Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1330 – Battle of Posada, Wallachian voievode Basarab I defeats the Hungarian army in an ambush
1941 – Hitler threatens Clemens August, Graf von Galen and Bishop of Münster
1953 – Supreme Court rules Major League baseball exempt from anti-trust laws
1976 – UN General Assembly condemns apartheid in South Africa
1982 – Sugar Ray Leonard retires for 1st time
2004 – 38th Country Music Association Award: Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride and Keith Urban wins

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1799 – Gustavus, Crown Prince of Sweden, born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 1877)
1810 – Thomas Bragg, American politician, 34th Governor of North Carolina (1859-61), born in Warrenton, North Carolina (d. 1872)
1907 – Burrill Phillips, American composer (Play Ball), born in Omaha, Nebraska (d. 1988)
1929 – Severn Darden, American actor (Luv, President’s Analyst, Saturday the 14th), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1995)
1944 – Phil May, English rocker (Pretty Things), born in Dartford, Kent (d. 2020)
1963 – Fulvio Fantoni, Italian bridge player, born in Grosseto, Italy

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1918 – Guillaume Apollinaire [Kostrowitsky], French poet (Alcools) and art critic (coined the term ‘Cubism’), dies during the Spanish Flu pandemic at 38
1952 – Chaim Weizmann, Israeli statesman and Zionist leader (1st President of Israel 1949-52), dies at 77
1977 – Fred Haney, American baseball player, dies at 81
1993 – Stanley Myers, English movie composer (The Deer Hunter), dies at 63
1994 – Milton M Shorty Rajonsky Rogers, trumpeter, dies at 70
2011 – Har Gobind Khorana, Indian-American biochemist (Nobel 1968), dies at 89

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events

1520 – Stockholm Bloodbath begins: A successful invasion of Sweden by Danish forces results in the execution of around 100 people.
1861 – USS San Jacinto commanded by Charles Wilkes captures two Confederate diplomats from the British mail steamer Trent, almost causing a war between the US and the UK
1895 – German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen produces and detects electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range today known as X-rays or Röntgen rays
1904 – Inventor and manufacturer Harvey Hubbell receives the first U.S. patent for a separable electric attachment plug
1933 – US President FDR creates Civil Works Administration
1974 – British peer the Earl of Lucan disappears and is never seen again after his nanny is found murdered in London

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1715 – Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, Queen of Prussia as wife of Frederik II the Great, born in Schloss Bevern, Germany (d. 1797)
1904 – Cedric Belfrage, English writer and journalist (co-founder of National Guardian), born in Marylebone, London (d. 1990)
1921 – Gene Saks, American actor and director (One and Only, Prisoner of 2nd Ave), born in NYC, New York (d. 2015)
1937 – Dragoslav Šekularac, Serbian footballer, born in Štip, Yugoslavia (d. 2019)
1954 – Michael D. Brown, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency director (2003-05), born in Guymon, Oklahoma
1979 – Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer, born in Cookstown, Northern Ireland

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1909 – Eduard de Hartog, Dutch composer, dies at 80
1945 – August von Mackensen, German field marshal, dies at 95
1963 – Simon Jurovsky, Slovak composer and conductor, dies at 51
1991 – John Kirkpatrick, American pianist and musicologist (Charles Ives Archives), dies at 86
1999 – Leon Štukelj, Slovenian gymnast (b. 1898)
2020 – Alex Trebek, Canadian-American TV game host (High Rollers, Jeopardy), dies of cancer at 80

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events

1747 – Organgist in Netherlands revolt under Daniel Raap
1900 – Battle of Leliefontein, a battle during which the Royal Canadian Dragoons win three Victoria Crosses.
1934 – Arthur L. Mitchell, becomes first African American Democratic US congressman (Illinois)
1962 – Glenn Hall set NHL record of 503 consecutive games as goalie
1967 – St Louis Cards Orlando Cepeda is 1st unanimous NL MVP
1990 – Cleveland Indian Sandy Alomar Jr wins AL Rookie of Year, unanimously

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1856 – Semyon Alapin, Russian chess master, born in St. Petersburg, Russian Empire (d. 1923)
1915 – Philip Morrison, American physicist, born in Somerville, New Jersey (d. 2005)
1942 – Johnny Rivers [Ramistella], American singer (“Secret Agent Man”), and record producer, born in NYC, New York
1943 – Stephen Greenblatt, American literary historian and author (The Swerve: How the World Became Modern), born in Boston, Massachusetts
1947 – Yutaka Fukumoto, Japanese professional baseball player, born in Osaka, Japan
1957 – King Kong Bundy [Christopher Pallies], American pro wrestler (WWF), born in Atlantic City, New Jersey (d. 2019)

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1893 – Constantly Lievens, Flemish missionary in India, dies at 37
1966 – Rube Bressler, Baseball player (b. 1894)
1996 – Jaja Wachuku, Nigerian Lawyer and First Foreign Affairs Minister (b. 1918)
2006 – Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber, French journalist (b. 1924)
2016 – Janet Reno, first female US Attorney General (1993-2001), dies at 78
2020 – Cándido Camero, Cuban American percussionist (congo drum) and bandleader, dies at 99

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events

1850 – 1st Hawaiian fire engine
1884 – British protectorate proclaimed over southeast New Guinea
1906 – Charles Evans Hughes (R) elected NY Governor beating William Randolph Hearst
1991 – Robert M Gates, becomes 15th director of CIA
1995 – Art Modell officially announces Cleveland Browns are moving to Balt
2013 – 15 people are killed after a suicide bombing in Baghdad, Iraq

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1892 – John Alcock, English pilot (1st non-stop flight across Atlantic Ocean), born in Stretford, England (d. 1919)
1906 – James D. Norris, American sports businessman (Chicago Black Hawks), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1966)
1909 – Henk Bijvanck, Dutch composer, born in Kudus, Java (d. 1969)
1931 – Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Bulgarian composer, born in Sofia, Bulgaria (d. 1982)
1967 – Shuzo Matsuoka, Japanese tennis star (1995 USTA/Binghampton), born in Tokyo, Japan
1978 – Taryn Manning, American actress (Hawaii Five-O), born in Falls Church, Virginia

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1597 – Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain [Catalina Micaela de Austria], Duchess consort of Savoy (1585-97), dies at 30
1910 – Giuseppe Cesare Abba, Italian patriot and writer, dies at 72
1914 – Allessandro d’Ancona, Italian philologist (Dante), dies at 79
1989 – Dickie Goodman, American parody singer (Flying Saucer), dies at 55
1996 – Patience Edney, British nurse and communist, dies at 85
2005 – Minako Honda, Japanese singer and musical actress, dies of leukemia at 38

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events

1886 – British Open Men’s Golf, Musselburgh Links: David Brown beats fellow Scot Willie Campbell by 2 strokes
1895 – US state Utah accepts female suffrage
1912 – Bulgarian troops in Constantinople blockade drinking water
1927 – PGA Championship Men’s Golf, Cedar Crest CC: Defending champion Walter Hagen beats Joe Turnesa 1-up to win his 4th straight PGA title
1932 – Benito Mussolini frees 16,000 convicts
1989 – 19th NYC Women’s Marathon won by Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway in 2:25:30

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1615 – Ibrahim I, 18th Ottoman Sultan (1640-48), born in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (d. 1648)
1841 – Alexander Sergeyevich Famintsin, Russian composer, born in Kaluga, Russia (d. 1896)
1883 – Ernie Parker, Australian tennis player (Australasian C’ship 1913), born in Perth, Western Australia (d. 1918)
1913 – John McGiver, American character actor (Patty Duke Show; Jimmy Stewart Show; Fitzwilly), born in NYC, New York (d. 1975)
1924 – Ivan Rezak, Czech composer, born in Řevnice (d. 1977)
1958 – Robert Patrick, American actor (Terminator 2: Judgment Day), born in Marietta, Georgia

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1660 – Lucy Hay, Countess of Carlisle, English socialite (b. 1599)
1772 – Johannes Schmidlin, Swiss composer, dies at 50
1942 – George M. Cohan, American father of musical comedy (Phantom President, Give My Regards to Broadway), dies of cancer at 64
1972 – Reginald Owen, British actor (Mary Poppins, Sherlock Holmes), dies at 85
1996 – Lars-Ake Nilsson, diplomat, dies at 53
2012 – Charles V. Bush, African-American pioneer (1st African-American US Air Force Academy Graduate and US Supreme Court Page), dies from colon cancer at 72

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events

1921 – The Sturmabteilung or SA (the “Brown Shirts”) is formally established by Adolf Hitler
1939 – US allows “cash and carry” arms sales during WW II
1946 – United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) formed
1956 – 200,000 Russian troops attack anti-Soviet movement in Budapest, Hungary
1968 – WRDU (now WPTF) TV channel 28 in Raleigh-Durham, NC (NBC) 1st broadcast
1981 – Columbia shuttle launch scrubbed with 31 secs remaining

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1845 – Vasudeo Balwant Phadke, Indian independence activist and revolutionary, born in Shirdhon village, Panvel taluka, Raigad district, British India (d. 1883)
1928 – Hannah Weiner, American experimental poet, born in Providence, Rhode Island (d. 1997)
1956 – James Honeyman-Scott, English rock guitarist and vocalist (Pretenders), born in Hereford, Herefordshire, England (d. 1982)
1965 – Wayne Static [Wells], American musician (Static-X), born in Muskegon, Michigan (d. 2014)
1971 – Russell Copeland, American NFL wide receiver (Buffalo Bills), born in Tupelo, Mississippi
1974 – Cedric Bixler-Zavala, American musician (At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta), born in Redwood City. California

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1411 – Khalil Sultan, ruler of Transoxonia (b. 1384)
1918 – Wilfred Owen, English soldier and anti-war poet (Anthem for Doomed Youth, Futility), killed in action at 25 during the crossing of the Sambre–Oise Canal, exactly one week before the signing of the Armistice
1973 – Karl H. Waggerl, Austria author (Green Friends), dies at 75
1986 – Zlatan Vauda, Slovene composer and conductor (RTB Children’s Choir, 1953-86), dies at 86
2005 – Milton “Milt” Holland, American drummer, percussionist, ethnomusicologist (film Tinkerbell’s tinkle, Bewitched’s nose tinkle), dies at 88
2011 – Andy Rooney, American radio and television writer (b. 1919)

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events

1791 – Battle at Wabash: Indians assault general St Clair, 637 soldiers killed
1903 – Giovanni Giolitti becomes Prime Minister of Italy; a progressive liberal, he will hold his post through most of the next decade and introduce social, agrarian and labor reforms
1955 – Scientists Carlton E. Schwerdt and Fred L. Schaffer announce they have crystallized the pure polio virus, meaning they can better determine the virus’ chemical and biological properties
1980 – After acquiring MLB’s Oakland A’s for $12.7m, Walter Haas Jr. appoints himself CEO; leads team to 4 AL West Divisional titles and 1989 World Series Championship
1987 – On Wall Street, after 5 consecutive gains, Dow Jones down 50.56
2007 – Navy beats Notre Dame 46-44 in triple overtime, ending the Fighting Irish’s NCAA Football-record winning streak against the Midshipmen at 43 games; last Navy win over Notre Dame, 35-14 in 1963

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1736 – Christiaan Brunings, Dutch hydraulic engineer, born in Mannheim-Neckarau, Germany (d. 1805)
1841 – Johannes Eugenius Bülow Warming, Danish botanist (plant ecology, environment-organism interactions), born in Mandø, Denmark (d. 1924)
1925 – Dieter Wellershoff, German author (Minotaur)
1953 – Helios Creed, American musician (Chrome)
1953 – Kate Capshaw [Nail], American actress (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), born in Fort Worth, Texas
1971 – Dwight Yorke, Trinidad and Tobago soccer striker (74 caps; Aston Villa, Manchester United), born in Canaan, Trinidad and Tobago

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1867 – Pieter J Jong, Dutch Zouave, dies in battle
1937 – Winthrop Ames, American theatrical director (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), dies at 66
1958 – Harry Revel, movie composer (Sitting Pretty, Gay Divorcee), dies
1988 – Henri van Praag, Dutch para-psychologist, dies
1993 – Duncan Gibbins, director (Fire With Fire), dies in California fire at 41
2015 – Ahmed Chalabi, Iraqi politician (supported US 2003 invasion), dies at 71

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events

1889 – North Dakota becomes 39th and South Dakota becomes 40th state in the United States
1898 – French government of Dupuy forms
1954 – Strom Thurmond is the 1st senator elected by write-in vote (South Carolina)
1983 – US President Ronald Reagan signs bill establishing Dr Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
1997 – Typhoon Linda kills at least 208 in southern Vietnam
2000 – The first crew arrives at the International Space Station.

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1696 – Conrad Weiser, Pennsylvania’s ambassador to the Native Americans, born in Herrenberg, Germany (d. 1760)
1888 – Dutch Zwilling, American baseball outfielder (Federal League HR all-time leader), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1978)
1919 – Jorge de Sena, Portuguese novelist and poet (Reino da Estupidez), born in Lisbon, Portugal (d. 1978)
1946 – Alan Jones, Australian auto racer, commentator (World Formula 1 champion, 1980), born in Melbourne, Victoria
1975 – Chris Walla, American musician (Death Cab for Cutie), born in Bothell, Washington
1982 – Charles Itandje, Cameroon soccer goal-keeper (12 caps; Lens), born in Bobigny, France

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1717 – Johann Jacob Walther, composer, dies
1877 – Friedrich Graf von Wrangel, Prussian field marshal, dies at 93
1909 – Wilhelm Ahlwardt, German orientalist, dies at 81
2007 – Witold Kiełtyka, Polish metal drummer (Decapitated) (b. 1984)
2007 – Henry Cele, South African Actor; best known for his onscreen portrayal of the legendary Shaka Zulu
2015 – Colin Welland, British screenwriter (Chariots of Fire) and actor (Straw Dogs), dies at 81

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events

1877 – Dutch government of Heemskerk-Van Lynden resigns
1940 – 1st US air raid shelter, Fleetwood, Pa
1968 – Noël Coward’s “Sweet Potato” opens at Booth Theater NYC for 36 performances
1973 – “Molly” opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 68 performances
1991 – Three faculty, and one staff member of the department of physics and astronomy, were killed, along with one administrator, when physics graduate student Gang Lu went on a shooting rampage at the University of Iowa.
2004 – “That’s What I Love About Sunday” single released by Craig Morgan (Billboard Song of the Year 2005)

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1643 – John Strype, English historian and biographer, born in Houndsditch, London (d. 1737)
1871 – Stephen Crane, American novelist (Red Badge of Courage), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 1900)
1912 – Bill Bonthron, American athlete (world 1,500m record 3:48.8 1934), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1983)
1927 – Victor Pellot, Puerto Rican baseball infielder (6 x MLB All Star; 7 x Gold Glove), born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico (d. 2005)
1968 – Kent Graham, American NFL quarterback (New York Giants), born in Winfield, Illinois
1972 – Glen Murray, Canadian ice hockey right wing (1,009 NHL games; All Star 2003-04; Boston Bruins), born in Halifax, Nova Scotia

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

921 – Richard, Duke of Burgundy
1676 – Gisbertus Voetius, Dutch theologian (b. 1589)
1881 – Jacques Perk, Dutch poet (Iris, Wood Song), dies at 22
1962 – Ricardo Rodríguez, Mexican auto racer (youngest F1 driver ever to race for Ferrari), dies in practice accident at 20
1963 – Elsa Maxwell, American author (Jack Paar Show), dies at 80
1995 – Alun Pask, Welsh rugby union flanker (26 caps; British Lions 8 caps; Abertillery), dies at 58

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events

1978 – Iranian oil workers go on strike
1982 – Pope John Paul II becomes first pontiff to visit Spain
1994 – American Eagle ATR-72 crash down at Gary, Indiana: 68 killed
1995 – American jam band Phish performs The Who’s “Quadrophenia” as a musical costume during a show at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois
1998 – Iraq disarmament crisis begins: Iraq announces it would no longer cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors.
1999 – Finnish McLaren driver Mika Häkkinen wins season ending Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka to clinch his second straight F1 World Drivers Championship; wins by 2 points from Irishman Eddie Irvine

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1345 – Ferdinand I, King of Portugal (1367-83), born in Coimbra, Portugal (d. 1383)
1872 – James Hogan, Irish College Football Hall of Fame tackle (Yale), born in Glenbane, County Tipperary, Ireland (d. 1910)
1912 – Ollie Johnston, American animator and the last living member of Disney’s Nine Old Men, born in Palo Alto, California (d. 2008)
1941 – Lucas Brown Jackson, American basketball player (Olympic gold 1964), born in San Marcos, Texas
1945 – (Russell Glyn) “Russ” Ballard, British rock singer, songwriter and guitarist (Argent – “Liar”; “You Can Do Magic”), born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, England
1973 – Grigorios Georgatos, Greek footballer, born in Piraeus, Greece

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1926 – Harry Houdini [Erich Weisz], magician, dies in Detroit of gangrene and peritonitis that developed after his appendix ruptured
1950 – Jozef C Bittremieux, Flemish theologist, dies at 72
1984 – Indira Gandhi, 4th Prime Minister of India (1966-77, 1980-84), assassinated by two of her bodyguards at 66
1991 – Johan Schmitz, actor (Gysbregt van Aemstel/Soldat van Orange), dies
1995 – Wallace Edward Rowling, Prime Minister of NZ (1974-1975), dies at 68
2009 – Tom Wheatcroft, English businessman and car collector (Donington Grand Prix Collection ), dies at 87

More Famous Deaths »