC for 41 performances
2016 – Barack Obama becomes the first US President to visit Cuba since 1928, arriving for a three-day tour with First Lady Michelle
Author: gil7
Today in History for 20th March 2026
Historical Events
1934 – Rudolf Kuhnold demonstrates radar in Kiel Germany
1937 – England beats Scotland, 6-3 at Murrayfield, Edinburgh to clinch the Home Nations Rugby Championship and Triple Crown
1942 – Convoy PQ13 departs Reykjavik Iceland to Russia
1951 – Fujiyoshida, a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, in the center of the Japanese main island of Honshū is founded
1973 – NBC TV premiere of pilot episode of “Police Story”, based on Los Angeles Police Dept. Joseph Wambaugh’s writings
Famous Birthdays
1823 – Ned Buntline [Edward Judson Sr.], American publisher, journalist, and writer, born in Harpersfield, New York (d. 1886)
1833 – Henry Southwick Perkins, American composer, educator, and founder of Music Teachers’ National Association, born in Stockbridge, Vermont (d. 1914)
1940 – Gianpiero Moretti, steering wheel designer (Momo), born in Milan, Italy (d. 2012)
1951 – Curt Smith, American author, media host, speech writer for President George H. W. Bush, and authority on baseball broadcasting (The History of Baseball and the White House), born in Caledonia, New York
1974 – Andrzej Pilipiuk, Polish humoristic fantasy and science fiction writer (Pan Samochodzik series, Ivanov the Wizard), born in Warsaw, Poland
Famous Deaths
457 – Siyah Chan K’awil, 11th ruler of the Maya city of Tikal, dies
1866 – Rikard Nordraak, Norwegian composer, dies at 23
1963 – Karl Otten, German Expressionist writer, dies at 73
1990 – Maurice Cloche, French film director and screenwriter, dies at 82
2020 – Borislav Stanković, Serbian Basketball Hall of Fame administrator (International Basketball Federation secretary general 1976-2002), dies at 94
Famous Deaths for 19th March 2026
1816 – Philip Mazzei, Italian physician, philosopher, and friend of Thomas Jefferson, dies at 85
1900 – Charles-Louis Hanon, French composer and piano pedagogue (The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises), dies at 80
1916 – Vasily Surikov, Russian history painter (The Conquest of Siberia by Yermak Timofeyevich), dies at 68
1940 – Gustaaf Sap, Belgian minister of Economic Affairs, dies at 54
1969 – Theodor Schaefer, Czech composer, dies at 65
1974 – Hertha Kuusinen, Finnish communist politician (daughter of Otto Ville Kuusinen), dies at 70
1999 – Tofilau Eti Alesana, former Prime Minister of Samoa (b. 1924)
1999 – Jaime Sabines, Mexican poet (Tarumba, Maltiempes), dies at 72
2007 – Luther Ingram, American RandB singer-songwriter (“(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right”; “I’ll Be Your Shelter”), dies of diabetes related heart failure at 69
2018 – Irwin Hoffman, American conductor, dies at 93
Historical Events for 19th March 2026
1808 – Charles IV, king of Spain, abdicates after riots and a popular revolt at the winter palace Aranjuez. His son, Ferdinand VII, takes the throne
1962 – Columbia Records releases the self-titled debut album of American folk singer Bob Dylan; quickly recorded collection of mostly cover tunes, with two original songs is largely ignored
1969 – Chicago 8 indicted in aftermath of Chicago Democratic convention
1974 – Jefferson Starship begins their 1st tour
1985 – US Senate votes 55-45 to authorize production of the MX “Peacekeeper” intercontinental ballistic missile
1995 – Revival of Brien Friel’s stage drama “Translations”, starring Brian Dennehy, opens at Plymouth Theater NYC for 25 performances
2001 – 16th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Aerosmith; Solomon Burke; The Flamingos; Michael Jackson; Queen; Paul Simon; Steely Dan; Ritchie Valens; James Burton; Johnnie Johnson; and Chris Blackwell
2003 – Airstrikes by an American and British-led coalition signal the beginning of the invasion of Iraq without United Nations support and in defiance of world opinion
Today in History for 19th March 2026
Historical Events
1914 – Stanley Cup, Arena Gardens, Toronto ON: Toronto HC (NHA) defeat Victoria Aristocrats (PCHA), 2-1 for a 3-0 series sweep; final series of the “challenge” era
1956 – Biggest NBA margin of victory – Minn Lakers-133, St Louis Hawks-75
1984 – STS 41-C vehicle moves to launch pad
1995 – Arizona begins using new telephone area code 520, outside of Phoenix
1995 – Finnish Social Democratic Party wins parliamentary election
Famous Birthdays
1914 – Fred Clark, American actor (Burns and Allen, Auntie Mame, Hazard), born in Lincoln, California (d. 1968)
1933 – Renee Taylor [Wexler], American actress (Jack Paar Show; The Nanny – “Sylvia”), born in New York City
1953 – Lord Blair of Boughton [Ian Blair], British police officer who was Metropolitan police commissioner during the 7/7 London terror attacks, born in Chester, England (d. 2025)
1971 – Dalton James, American actor (My Father, The Hero; Beverly Hills 90201 – “Mark”), born in Sacramento, California
1983 – Matt Sydal [Matthew Korklan], American professional wrestler (WWE Raw, AEW Dark), born in St. Louis, Missouri
Famous Deaths
1263 – Hugo of St-Cher/a S Caro, French cardinal, dies
1623 – Uesugi Kagekatsu, Japanese samurai and warlord (b. 1556)
1717 – John Campbell, 1st Earl of Breadalbane and Holland, Scottish royalist
1969 – Theodor Schaefer, Czech composer, dies at 65
2003 – Michael Mathias Prechtl, German illustrator, dies at 76
Famous Deaths for 18th March 2026
1689 – John Dixwell, English judge (b. 1607)
1768 – Lawrence Sterne, Irish writer (Tristram Shandy, Sentimental Journey France and Italy), dies at 54
1835 – Christian Gunther von Bernstorff, Danish-Prussian statesman and diplomat, dies at 65
1907 – Marcellin Berthelot, French chemist (Thomsen–Berthelot principle of thermochemistry), dies at 79
1937 – Charles Haslewood Shannon, English lithographer and painter, dies at 73
1968 – Manuel Gómez Carrillo, Argentine composer, dies at 85
1974 – David Imboden, American silent film actor (King of Kings), muralist, and theater director, dies at 87
1983 – Kenneth E. Boulding, English economist (b. 1910)
2017 – Don Hunstein, American photographer of musicians, dies at 88
2024 – Ron Baynham, English soccer goalkeeper who played 3 internationals and 388 games for Luton Town, dies at 94
Historical Events for 18th March 2026
1859 – Vera Cruz besieged by Miramon (Cons) in Mexican War of Reform
1891 – Britain is linked to the continent by Telephone
1900 – Japan uses its influence over Korea to deny Russia’s efforts to obtain a naval station at Korean Port of Masampo, the lead up to the Russo-Japanese war
1902 – Italian operatic tenor Enrico Caruso becomes the first well-known performer to make a record
1948 – Philips begin experimental TV broadcasting
1950 – CCNY beats Bradley 69-61 for the NIT championship
1982 – 8th People’s Choice Awards: Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jane Fonda win (Motion Picture) and Alan Alda and Barbara Mandrell win (TV)
2005 – Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube is removed at the request of her husband
Today in History for 18th March 2026
Historical Events
1582 – Prince William I of Orange injured in attack at Antwerp
1933 – US Ladies’ Figure Skating championship won by Maribel Vinson
1961 – 6th Eurovision Song Contest: Jean-Claude Pascal for Luxembourg wins “Nous les amoureux” in Cannes
1963 – “Tovarich” opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 264 performances
1989 – Dino Ciccarelli sets Washington Capital record of 7 pts in a game
Famous Birthdays
1877 – Clem Hill, Australian cricket batsman and captain (49 Tests, 7 x 100, HS 191; South Australia CA), born in Adelaide, Australia (d. 1945)
1886 – Marianne Philips, Dutch author (Between Heaven and Earth), born in Amsterdam (d. 1951)
1946 – Michael Reagan, American conservative talk show host and adopted son of Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman, born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2026)
1950 – Frank O’Keefe, American southern rock bassist (The Outlaws, 1968-76), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1995)
1986 – Abdennour Cherif El Ouazzani, Algerian footballer
Famous Deaths
1907 – Marcellin Berthelot, French chemist (Thomsen–Berthelot principle of thermochemistry), dies at 79
1918 – Willem Coenen, Dutch pianist and composer, dies at 81
1982 – George Lampe, Dutch painter and director (Free Academy), dies at 60
1983 – Kenneth E. Boulding, English economist (b. 1910)
1999 – Elizabeth Huckaby, American educator, dies at 93
Famous Deaths for 17th March 2026
1704 – Menno, Baron van Coehoorn, Dutch military engineer (Coevorden mortar), dies at 63
1793 – Leopold Hofmann, Austrian composer and kapellmeister (Cathedral of St. Stephan, 1772-93), dies at 55
1796 – Pieter Paulus, Dutch Patriot and President of the First National Assembly in The Hague, dies of a serious cold at 42
1962 – Frank Orth, American actor (Boston Blackie; Brothers), dies at 82
1992 – Jack Arnold, American actor and director (Sid Caesar Special, Emmy 1967, Creature From the Black Lagoon), dies at 75
1993 – Laadi Flici, Algerian politician and writer, assassinated at 55
2005 – Andre Norton, American writer (b. 1912)
2006 – Bob Papenbrook, American voice actor, dies at 50
2008 – Roland Arnall, American businessman and U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, dies at 68
2022 – Peter Bowles, British actor (I, Claudius; Rumpole of the Bailey – “Featherstone”), dies of cancer at 85
Historical Events for 17th March 2026
1757 – Prince Mas Saïd of Mataram surrenders to Mangkubumi in Java
1775 – Transylvania Land Company, headed by Richard Henderson, buys most of Kentucky through treaty signed with Cherokee chiefs at Sycamore Shoals on the Watauga River (later declared illegal)
1845 – Bristol man Henry Jones patents self-raising flour
1870 – Mass legislature authorizes incorporation of Wellesley Female Seminary
1953 – WWLP TV channel 22 in Springfield, MA (NBC) begins broadcasting
1982 – 4 Dutch TV crew members shot dead in El Salvador
1988 – Then highest scoring NCAA basketball game to date; Loyola-Marymont 119, Wyoming 115
1988 – Iran says Iraq uses poison gas