Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1377 – Foundation stone laid for Ulm Minster, in Free Imperial City of Ulm, Holy Roman Empire, construction is not completed until 1890, when it becomes the tallest church in the world
1939 – Heinkel He 176 rocket plane flies for 1st time, at Peenemunde
1953 – 1st Chevrolet Corvette manufactured
1979 – “Good Times” single released by Chic (Billboard Song of the Year 1979)
2019 – President Donald Trump becomes first sitting US president to set foot in North Korea in the Korean Demilitarized Zone meeting Kim Jong-un

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Famous Birthdays

1685 – John Gay, English poet and dramatist (The Beggar’s Opera), born in Barnstaple, England (d. 1732)
1892 – Pierre Blanchar, Algerian actor and director (Magnificent Sinner, Wooden Crosses, Pastoral Symphony), born in Philippeville, Constantine, France (d. 1963)
1951 – Geoff Wheel, Welsh rugby union lock (32 Tests; Mumbles RFC, Swansea RFC), born in Swansea, Wales (d. 2024)
1958 – Esa-Pekka Salonen, Finnish orchestral conductor (Giro), born in Helsinki, Finland
1982 – Andy Knowles, British musician (Franz Ferdinand), born in Bolton, England

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Famous Deaths

1685 – Archibald Campbell, Scottish politician, beheaded at about 55
1817 – Abraham Gottlob Werner, German geologist
1953 – Göte Carlid, Swedish composer (Eine kleine Teemusik), dies at 32
1953 – Vsevolod Pudovkin, Soviet film director and theorist (Mother, Deserter), dies of a heart attack at 60
2021 – Janet Moreau Stone, American athlete (Olympic gold 4x100m relay 1952), dies at 93

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Historical Events

1964 – NBC approves Gene Roddenberry’s script for the pilot episode of “Star Trek” titled “The Cage”
1977 – South Africa opposition party, the New Republic Party (NRP), is formed after the integration of the United Party (UP) and Democratic Party (DP)
1997 – “American Daughter” closes at Cort Theater NYC after 88 performances
2017 – Mihai Tudose confirmed as Romanian Prime Minister, by parliament, succeeding Sorin Grindeanu
2021 – Former South African President Jacob Zuma sentenced to 15 months in prison on contempt of court charges

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Famous Birthdays

1596 – Go-Mizunoo [Kotohito], 108th Emperor of Japan (1611-29) and first of the Edo period, born in Kyōto, Japan (d. 1680)
1922 – Vasko Popa, Yugoslavia-Serbian poet (Heaven is a Side Issue), born in Grebenac, Vojvodina, Yugoslavia (d. 1991)
1944 – Gary Busey, American actor (The Buddy Holly Story; A Star in Born (1976); Lethal Weapon), born in Goose Creek, Texas
1958 – Rosa Mota, Portuguese long distance runner (Olympic gold marathon 1988; World C’ship gold marathon 1987), born in Porto, Portugal
1984 – Derek Lee Rock [Smith], American drummer (Mêlée; Suburban Legends), born in the USA

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Famous Deaths

1966 – Ronald Shiner, British actor (Dry Rot, Carry on Admiral, Keep it Clean, Aunt Clara), dies at 63
1982 – Gerard Knuvelder, Dutch literary historian (Anthology), dies at 80
1986 – Jack Christiansen, American NFL football player. 1951-58 (Detroit Lions – 3 x Champion, 5 X Pro Bowl), NFL and college coach (San Francisco 49ers, Stanford University), dies after surgical complications at 57
1998 – Horst Jankowski, German jazz and easy listening pianist (“A Walk In The Black Forest”), dies of lung cancer at 62
2011 – R. C. Alston, British bibliographer, dies at 78

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Historical Events

1524 – Charles III, Duke of Bourbon occupies Provence during his dispute with French King Francis I
1859 – First dog show is held, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
1983 – Bridge section along I-95 in Greenwich, Connecticut collapses, killing 3
1985 – Discovery ferried back to Kennedy Space Center via Bergstrom AFB, Tx
2016 – Suicide bombings and gun attacks at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport kill 42 and wound more than 200

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Famous Birthdays

1938 – John Byner, American actor (Transylvania 6-5000) and comedian, born in New York City
1938 – Moy Yat, Chinese martial artist (student of Yip Man), born in You Kum Chuen, China (d. 2001)
1940 – Muhammad Yunus, Bangladeshi banker (Grameen – microlending), economist (Nobel Peace Prize 2006), born in Chittagong, British India
1946 – Robert Xavier Rodriguez, American classical composer (Frida), born in San Antonio, Texas
1961 – Jeff Malone, American basketball guard (NBA All-Star 1986, 87; Utah Jazz, Washington Bullets), born in Mobile, Alabama

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Famous Deaths

1802 – Johann Jakob Engel, German author (Herr Lorenz Stark), dies at 60
1921 – Charles Joseph Bonaparte, American Lawyer and political activist (US Attorney General (1906-9), dies at 70
1975 – Konstantinos Apostolos Doxiadis, Greek architect (b. 1913)
1994 – William A. Henry III, American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist (Boston Globe), arts critic (Time Magazine), and author, dies of a heart attack at 44
2013 – David Atkinson, British air marshal, and honorary physician to the Queen Elizabeth II, dies at 90

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Historical Events

1542 – Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sets sail from the Mexican port of Navidad on the first European voyage to explore the west coast of North America for the Spanish Empire
1898 – Wimbledon Men’s Tennis: Defending champion R.F. Doherty beats younger brother Laurence Doherty 6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1
1950 – “Liar” closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 12 performances
1967 – Race riot in Buffalo NY (200 arrested)
2007 – The Brazilian Military Police invades the favelas of Complexo do Alemão in an episode which is remembered as the Complexo do Alemão massacre.

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Famous Birthdays

1908 – Hans de Jong, Dutch conductor (De Damrakkertjes; Amsterdams Vrouwenkoor), born in Netherlands (d. 1994)
1920 – I. A. L. Diamond, Hollywood screenwriter (1960 Acad Award-Apartment), born in Ungheni, Basarabia (d. 1988)
1956 – Jeff Odintz, American horse trainer, born in Brooklyn, New York City
1976 – Leigh Nash, American pop singer and songwriter (Sixpence None The Richer -“Kiss Me”), born in New Braunfels, Texas
1986 – Drake Bell, American actor (Drake and Josh), musician (“Terrific”), and convict, born in Newport Beach, California

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Famous Deaths

1952 – Max Dehn, German mathematician (Dehn’s lemma), dies at 73
1992 – Allan Jones, American actor and singer (A Day at the Races; Showboat), dies at 84
2011 – Lord Inchyra [Robert Charles Reneke Hoyer Millar], British noble and secretary-general of the British Banking Association, dies at 76
2016 – Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Danish composer (Symphony and Antiphony), dies of cancer at 83
2023 – Julian Sands, English actor (A Room With a View; Arachnophobia; 24), confirmed dead after remains are identified, six months after failing to return from a hike at 65

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Historical Events

1929 – ENKA/Vereinigte Glanzstoff Factory merge AKU (Genl Kunstzijde Union)
1981 – “Stripes”, American military comedy film, directed and produced by Ivan Reitman, starring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and John Candy premieres
1997 – U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the Communications Decency Act, inconsistent with the 1st Amendment
2003 – NBA Draft: St. Vincent–St. Mary HS (Akron, Ohio) small forward LeBron James first pick by Cleveland Cavaliers
2019 – Former Gambian beauty queen Fatou “Toufah” Jallow says she was raped by former President Yahya Jammeh as part of a Human Rights Watch and Trial International report

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Famous Birthdays

1865 – Bernard Berenson, American art critic (Italian Painters of the Renaissance), born in Vilnius, Lithuania, Russian Empire (d. 1959)
1890 – Jeanne Eagels, American actress and former Ziegfeld Girl (Rain, Under False Colors), born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 1929)
1894 – Bill Wirges, American orchestra leader (Growing Paynes), born in Buffalo, New York (d. 1971)
1943 – Allen Strange, American composer (Electronic Music: Systems, Techniques, and Controls), born in Calexico, California (d. 2008)
1979 – Ryō Fukuda, Japanese racing driver, born in Fukuoka, Japan

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Famous Deaths

1848 – Stevenson Archer, American judge and Congressmen from Maryland, dies at 61
1939 – Ford Madox Ford [Hueffer], British novelist (The Good Soldier), critic, and journal editor (The Transatlantic), dies at 65
1946 – Yosuke Matsuoka, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan (b. 1880)
1979 – Charles Clore, financier, dies
2020 – William Negri, Italian soccer goalkeeper (12 caps; Mantova, Bologna), dies at 84

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Historical Events

1868 – US President Andrew Johnson signs a law establishing an eight-hour workday for government workers
1976 – 26th Berlin International Film Festival: “Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson” wins the Golden Bear
2018 – Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson announces it plans to move some production abroad in response to EU retaliatory tariffs
2019 – NHL Draft: Barrie Colts (OHL) defenseman Aaron Ekblad first pick by Florida Panthers
2023 – Heatwave across Texas, southern America and northern Mexico enters a third week, with San Angelo hitting record high of 112 degrees Fahrenheit (44 degrees Celsius)

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Famous Birthdays

1328 – William Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, English military leader, born in Donyatt, Somerset, England (d. 1397)
1911 – Reed Hadley, American actor (Zorro’s Fighting Legion, Racket Squad, Shock, Grand Canyon), born in Petrolia, Texas (d. 1974)
1949 – Michael Barbiero, American disco and heavy metal sound engineer, mixer, record producer, and studio owner, born in New York City
1971 – Scott Maslen, English actor (EastEnders), born in London
1974 – Jim LaMarca, American bass guitarist (Chimaira), born in Strongsville, Ohio

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Famous Deaths

1665 – Sigismund Francis, Archduke of Austria, dies at 34
1953 – Algy Gehrs, Australian cricketer (6 Tests for Australia 1904-11), dies at 72
1954 – Eduard M. Meijers, Dutch lawyer (Civil Code), dies at 74
1971 – John Boyd Orr, Scottish physician (Nobel Peace Prize 1949 – Father of the Food and Agriculture Organization), dies at 90
2020 – John Kennedy Sr., Australian Rules Football coach (Australian Football Hall of Fame legend; VFL Premiership 1961, 71, 76; Hawthorn FC; North Melbourne FC), dies at 91

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Historical Events

1529 – Zürich and Catholic cantons sign Peace of Kappel
1813 – Battle of Beaver Dams – British and native forces defeat US forces (War of 1812)
1841 – Fordham University (then St John’s College), opens in the Bronx
1894 – Marie François Sadi Carnot is assassinated in Lyon by Italian anarchist Sante Geronimo Caserio
1972 – South African runner Danie Malan sets a new 1,000m world record 2:16.0 in Munich, Germany

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Famous Birthdays

1813 – Henry Ward Beecher, American clergyman and orator (Independent), born in Litchfield, Connecticut (d. 1887)
1919 – Albert “Al” Molinaro, American actor (The Odd Couple, Happy Days), born in Kenosha, Wisconsin (d. 2015)
1939 – William Taylor, American banking regulator (Chairman of FDIC, 1991-92), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1992)
1965 – Uwe Krupp, NHL ice hockey defenseman, 1986-2003 (2 x All- Star; 2 x Stanley Cup; Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, and 3 other teams; Olympics. 1998 (Germany)), and European coach, born in Cologne, Germany
1977 – Dimos Dikoudis, Greek basketball forward (EuroLeague, Triple Crown, FIBA EuroStar 2007; Greek Basket League HOF; AEK Athens, Valencia BC), born in Larissa, Greece

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Famous Deaths

1991 – Sumner Locke Elliott, Australian-born American novelist, known for “Careful He Might Hear You”, dies at 73
1991 – Rufino Tamayo, Mexican painter, dies at 91
1992 – Juris Podnieks, Latvian filmmaker (Commandant), drowns while scuba diving at 41
1992 – Tom Alexander, American model, and actor (Forbidden Dance; Dream A Little Evil), dies of AIDS at 29
2024 – Shifty Shellshock [Seth Binzer], American musician (Crazy Town), dies of a drug overdose at 49

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Historical Events

1758 – Seven Years’ War: Battle of Krefeld – British forces defeat French troops at Krefeld in Germany
1760 – Battle of Landshut Silesia: Austria beats Prussia
1944 – German writer Thomas Mann becomes a US citizen
1967 – US President Lyndon B. Johnson and Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin hold 1st of 2 summit meetings in Glassboro, New Jersey (about halfway between NYC and Washington, DC)
1988 – Yanks manager Billy Martin’s 5th term ends, Lou Pinella named manager

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Famous Birthdays

1887 – Ernst Rowohlt, German publisher (Rowohlt-Verlag), born in Bremen, Germany (d. 1960)
1925 – Nuno Oliveira, Portuguese equestrian, horse trainer, dressage instructor, author (‘baroque’ or ‘classical’ style), born in Lisbon, Portugal (d. 1989)
1937 – Martti Ahtisaari, Finnish politician, and diplomat, President of Finland (1994-2000), Nobel Peace Prize 2008 for helping resolve international conflicts, born in Viipuri, Finland (d. 2023)
1944 – Clive Barker, South African soccer coach (South Africa 1994-97; AmaZulu FC), born in Durban, South Africa (d. 2023)
1978 – Memphis Bleek [Malik Cox], American rapper (“Is That Yo Chick”), born in New York City

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Famous Deaths

1615 – Mashita Nagamori, Japanese warlord (b. 1545)
1891 – George Parr, English cricket batsman (captain first England touring team [North America 1859], second tour [Australia and NZ 1864]), dies at 65
1991 – Bill Buysman, Dutch guitarist/singer (Kilima Hawaiians), dies
2013 – Bobby “Blue” Bland, American blues an soul singer (“Call on the Drummer”), dies at 83
2016 – Ralph Stanley, American bluegrass musician, dies at 89

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Historical Events

1596 – Cornelis de Houtman’s Dutch fleet reaches Bantam (Banten), Java
1981 – Iranian president Abolhassan Banisadr is impeached and removed from office, several of his associates are executed and he goes into hiding
1984 – Calvin Griffith signs letter of intent to sell ownership of Twins
1992 – Supreme Court rules “hate crime” laws violated free-speech rights
2023 – US President Joe Biden meets with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House

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Famous Birthdays

1900 – Jennie Tourel [Davidovich], Russian-American mezzo-soprano (Paris Opera, 1931-38; Metropolitan Opera,1937-47), born in Vitebsk, Russian Empire (d. 1973)
1910 – Peter Pears, British operatic tenor (Death in Venice), born in Farnham, England (d. 1986)
1958 – Bruce Campbell, American actor/producer/director (Army of Darkness, Evil Dead II), born in Birmingham, Michigan
1973 – Carson Daly, American television personality (The Voice), born in Santa Monica, California
1994 – Marnus Labuschagne, Australian cricket batsman (HS 215; Queensland CA, Brisbane Heat, Glamorgan CCC), born in Klerksdorp, South Africa

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Famous Deaths

1521 – Leonardo Loredan, Venetian nobleman, statesman and Doge of Venice (1501-21), dies at 84
1989 – Henri Sauguet [Poupard], French organist and composer (Symphonie Expiatoire), dies at 88
1996 – Terrel Bell, American politician (2nd United States Secretary of Education 1981-84), dies at 74
2008 – Dody Goodman, American comedienne (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman – “Martha Shumway”; Max Duggan), dies at 93
2009 – Steve Race, British composer, jazz pianist and radio and television presenter (BBC’s “My Music”, 1967-94), dies at 88

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Historical Events

1868 – Wagner’s opera “Meistersinger von Nuernberg” premieres in Munich
1974 – 24th Berlin International Film Festival: “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” wins the Golden Bear
1978 – Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical “Evita”, starring Elaine Page, premieres at the Prince Edward Theatre, London
1982 – John Hinckley, Jr is found not guilty by reason of insanity of 1981 attempted assassination of US President Ronald Reagan
1988 – 42nd NBA Championship: LA Lakers beat Detroit Pistons, 4 games to 3

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Famous Birthdays

1528 – Maria of Austria, Holy Roman Empress (1564-76), born in Madrid, Spain (d. 1603)
1817 – James Brewerton Ricketts, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in New York City (d. 1887)
1862 – Henry Holden Huss, American classical pianist, composer, and educator, born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 1953)
1865 – Herbert Brewer, English composer, organist (Gloucester Cathedral, 1896-1928), and choral director, born in Gloucester, England (d. 1928)
1950 – Anne Carson, Canadian poet (Autobiography of Red), born in Toronto, Ontario

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Famous Deaths

1865 – Frances Adeline Seward, American First Lady of New York (1839-42) and wife of US Secretary of State William H. Seward, dies of a heart attack at 59
1874 – Anders Jonas Ångström, Swedish physicist (Spectroscopy), dies at 59
2015 – Gunther Schuller, American horn player, composer, and proponent of jazz-classical “third stream” (Visitation; Of Reminiscences and Reflections – Pulitzer Prize, 1994), dies at 89
2015 – Veijo Meri, Finnish writer, dies at 86
2018 – Charles Krauthammer, American conservative political commentator and psychiatrist (The Washington Post), dies small intestine cancer of at 68

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