Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1827 – Duke of Wellington appointed British supreme commander
1863 – Civil War skirmish near Newtown, Virginia
1937 – LPGA Titleholders Championship Women’s Golf, Augusta CC: Patty Berg wins inaugural event by 3 strokes ahead of Dorothy Kirby
1972 – Section of Memphis’ Highway 51 South renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard
1983 – 10th American Music Awards: John Cougar, Rick Springfield, and Olivia Newton-John win

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Famous Birthdays

1501 – Leonhard Fuchs, German physician and botanist (Notable Commentaries on the History of Plants) for which the flowering plants and color Fuchsia is named after, born in Wemding, Bavaria (d. 1566)
1905 – Franz Schmid, German climber (1st to ascend northside of Matterhorn 1931), born in Garmisch, Germany (d. 1992)
1960 – John Crawford, American bass (Berlin-You Take My Breath Away), born in Palo Alto, California
1961 – Brian Helgeland, American screenwriter (L.A. Confidential) and director (A Knight’s Tale), born in Providence, Rhode Island
1980 – Zooey Deschanel, American actress (Almost Famous; Elf; New Girl), and singer (She and Him), born in Los Angeles, California

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Famous Deaths

1882 – Alexander Bullock, American lawyer, politician, and 26th Governor of Massachusetts, dies at 65
1990 – Charles Hernu, French politician (Minister of Defense, 1981-85; Mayor of Villeurbanne, 1977-90), and environmental antagonist, dies at 66
1996 – Mostafa Sid Ahmed, Sudanese singer (b. 1953)
2013 – Robert F. Chew, American actor, dies from heart failure at 52
2014 – Francine Lalonde, Canadian politician (Member of Parliament for La Pointe-de-l’Île), dies of cancer at 73

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Historical Events

1943 – Red Army recaptures Pitomnik airport at Stalingrad
1955 – 5th NFL Pro Bowl, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: Western Conference beats Eastern Conference, 26-19; MVP: Billy Wilson, SF 49ers, WR
1977 – Cap’s H Monahan scored on 2nd penalty shot against Islanders
1989 – USSR announces plan for 2-yr manned mission to Mars
2019 – Australian Bureau of Meteorology tweets last four days were the country’s hottest on record with Tarcoola, South Australia, reaching 49 C (120 F), Port Augusta 48.5 C (119 F)

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Famous Birthdays

1672 – Francesco Mancini, Neapolitan composer, born in Naples, Kingdom of Naples, Spanish Empire (d. 1737)
1918 – Nel Benschop, Dutch poet known for “Gouddraad uit vlas”, born in the Hague, Netherlands (d. 2005)
1947 – Georgette Mosbacher, American CEO (La Prairie cosmetics), born in Highland, Indiana
1956 – Jennifer Dale, Canadian actress (Coroner, Into Invisible Light), born in Toronto, Ontario
1962 – Paul Webb, English rocker (Talk Talk – “It’s My Life”), born in Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom

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Famous Deaths

484 – Seinei, 22nd Emperor of Japan according to legend (480-484), dies at about 40 (b. 444) [dates disputed]
1263 – Shinran, Japanese Buddhist monk and founder of what became the Jōdo Shinshū sect of Japanese Buddhism, dies at 89
1979 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (Lurch-Addams Family), dies at 46
1994 – Stephen Kritsick, veterinarian (Good Morning America), dies at 42
2025 – Harry Bild, Swedish soccer striker (28 caps; IFK Norrköping, Feyenoord, Östers IF), dies from cancer at 88

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Historical Events

1759 – British Museum opens at Montagu House in London
1942 – US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sends his famed “Green Light Letter” to MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, encouraging baseball to continue playing during World War II
1970 – Nigerian civil war officially ends after 2 1/2 years of fighting when the Republic of Biafra disbands and joins Nigeria
1991 – Dean Jones (76) and Mark Taylor (71) lead Australia to 7 wicket win over New Zealand in cricket’s World Series Cup 2nd Final in Melbourne; win series, 2-0
2016 – American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan unveils newest exhibit replica skeleton of a Titanosaur dinosaur (found 2010 Argentina), largest known dinosaur at 70 tons, 37m

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Famous Birthdays

1875 – Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, Founder and first King of Saudi Arabia (1932-53), born in Riyadh, Emirate of Nejd (d. 1953)
1888 – Joseph Henabery, American director (Cobra), born in Omaha, Nebraska (d. 1976)
1917 – Wang Renzhong, Chinese politician (First Secretary Hubei Province), born in Jing County, Hebei (d. 1992)
1923 – Ivor Cutler, Scottish poet, musician, singer-songwriter, and humorist (John Peel Show; King Cutler), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 2006)
1981 – Howie Day, American pop-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (“Collide”), born in Bangor, Maine

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Famous Deaths

1705 – Walraad, the Young, earl of Nassau-Ottweiler/gov of Nijmegen, dies
1916 – Modest Tchaikovsky, Russian writer (b. 1850)
1978 – Jack Jackson, British trumpeter, dance band bandleader, and influential BBC disc jockey, dies at 71
2008 – Brad Renfro, American actor (The Client), dies of heroin overdose at 25
2023 – Shaye Al-Nafisah, Saudi Arabian soccer forward (32 caps; Al-Kawkab FC), dies at 60

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Historical Events

1932 – 1st totalisator (to record racetrack bets) in US is installed Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida
1940 – MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis gives free agency to 91 Detroit Tigers minor league players
1945 – In Greece, Communists and the British agree to a cease-fire in the struggle to control Athens (and with it Greece)
1972 – WMAU TV channel 17 in Bude, Mississippi (PBS) begins broadcasting
2019 – Spinning disk of ice 300m wide, resembling the moon, forms in the Presumpscot river, Westbrook, Maine

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Famous Birthdays

1861 – Wilhelm von Polenz, German writer (Der Pfarrer von Breitendorf), born in Cunewalde, Germany (d. 1903)
1910 – Renier van der Velden, Belgian composer, born in Borgerhout, Belgium (d. 1993)
1911 – Djuanda Kartawidjaja, Indonesian teacher, engineer, and politician (11th and final Prime Minister of Indonesia, 1957-59), born in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Dutch East Indies (d. 1963)
1914 – Harold Russell, Canadian actor (Best Years of Our Life, Dogtown), born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada (d. 2002)
1935 – Lucille Wheeler, Canadian alpine skier, born in Mont-Tremblant, Canada

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Famous Deaths

1822 – Franz Innocenz Joseph Kobell, German landscape painter, dies at 72
1959 – G. D. H. Cole, English political theorist and socialist, dies at 69
1978 – Robert Heger, German conductor and composer, dies at 91
2006 – Henri Colpi, French New Wave film editor and director, dies at 84
2024 – Norm Snead, American football quarterback (Pro Bowl 1962, 63, 65, 72; NFL completion % leader 1972 NY Giants; Philadelphia Eagles), dies at 84

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Historical Events

1404 – The Act of Multipliers is passed by the English Parliament forbidding alchemists to use their knowledge to create precious metals (it was feared that if any alchemist should succeed it would bring ruin upon the state)
1874 – US troops land in Honolulu to protect the king
1911 – South Africa cricket team’s 1st win over Australia, at Adelaide
1979 – YMCA files libel suit against Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” song
1991 – President Mário Soares of Portugal re-elected

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Famous Birthdays

1720 – Richard Hurd, English bishop and writer, born in Congreve, England (d. 1808)
1859 – Karl Bleibtreu, German author (Revolution of Literature), born in Berlin (d. 1928)
1901 – Mieczysław Żywczyński, Polish historian and priest, born in Warsaw, Poland (d. 1978)
1955 – Paul Kelly, Australian singer-songwriter (The Messengers), born in Adelaide, South Australia
1965 – Bill Bailey, British comedian (Black Books, QI), born in bath, England

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Famous Deaths

1049 – Derrick IV, Count of Holland (1039-49), dies in battle
1956 – Lyonel Feininger, German-American cartoonist and painter, dies at 84
1979 – Donny Hathaway, American gospel and soul singer-songwriter, and keyboardist (“The Ghetto”; “Where is the Love?”), commits suicide at 33
1995 – Maxwell Henley Harris, Australian poet and publisher (Critics), dies at 73
2009 – Hortense Calisher, American novelist (President of the American Academy of Arts and Letters), dies at 97

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Historical Events

475 – Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople
1945 – US Task Force 38 destroys 41 Japanese ships in Battle of South China Sea
2006 – A stampede during the Stoning the Devil ritual on the last day at the Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, kills at least 362 Muslim pilgrims
2017 – US President Barack Obama in surprise presentation awards Vice President Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom
2019 – Missy Elliott is the first female rapper to be inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame

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Famous Birthdays

1902 – Ray Teal, American actor (Judgment at Nuremberg, Bonanza), born in Grand Rapids, Michigan (d. 1976)
1908 – José Limón, Mexican-American dancer and choreographer (The Moor’s Pavane; I, Odysseus), born in Culiacán, Mexico (d. 1972)
1934 – Mick Sullivan, English rugby league footballer, born in Pudsey, England (d. 2016)
1962 – Joe Quesada, American comic book writer, born in New York City
1992 – Mao Kobayashi, Japanese gravure idol, born in Niigata Prefecture, Japan (d. 2017)

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Famous Deaths

1959 – Edvard Eriksen, Danish-Icelandic sculptor, dies at 82
1992 – Harry van Doorn, Dutch politician (KVP/KRO-chairman/PPR/CRM), dies at 76
2007 – Alice Coltrane [née McLeod], American jazz harp, piano, and organ player (Journey in Satchidananda), dies of respiratory failure at 69
2010 – Hasib Sabbagh, Palestinian businessman and philanthropist, co-founder of Consolidated Contractors Company (b. 1920)
2025 – Claude Jarman Jr, American actor (The Yearling; Rio Grande; Inside Straight), dies at 90

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Historical Events

1944 – Crakow-Plaszow Concentration Camp established
1959 – 9th NFL Pro Bowl, LA Memorial Coliseum: Eastern Conference beats Western Conference, 28-21; MVPs: Frank Gifford, NY Giants, HB; Doug Atkins, Chicago Bears, DE
1963 – Beatles release the single “Please Please Me” / “Ask Me Why”; peaks at #2 in UK, and #3 in US
1966 – “Daktari” African adventure series premieres on CBS TV
1987 – AFC Championship, Cleveland Stadium: Denver Broncos beat Cleveland Browns 23-20 (OT)

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Famous Birthdays

1503 – Parmigianino [Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola,], Italian artist (Madonna with the Long Neck), born in Parma, Duchy of Milan (now Italy) (d. 1540)
1905 – John Henry Jacques, English co-operative retailer and politician, born in Ashington, Northumberland (d. 1995)
1946 – (Diana) “Naomi” Judd, American Grammy Award-winning country singer (The Judds – “Why Not Me”), born in Ashland, Kentucky (d. 2022)
1952 – Kim Hartman, British screen, stage, and radio actress (Allo Allo! – “Helga”), born in Hammersmith, London, England
1968 – Sharon Brown, American actress (Chantal-Generations), born in New York City

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Famous Deaths

1055 – Constantine IX Monomachos, Emperor of Byzantium, dies
1954 – Edgard Tytgat, Flemish painter and etcher, dies at 77
1981 – Beulah Bondi, American actress (It’s a Wonderful Life), dies at 88
2010 – Georgy Garanian, Armenian-Russian jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer, dies of cardiac arrest at 75
2013 – Aaron H. Swartz, American computer programmer, dies from an apparent suicide at 26

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Historical Events

402 – Theodosius II, aged just nine months, is proclaimed co-Augustus with his father Eastern Roman Emperor Arcadius – then the youngest to hold an imperial title
1861 – Fort Jackson and Fort Philip are taken over by LA state troops (US Civil War)
1863 – General McClernand’s Union troops surround Fort Hindman, Arkansas
1878 – US Senate proposes female suffrage
1999 – Fatboy Slim’s music single “Praise You” hits #1 in the UK

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Famous Birthdays

1843 – Frank James, American outlaw (member of the James-Younger gang), born in Clay County, Missouri (d. 1915)
1944 – Frank Sinatra, Jr., American singer and bandleader, born in Jersey City, New Jersey (d. 2016)
1952 – Scott Thurston, American session and touring guitarist, keyboardist and songwriter (Iggy Pop, 1973-79; Motels, 1982-84; Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, 1989-2017), born in Medford, Oregon
1974 – Steve Marlet, French footballer, born in Pithiviers, France
1994 – Faith Kipyegon, Kenyan athlete (Olympic gold women’s 1,500m 2016, 20; World C’ship gold 2017), born in Bomet, Kenya

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Famous Deaths

1959 – Colin Gregory, English tennis player (Australian C’ship 1929, chairman All-England Club, Wimbledon), dies at 55
2005 – Erwin Hillier, British cinematographer (b. 1911)
2015 – Michael Wright, British academic and Vice-Chancellor of Aston University (1996-2006), dies of cancer at 67
2017 – Clare Hollingworth, British war correspondent who was the first to report on the outbreak of WWII, dies at 105
2017 – (Armando) “Buddy” Greco, American jazz and pop singer (“Ooh! Look-A There, Ain’t She Pretty”; “The Lady Is A Tramp”), pianist, and television personality (Away We Go), dies at 90

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Historical Events

1903 – Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchase the American League’s Baltimore baseball franchise for $18,000 and move it to NYC (later the NY Yankees)
1927 – Dmitri Shostakovich’ Octet opus 11 premieres in Moscow
1937 – Italian regime bans marriages between Italians and Abyssinians
1975 – Australia beat England by 171 runs in 4th Test to regain Ashes
2009 – Hopman Cup Tennis, Perth: Dominik Hrbatý beats Russia’s Marat Safin 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 for an unassailable 2-0 lead, and Slovakia’s 3rd title

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Famous Birthdays

1773 – Cassandra Austen, English watercolorist and sister of Jane Austen, born in Steventon, England (d. 1845)
1936 – Peter Fletcher, British orchestral and choral conductor, music educator and author (Roll Over Rock), born in the UK (d. 1999)
1943 – Ariel Bybee, American mezzo-soprano (Morman Tabernacle Choir; Metropolitan Opera, 1977-95), born in Reno, Nevada (d. 2018)
1959 – Mark Martin, American stock car racing driver, born in Batesville, Arkansas
1967 – Jamie Huscroft, Canadian NHL defenseman (Calgary Flames), born in Creston, British Columbia

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Famous Deaths

1843 – William Hedley, British industrial engineer (b. 1773)
1911 – Edwin Arthur Jones, American composer (Song of our Saviour), dies at 57
1989 – Bill Terry, American Baseball HOF first baseman (MLB All-Star 1933–35; World Series 1933; NL batting champion 1930; NY Giants) and manager (NY Giants 1932-41), dies at 90
1992 – Bill Naughton [William John Francis Naughton], English playwright (Alfie), dies at 81
2021 – Isaak Markovich Khalatnikov, Russian physicist, dies at 101

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Historical Events

1656 – Oldest surviving commercial newspaper, “Weeckelycke Courante van Europa”, now known as “Haarlems Dagblad”, and still in print, begins publication in Haarlem, Netherlands
1716 – Amsterdam gang leader and thief “Sjako” arrested
1948 – Queen Wilhelmina signs death sentence against Ans van Dijk for treason
1984 – AFC Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: Los Angeles Raiders beat Seattle Seahawks, 30-14
2008 – New Jersey officially apologizes for slavery, becoming the first Northern state to do so

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Famous Birthdays

1824 – Francisco González Bocanegra, Mexican poet (Mexican national anthem), born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico (d. 1861)
1934 – Gene Freese, American MLB baseball player (Pittsburgh Pirates and 5 other teams), born in Wheeling, West Virginia (d. 2013)
1965 – Michelle Forbes [Guajardo], American actress (True Blood, Guiding Light, Star Trek: The Next Generation), born in Austin, Texas
1986 – Peng Shuai, Chinese tennis player (1st Chinese player to reach No.1 ranking – doubles with Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan, 2014), born in Xiangtan, China
1987 – Cynthia Erivo, British Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning stage and screen actress (The Color Purple; Harriet; Wicked (film)) and singer-songwriter (“Stand Up”), born in London, England

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Famous Deaths

1900 – Billy Bates, English cricket all-rounder (15 Tests, 5 x 50, 50 wickets, BB 7/28, hat-trick 1883; Yorkshire CCC), dies from pneumonia at 44
1916 – Rembrandt Bugatti, Italian sculptor (b. 1884)
1963 – Stark Young, American writer (So Red the Rose), dies at 81
1990 – Terry-Thomas [Thomas Terry Stevens], English comedian and actor (I’m All Right Jack; Private’s Progress), dies of Parkinson’s disease at 78
2007 – Arthur Cockfield ‘The Father of the Single Market, British politician ‘(European Commissioner), dies at 90

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