Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1296 – Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated by Edward I of England
1877 – Rutherford B. Hayes removes Federal troops from Louisiana, Reconstruction ends
1905 – World Exposition opens in Liège
1976 – Stan Daniels’ musical “So Long 174th Street”, starring Robert Morse, opens at Harkness Theater, NYC; runs for 16 performances
1992 – NY Mets trade David Cone to Toronto Blue Jays for Jeff Kent

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Famous Birthdays

1875 – André Baillon, Belgian-French author (Un homme si simple), born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1932)
1905 – Julian Stryjkowski, Polish journalist and writer known for his radical leftist leanings, born in Stryi, Austro-Hungarian Empire (d. 1996)
1963 – Schae Harrison, American actress (Darla Forrester in “The Bold and the Beautiful”), born in Anaheim Hills, California
1969 – Grahame Cheney, Australian boxer, born in Lithgow, Australia
1995 – Nick Kyrgios, Australian tennis player (Australian Open doubles [Thanasi Kokkinakis] 2022; Wimbledon 2022 runner-up; Hopman Cup 2016), born in Canberra, Australia

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Famous Deaths

1876 – George Aiken, American playwright and actor famous for writing the most popular stage adaptation of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, dies at 45
1996 – William Colby, American C.I.A. director (1973-76), dies at 76
1997 – Paul Lambert, American character actor (Executive Suite, Spartacus), dies at 74
1999 – Cyril Washbrook, English cricket batsman (37 Tests, 6 x 100, HS 195; Lancashire CCC), dies at 84
2002 – Ruth Handler, American toy manufacturer (invented the Barbie doll), dies of cancer at 85

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Historical Events

1906 – Motion pictures begin regular showings at the Orpheum Theater in Honolulu, Hawaii
1996 – Shaun Pollock takes 4 wkts in 4 balls for Warwickshire in BandH
2014 – Oratorio for chorus evoking Pennsylvania coal-mining life “Anthracite Fields” by composer Julia Wolfe premieres in Philadelphia (Pulitzer Prize for Music 2015)
2019 – Six suspected militants connected to Sri Lankan terror attacks killed along with ten others in a shootout with police in Sainthamaruthu
2023 – Brazilian Portuguese-language Michaelis dictionary adds “pelé” as a new adjective to its online edition, meaning “exceptional, incomparable, unique”

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Famous Birthdays

1798 – Eugène Delacroix, French painter and etcher (Journal), born in Charenton-Saint-Maurice, Île-de-France, France (d. 1863)
1931 – Bernie Brillstein, American talent agent, manager and producer (The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 2008)
1955 – Mike Scott, American baseball pitcher (NL Cy Young Award and NLCS MVP 1986, NL wins leader 1989; 3 × MLB All-Star Houston Astros), born in Santa Monica, California
1957 – Rosa Briceño, Venezuelan conductor, and educator, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 2018)
1975 – Joey Jordison, American drummer (Slipknot, 1995-2013 – “All Hope Is Gone”), born in Des Moines, Iowa (d. 2021)

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Famous Deaths

1196 – Alfonso II, King of Aragon (1162-96), dies at 39
1984 – May McAvoy, American actress (Ben Hur), dies from heart attack at 84
2003 – Max Nicholson, Irish environmentalist, dies at 98
2017 – Jonathan Demme, American film director (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia), dies at 73
2021 – Al Schmitt, American Grammy Award-winning recording engineer and record producer (Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand), dies at 91

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Historical Events

1952 – American Bowling Congress approves use of an automatic pinsetter
1955 – Captiol Records releases “In the Wee Small Hours”, the ninth studio album by American vocalist Frank Sinatra; collection of melancholy ballads with arrangements by Nelson Riddle was an early example of a concept album and helped popularize the 12-inch format for non-classical recordings
1959 – St Lawrence Seaway linking Atlantic and the Great Lakes opens to shipping
1994 – Tsutomu Hata elected premier of Japan
2015 – 7.8-magnitude earthquake near Kathmandu in Nepal, killing 8000, leaving over 100,000 homeless, destroying many historic sites

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Famous Birthdays

1867 – Jean Demoor, Belgian physician and physiologist, born in Etterbeek, Belgium (d. 1941)
1869 – Karl Prohaska, Austrian composer, born in Mödling, Austria (d. 1927)
1923 – Anita Björk, Swedish actress (Miss Julie, Loving Couples, Night People), born in Tällberg, Sweden (d. 2012)
1949 – Michael Brown, American musician and songwriter (Don’t Walk Away Renee), born in New York City (d. 2015)
1994 – Sam Fender, English singer-songwriter and actor (Seventeen Going Under), born in South Shields, England

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Famous Deaths

1960 – Amanullah Khan, Emir and King of Afghanistan (1919-28), dies at 67
1969 – Margarita Xirgu, Catalan stage actress, director and political radical (Bloody Wedding, Mariana Pineda), dies at 80
1990 – Dexter Gordon, American jazz tenor saxophonist Go!; The Other Side of ‘Round Midnight), and actor (‘Round Midnight), dies of kidney failure at 67
2000 – Lucien le Cam, French mathematician (b. 1924)
2009 – John J. Marchi, American politician (NY Senate 1957-2006), dies at 87

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Historical Events

1910 – German Catholic youth movement Quickborn forms
1915 – Leaders of the Armenian community in Constantinople (now Istanbul) are arrested by Ottoman authorities, and many later killed, marking the start of the Armenian Genocide
1916 – Ernest Shackleton and five men of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition launch a lifeboat from uninhabited Elephant Island in the Southern Ocean to organise a rescue for ice-trapped ship Endurance
1949 – 3rd Tony Awards: “Death of a Salesman” and “Kiss Me Kate” win
1976 – American composer Steve Reich’s “Music for 16 Musicians,” scored for four pianos, multiple percussion instruments, two clarinets, a violin, a cello, and four wordless and amplified women’s voices, a violin, has its world premiere at Town Hall in New York City

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Famous Birthdays

1743 – Edmund Cartwright, English inventor (power loom), born in Marnham, Nottinghamshire, England (d. 1823)
1904 – Willem De Kooning, Dutch artist (North Atlantic Light), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 1997)
1941 – Richard Holbrooke, American diplomat (Assistant Secretary of State, UN Ambassador) and author, born in New York City (d. 2010)
1948 – Paul Cellucci, American politician, 69th Governor of Massachusetts and former United States Ambassador to Canada, born in Hudson, Massachusetts (d. 2013)
1961 – Roger Mayweather, American boxer, (WBA and lineal super featherweight titles 1983-84, WBC light welterweight 1987-89; IBO light welterweight; IBO welterweight 1994-95), born in Grand Rapids, Michigan (d. 2020)

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Famous Deaths

1776 – Giuseppe Paolucci, Italian composer, dies at 49
1824 – Herman Muntinghe, Dutch theologian and writer (History of Mankind), dies at 71
1948 – Rosita Marstini, actress (I Cover Waterfront, Big Parade), dies at 54
1967 – Frank Overton, American actor (Fail Safe; 12 O’Clock High (TV series, not film)), dies of a heart attack at 49
1988 – Bob Newson, South African cricket fast bowler (3 Tests, 4 wickets; Transvaal; Rhodesia), dies at 87

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Historical Events

1516 – Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria endorses “The German Beer Purity Law” (Reinheitsgebot) and adds to it standards for the sale of beer in Bavaria, ensuring beer is only brewed from three ingredients: water, barley, and hops
1949 – Netherlands annex several German territories, including Elten and Tuddern, as apart of post-Wold War II border adjustments
1977 – Czech chess master, Vlastimil Hort, plays 201 games simultaneously; won-174, drew-17, lost-10
2012 – Rangers F.C. owner, Craig Whyte, is banned for life from any involvement in Scottish football
2019 – At least 54 jade miners buried by a mudslide in Kachin state, Myanmar

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Famous Birthdays

1725 – Saint Gerard Majella, Catholic saint, born in Muro, Naples, Italy (d. 1755)
1881 – Claude Carter, South African cricket spin bowler (19 Tests, 28 wickets, BB 6/50; Natal, Transvaal), born in Durban, South Africa (d. 1952)
1900 – Henry Barraud, French composer, born in Bordeaux, France (d. 1997)
1918 – James Kirkup, British travel writer, poet and novelist (African in Greenland), born in South Shields, England (d. 2009)
1960 – Jodie Mudd, American golfer (Players C’ship 1990), born in Louisville, Kentucky

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Famous Deaths

1762 – Johann Samuel Endler, German composer, musician, and conductor, dies at 67
1986 – Jim Laker, English cricket spin bowler (46 Tests; 193 wickets; world best 19-90 4th Test v Australia 1956), dies from complications of gall bladder surgery at 64
1992 – Satyajit Ray, Indian director (Distant Thunder, Agantuk), dies at 70
2006 – Johnnie Checketts, New Zealand fighter pilot, dies at 94
2025 – Jonnie Boer, Dutch chef with three Michelin Stars and a pioneer of the New Nordic food movement, dies of a pulmonary embolism at 60

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Historical Events

1601 – First expedition of the English East India Company to the Spice Islands of the Moluccas departs Torbay
1988 – Women are allowed to compete in Little 500 bicycle race (Indiana)
1990 – Lebanon release US hostage Robert Polhill after 39 months
1993 – Pete Townshend’s rock musical “The Who’s Tommy” adapted for theatrical stage, opens at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 899 performances, winning 5 Tony Awards, and a Grammy Award
1994 – Schelto Patijn appointed Mayor of Amsterdam

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Famous Birthdays

1729 – Michael Hillegas, American merchant and first Treasurer of the United States (1775-89), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1804)
1863 – C. A. J. van Dishoeck, Dutch publisher, born in Zierikzee, Netherlands (d. 1931)
1919 – Donald J. Cram, American biochemist (development and use of molecules with structure-specific interactions of high selectivity – Nobel 1987), born in Chester, Vermont (d. 2001)
1935 – Mario Machado, Chinese-American eight-time Emmy Award-winning television and radio broadcaster, first Chinese-American on-air news anchor in Los Angeles, born in Shanghai (d. 2013)
1950 – (Jesse) “Pete” Carr, American guitarist and session musician (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section; LeBlanc and Carr), born in Daytona Beach, Florida (d. 2020)

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Famous Deaths

1865 – Francis Washburn, US Union colonel/gen major, dies of injuries
1992 – Billy Wayne White, American murderer, executed in Texas at 34
1996 – Erma Bombeck, American humorist (The Grass is Greener over the Septic Tank), dies at 69
2003 – Felice Bryant [Matilda Scaduto], American songwriter, with husband Boudleaux (“Bye Bye Love”; “Wake Up Little Susie”), dies of cancer at 77
2011 – Moin Akhter, Pakistani actor, dies at 60

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Historical Events

1789 – John Adams sworn in as 1st US Vice President (9 days before Washington)
1862 – Congress establishes US Mint in Denver, Colorodo
1960 – Founding of the Orthodox Bahá’í Faith in Washington, DC
1983 – £1 coin is introduced in the United Kingdom
1995 – FBI arrests Timothy McVeigh in the Oklahoma City bombing case; he is indicted on 160 state offenses and 11 federal offenses, including use of a weapon of mass destruction

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Famous Birthdays

1911 – Leonard Warren [Warenoff], American baritone (Metropolitan Opera, 1939-60) who died on stage, born in The Bronx, New York City (d. 1960)
1924 – Ira Louvin [Loudermilk], American country singer and mandolin player (Louvin Brothers – “The Only Way Out (Is to Walk Over Me)”), born in Section, Alabama (d. 1965)
1942 – Brendan Malone, American basketball coach (RI Uni; Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers), born in New York City (d. 2023)
1945 – Diana Darvey [Rollof], British actress, singer and dancer (The Benny Hill Show), born in Cheadle, Cheshire, England (d. 2000)
1958 – Michael Zarnock, American author and Hot Wheels historian, born in Utica, New York

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Famous Deaths

1073 – Alexander II [Anselmo da Baggio], Pope (1061-73), dies
1718 – Philippe de La Hire, French mathematician and astronomer, known for his work on conic sections, dies at 78
1899 – Heinrich Kiepert, German cartographer and geographer (1st modern maps of classical world and Ottoman Empire), dies at 80
1975 – Jack Westrup, English composer, dies at 70
2008 – Al Wilson, American soul singer (“Show and Tell”; “The Snake”), dies of kidney failure at 68

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Historical Events

1931 – British House of Commons agrees to allow sports to be played on Sunday
1934 – Heinrich Himmler is appointed chief of all German police including the Prussian secret state police
1985 – Carlos Lopes runs world record marathon (2:07:12)
1998 – German terrorist group Red Army Faction, also known as the Baader-Meinhof Group, disbands after 28 years
2009 – 113th Boston Marathon: Deriba Merga of Ethiopia wins men’s event in 2:08:42; Salina Kosgei of Kenya women’s champion in 2:32:16

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Famous Birthdays

1857 – Charles Louis Philippe Zilcken, Dutch painter and author (HW Knife Day), born in The Hague, Netherlands (d. 1930)
1894 – Martinus Nijhoff, Dutch poet and linguistic (spelling), born in The Hague, Netherlands (d. 1953)
1955 – Donald Pettit, American chemical engineer and NASA astronaut, born in Silverton, Oregon
1961 – Don Mattingly, American MLB first baseman (6 x MLB All-Star; AL MVP 1985; 9 x Gold Glove; 3 x Silver Slugger; AL batting champion 1984; NY Yankees) and manager (LA Dodgers, Miami Marlins), born in Evansville, Indiana
1971 – Mikey Welsh, American bass player (Weezer, 1998-2001 – “Island In The Sun”), born in Syracuse, New York (d. 2011)

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Famous Deaths

1164 – Victor IV [Ottaviano Montecello], Italian antipope (1159-64), dies
1960 – Paul Fort, French poet (founder of Vers et Prose), dies at 88
1970 – Paul Celan [Antschell], German-Romanian poet (Collected Prose), drowns himself at 49
1994 – Jean Carmet, French actor (Cache Cash, Miss Mona, Night Magic), dies of a heart attack at 72
2003 – Ruth Hale, American playwright and actress (b. 1908)

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Historical Events

1923 – New Egyptian law allows suffrage for men, except soldiers
1926 – 30th Boston Marathon won by Canadian Johnny Miles in 2:25:40.4
1944 – 1944 NFL Draft: Angelo Bertelli from University of Notre Dame first pick by Boston Yanks
1965 – 1st all news radio station (WINS 1010 AM in NYC) begins operating
1965 – T.A.M.I. Show premieres in London

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Famous Birthdays

1821 – Mortimer Dormer Leggett, American Major General (Union Army), born in Ithaca, New York (d. 1896)
1931 – Walter Stewart, Canadian writer and journalist, born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2004)
1945 – Michael Stewart, American folk music producer, arranger, banjo player and guitarist (We Five – “You Were On My Mind”), born in Riverside County, California (d. 2002)
1972 – Jeff Wilkins, American football kicker (Super Bowl XXXIV St Louis Rams; Pro Bowl and NFL scoring leader 2003), born in Youngstown, Ohio
1977 – Lucien Mettomo, Cameroonian footballer (2002 World Cup), born in Douala, Cameroon

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Famous Deaths

1776 – Jacob Israel Emden [Jacob ben Tswi], German rabbi, dies at 78
1870 – William Henry Havergal, composer, dies at 77
1874 – Owen Jones, architect, dies
1949 – Stephen Samuel Wise, American Rabbi and President of Zionist Org of America, dies at 75
2022 – Mike Gregory, English darts player (BDO World C’ship 1992 runner-up), dies from dementia at 65

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Historical Events

1868 – San Francisco Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals forms in San Francisco, California
1950 – 1st opening night-game, Cards beat Pirates, 4-2
1963 – Dr. James Campbell performs the first human nerve transplant
1974 – Red Brigade kidnaps Italian attorney general Mario Sossi
1996 – In Lebanon, at least 106 civilians are killed when the Israel Defense Forces accidentally shell the UN compound at Quana.

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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)
1925 – Bob Hastings, American actor (McHale’s Navy; All in the Family), born in Brooklyn, New York City(d. 2014)
1946 – Tommy Shannon [Smedley], American blues-rock bassist (Johnny Winter; Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble), born in Tucson, Arizona
1950 – Kenny Ortega, American film and television producer (High School Musical trilogy), born in Palo Alto, California
1966 – Valeri Kamensky, Russian NHL left wing (Avalanche, Olympic silver 1998), born in Voskresensk, Russia

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Famous Deaths

1587 – John Foxe, English historian (Book of Martyrs), dies
1674 – John Graunt, English statistician and founder of science of demography, dies at 53
1960 – Emory Johnson, American actor and director (Phantom Express, Shield of Honor), dies at 66
1974 – John Henry Lewis, American boxer (World Light-Heavyweight champion, 1935-38), dies of emphysema and Parkinson’s at 59
1997 – Edward Barker, English cartoonist, dies at 46

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