Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1823 – United Provinces of Central America declares itself independent of Mexico and Spain
1847 – First US postage stamps go on sale, 5 cent Franklin and 10 cent Washington, NYC
1862 – US Internal Revenue Law imposes first federal taxes on inheritance, tobacco, and incomes over $600 (progressive rate)
1960 – Robert Bolt’s “A Man For All Seasons” premieres in London
1978 – Former US President Richard Nixon makes his first public speech since resigning in 1974

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Famous Birthdays

1879 – Leon Jouhaux, French socialist and co-founder UN’s ILO (Nobel 1951), born in Paris (d. 1954)
1896 – Pavel Antokolsky, Russian poet and theatre director (Syn), born in St. Petersburg, Russian Empire (d. 1978)
1915 – Joseph Ransohoff, American neurosurgeon and pioneer in the modern neurosurgery, born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 2001)
1953 – Mike Haynes, American College-Pro Football HOF cornerback (Super Bowl XVIII LA Raiders; First-team All-Pro 1984, 85; 9 x Pro Bowl; NE Patriots), born in Denison, Texas
1955 – Li Keqiang, Chinese Premier of the State Council and China’s head of government, born in Dingyuan County, Anhui Province (d. 2023)

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Famous Deaths

1614 – Isaac Casaubon, English classical scholar (Atheneaus), dies at 55
1860 – Charles Goodyear, American chemist and manufacturing engineer who invented the vulcanization process for rubber, dies at 59
1931 – Alice Mary Robertson, American educator, social worker and 2nd woman in US Congress, dies at 77
1943 – C Bakker, Dutch resistance fighter (census bureau), executed
2017 – Norman Dorsen, American lawyer, human rights advocate and president of the American Civil Liberties Union, dies of complications from a stroke at 86

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Historical Events

1979 – “Good Times” single released by Chic (Billboard Song of the Year 1979)
1996 – “Moon Over Buffalo” closes at Martin Beck Theater NYC after 308 performances
1998 – Sega Channel, cable’s 1st on-demand video game service, closes down
2006 – Cirque du Soleil’s musical-acrobatic extravaganza “The Beatles – LOVE” opens in a specially built theatre at The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada
2013 – US Open Women’s Golf, Sebonack GC: Inbee Park of South Korea wins her second US title, 4 strokes ahead of compatriot I.K. Kim

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Famous Birthdays

1669 – Mauritius Vogt, German composer, born in Königshofen, Electorate of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1730)
1743 – Niels Schiørring, Danish musician and composer, born in Favrskov Municipality, Denmark (d. 1798)
1912 – Tibor de Machula, Hungarian-Dutch cellist, born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania (d. 1982)
1967 – Tom Spencer, English punk rock singer, guitarist and songwriter (The Yo-Yo’s; The Professionals), born in Chipping Barnet, England
1978 – Ben Cousins, Australian Football League player (Richmond), born in Geelong, Victoria

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Famous Deaths

1839 – Johan Olof Wallin, Swedish poet and archbishop (Dead Angel), dies at 59
1953 – Göte Carlid, Swedish composer (Eine kleine Teemusik), dies at 32
1993 – Spanky McFarland, American actor (Our Gang; The Little Rascals), dies suddenly at age 64
2002 – Pete Gray [Wyshner], American baseball outfielder (First of three one-armed men to play MLB; St Louis Browns), dies at 87
2020 – Aleksandr Kabanov, Russian water polo player (Olympic gold 1972, 80; World C’ship gold 1975, 82) and coach (Russian men’s and women’s teams), dies at 72

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Historical Events

1072 – Former Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes blinded by rivals and exiled
1863 – Confederate General Robert Lee orders his forces to concentrate near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
1900 – The Imperial Chinese Court issues what is essentially a declaration of war against foreigners in China, blaming them for hostilities and giving license to the Boxers for even greater ferocity
1969 – US Open Women’s Golf, Scenic Hills CC: Donna Caponi wins first of 4 major titles; beat Peggy Wilson by 1 stroke
2017 – Mihai Tudose confirmed as Romanian Prime Minister, by parliament, succeeding Sorin Grindeanu

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Famous Birthdays

1805 – Hiram Powers, American sculptor (Greek Slave), born in Woodstock, Vermont (d. 1873)
1885 – André Gailhard, French classical music composer, born in Paris, France (d. 1966)
1919 – Slim Pickens [Louis Burton Lindley Jr], American rodeo performer and actor (Dr Strangelove; Blazing Saddles), born in Kingsburg, California (d. 1983)
1964 – Stedman Pearson, English pop vocalist (Five Star – “Rain or Shine”; “The Slightest Touch”), born in Islington, London
1978 – Nicole Scherzinger, American singer (Pussycat Dolls), born in Honolulu, Hawaii

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Famous Deaths

1953 – Jules van Nuffel, Belgian composer, priest, and musicologist (Nova Organi Harmonia), dies at 70
1967 – Oskar Maria Graf, German-American writer (Wir sind Gefangene (We Are Prisoners)), dies at 72
1999 – Allan Carr, American film producer and director (Grease, Happiest Millionaire), dies at 62
2000 – Coen Flink, Dutch actor (Pastorale 1943, Havinck, Honneponnetje), dies at 68
2018 – Irina Szewińska, Polish athlete, administrator (Olympic various sprint gold 1964, 68, 76), dies of cancer at 72

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Historical Events

1855 – Sigma Chi Fraternity is founded at Miami University
1869 – Amsterdam typographer strike
1923 – MLB Brooklyn Robins blow 7-0 lead, as Phillies win 8-7 at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia
1948 – British begin airlift “Operation Plainfare” to West Berlin
2024 – Boy band Seventeen are the first K-pop group to play the main Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury

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Famous Birthdays

1893 – Luciano Gallet, Brazilian pianist, composer, conductor, and educator, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (d. 1931)
1907 – Paul-Emile Victor, French polar explorer, ethnologist, and writer (La civilisation du phoque), born in Geneva, Switzerland (d. 1995)
1957 – Mike Skinner, American auto racer (NASCAR SuperTruck Series 1995; Daytona 500 pole and Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year 1997), born in Susanville, California
1962 – Anisoara Stanciu-Cusmir, Romanian long jumper (Olympic gold 1984), born in Brăila, Romania
1983 – Maui Taylor, Filipino model and actress (Kool Ka Lang), born in Brighton, England

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Famous Deaths

1971 – Martha Wise, American serial killer who poisoned 17 family members, one of the most sensational murder cases of the 1920s in Ohio, dies in prison at 88
1981 – Floyd “Candy” Johnson, American jazz saxophonist (Andy Kirk; Count Basie; Bill Doggett), and educator, dies at 59
2001 – Mortimer J. Adler, American philosopher and author (Encyclopedia Brittanica), dies at 98
2003 – Russell Endean, South African cricket wicketkeeper (28 Tests, 3 x 100, HS 162no, 41 dismissals; Transvaal, MCC), dies at 79
2022 – Deborah James, British teacher, journalist, author (You, Me and the Big C), and charity campaigner, dies of cancer at 40

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Historical Events

1914 – US signs treaty of commerce with Ethiopia
1999 – Tony Hawk is the first skateboarder to land a “900” (a 2½-revolution aerial spin) at the X Games in San Francisco, California
2003 – Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Radiohead, Moby, and R.E.M. headline; other performers include David Gray, The Polyphonic Spree; Jimmy Cliff, Sigur Rós, Los Lobos, and Yes
2018 – Democrat Representative Joseph Crowley is defeated in New York Primary election by liberal challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
2023 – Archaeologists in Roman city of Pompeii uncover a “pizza” painting in a fresco from house next to a bakery (more likely flatbread as lacks essential ingredients tomatoes and mozzarella)

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Famous Birthdays

1884 – Gaston Bachelard, French philosopher (La psychanalyse du feu), born in Bar-sur-Aube, France (d. 1962)
1889 – Alfred Courtens, Belgian sculptor, born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1967)
1905 – Ruby Middleton Forsythe, African-American teacher who taught for 50 years in one-room schoolhouse in South Carolina, born in Charleston, South Carolina (d. 1992)
1959 – Dan Jurgens, American comic book writer (The Death of Superman), born in Ortonville, Minnesota
1966 – J. J. Abrams, American writer, producer and director (Lost; Star Wars: the Force Awakens; Mission Impossible III), born in New York City

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Famous Deaths

1917 – Karl Allmenröder, German World War I flying Ace, dies at 21
2010 – Dolph Briscoe, American businessman and 41st Governor of Texas (1973-79), dies at 87
2011 – Elaine Stewart, American actress and model (The Bad and the Beautiful, Take the High Ground), dies at 81
2016 – Alvin Toffler, American author (Future Shock, Power Shift, The Third Wave), dies at 87
2025 – Audrey Shakir, American jazz vocalist (Jazz at the Lincoln Center Big Band), dies at 73

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Historical Events

1929 – ENKA/Vereinigte Glanzstoff Factory merge AKU (Genl Kunstzijde Union)
1946 – Fred Allen’s last radio show, his guest is Jack Benny
1994 – 107°F (41.6°C) at Albuquerque, New Mexico
2019 – Two US Florida towns pay hackers considerable ransom to unfreeze their computer systems; Riviera Beach $600,00 and Lake City $500,000
2024 – Outgoing Dutch PM Mark Rutte is appointed as the next NATO Secretary General

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Famous Birthdays

1873 – George Walker, American vaudevillian, stage actor, and producer, born in Lawrence, Kansas (d. 1911)
1888 – Paul Niggli, Swiss mineralogist (crystal structures), born in Zonfingen, Switzerland (d. 1953)
1929 – Francesco Cossiga, Italian politician and 8th President of the Italian Republic (1985-92), born in Sassari, Kingdom of Italy (d. 2010)
1945 – Dwight York, Nuwaubian leader (Nuwaubian Nation), born in Boston, Massachusetts
1971 – Carlton Gray, American NFL cornerback (Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts), born in Cincinnati, Ohio

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Famous Deaths

1960 – Henrik Shipstead, American Senator (1923-1947), who opposed foreign intervention, dies at 79
1994 – Bob den Doolaard, Dutch author and journalist (Inn with the horseshoe), dies at 93
1997 – William Turnbull Jr., American architect who helped design the Sea Ranch, dies of cancer at 62
2000 – Logan Ramsey, American actor (Head, Joy Sticks, Say Yes), dies of a heart attack at 79
2020 – Theo Foley, Irish soccer defender (9 caps, Republic of Ireland; Burnley, Charlton Athletic) and manager (Northampton Town), dies at 83

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Historical Events

1912 – British Open Men’s Golf, Muirfield: Ted Ray wins wire-to-wire by 4 shots from defending champion Harry Vardon
1919 – Revolt of Spartacus in Hamburg
1934 – NY Yankee Lou Gehrig hits for the cycle beating White Sox 11-2
2018 – Californian Governor Jerry Brown declares State of Emergency for wildfire spread over 8,200 acres in Lake County
2023 – Greek voters re-elect Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ New Democracy Party by a landslide

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Famous Birthdays

1612 – John Albert Vasa, Polish bishop, born in Warsaw, Poland (d. 1634)
1863 – Émile Francqui, Belgian soldier and diplomat, born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1935)
1942 – Joe Chambers, American jazz drummer, vibraphonist, and composer, born in Chester, Pennsylvania
1964 – Dell Curry, American basketball guard and broadcaster (NBA Sixth Man of The Year 1994; Charlotte Hornets all-time points leader [9,839]), born in Harrisonburg, Virginia
2004 – Mikhail Shaidorov, Kazakhstani figure skater (2026 Olympic Champion, World silver medalist, Four Continents champion), second Kazakhstani athlete to win gold at a Winter Olympics, born in Almaty, Kazakhstan

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Famous Deaths

1514 – Berta Jacobsdr [Suster Bertken], Dutch hermit, dies at 87
1960 – Tommy Corcoran, American baseball shortstop (MLB shortstop game assist record 14), dies at 91
1978 – Barry Brown, American actor (Frederick Winterbourne-Daisy Miller), dies at 27
2009 – Michael Jackson, American recording artist, dancer and King of Pop (“Thriller”; “Billie Jean”; “Bad”), dies of cardiac arrest at 50
2022 – Bill Woolsey, American swimmer (Olympic gold men’s 4×200m freestyle relay 1952, silver 1956), dies at 87

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Historical Events

1396 – Crusaders under Earl of Nevers reach Vienna
1472 – Byzantine princess Sophia Palaiologina departs Rome with a large entourage for Moscow to marry Ivan III
1619 – Tsar Michail’s father Filaret becomes patriarch of Moscow
1947 – Flying saucers sighted over Mount Rainier by pilot Ken Arnold
1963 – First demonstration of a home video recorder at BBC Studios in London

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Famous Birthdays

1788 – Thomas Blanchard, American machinist and inventor, born in Sutton, Massachusetts (d. 1864)
1916 – Saloua Raouda Choucair, Lebanese abstract artist (Movement of the Angle; Infinite Module), born in Beirut, Lebanon (d. 2017)
1939 – Brigitte Fontaine, French pop and avant-garde singer-songwriter, playwright, and novelist, born in Morlaix, France
1960 – Juli Inkster, American golfer (7 LPGA major titles; US Open 1999, 2002), born in Santa Cruz, California
1985 – Yukina Shirakawa, Japanese gravure idol, born in Shizuoka, Japan

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Famous Deaths

1572 – Cornelis van Diest, Dutch lay brother of Enkhuizen, hanged
1913 – Frank Lynes, American composer, dies at 55
1962 – Volfgangs Dārziņš, Latvian composer, pianist, folklorist, and music critic, dies at 54
2005 – Paul Winchell (Wilchinsky), American ventriloquist (Jerry Mahoney, Knucklehead Smiff), inventor (mechanical artificial human heart,1963), voice actor (Winnie the Pooh – “Tigger”; Dick Dastardly; The Banana Splits -“Fleegle”), and acupuncturist, dies at 82
2009 – Roméo LeBlanc, Canadian politician, 25th Governor General of Canada (1995-99), dies at 81

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Historical Events

1906 – US National Championship Women’s Tennis, Philadelphia CC: Helen Homans beats Maud Barger-Wallach 6-4, 6-3 for her lone major singles title
1927 – New York future Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman Lou Gehrig hits 3 HRs in Yankees’ 11-4 victory over Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park
1975 – Rocker Alice Cooper falls off the stage in Vancouver and breaks six ribs
1983 – US Supreme Court ruled Congress could not veto presidential decisions
2010 – Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Gorillaz, Muse, and Stevie Wonder headline; other performers include Vampire Weekend, Snoop Dogg; Shakira, Willie Nelson, Ray Davies and The Pet Shop Boys

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Famous Birthdays

1668 – Giambattista Vico, Italian philosopher and historian (New Science), born in Naples, Kingdom of Naples (d. 1744)
1824 – Carl Reinecke, German pianist, composer and teacher (Undine Sonata), born in Altona, Duchy of Holstein, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1910)
1859 – Florentinus M Wibaut, Amsterdams social alderman (building of houses), born in Vlissingen, Netherlands (d. 1936)
1943 – James Levine, American conductor (Metropolitan Opera, 1976-2017), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 2021)
1972 – Selma Blair, American actress (Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde), born in Southfield, Michigan

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Famous Deaths

1956 – Reinhold Glière, Russian-Soviet composer, dies at 81
1996 – Ray Lindwall, Australian cricket fast bowler (61 Tests, 228 wickets @ 23.03), dies from a stroke at 74
1997 – Betty Shabazz, American educator and civil rights activist who was the widow of Malcolm X, dies from burns suffered in a fire started by her young grandson at 63
2006 – Aaron Spelling, American television producer (Charlie’s Angels, Dynasty), dies at 83
2019 – Dave Bartholomew, American RandB, rock, and jazz musician, composer, producer, and songwriter (“I Hear You Knocking”; “Ain’t That A Shame”; “Walkin’ To New Orleans”), dies at 100

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Historical Events

1812 – Upon learning of plans by the Americans to execute a surprise attack, Laura Secord walks 32 km to warn British troops, results in a British surprise victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams
1936 – Virgin Islands receives a constitution from US (Organic Act)
1959 – Vanguard SLV-6 launched for Earth orbit (fails)
1977 – Walt Disney’s animated film “The Rescuers” is released, first Disney film to get a sequel
2002 – WLAF World Bowl 10, Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf: Berlin Thunder beats Rhein Fire, 26-20

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Famous Birthdays

1888 – Harold Burton, American politician (Rep (R) Ohio 1941-45), U.S. Supreme Court justice, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1964)
1937 – Bernie McGann, Australian jazz alto saxophone player and composer, born in Granville, Australia (d. 2013)
1939 – Don Matthews, American CFL HOF coach (Grey Cup 1985 BC Lions, 1995 Baltimore Stallions, 1996-97 Toronto Argonauts, 2002 Montreal Alouettes), born in Amesbury, Massachusetts (d. 2017)
1944 – Michael Obst, German coxsman (Olympic gold 1960), born in German FR
1952 – Graham Greene, First Nations actor (Dances with Wolves; The Green Mile; Leonard on “Northern Exposure”), born in Ohsweken, Six Nations Reserve, Ontario (d. 2025)

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Famous Deaths

1535 – John Fisher, English Catholic clergyman (Bishop of Rochester, 1504-35; Cardinal, 1535), martyr, and saint, executed and beheaded by order of Henry VIII at about 65
1984 – (Dillwyn) “Dill” Jones, Welsh jazz stride pianist, dies of throat cancer at 60
1992 – Chuck Mitchell, American actor (General Hospital, Porky’s, Better Off Dead), dies at 64
2015 – James Horner, American Academy Award-winning film composer (Titanic; Apollo 13; Avatar), dies in a plane crash at 61
2017 – Hervé Filion, Canadian harness racing driver (World Driving C’ship 1970; Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year 1969-74, 76, 78, 81, 89), dies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 77

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