Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1927 – Leon Trotsky is expelled from the Soviet Communist Party, paving the way for Joseph Stalin to consolidate complete power
1944 – RAF sinks German battleship “Tirpitz” at Tromso Fjord, Norway
1988 – USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
1990 – Crown Prince Akihito is formally installed as Emperor Akihito of Japan, becoming the 125th Japanese monarch.
1995 – German Benetton driver Michael Schumacher crashes in the season-ending Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide but claims second straight F1 World Drivers Championship by 33 points from Damon Hill
2018 – Israeli secret operation in Gaza kills eight including one Israeli and an Hamas Commander, igniting tensions with retaliatory rocket attack from Gaza

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Famous Birthdays

1906 – Bukka [Booker T. Washington] White, blues guitarist, born in Houston, Mississippi (d. 1977)
1910 – A “Dudley” Nourse, cricketer (son of Dave, brilliant South African batsman)
1934 – Charles Manson, American criminal, murderer and cult leader (Manson Family), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 2017)
1939 – Ruby Nash Curtis [Garnett], US RandB singer (Ruby and the Romantics), born in Akron, Ohio
1949 – Penelope Pussycat, Warner Bros. cartoon character created by Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series), first debuts in “For Scent-imental Reasons”
1979 – Corey Maggette, American professional basketball player, born in Melrose Park, Illinois

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Famous Deaths

1035 – Cnut the Great [Canute], King of Denmark, England, Norway and parts of Sweden (1016-1035), dies around the age of 45
1739 – Ludwig Ernst, German composer, dies at 71
1836 – Juan Ramón Balcarce, Argentine military leader and politician (b. 1773)
1994 – Wilma Rudolph, American athlete (3 Olympic gold 100/200/4x100m 1960), dies of brain cancer at 54
2008 – Catherine Baker Knoll, 30th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, (b. 1930)
2011 – Peter Roebuck, English cricketer and journalist, dies at 55

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Historical Events

1503 – Pope Julius II elected
1807 – Washington Irving’s Salmagundi periodical published – first to associate the name “Gotham” with New York City
1811 – Cartagena Colombia declares independence from Spain
1868 – War of the Triple Alliance: Allied victory in the Battle of Avay leaves 3,000 Paraguayan soldiers dead, 600 wounded and the road to Asunción open
1983 – President Reagan became 1st US President to address Japanese legislature
2018 – Federation Cup Women’s Tennis, Prague, Czech Republic: in a final denuded of both countries’ top players Kateřina Siniaková beats American Sofia Kenin 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 to clinch a 3-0 win for the home side

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Famous Birthdays

1893 – Alceu Amoroso Lima, Brazilian essayist, activist and founder of the Brazilian Christian Democracy, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (d. 1983)
1911 – Patric Knowles [Reginald Lawrence Knowles], British actor (Chisum, Arnold, Mutiny), born in Horsforth, Yorkshire, England (d. 1995)
1943 – Karin Kent, [Janneke Kanteman], Dutch singer
1955 – Jigme Singye Wangchuk, king of Bhutan (1972- )
1968 – Wyatt Pauley, Ecuador, rocker (Linear-I Never Felt This Way, Lies)
1986 – François Trinh-Duc, French rugby player

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Famous Deaths

1968 – Jeanne Demessieux, composer, dies at 47
1984 – Martin Luther King Sr, US vicar/father of MLK Jr, dies at 84
1987 – Lowell T. Coggeshall, American medical scientist and US Secretary of HEW (1956-58), dies at 86
1993 – Erskine Hawkins, American trumpeter and composer (After Hours), dies at 79
2005 – Keith Andes, American actor (Farmer’s Daughter, Away All Boats), commits suicide at 85
2017 – Francesco “Frank” Corsaro, American opera director (The Night of the Iguana, Play of the Week), dies at 92

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Historical Events

1911 – Andrew Carnegie forms Carnegie Corporation for scholarly and charitable works
1955 – “Vamp” opens at Winter Garden Theater NYC for 60 performances
1971 – US table tennis team arrived in China
1975 – Ore ship Edmund Fitzgerald with crew of 29 lost in storm on Lake Superior
1978 – Israel’s top negotiators broke away from Middle East peace talks
2013 – Spaniard Marc Márquez wins the 2013 MotoGP World Championship to become its youngest ever winner at 20

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Famous Birthdays

1883 – Bedrich Antonin Wiedermann, Czech organist and composer, born in Ivanovice na Hané, Czech Republic (d. 1951)
1919 – Moise Tshombe, President of Katanga, then premier of the Congo (Zaire), born in Musumba (d. 1969)
1919 – Bulldog Turner, American NFL center (Chicago Bears), born in Plains, Texas (d. 1998)
1935 – Igor Dmitriyevich Novikov, Russian astrophysicist and cosmologist, born in Moscow, Russian SFSR
1958 – Stephen Herek, American film director (Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors), born in San Antonio, Texas
1984 – Kendrick Perkins, American basketball player (Boston Celtics), born in Nederland, Texas

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Famous Deaths

1843 – John Trumbull, American painter (Declaration of Independence), dies at 87
1971 – Walter Van Tilburg Clark, American author (Ox-Bow Incident), dies at 62
1984 – Sudie Bond, American actress (Love Story, Johnny Dangerously), dies of a respiratory ailment at 56
1984 – Xavier Herbert, Australian author (b. 1901)
1990 – Ronnie Dyson, American singer (Salvation-I Don’t Wanna Cry), dies at 40
2007 – Laraine Day [La Raine Johnson], American actress (Dr. KIldaire, Foreign Correspondent), dies at 87

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Historical Events

1918 – Following the collapse of Germany in World War I, the Weimar Republic of Germany is proclaimed
1962 – US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1968 – Ian Paisley and Ronald Bunting lead a Loyalist march to the Diamond area of Derry, North Ireland
1972 – US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1973 – Government De Uyl decides Palestijnse fugitives to support
1996 – Evander Holyfield upsets Mike Tyson in 11th-round knockout in Las Vegas to regain WBA heavyweight boxing title; second boxer, after Muhammad Ali, to win a heavyweight title 3 times

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Famous Birthdays

1389 – Isabella of Valois, queen consort of England, born in Paris (d. 1409)
1795 – Walter Geikie, Scottish painter, born in Edinburgh, Scotland (d. 1837)
1918 – Su Beng [Lim Tiau-hui], ‘Father of Taiwanese Independence’ (Taiwan’s 400-Year History), born in Taipei, Taiwan (d. 2019)
1968 – Jeff Brady, American NFL linebacker (Minnesota Vikings), born in Cincinnati, Ohio
1970 – Melanie Roche, Australian softball pitcher (Olympic bronze 1996), born in Bankstown, New South Wales
1980 – Dominique Maltais, Canadian snowboarder, born in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Canada

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Famous Deaths

1187 – Emperor Gaozong of Song, 10th emperor of Song dynasty, dies at 80
1801 – Carl Philipp Stamitz, German composer, dies at 56
1939 – Dirk Klop, Dutch intelligence lt, shot by German Abwehr
1992 – William Hillcourt, author (Boy Scout Handbook), dies at 92
2003 – Binod Bihari Verma, Indian Maithili literateur (b.1937)
2004 – Stieg Larsson, Swedish author (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), dies of a heart attack at 50

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Historical Events

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
1961 – Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8, a Lockheed Constellation aircraft, crashes near Richmond, Virginia, 77 die
1973 – Nevada approves pari-mutuel betting on Jai Alai
1983 – STS-9 vehicle again moves to launch pad
2013 – At least 6,000 people are killed after Typhoon Haiyan, tied with Typhoon Meranti as being the strongest storm ever recorded at landfall, hits the Philippines
2017 – UK Minister Priti Patel resigns after secret meetings revealed with Israeli officials

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Famous Birthdays

1491 – Teofilo Folengo, Italian macaronic poet, born in Mantua, Italy (d. 1544)
1854 – Johannes Rydberg, Swedish physicist (Rydberg formula), born in Halmstad, Sweden (d. 1919)
1938 – Murtala Mohammed, Nigerian military ruler, born in Bendel State, Colonial Nigeria (d. 1976)
1957 – Pearl Thompson, British musician (The Cure), born in Surrey, England
1960 – Oleg Menshikov, Russian actor (Burnt by the Sun), born in Serpukhov, Moscow Oblast, Russian SFSR
1968 – Sergio Porrini, Italian footballer, born in Milan, Italy

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Famous Deaths

1494 – Melozzo da Forli, Italian painter, dies at about 56
1978 – Norman Rockwell, artist (Saturday Evening Post covers), dies at 84
1983 – Betty Nuthall, English tennis player (US Nat C’ship 1930), dies of a coronary arrest at 72
1995 – Country Dan Dick Montana McLain, singer, dies at 40
2004 – Peter Mathers, English-born Australian novelist (b. 1931)
2005 – David Westheimer, American novelist (Von Ryan’s Express), dies at 88

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Historical Events

1916 – Amidst the Mexican Revolution and World War I, Woodrow Wilson is re-elected as President of the United States, defeating Republican candidate Charles E. Hughes
1917 – The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic is proclaimed; first Council of People’s Commissars is formed with Vladimir Lenin as leader and including Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin
1921 – Hungary passes a law invalidating the Habsburg line of succession to the throne
1950 – French women and children leaves Hanoi/Tonkin-delta
1998 – 10th College Football Holy War: Notre Dame beats Boston College 31-26 in Chestnut Hill
2012 – Voters in Maine, Maryland and Washington approve measures for same-sex marriage

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Famous Birthdays

1936 – Barry Newman, American actor (Amy, Deadline, Petrocelli), born in Boston, Massachusetts
1938 – Jim Katt, American baseball pitcher and sportscaster (NY Yankees, Minnesota Twins), born in Zeeland, Michigan
1943 – Wensley Haydon-Baillie, English pharmaceutical manufacturer
1943 – Boris Gromov, Russian general and politician (Governor of Moscow Oblast 2000-12), born in Saratov, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
1948 – Alex Ribeiro, Brazilian racing driver, born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
1968 – Mark Preston, Australian businessman and motorsport professional, born in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

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Famous Deaths

1678 – Erasmus Quellinus II [Quellien], Flemish painter/etcher, dies at 70
1857 – Charles Zeuner, German-American composer and organist, dies at 62
1959 – Victor McLaglen, actor (Gunga Din), dies of heart attack at 72
1986 – Tracy Pew, Australian musician (The Birthday Party) (b. 1957)
1991 – Tom of Finland [Touko Laaksonen], Finnish fetish artist, dies at 71
2006 – Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber, French journalist (b. 1924)

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Historical Events

1906 – Chinese Government ministries are reorganized as part of the movement towards constitutional government; but in fact the Manchu princes retain control and there is little gain for the Chinese people
1936 – RCA displays TV for press
1961 – US government issues a stamp honoring 100th birthday of James Naismith (invented game of basketball – actually Canadian)
1966 – 1st entire lineup televised in color (NBC)
1973 – “Man With the Golden Gun” begins filming
2006 – 40th Country Music Association Award: Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban wins

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Famous Birthdays

1880 – Chris van Abkoude, Dutch-American writer and novelist (Pietje Bell, Kruimeltje), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 1959)
1903 – June Marlowe, American actress (Pardon Us, Clash of the Wolves), born in St. Cloud, Minnesota (d. 1984)
1914 – Jonathan Harris, American actor (Dr Zachary Smith-Lost in Space), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2002)
1938 – Jim Pike, American singer (The Lettermen)
1941 – Guy Clark, American country singer (Heartbroke), born in Monahans, Texas (d. 2016)
1982 – Sowelu, Japanese pop singer, born in Tokyo

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Famous Deaths

1650 – William II, Prince of Orange and stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, dies at 24
1795 – Jiří Antonín Benda, Czech composer and violinist, dies at 73
1937 – Johnston Forbes-Robertson, British actor and theatre director (Kathleen), dies at 84
1979 – Chick Evans, American golfer (US Open 1916), dies at 89
1989 – Yusaku Matsuda, Japanese actor (b. 1949)
2001 – Anthony Shaffer, English dramatist (Sleuth), dies at 75

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Historical Events

1789 – French National Meeting declares all citizens equal under law
1912 – Bulgarian troops in Constantinople blockade drinking water
1953 – Film “How to Marry a Millionaire” directed by Jean Negulesco, starring Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe, first to be filmed in CinemaScope released
1976 – Pirates trade Manny Sanguillen and $100,000 to A’s for mgr Chuck Tanner
2013 – Bill de Blasio is elected New York City Mayor
2018 – Child suicide rate in Japan at 30-year high with 250 taking their lives 2016/17 according to Government Ministry

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Famous Birthdays

1798 – Carolina F L duchess of Berry, daughter of crown prince of Naples
1905 – Joel McCrea, American actor (Foreign Correspondent, Sullivan’s Travels), born in South Pasadena, California (d. 1990)
1922 – Violet Barclay, American illustrator
1948 – Pepper LaBeija [William Jackson], American drag queen and fashion designer, born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2003)
1960 – Tilda Swinton, British actress (We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Chronicles of Narnia), born in London, England
1971 – Sergei Berezin, Russian NHL forward (Team Russia, Olympic silver 1998), born in Voskrensensk, Russia

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Famous Deaths

1869 – Otis Tufts, American machinist and inventor who built printing machines, steam engines, firefighting equipment and invented the steam pile driver, dies at 65
1879 – James Clerk Maxwell, Scottish physicist (speed of light), dies of abdominal cancer at 48
1960 – Johnny Horton, American country and rockabilly singer (The Battle of New Orleans), dies in a car accident at 33
1964 – Mabel Lucie Attwell, English children’s author and illustrator, dies at 85
1975 – Edward L Tatum, American molecular geneticist and biochemist (Nobel Prize 1958), dies of heart failure at 65
1995 – Laura Weber, TV Host, dies at 70

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Historical Events

1520 – Danish Norwegian king Christian II crowned King of Sweden
1867 – 90 kegs of powder used to get rock from Telegraph Hill, San Francisco, for seawall
1924 – California legalizes professional boxing (illegal since 1914)
1958 – Democrats win US congressional election
1987 – Benito Santiago, Padres catcher, wins NL Rookie of Year
1990 – “Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story” opens at Shubert NYC for 225 performances

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Famous Birthdays

1891 – Miroslav Krejci, Czech composer
1899 – Carlos Pellicer, Mexican museum director/poet (Teotihuacan)
1902 – Frank Jenks, American actor (Colonel Flack, Zombies on Broadway), born in Des Moines, Iowa (d. 1962)
1903 – Ion Vasilescu, composer
1930 – Kate Reid, British actress (The Andromeda Strain, Heaven Help US), born in London, England (d. 1993)
1960 – Kathy Griffin, American comedienne (Suddenly Susan, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List), born in Chicago, Illinois

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Famous Deaths

1203 – Dirk VII, Count of Holland (1190-1203), dies
1850 – Gustav Schwab, German writer, dies at 58
1980 – Elsie MacGill, Canadian aeronautical engineer, 1st female in Canada to get bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, dies at 75
1997 – George Chambers, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago (1981-86), dies at 69
2006 – Frank Arthur Calder, Canadian politician (b. 1915)
2009 – Hubertus Brandenburg, Roman Catholic Bishop of Stockholm (b. 1923)

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Historical Events

1620 – Great Patent granted to Plymouth Colony
1900 – First US automobile show opens at Madison Square Garden (NYC)
1955 – First virus crystallized (announced)
1974 – “Lorelei” closes at Palace Theater NYC after 320 performances
1980 – Ianford Wilson’s “5th of July” premieres in NYC
1999 – Los Angeles Lakers debut in the STAPLES Center, with 103-88 win v Vancouver Grizzlies; Magic Johnson and Chick Hearn co-host ceremony unveiling Lakers’ retired jerseys and championship banners in new building

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Famous Birthdays

1604 – Osman II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1618-22), born in Topkapi Palace, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (d. 1622)
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)
1866 – Harry Staley, American baseball pitcher (MLB record 9 RBI 1893; record lasts 70+ years), born in Jacksonville, Illinois (d. 1910)
1953 – Kate Capshaw [Nail], American actress (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), born in Fort Worth, Texas
1980 – Hans Andersen, Danish speedway rider (captain Denmark Speedway World Cup gold 2006, 08), born in Odense, Denmark

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Famous Deaths

1793 – Olympe de Gouges [Marie Gouze], French playwright and revolutionary (Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen), executed by guillotine at 45
1794 – François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis, French cardinal and statesman, dies at 79
1832 – Pietro Generali, composer, dies at 59
1949 – Solomon R. Guggenheim, American businessman and art collector (Guggenheim Museum New York), dies at 88
1980 – Ludwig Hohl, writer, dies
2010 – James “Jim” Clench, Canadian bassist and songwriter (April Wine and Bachman-Turner Overdrive), dies of lung cancer at 61

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