Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1624 – Netherlands and France sign anti-Spanish Treaty of Compiègne
1902 – Patent for window envelope granted to H. F. Callahan
1945 – US destroyer William D Porter (“Willie Dee”) sunk by kamikaze
1962 – Igor Ter-Ovanesyan of USSR, sets then long jump record at 27′ 3½”
1972 – Sammy Davis Jr.’s cover of “The Candy Man” by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse (from the film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”) goes to #1 on the charts – his biggest single
1979 – French Open Women’s Tennis: Chris Evert dominates Wendy Turnbull of Australia 6-2, 6-0 for her 3rd French singles crown

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Famous Birthdays

1637 – Jacques Marquette, French Jesuit missionary explorer (Chicago), born in Laon, France (d. 1675)
1844 – Albert Neuhuys, Dutch painter of peasant families (Laren School), born in Utrecht, Netherlands (d. 1914)
1859 – Jacques Perk, Dutch poet (Iris, Wood Song), born in Dordrecht, Netherlands (d. 1881)
1909 – Erwin Dressel, German composer, born in Berlin (d. 1972)
1941 – Shirley Owens Alston, American singer (Shirelles – “Soldier Boy”; “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”), born in Henderson, North Carolina
1968 – The D.O.C. [Tracy Curry], American rapper and producer (N.W.A.), born in Dallas, Texas

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Famous Deaths

1190 – Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, dies at 67
1839 – Nathaniel Pryor, American soldier and sergeant of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, dies
1902 – Jacint Verdaguer, Catalan poet (b. 1845)
1906 – Richard Seddon, New Zealand politician (longest serving Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1893-1906), dies at 61
1949 – John T. McCutcheon, American cartoonist (Pulitzer Prize-1931), dies at 79
2010 – Metropolitan Basil Schott, Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (b. 1939)

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Historical Events

1933 – Walter Johnson takes over as Cleveland Indians manager
1934 – 66th Belmont: Wayne D Wright aboard Peace Chance wins in 2:29.2
1959 – 1st ballistic missile sub launched (George Washington-Groton, Ct)
1963 – Barbra Streisand appears, for her third time, on “The Ed Sullivan Show”
2016 – World Health Organzsation advises delaying pregnancy in areas with the Zika virus
2021 – US President Joe Biden begins his first foreign trip, arriving in the UK to attend a G7 summit

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Famous Birthdays

1925 – Keith Laumer [Anthony LeBaron], American sci-fi author (Retief’s War), born in Syracuse, New York (d. 1993)
1928 – Geraint Gruffydd, Welsh scholar (University of Wales), born in Tal-y-bont, Wales (d. 2015)
1941 – Jon Lord, British keyboardist and composer (Deep Purple – “Smoke On The Water”; Whitesnake), born in Leicester, England (d. 2012)
1941 – Maurizio Zamparini, Italian football executive (owner/director Palermo FC 2002–18), born in Sevegliano, Italy (d. 2022)
1961 – Aaron Sorkin, American screenwriter and playwright (A Few Good Men; The West Wing), born in New York City
1978 – Shandi Finnessey, game hostess

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Famous Deaths

62 – Claudia Octavia, wife of Roman Emperor Nero and daughter of Emperor Claudius, killed on Nero’s orders at 22
597 – Saint Columba, Irish Christian missionary to Scotland, dies at 75
1931 – Henrique Oswald, Brazilian composer, dies at 79
1958 – Robert Donat, English actor (Citadel, Goodbye Mr Chips, 39 Steps), dies at 53
1976 – Paul Rodenko, Dutch poet and writer (Never Marry a Witch), dies at 55
1994 – Dhirendra Bhramachari [Flying Swami], hindu leader, dies at 70

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Historical Events

1824 – Washing machine patented by Noah Cushing of Quebec
1969 – MLB legend Mickey Mantle gives his farewell retirement speech during “Mickey Mantle Day” at Yankee Stadium, 60,096 see #7 retired
1969 – Nixon says 25,000 US troops would leave Vietnam by end of August
1974 – 106th Belmont: Miguel Rivera aboard Little Current wins in 2:29.2
1975 – 2 passenger trains collided near Munich, Germany killing 35
1996 – PBA National Championship Won by Butch Soper

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Famous Birthdays

1812 – Spyridon Xyndas, Greek composer, born in Corfu, Greece (d. 1896)
1906 – Charles Janssens, Belgian actor (Mira, Malpertuis), born in Borgerhout, Belgium (d. 1986)
1949 – Hildegard Falck, German athlete (Olympic gold 800m 1972 FRG), born in Nettelrede, Germany
1969 – J.P. Manoux, American actor, born in Fresno, California
1981 – Sara Watkins, American fiddle player
1995 – Tom Grennan, English singer-songwriter (Little Bit of Love), born in Bedford, England

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Famous Deaths

1383 – Thomas de Ros, 5th Baron de Ros, English Crusader (b. 1338)
1871 – Satank, Kiowa indian chief, shot to death
1876 – George Sand [Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dudevant], French author (Indiana, Consuelo), dies at 71
1973 – Eino Linnala, Finnish composer, pedagogue, and musicologist dies at 76
1973 – Christine Bakker-van Bosse, Dutch feminist and pacifist, dies at 88
2007 – Richard Rorty, American postanalytic, pragmatic philosopher (b. 1931)

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Historical Events

1944 – British forces attack Bréville in France during the Normandy invasion while other British forces attempt to encircle Caen
1946 – US Supreme Court bans discrimination in interstate travel
1969 – Supergroup Blind Faith’s debut performance in Hyde Park, London, featuring Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Steve Baler and Rick Grech
1979 – Bhaskara 1, Indian Earth resources/meteorology satellite, launched
2009 – French Open Men’s Tennis: Roger Federer wins his only French title, outclassing Robin Söderling of Sweden 6-1, 7-6, 6-4
2013 – 42 people are killed and 30 are injured after a bus catches fire in Xiamen, China

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Famous Birthdays

1891 – Athos Palma, Argentine composer, born in Buenos Aires (d. 1951)
1921 – Tal Farlow, American jazz guitarist, born in Greensboro, North Carolina (d. 1998)
1928 – Charles Strouse, American composer (Bye Bye Birdie; Annie), born in NYC, New York
1933 – Herb Score, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1955, 56; Cleveland Indians) and announcer (Cleveland Indians 1964-97), born in Rosedale, New York (d. 2008)
1969 – Lachlan Elmer, Australian field hockey halfback (Olympic silver 1992, 96)
1974 – Edward “Bear” Grylls, British adventurer, author and TV presenter (Man vs. Wild), born in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland

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Famous Deaths

1840 – Frederik Willem III, King of Prussia (1797-1840), dies at 69
1859 – David Cox, English painter (Treatise on Landscape Paint), dies at 73
1915 – Benjamin Lambord, American composer, dies at 35
1984 – George Givot, actor (Versatile Vaudeville), dies at 81
2011 – Jorge Semprún, Spanish-French writer (2nd mort de R Mercader, Z), dies at 87
2021 – Yoo Sang-chul, South Korean soccer midfielder (124 caps; 2002 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team; Ulsan Hyundai), dies from pancreatic cancer at 49

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Historical Events

1921 – Detroit Stars’ Bill Gatewood pitches the 1st no-hitter in Negro League history, defeating the Cuban Stars 4-0
1966 – NFL and AFL announce their merger
1975 – Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam established
2004 – 58th Tony Awards: “Avenue Q” (musical) and “I Am My Own Wife” (play) win
2004 – French Open Men’s Tennis: Gastón Gaudio of Argentina beats countryman Guillermo Coria 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6 for his lone major title
2017 – Floods in Salto, Paysandú and Artigas in Uruguay displace over 3,000 people

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Famous Birthdays

1879 – Patrick Abercrombie, English architect and town planner, born in Ashton upon Mersey, Cheshire, England (d. 1957)
1947 – David Blunkett, English blind politician, Home Secretary (2001-4), born in Sheffield, England
1948 – Richard Sinclair, British progressive rock bassist, singer, guitarist, and songwriter (Caravan -“In the Land of Grey and Pink”), born in Canterbury, England
1961 – Sydney Walsh, American actress (Maureen “Mo” DeMott in Hooperman), born in Manhattan, NYC, New York, United States
1972 – Gary Downs, running back (Atlanta Falcons)
2017 – Alexander and Ella Clooney, twin children of actor George and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, born in London

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Famous Deaths

1563 – Ikeda Nagamasa, Japanese samurai commander (b. 1519)
1740 – Alexander Spotswood, British governor of Virginia Colony
1962 – Yves Klein, French sculptor and painter, dies at 34
1968 – Franklin Clark Fry, American minister (World Rad of Church), dies at 67
1968 – Randolph Churchill, son of Winston Churchill (b. 1911)
1997 – Magda Gabor [Magdolna Gábor], Hungarian actress (Mai lányok, People vs Zsa Zsa Gabor), dies of renal failure at 81

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Historical Events

1661 – Isaac Newton admitted as a student to Trinity College, Cambridge
1879 – 13th Belmont: George Evans riding Spendthrift wins in 2:42.75
1884 – William Sherman refuses Republican presidential nomination saying “I will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected”
1913 – Dutch Disability laws go into effect
1957 – NY narcotics investigator, Dr Herbert Berger, urges AMA to investigate use of stimulating drugs by athletes
1993 – “Livin’ On The Edge” by Aerosmith hits #18

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Famous Birthdays

1736 – Corneille-François de Nélis, Flemish scholar and bishop of Antwerp, born in Mechelen, Belgium (d. 1798)
1819 – John Couch Adams, English astronomer (co-discoverer of Neptune), born in Laneast, Launceston, Cornwall (d. 1892)
1884 – Ivy Compton-Burnett, English novelist (Manservant and Maidservant), born in Pinner, Middlesex, England (d. 1969)
1935 – Peter Schat, Dutch opera composer (Labyrint, Houdine, Symposion), born in Utrecht, Netherlands (d. 2003)
1949 – Ken Follett, Welsh spy author (Eye of the Needle, Lie Down with Lions), born in Cardiff, Wales
1973 – Gella Vandecaveye, Belgian judoka, born in Kortrijk, Belgium

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Famous Deaths

1017 – Sanjō, 67th Emperor of Japan (1011-16), dies at 42
1568 – Philips van Montmorency count of Horne, admiral/statesman, beheaded
1825 – Odysseas Androutsos, hero in the Greek War of Independence (Chani of Gravia,), executed for supposedly collaborating with the Ottomans at 37
1999 – Mel Tormé, American singer (The Velvet Fog) and composer (The Christmas Song), dies at 73
2002 – Gwen Plumb, Australian actress (The Young Doctors), dies at 89
2015 – Tariq Aziz, Iraqi politician and close adviser to Saddam Hussein, dies at 79

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Historical Events

1892 – Oil City and Titusville, Pennsylvania, destroyed by oil tank explosion; 130 die
1928 – French Championship Women’s Tennis: Helen Wills beats England’s Eileen Bennett 6-1, 6-2 for her first of 4 French singles titles
1928 – President of the Republic of China Zhang Zuolin is assassinated by Japanese agents
1940 – 1st night game at Forbes Field (Pirates 14, Braves 2)
1966 – Novelty single “Batman and His Grandmother” by Dickie Goodman hits #70
1988 – 42nd Tony Awards: “M. Butterfly” (play) and “The Phantom of the Opera” (musical) win

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Famous Birthdays

1754 – Franz Xaver, Baron Von Zach, Austrian astronomer, born in Pest, Hungary (d. 1832)
1803 – Gabriel J. Rains, American army officer, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in New Bern, North Carolina (d. 1881)
1914 – Willy-August Linnemann, Danish writer and journalist, born in Harrislee, Germany (d. 1985)
1926 – Nan Leslie [Nan Coppage], American actress (Kings Row, The Californians), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2000)
1958 – Tony Pigott, English cricketer (England pace bowler in a Test v NZ 1984), born in Fulham, London, England
1966 – Cecilia Bartoli, Italian mezzo-soprano, born in Rome, Italy

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Famous Deaths

1135 – Huizong, 8th Emperor of Song Dynasty of China, dies at 53
1983 – Ivan Tors, Hungarian TV producer (Sea Hunt, Flipper), dies at 66
1997 – Ronnie Lane, British rock bassist (Small Faces), dies of multiple sclerosis at 51
2007 – Clete Boyer, American MLB baseball infielder, 1955-71 (New York Yankees, and 2 other teams), dies at 70
2007 – Freddie Scott, American singer and songwriter (“Cry To Me”), dies at 74
2007 – Jim Clark, American sheriff and segregationist (b. 1922)

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Historical Events

1658 – Pope Alexander VII appoints François de Laval vicar apostolic in New France
1861 – 1st American Civil War land battle: Union forces defeat the Confederacy at Philippi in modern-day West Virginia
1913 – Dutch 1st Chamber accepts Health laws
1925 – Goodyear airship “Pilgrim” is the first to have an enclosed cabin
1948 – Musical “Sleepy Hollow”, based on Washington Irving’s novel, opens at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 12 performances
2014 – President Obama announces his plan for a $1 billion fund to increase deployment of US troops to Europe

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Famous Birthdays

1868 – (Ivar) Henning Mankell, Swedish pianist and composer, born in Härnösand, Sweden (d. 1930)
1888 – Tom Brown, American dixieland jazz trombonist, born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1958)
1900 – Gerard den Brabander [Jan G Jofriet], Dutch poet (Nothing New) (d. 1968)
1923 – Igor Shafarevich, Russian mathematician, born in Zhitomir, Ukraine (d. 2017)
1936 – David Nicholls, English Anglican priest, theologian and political theorist, born in Woking, England (d. 1996)
1947 – Mike Burgmann, Australian racing driver (d. 1986)

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Famous Deaths

1844 – Louis Antoine, French Duke of Angoulême and General of France, dies at 68
1881 – Japanese giant salamander, dies in Dutch zoo at 55; oldest amphibian
1898 – Samuel Plimsoll, English politician and social reformer (invented Plimsoll line for ships), dies at 74
1959 – Ole Windingstad, Norwegian conductor (Brooklyn’s Scandinavian Symphony Orchestra, 1913-39), pianist and composer, dies after a heart attack at 73
1994 – Jack Cowie, New Zealand cricket fast bowler (9 Tests, 45 wickets; Auckland CA) and umpire (3 Tests 1956–59), dies at 82
2017 – Jimmy Piersall, American baseball outfielder (MLB All Star 1954, 56; his bipolar disorder subject book and film, “Fear Strikes Out”), dies at 87

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Historical Events

1901 – Benjamin Adams arrested for playing golf on Sunday (NY)
1932 – Fisherman George W. Perry catches the world record largemouth bass, weighing in at 22 pounds, 4 ounces, at Lake Montgomery, Georgia
1943 – German assault on Sebastopol, Crimea, begins
1947 – Monte Carlo and Alma Sanders’ musical “Louisiana Lady” opens at Century Theater, NYC; runs for 4 performances
1990 – “Turtle Power” by Partners In Kryme hits #13
1991 – Three Andrettis finished 1-2-3 in the Miller 200 at Wisconsin

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Famous Birthdays

1802 – Adrian van der Hoop Jr, Dutch poet and critic (d. 1841)
1936 – Sally Kellerman, American actress (M*A*S*H (film); Back to School; The Player), and singer, born in Long Beach, California (d. 2022)
1943 – Maarten B Engwirda, Dutch 2nd Chamber member (D66)
1956 – Malcolm Garrett, English graphic designer
1963 – Norm Lewis, American stage and screen actor and singer, born in Tallahassee, Florida
1972 – Wayne Brady, American actor and comedian (The Wayne Brady Show, Whose Line Is It Anyway?), born in Columbus, Georgia

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Famous Deaths

1873 – François George-Hainl, French cellist and composer, dies at 65
1940 – Willem Roelofs, Dutch painter and cartoonist, dies at 66
1974 – Hiroshi Kazato, Japanese racing driver, dies at 25
1988 – Horace Hildreth, American politician (Gov-Maine, 1945-49) and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan (1953-57), dies at 85
1990 – Robert Noyce, American inventor (co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor in 1957 and Intel Corporation in 1968), dies at 62
2013 – John Gilbert, British politician and Minister (Labour), dies at 86

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Historical Events

1848 – Revolutionary newspaper “Neue Rheinische Zeitung” founded by Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and the Communist League in Cologne
1923 – New York Giants rout Philadelphia Phillies, 22-5 at the Baker Bowl; first time in 20th century a MLB team has scored in every inning
1939 – Retired German Colonel-general Gerd von Runstedt returns to service
1943 – Germany shoots down a civilian flight from Lisbon to London, 13 passengers, included actor Leslie Howard, and 4 crew die
1953 – WDAY TV channel 6 in Fargo, ND (ABC/NBC) begins broadcasting
2022 – Turkey officially changes its name to Türkiye at the United Nations and internationally

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Famous Birthdays

1503 – Wilhelm von Grumbach, German adventurer (tried to incite German Knights against Holy Roman Empire), born in Rimpar (d. 1567)
1833 – John Marshall Harlan, American lawyer and Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1877-1911), born in Boyle County, Kentucky (d. 1911)
1892 – Samuel L M Barlow II, American composer (Mon Ami Pierrot), born in NYC, New York (d. 1982)
1917 – William S. Knowles, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate, (d. 2012)
1979 – Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer (Mojang; Minecraft), born in Stockholm, Sweden
1981 – Carlos Zambrano, Venezuelan baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 2004, 06, 08; NL wins leader 2006; no-hitter 2008), born in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela

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Famous Deaths

1935 – Alberto Cametti, Italian composer, dies at 64
1943 – Leslie Howard [Stainer], British actor (Gone With The Wind; Of Human Bondage), dies after Nazis shoot down his plane at 50
1952 – John Dewey, American philosopher (Common Faith), dies at 92
1968 – [Johan] Erik Lindegren, Swedish poet/interpreter, dies at 57
1969 – Michiyo Tsujimura, Japanese agricultural scientist and biochemist (components of green tea), dies at 81
1997 – Nikolai Tikhonov, Soviet politician (Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union 1980-85), dies at 92

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