Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1868 – Australian Aboriginal Cricket tour of England begins v Surrey Gentlemen
1878 – W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s comic opera “H.M.S. Pinafore” premieres in London, their first international success
1959 – Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visits Angola
1967 – John Lennon takes delivery of his psychedelically painted Rolls Royce
1992 – Oscar Luigi Scalfaro elected President of Italy

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Famous Birthdays

1886 – Rash Behari Bose, Indian revolutionary leader against the British Raj in India, born in Bengal, India (d. 1945)
1936 – Tom T. Hall, American country singer, songwriter (“Harper Valley PTA”), and author, born in Olive Hill, Kentucky (d. 2021)
1946 – David A. Hargrave, American game designer and writer known as The Dream Weaver (Arduin), born in United States (d. 1988)
1969 – Matt Borlenghi, Italian-American actor (Brian Bodine-All My Children), born in Los Angeles, California
1973 – Daz Dillinger [Delmar Drew Arnaud], American hip-hop performer, born in Long Beach, California

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Famous Deaths

1789 – Anders Dahl, Swedish botanist (b. 1751)
1916 – Jack Marsh, Australian cricketer (Aboriginal bowler played for NSW 1900-03), dies in a pub brawl at 41 or 42
1948 – Witold Pilecki, Polish WWII resistance fighter (volunteered to go to Auschwitz, Witold’s Report), executed by communist secret police after a show trial at age 47
1965 – Sonny Boy Williamson II [Aleck Miller], American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, dies at 65
1996 – Bernard Sendall, British deputy director general of British Independent Television Authority and author (Independent Television in Britain), dies at 83

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Historical Events

1902 – Cleve’s Bill Bradley is 1st ALer to hit a HR run in 4 consecutive games, not duplicated until Babe Ruth does it June 25, 1918
1908 – Belgium Catholic socialist/liberal parliamentary election
1909 – Bristol University granted Royal Charter
1929 – Chicago WS pitcher Ted Lyons and Detroit’s George Uhle go 21 innings before Tigers get a run to win, 6-5; longest game (3 hours, 31 mins) ever at Comiskey Park, Chicago
1957 – Heavy earthquake strikes Colombia

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Famous Birthdays

1863 – George Grey Barnard, American sculptor, born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania (d. 1938)
1905 – Mikhail Sholokhov, Soviet writer (And Quiet Flows the Don, Nobel 1965), born in Veshenskaya, Don Host Oblast, Russian Empire (d. 1984)
1910 – Jimmy Demaret, American golfer (US Masters 1940, 47, 50), born in Houston, Texas (d. 1983)
1922 – Sadao Bekku, Japanese classical and film composer (Matango), born in Tokyo (d. 2012)
1976 – Bob Maesen, Belgian flatwater canoer, born in Neerpelt, Pelt, Belgium

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Famous Deaths

1543 – Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish mathematician and astronomer who theorized that planets revolve around the sun (Heliocentric theory), dies at 70
1908 – Old Tom Morris, Scottish golfer (British Open 1861-62, 64, 67), dies as result of a fall at 86
1972 – Asta Nielsen, actress (Joyless Street), dies at 88
1986 – Gunnar Bjornstrand, Swedish actor (7th Seal, Devil’s Eye), dies at 76
2023 – Bill Lee, American session double-bassist, and film score composer (Do The Right Thing; She’s Gotta Have It), dies at 94

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Historical Events

1932 – Australian cyclist Hubert Opperman sets paced world records 1,384km in 24 hours, and 1,609km (1,000 miles) in 28 hours, 55 minutes, 39 seconds at Melbourne Motordrome
1969 – 22nd Cannes Film Festival: “If…” directed by Lindsay Anderson wins the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film
1983 – Radio Moscow announcer Vladimir Danchev praises Afghanistan Muslims standing up to Russia; he is removed from the air
1990 – Cost of rescuing savings and loan failures is put at up to $130 billion
2001 – 9th UEFA Champions League Final: Bayern Munich beats Valencia (1-1, 5-4 on penalties) at Milan

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Famous Birthdays

1820 – James Buchanan Eads, American engineer and inventor (Eads Bridge-St Louis), born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana (d. 1887)
1923 – Alicia de Larrocha, Spanish pianist (Orquesta Sinfonica), born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 2009)
1942 – Zalman King, American actor and director (Wild Orchid), born in Trenton, New Jersey (d. 2012)
1965 – Manuel Sanchís Hontiyuelo, Real Madrid footballer
1970 – Bryan Herta, American race car driver

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Famous Deaths

1691 – Adrien Auzout, French astronomer who improved measuring instruments (moon crater “Auzout”), dies at 69
1838 – Jan Willem Janssens, Dutch nobleman, military officer, and Governor-General of Cape colony and Dutch-Indies, dies at 75
1841 – Franz Xaver von Baader, German philosopher and theologist, dies at 76
1934 – Clyde Barrow, American bank robber and outlaw (Bonnie and Clyde), killed in police ambush in Louisiana at 25
2021 – Max Mosley, British auto racer and lawyer (President Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile [FIA] 1993-2009), dies from cancer at 81

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Historical Events

1840 – The transporting of British convicts to the New South Wales colony is abolished
1966 – 18th Emmy Awards: “The Fugitive”, Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore win
1967 – Egyptian President Nasser closes the Straits of Tiran to Israel
2001 – Laureus World Sports Awards, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco: Sportsman: Tiger Woods; Sportswoman: Cathy Freeman; Team: French Men’s National Football team
2018 – Stacey Abrams is the first black woman to be nominated as US state governor – for Georgia

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Famous Birthdays

1660 – Andreas Schlüter, German sculptor, baptized in Free Imperial City of Hamburg (d. 1714)
1671 – Abraham Patras, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (1735-37), born in Grenoble, France (d. 1737)
1930 – Harvey Milk, American politician, gay activist and first openly gay person elected to public office, born in Woodmere, New York (d. 1978)
1936 – M. Scott Peck, American psychiatrist and writer (The Road Less Traveled), born in New York City (d. 2005)
2001 – Emma Chamberlain, American influencer (YouTube), born in San Mateo, California

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Famous Deaths

1667 – Alexander VII [Fabio Chigi], Italian Pope (1655-67), dies at 68
1958 – Julien de Valckenaere, Belgian poet, dies at 60
1991 – Catalino “Lino” Brocka, Filipino film director (Macho Dancer, Jaguar), dies in car crash at 51
2022 – Dervla Murphy, Irish bicyclist and travel author (Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle; In Ethiopia with a Mule), dies at 90
2024 – Petri Sulonen, Finnish soccer defender (10 caps; TPS 319 games), dies from ALS at 60

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Historical Events

1966 – Louie Louie by The Kingsmen reentered the chart and hits #97
1969 – Slovan Bratislava of Czechoslovakia win 9th European Cup Winner’s Cup against FC Barcelona of Spain 3-2 in Basel
1972 – “Heathen!” opens and closes at Billy Rose Theater NYC for 1 performance
1997 – Blue Jays pitcher Roger Clemens beats the Yankees for his 200th win
2018 – US Justice Department says it is expanding its internal investigation into whether FBI infiltrated Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign

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Famous Birthdays

1923 – Armand Borel, Swiss mathematician known for his work on algebraic topology and Lie groups, born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland (d. 2003)
1940 – Tony Sheridan, British singer-songwriter and guitarist who collaborated with the pre-fame Beatles (“My Bonnie”), born in Norwich, England (d. 2013)
1976 – Christopher Tin, American film, television, and video game score composer (Baba Yetu), born in Redwood City, California
1979 – Fayçal Salhi, French-Algerian jazz guitarist and oud player, born in Khenchela, Algeria
1996 – Josh Allen, American football quarterback (Buffalo Bills), born in Firebaugh, California

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Famous Deaths

1650 – James Graham, Marquis of Montrose “the Great Montrose”, Scottish general, hanged at 37
1742 – Lars Roberg, Swedish physician, natural science researcher, and educator, dies at 78
1973 – Vaughn Monroe, American singer and orchestra leader (Vaughn Monroe Show), dies at 61
1974 – Lili Kronberger, Hungarian figure skater (World C’ship gold Ladies singles 1908, 09, 10, 11), dies at 83
1992 – Elizabeth David, British cookbook writer (English Bread and Yeast Cookery), dies after a series of strokes at 72

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Historical Events

1217 – Second Battle of Lincoln fought near Lincoln, England, resulting in the defeat of Prince Louis of France by William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
1498 – Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrives at Calicut, India becoming the first European to reach India by sea
1868 – Republican National Convention, meets in Chicago, nominates Grant
1959 – Japanese-Americans regain their citizenship
1972 – “Hard Job Being God” closes at Edison Theater NYC after 6 performances

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Famous Birthdays

1822 – Emile Erckmann [co-wrote with Alexandre Chatrian using penname Erckmann-Chatrian], French writer (Waterloo), born in Meurthe, France (d. 1899)
1917 – Richard Cobb, British historian, born in Frinton-on-Sea (d. 1996)
1925 – D. French Slaughter Jr, American politician (Rep-R-VA, 1985-91), born in Culpeper, Virginia (d. 1998)
1943 – Iain Vallance [Baron Vallance of Tummel], CEO of British Telecom and member of the House of Lords (2004-20), born in Kent, England
1984 – Kenny Vasoli, American rock singer-songwriter, and musician (Vacationer), born in Abington, Pennsylvania

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Famous Deaths

1923 – Hans Goldschmidt, German chemist, dies
1925 – Elias Ammons, American politician (Governor of Colorado, 1913-15), who sent the National Guard to settle coalminer strikes, precipitating the Ludlow Massacre, die at 64
1939 – Joe Carr, American Pro Football HOF contributor (NFL President 1921-39), dies from a heart attack at 59
1996 – Julius Marmur, American biochemist and geneticist (DNA research), dies at 70
2007 – Stanley Miller, American chemist (created ‘primordial soup’ experiment to show how life might have originated on earth), dies at 77

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Historical Events

1547 – Capitulation of Wittenberg: John Frederick I, Protestant Elector of Saxony, resigns after his capture by Catholic Hapsburg forces of Charles V at the Battle of Mühlberg,
1932 – Revival of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s musical “Show Boat” opens at the Casino Theater, NYC; runs for 180 performances
1935 – English Cardinal John Fisher and statesman Thomas More, both executed by Henry VIII, canonized as saints by Pope Pius XI
1962 – US performs nuclear test at Christmas Island (atmospheric)
1995 – World’s youngest doctor, Balamurali Ambati, 17, graduates from Mount Sinai

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Famous Birthdays

1812 – Felix Zollicoffer, American journalist and Confederate Brigadier General who was killed in the Battle of Mill Springs, born in Maury County, Tennessee (d. 1862)
1938 – James Bilbray, American lawyer and politician (Rep-D-Nevada 1987-95), born in Las Vegas, Nevada
1948 – Boet van Dulmen, Dutch motorcycle racer (84 starts, 1 win, 4 podiums,1 pole; Finnish 500cc GP 1979), born in Ammerzoden, Netherlands (d. 2021)
1962 – Iain Harvie, Scottish rock guitarist and songwriter (Del Amitri – “Roll To Me”, “Nothing Ever Happens”), born in Glasgow, Scotland
1968 – Jeanne Basone, American actor and professional wrestler (Hollywood in “GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling”), born in Glendale, California

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Famous Deaths

1319 – Prince Louis, Count of Évreux, son of King Philip III of France, dies at 43
1872 – Johan Hendrik van Dale, Dutch schoolmaster and lexicographer(Van Dale’s Great Dictionary of the Dutch Language), dies of smallpox at 44
1984 – John Betjeman, poet (Mount Zion) and English Poet Laureate (1972-1984), dies at 77
2009 – Nicholas Maw, British composer, dies at 73
2009 – Herbert York, American physicist (b. 1921)

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Historical Events

1927 – Bath School Disaster: Andrew Kehoe blows up Bath Consolidated School killing 38 children, 2 teachers at Bath, Michigan
1963 – “If You Wanna Be Happy” by Jimmy Soul hits #1
1964 – US Supreme Court rules it unconstitutional to deprive naturalized citizens of citizenship if they return to home country for more than 3 years
2018 – Santa Fe High School shooting; 17 year-old shooter kills 10 and injures 10 in Santa Fe, Texas
2019 – English FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, London (85,854): Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling each score twice as Manchester City thrash Watford, 6-0, completing an unprecedented domestic treble

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Famous Birthdays

1892 – Ezio Pinza, Italian American operatic bass (NY Metropolitan Opera, 1926-48), and Tony Award-winning singer (South Pacific), born in Rome, Italy (d. 1957)
1913 – Charles Trenet, French pop singer and songwriter (“Boum!”; “La Mer”), born in Narbonne, France (d. 2001)
1939 – Gordon O’Connor, Canadian politician, born in Toronto, Ontario
1982 – Jason Brown, English-born footballer, born in London, England
1992 – Josh Phelps, Australian soccer player, born in Tamworth, Australia

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Famous Deaths

1799 – Pierre de Beaumarchais, French polymath and dramatist (The Marriage of Figaro, Barber of Seville), dies at 67
1913 – Otto Reubke, German organist, conductor, and composer, dies at 70
1985 – Harald Andersson, Swedish discus thrower (world record 52.42m 1934), dies at 78
1999 – Betty Robinson, American runner, dies at 87
2003 – Barb Tarbox, Canadian anti-smoking crusader, dies at 42

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Historical Events

1849 – Fire destroy Centrum in St Louis, Missouri
1876 – 7th US Cavalry under General George Armstrong Custer leaves Fort Lincoln
1941 – Pennsylvania declares legal holiday to honor A’s manager Connie Mack
1970 – Anonymous buyer purchases one of the pairs of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” for $15,000 at MGM Studio auction, and donates them to the Smithsonian Institution
2013 – 90 people are killed and 200 are injured after a series of bombings across Iraq

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Famous Birthdays

1923 – Michael Beetham, British Marshall of the RAF (Falklands War), born in London, England (d. 2015)
1952 – Howard Hampton, Canadian politician, Attorney General (1990-93), and Ontario MMP (1999-2011), born in Fort Frances, Ontario
1962 – Steven Honigberg, American classical cellist (National Symphony Orchestra; Potomac String Quartet), born in Chicago, Illinois
1968 – Dave Abbruzzese, American drummer (Pearl Jam), born in Stamford, Connecticut
1970 – Matt Eberflus, American NFL football coach (Chicago Bears, 2022-), born in Toledo, Ohio

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Famous Deaths

1694 – Johann Michael Bach, German composer (In Dulci Jubilo), dies at 46
1889 – William Roxby Beverly, artist, dies
1992 – George Hurrell, Hollywood photographer, dies of cancer at 87
2004 – Ezzedine Salim, leader of Iraqi Governing Council (b. 1943)
2009 – Mario Benedetti, Uruguayan journalist, novelist, and poet, dies from respiratory and intestinal problems at 88

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Historical Events

1984 – Guinea-Bissau adopts constitution
1990 – Dominican Republic President Joaquín Ricardo Balaguer re-elected
1997 – MLB Montreal Expos trailing San Francisco Giants by 9 runs comeback to win 14-13
1997 – Brandi Sherwood (Miss Idaho) replaces Brook Lee as Miss USA when Brook is crowned Miss Universe
2007 – Alex Salmond is elected First Minister of Scotland. He is first Scottish National Party leader to be elected First Minister after winning a historic victory at the Scottish general election on the 3rd May.

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Famous Birthdays

1710 – William Talbot, 1st Earl Talbot, English peer and Whig politician, born in Worcester, England (d. 1782)
1918 – Aubrey Bowman, British pianist, composer, and conductor (Workman’s Music Association), born in Bournemouth, England (d. 2009)
1918 – Edward Thomas, British historian and intelligence expert (Bletchley Park), born in Portsmouth, England (d. 1996)
1937 – Yvonne Craig, actress (Batgirl-Batman, Kissin Cousin), born in Taylorville, Illinois (d. 2015)
1945 – Nicky Chinn, British-American pop songwriter and producer (with Mike Chapman: Sweet – “The Ballroom Blitz”; Suzi Quatro; Toni Basel – “Mickey”; Tina Turner – “You Better Be Good To Me”), born in London, England

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Famous Deaths

1657 – Andrzej Bobola, Polish Jesuit missionary (b. 1591)
1762 – Ernst Christian Hesse, German composer, dies at 86
1924 – William “Candy” Cummings, American Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (credited with creating the curveball), dies at 75
1990 – Dag Drollet, Cheyenne Brando’s boyfriend killed by her brother Christian
1996 – Jeremy Boorda, U.S. Navy admiral (25th Chief of Naval Operations), commits suicide at 56

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