Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1796 – Napoleon and the French defeat the Piedmontese at Battle of Mondovi
1961 – Dirk Stikker chosen as secretary general of NATO
1965 – New York World’s Fair reopens for 2nd and final season
1970 – The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) is formed; it attempts to appeal to Catholics and Protestant to unite in support of moderate policies
1987 – Dow Jones Average soared 664.7; 2nd biggest one-day gain in history
1996 – PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: Hale Irwin beats Japan’s Isao Aoki by 2 strokes for his first of 4 Senior PGA Championships

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Famous Birthdays

1488 – Ulrich von Hutten, German knight, scholar and poet (led Imperial Knights against Roman Catholic Church), born in Schlüchtern, Hesse (d. 1523)
1555 – Ludovico Carracci, Italian painter, born in Bologna, Italy (d. 1619)
1936 – Anthony Joseph Gnazzo, American electronic composer (First Things First), born in Plainville, Connecticut
1947 – John Weider, bassist (Family-Family Entertainment)
1971 – Alexander Kravchenko, Russian professional poker player
1975 – Danyon Loader, New Zealand 200m and 400m swimmer (2 Olympic gold medals 1996), born in Dunedin, New Zealand

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Famous Deaths

1719 – Philippe de la Hire, French mathematician and historian (b. 1640)
1930 – Robert Bridges, English poet (Testament of beauty) and British Poet Laureate (1913-30), dies at 85
1993 – Hal Schumacher, American baseball pitcher (World Series 1933; MLB All-Star 1933, 35; New York Giants), dies at 82
1996 – A H Kardar, cricketer (3 Tests for India and 23 for Pak 1946-58), dies
2017 – Ugo Ehiogu, English soccer defender (4 caps; Aston Villa, Middlesborough), dies from cardiac arrest at 44
2018 – Verne Troyer, American actor (Mini-Me in Austin Powers movies), dies at 49

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Historical Events

1810 – The Governors of Caracas declares the national sovereignty from Spain
1871 – US 3rd Enforcement Act (President can suspend writ of habeas corpus)
1899 – David Beatty is appointed executive officer of the HMS Barfleur, a small battleship and flagship of the China Station
1942 – German occupiers forbids Dutch access to their beach
1968 – Pierre Trudeau sworn in as Canada’s 15th Prime Minister
1972 – Virgil Thomson’s final opera, “Lord Byron”, with libretto by Jack Larson, first performance at Lincoln Center, New York City

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Famous Birthdays

1705 – Balthasar Schmid, German composer and printer, born in Nuremberg, Bavaria (d. 1749)
1915 – Joseph Wolpe, South African psychotherapist, born in Johannesburg, South Africa (d. 1997)
1963 – Aubrey de Grey, British biomedical gerontologist, born in London
1964 – Andy Serkis, English actor (Gollum in Lord of the Rings), born in London, England
1965 – Kostas Hatzidakis, Greek politician (New Democracy Party), born in Rethymno, Greece
1965 – Adrian Fernández, Mexican racing driver and co-owner of the Fernandez Racing team, born in Mexico City

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Famous Deaths

1887 – Muhammad Sharif Pasha, Egyptian statesman (b. 1826)
1912 – Bram Stoker, Irish theater manager and author (Dracula), dies at 64
1971 – Cecil Parker, British actor (The Lady Vanishes, Indiscreet, Tale of 2 Cities), dies at 73
1973 – Elisabeth Hauptmann, German writer (co-author of The Threepenny Opera), dies at 75
1995 – Tessie O’Shea, Welsh stage and screen entertainer, dies at 81
1996 – Christopher Robin Milne, bookseller, dies at 75

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Historical Events

1775 – New England militiamen begin the siege of Boston, hemming in the British army garrison
1825 – 33 patriotic exiles return to Uruguay
1924 – “National Barn Dance” premieres on WLS Chicago
1953 – WAFB TV channel 9 in Baton Rouge, LA (CBS) begins broadcasting
1982 – 86th Boston Marathon: American Alberto Salazar claims men’s title in 2:08:51; Charlotte Teske of West Germany wins women’s section in 2:29:33
2018 – US Senator Tammy Duckworth (Illinois (D)) is the first parent to bring a baby into the Senate chambers, a day after the Senate votes to allow babies on the chamber’s floor

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Famous Birthdays

1939 – Ali Khamenei [Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei], 2nd Supreme Leader of Iran (1989-) and the 3rd President of Iran (1981-89), born in Mashhad, Khorasan, Iran
1950 – Marc Demeyer, Belgian road racing cyclist (Paris-Brussel 1974), born in Avelgem, Belgium (d. 1982)
1950 – Earl Gardner, American jazz trumpeter (Saturday Night Live), born in NYC, New York
1964 – Scott Kamienicki, American baseball pitcher (NY Yankees), born in Mount Clemens, Michigan
1968 – Brent Mayne, American baseball catcher (NY Mets), born in Loma Linda, California
1977 – Lucien Mettomo, Cameroonian footballer (2002 World Cup), born in Douala, Cameroon

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Famous Deaths

1768 – Filippo della Valle, Italian sculptor, dies at about 70
1862 – Louis Powell Harvey, US governor of Wisconsin, drowns
1930 – Charles Scribner II, American magazine and book publisher, dies at 75
1987 – Maxwell D. Taylor, American army general, (WWII Commander 101st airborne), Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff 1962-64), dies at 85
2005 – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Danish jazz bassist (b. 1946)
2008 – Alfonso López Trujillo, Colombian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, dies at 72

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Historical Events

1676 – Sudbury, Massachusetts, attacked by Indians
1946 – US recognizes Tito’s Yugoslavia government
1964 – Artisans strike in Belgium ends
1987 – Pat Knauff, France sets 1-leg downhill ski speed record (115.012 mph)
2017 – British Prime Minister Teresa May announces she will seek a “snap” election
2021 – 12-team European Super League is announced to widespread condemnation amongst governments, non-involved clubs, press and fans; amidst the furore all 6 EPL clubs withdraw within 3 days

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Famous Birthdays

1918 – Róbert Zimonyi, Hungarian rowing coxswain (Olympic gold USA men’s eight 1964; bronze Hungary coxed pair 1948), born in Sárvár, Hungary (d. 2004)
1923 – Leif Panduro, Danish writer (‘k Have varnish on traditions), born in Frederiksberg, Denmark (d. 1977)
1923 – Beryl Platt, Baroness Platt of Writtle, British engineer, politician and CEO (Equal Opportunities Comm), born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex (d. 2015)
1928 – Howard S. Becker, American sociologist, born in Chicago, Illinois
1947 – Walt Richmond, American rock keyboardist (The Tractors; J.J. Cale; Bob Seger; Eric Clapton), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
1987 – Sandra Lyng Haugen, Norwegian singer (Play My Drum), born in Mosjøen, Norway

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Famous Deaths

1800 – Pieter Fouquet, Dutch art merchant (Atlas of Fouquet), dies at 71
1928 – Henryk Melcer-Szczawiński, Polish pianist, composer, and conductor, dies of a heart attack at 58
1938 – Richard Terry, English organist and musicologist, dies at 73
1996 – Michael Leander, English songwriter and record producer, dies at 54
2020 – François Lafortune Jr., Belgian rifle shooter (7 x Olympic Games 1952-1976, 50m Rifle, Prone Position), dies from Parkinson’s disease at 87
2022 – Harrison Birtwistle, British contemporary classical composer (The Minotaur; The Mask of Orpheus), dies at 87

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Historical Events

1941 – Egyptian steamer SS Zamzam attacked and later scuttled by German cruiser Atlantis (all on board rescued)
1960 – American Samoa sets up a constitutional government
1983 – 1st National Coin Week begins
1984 – Braves pitcher Pascual Perez suspended due to cocaine usage
1993 – STS-56 (Discovery) lands
2018 – Protests across India at the rape and murder of an 8-year old Muslim girl in Kathua, Bengalu

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Famous Birthdays

1710 – Henry Erskine, 10th Earl of Buchan, British Freemason (d. 1767)
1863 – Johannes Petrus Boskaljon, Curacaoian composer and conductor, born in Willemstad (d. 1936)
1905 – Arthur Lake [Arthur William Silverlake], American actor (Blondie, Topper), born in Corbin, Kentucky (d. 1987)
1938 – David Dilks, British historian and vice-chancellor (Hull U), born in Foleshill, Coventry
1954 – Roddy Piper, Canadian pro wrestler (WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight C’ship 1992; World Tag Team C’ship [Ric Flair] 2006), born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (d. 2015)
1961 – Norman Cowans, Jamaican cricketer (England fast bowler in 19 Tests 1982-85), born in St. Mary, Jamaica

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Famous Deaths

818 – Bernhard I, King of Italy, dies
1630 – Christian I, German Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg who led an army of 21,000 Bohemians at the Battle of White Mountain, dies at 61
1713 – David Hollatz, Pomeranian dogmatician (b. 1648)
1835 – William Henry Ireland, English forger (Shakespearean manuscripts), dies
1996 – Jose Luis Lopez Aranguren, philosopher, dies at 86
2004 – Edmond Pidoux, Swiss writer (L’histoire de Jonas), dies at 95

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Historical Events

1956 – 60th Boston Marathon won by Antti Viskari of Finland in race record 2:14:14
1972 – Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz’s musical review “That’s Entertainment” closes at Edison Theater, NYC, after 4 performances
1978 – “History of the American Film” closes at ANTA NYC after 21 performances
2012 – 116th Boston Marathon: Kenyan double; Wesley Korir wins men’s section in 2:12:40; Sharon Cherop first woman in 2:31:50
2014 – Real Madrid defeat Barcelona to win its 19th Copa del Rey trophy
2021 – Raúl Castro confirms he is resigning as Cuban Communist Party leader, ending his family’s six decade leadership of Cuba

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Famous Birthdays

1897 – Jaap Vranken, Dutch organist and composer (Stabat Mater), born in Utrecht, Netherlands (d. 1956)
1897 – Arthur Charles Ernest Hoérée, Belgian-French composer, born in St. Gilles, Brussels, Belgium (d. 1986)
1938 – Gordon Wilson, Scottish politician (Leader of the Scottish National Party), born in Govan, Glasgow (d. 2017)
1965 – Caren Kemner, American volleyball outside hitter (Olympic bronze 1992, 96), born in Quincy, Illinois
1970 – Fran Robinson, American actress (Lauren-Charlie and Company), born in California
1975 – Nick Pickard, British actor, born in Surrey, United Kingdom

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Famous Deaths

1995 – Arthur English, British comedian and actor (Malachi’s Cove, Are You Being Served?), dies of complications from emphysema at 75
1999 – Alexander “Skip” Spence, Canadian-American guitarist, singer and songwriter (Jefferson Airplane), dies of lung cancer at 52
2005 – Kathleen “Kay” Walsh, British actress (The Horse’s Mouth, Oliver Twist), dies in a fire at 93
2011 – Gerry Alexander, West Indian cricket wicket-keeper (25 Tests, top score 108, 90 dismissals), dies at 82
2019 – Fay McKenzie, American actress and singer (The Party, Sierra Sue), dies at 101
2021 – Mike Mitchell, American rock guitarist (The Kingsmen -“Louie, Louie”), dies on his 77th birthday

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Historical Events

69 – Battle at Bedriacum, North-Italy
1952 – Franklin National Bank issues 1st bank credit card
1970 – Libyan leader Gadaffi launches “Green Revolution”
1988 – Meteorite explode above Indonesia
1989 – Sue Marchiano wins 3rd World Cup female marathon (2:30:48)
1991 – Sacramento Kings set NBA record, losing 35th consecutive game on road

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Famous Birthdays

1820 – Evander McNair, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Laurel Hill, North Carolina (d. 1902)
1875 – James J. Jeffries, American heavyweight boxer, born in Carroll, Ohio (d. 1953)
1887 – Mike Brady, American golfer (US Open 1911, 19 runner-up; 9 PGA Tour titles), born in Brighton, Massachusetts (d. 1972)
1894 – Bessie Smith, American blues singer known as the “Empress of the Blues” (recorded over 200 songs), born in Chattanooga, Tennessee (d. 1937)
1944 – John Wilbraham, British classical, baroque, and session trumpeter (Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields; English Chamber Orchestra; The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour), and educator, born in Bournemouth, England (d. 1998)
1947 – Cristina Husmark Pehrsson, Swedish politician, born in Uddevalla, Sweden

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Famous Deaths

1954 – Arthur Fickenscher, American microtonal composer, and educator (University of Virginia, 1920-41), dies at 82
1967 – Totò [Antonio De Curtis], Italian actor (Motorizzate; Noi Duri) commonly referred to as the most popular Italian comedian of all time, dies from a heart attack at 69
1989 – Hu Yaobang, Chinese communist official and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (1982-87), dies of a heart attack at 73
1990 – Ulrich Becher, German writer and playwright, dies at 80
2003 – Reg Bundy, British performer, dies at 56
2017 – Clifton James, American actor (Live and Let Die, Silver Streak), dies at 96

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Historical Events

1900 – Veteran’s Hospital at Ft Miley forms
1925 – First regular-season Chicago Cubs game broadcast on radio (WGN) by caller Quin Ryan; Cubs beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-2
1948 – Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Toronto Maple Leafs go back-to-back with a 7-2 win over Detroit Red Wings for a 4-0 series sweep
1969 – Tornado strikes Dacca, East Pakistan killing 540
1988 – Devils 6-5 over Islanders-Devils take 1st round 4-2
2021 – Human cells grown in monkey cells for 20 days reported by US-Chinese team at the Salk Institute in “Cell”

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Famous Birthdays

1868 – Peter Behrens, German architect, born in Hamburg, North German Confederation (d. 1940)
1876 – Cecil Chubb, English barrister, gifted Stonehenge to the British nation, born in Shrewton (d. 1934)
1905 – Elizabeth Huckaby, American educator, born in Hamburg, Arkansas (d. 1999)
1916 – Emerson Buckley, American composer, born in NYC, New York (d. 1989)
1947 – Bob Massie, Australian cricket swing bowler (6 Tests; 16 wickets on debut v England 1972), born in Perth, Australia
1969 – Brad Pennington, American pitcher (California Angels), born in Salem, Indiana

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Famous Deaths

1843 – Joseph Franz Karl Lanner, Austrian composer and violist, dies at 42
1912 – Henri Brisson, French statesman (b. 1835)
1913 – Carl Hagenbeck, German animal trainer (Von Tieren und Menschen), dies at 68
1943 – Asser B. Kleerekoper, Dutch SDAP-Second-Member of parliament, dies at 62
1978 – Joe Gordon, American Baseball HOF 2nd baseman (World Series 1938, 39, 41, 43 NY Yankees; 1948 Cleveland Indians; AL MVP 1942; 9 x MLB All Star), dies of a heart attack at 63
1990 – Thurston Harris, American pop vocalist (The Sharps, Little Bitty Pretty One), dies of a heart attack at 58

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Historical Events

1944 – New Zealand and the Soviet Union establish diplomatic relations
1969 – Closure of the Brisbane tramway network.
1970 – Oakland uses gold-colored bases during the club’s home opener: Rules Committee subsequently bans this innovation
1997 – 61st US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods wins his first major title, a record 12 strokes ahead of Tom Kite; 4-round total 270 (−18) is tournament record
2004 – Barry Bonds hits his 661st career home run, passing his godfather Willie Mays on the MLB all-time list
2020 – NY Governor Andrew Cuomo says “I believe the worst is over if we continue to be smart,” about the COVID-19 pandemic in New York as death toll passes 10,000

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Famous Birthdays

1229 – Louis II, Duke of Bavaria, ruler of upper Baveria, born in Heidelberg, Germany (d. 1294)
1830 – Eduard Lassen, Belgian-Danish composer, born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1904)
1867 – Sammy Woods, Australian cricket all-rounder (3 Tests Australia, 3 England, 1 x 50, 10 wickets; Somerset CCC) and rugby union flanker (13 caps England, 5 as captain), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 1931)
1895 – Arthur Fadden, 13th Prime Minister of Australia, born in Ingham, Queensland, Australia (d. 1973)
1915 – Bert Peleman, Flemish writer, born in Puurs, Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1995)
1967 – Dana Barros, American NBA guard (Boston Celtics), born in Boston, Massachusetts

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Famous Deaths

1093 – Vsevolod I, Grand Prince of Kiev, dies at 63
1959 – Rigardus “Rijn” Rijnhout, Giant of Rotterdam (2.375m), dies at 38
1975 – François Tombalbaye, Dictator and 1st President of Chad (1960-75), dies at 56
1983 – Theodore Stephanides, Greek doctor and naturalist, dies at 87
2009 – Bruce Snyder, American college football coach (Utah State, California, Arizona State), dies from melanoma at 69
2013 – Stephen Dodgson, British composer, dies at 89

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Historical Events

1862 – Union troops occupy Fort Pulaski, Georgia
1908 – Fire at the Boston Blacking Company (producer of leather dyes), spreads by high wind, kills 19 and makes 17,000 homeless in Chelsea, Massachusetts
1953 – Keizo Yamada runs fastest marathon to date, at Boston
1954 – Belgian Van Houtte government resigns
1973 – France recognizes North Vietnam
1989 – Peter Ueberroth deal to purchase Eastern Airlines falls through

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Famous Birthdays

1801 – Henry de Cock, Dutch reformed vicar and secession leader, born in Veendam, Groningen, the Netherlands (d. 1842)
1840 – Edmond Audran, French composer, born in Lyon, France (d. 1901)
1883 – Imogen Cunningham, American photographer (1965 ASMP award), born in Portland, Oregon (d. 1976)
1908 – Virginia Cherrill, American actress (City Lights; Lake Extra; Brat), born in Santa Barbara, California (d. 1996)
1948 – Lois Reeves, American singer (Martha and the Vandellas, 1969-72), born in Detroit, Michigan
1956 – Doris Baaten, Dutch actress (Sesame Street, Fien), born in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands

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Famous Deaths

1748 – William Kent, English sculptor/architect (Kensington Palace), dies
1960 – Archibald McIndoe, New Zealand plastic surgeon pioneer who rehabilitated badly burned Royal Air Force crew during WWII, dies in his sleep of a heart attack at 59 [or 11 April]
1977 – Philip K Wrigley, baseball owner (Chicago Cubs), dies at 82
1987 – Mike Von Erich, American wrestler
2007 – Kevin Crease, Australian TV anchor (b. 1936)
2019 – Tommy Smith, English soccer defender (1 cap; Football League Div 1 1966, 73, 76, 77; FA Cup 1965, 74; European Cup 1977; Liverpool 467 games), dies at 74

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