Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1968 – Yale University announces it is going co-educational
1981 – Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant ties Amos Alonzo Stagg with 314 football wins
1981 – 2nd NASA Space Shuttle Mission: Columbia 2 returns to Earth
2008 – Eurozone officially slips into recession for the first time since its creation in 1999, pushed down by recessions in Germany and Italy
2014 – American harness racing trainer/driver Dave Palone sets the world record for wins when he drive Missy Tap Tina to the winner’s circle for his 16,754th career victory
2018 – Attempt to move 720,000 Rohingya back to Myanmar from Bangladesh refugee camps amid international criticism. They refuse to go.

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Famous Birthdays

1875 – Gregorio del Pilar, Filipino general known as the ‘boy general’ during the Philippine-American War, born in Bulakan, Philippines (d. 1899)
1907 – Astrid Lindgren, Swedish children book author (Pippi Longstocking), born in Vimmerby, Sweden (d. 2002)
1924 – Leonid Kogan, Soviet Russian violinist (Lenin Prize, 1952), born in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR, USSR (now Ukraine) (d. 1982)
1927 – Narciso Yepes, Spanish classical guitarist (Orquesta Nacionale 1947), born in Lorca, Spain (d. 1997)
1948 – Jacob Kohnstamm, Dutch lawyer and politician (Senator, 1999-2004; Undersecretary of the Interior (1994-98; House of Representatives, 1981-82. 1986-94), born in Wassenaar, Netherlands
1972 – Josh Duhamel, American actor (Transformers, Life as We Know It), born in Minot, North Dakota

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Famous Deaths

1692 – Christoph Bernhard, German baroque composer, dies at 64
1977 – A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Indian guru, founder of International Society for Krishna Consciousness, dies at 81
1981 – Robert Bradford, Northern Irish footballer (b. 1941)
1992 – Joop Van Nellen, Dutch soccer forward (27 caps; DHC Delft), dies at 82
1994 – Jake Dengel, American actor (Ragtime, Ironweed), dies at 61
1996 – Joseph Bernardin, cardinal Archbishop of Chicago, dies at 68

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Historical Events

1620 – After a month of delays off the English coast and about two months at sea, the Mayflower spots land (Cape Cod)
1963 – Tsurumi rail accident on Tōkaidō Main Line, two passenger trains collide with derailed freight train, killing 162 people. in Yokohama, Japan
1964 – Victor Borge’s “Comedy in Music – Opus 2” opens at John Golden Theatre, NYC; runs for 192 performances
1982 – Sugar Ray Leonard retires for the first time
2015 – “Reclining Nude” by Italian artist Modigliani fetches 2nd highest auction price at $170.4m
2020 – Peru’s Congress votes to impeach and oust President Martín Vizcarra on corruption charges

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Famous Birthdays

1820 – Matthias de Vries, Dutch linguist (spelling), born in Haarlem, Netherlands (d. 1892)
1877 – Enrico De Nicola, Italian politician, 1st President of Italy (1948), born in Naples, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1959)
1888 – Jean Monnet, French political economist and diplomat, born in Cognac, France (d. 1979)
1922 – Raymond Devos, Belgian-French humorist, born in Mouscron, Belgium (d. 2006)
1939 – Paul Cameron, American psychologist and sex researcher, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1948 – Michel Pagliaro, Canadian rock singer, born in Montreal, Quebec

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Famous Deaths

1809 – Paul Sandby, English cartographer and landscape painter, dies at about 78 [exact birthdate uncertain, c. 1731]
1968 – Jan Johansson, Swedish jazz pianist, dies at 37
1985 – Mary MacLaren, actress (Black Swan), dies at 85 of respiratory probs
1994 – Ralph Michael, British actor (Quest, Doctor in the House), dies at 87
2000 – Hugh Paddick, English actor (Round the Horne), dies at 85
2017 – Hans Vermeulen, Dutch singer and guitarist (Sandy Coast), dies at 70

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Historical Events

1869 – 1st US college football game, players used their hands or feet, Rutgers 6 Princeton 4
1919 – 1st Dutch radio program: Soirée Musicale with “Turf in you(r) ransel” is broadcast
1962 – Edward W. Brooke (R) elected attorney general of Massachusetts
1981 – Larry Holmes TKOs Renaldo Snipes in 11 for heavyweight boxing title
1986 – Rev Donald Wildmon begins a campaign against Howard Stern
2009 – President Barack Obama signs congressional resolution conferring honorary U.S. citizenship to Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski

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Famous Birthdays

1661 – Charles II of Spain, last Habsburg King of Spain (reigns 1665-1700), born in Royal Alcazar of Madrid, Spain (d. 1700)
1822 – Gordon Granger, American Major General during the Civil War (Union Army), born in Wayne County, New York (d. 1876)
1936 – K. Schippers [Gerard Stigter], Dutch author (Een klok en profil), born in Amsterdam
1937 – Edwin Roxburgh, English composer and conductor, born in Liverpool, England
1946 – Fred Penner, Canadian children’s entertainer, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
1972 – Garry Flitcroft, English soccer midfielder, manager (Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers), born in Bolton, Lancashire

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Famous Deaths

1492 – Antoine Busnois, French composer known for his chansons, dies at about 62
1597 – Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain [Catalina Micaela de Austria], Duchess consort of Savoy (1585-97), dies at 30
1912 – Mykola Lysenko, Ukrainian composer (Taras Bulba), conductor and ethnomusicologist, dies at 70
1986 – Lili Kraus, Czech-Hungarian-British concert pianist and educator, dies at 81
1989 – Yusaku Matsuda, Japanese actor (Detective Story), dies of cancer at 40
2021 – Shawn Rhoden, Jamaican bodybuilder (Mr. Olympia 2018; IFBB British Grand Prix 2012), dies from a heart attack at 46

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Historical Events

1930 – Bank of Italy renamed Bank of America
1964 – Lyndon B. Johnson is elected President of the United States in a landslide, with Hubert Humphrey as his vice president, defeating Republican candidate Barry Goldwater
1968 – David Pearson is declared NASCAR Grand National champion as Cale Yarborough wins season ending Peach State 200 at Jefferson, Georgia; Pearson finishes 126 points ahead of Bobby Isaac to secure his 2nd title
1985 – French McLaren driver Alain Prost wins his first Formula 1 World Drivers Championship, finishing 4th in the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide; wins title by 20 points from Italian Michele Alboreto
2012 – Breeders’ Cup Horse Racing, Santa Anita Racetrack; Day 2 winners: George Vancouver, Groupie Doll, Tapizar, Mizdirection, Shanghai Bobby, Little Mike, Trinniberg, Wise Dan, Fort Larned
2023 – 38th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Kate Bush; Sheryl Crow; Missy Elliott; George Michael; Willie Nelson; Rage Against the Machine; The Spinners; DJ Kool Herc; Link Wray; Chaka Khan; Al Kooper; Bernie Taupin; and Don Cornelius

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Famous Birthdays

1781 – Friedrich Wollank, German composer, born in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia (now Germany) (d. 1831)
1799 – William Sprague III, American politician (U.S. Senator from Rhode Island 1842-44)), born in Cranston, Rhode Island (d. 1856)
1931 – Mustafa Dağıstanlı, Turkish freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 57kg 1956, 62kg 1960; World C’ship gold 1954, 57, 59), born in Söğütpınar, Turkey (d. 2022)
1940 – Charlie Gallagher, Scottish soccer inside forward (2 caps Republic of Ireland; Celtic, Dumbarton), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 2021)
1951 – Ed Murawinski, American cartoonist, New York Daily News, born in Jersey City, New Jersey
1983 – Julie Marie Berman, American actress (General Hospital), born in Los Angeles, California

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Famous Deaths

1708 – Henriette Catharina van Nassau, Dutch princess consort of Anhalt-Dessau and daughter of Frederick Henry Prince of Orange, dies at 71
1911 – Salvador Giner y Vidal, Spanish composer, dies at 79
1945 – James Frederick Wagner, father of Priscilla Presley, dies in a plane crash
1983 – Alfredo Antonini, Italian-American Emmy Award-winning conductor (CBS Symphony; Columbia Pan-American Orchestra), and composer (The Great City), dies during heart surgery at 82
1993 – John Lupton, American actor (Tom-Broken Arrow), dies at 65
2022 – Wang Tao, Chinese soccer striker (2 caps; Dalian Wanda FC) and executive (founder BSU FC), dies at 52

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Historical Events

1776 – In a bar decorated with bird tail in Elmsford, New York, a customer requests a glassful of “those cock tails” from bartender Betsy Flanagan
1878 – Anti-socialist laws are ratified in Germany
1919 – Belvin Maynard wins the first transcontinental air race in round trip of nine days, four hours, 25 minutes and 12 seconds, race costs nine lives with 54 crashes or forced landings
1924 – Harold “Red” Grange, finest collegiate football game (4 long TD runs)
1968 – Police find 219 grains of cannabis resin in John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s apartment, they are fined £150 for marijuana possession
1974 – 1st ABA regular season game at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana – Pacers lose to San Antonio Spurs 129-121 in double overtime before 7,473 fans

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Famous Birthdays

1865 – Arie de Jong, Dutch linguist who reformed the constructed language Volapük, born in Batavia, Dutch East Indies (d. 1957)
1890 – Agathe Henriette Trip-de Beaufort, Dutch writer (Rembrandt. Olympics 1928), born in Baarn, Netherlands (d. 1982)
1925 – Wim van Gennep, Dutch dance band singer and keyboardist (De Heikrekels – “Waarom heb jij me laten staan?”), born in the Netherlands (d. 2012)
1939 – Flavio Cotti, Swiss politician, President of the Swiss Federal Council (1991) advocate to join the EU, born in Muralto, Switzerland (d. 2020)
1975 – Alex Cora, Puerto Rican MLB baseball infielder, 1998-2011 (Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and 4 other teams), and manager, 2018-19 and 2021- (Boston Red Sox), born in Caguas, Puerto Rico
1985 – Yoenis Céspedes, Cuban baseball outfielder (MLB All-Star 2014, 16; Gold Glove Award 2015 Detroit Tigers; Silver Slugger Award 2016; Boston Red Sox, NY Mets), born in Campechuela, Cuba

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Famous Deaths

1141 – Margrave Leopold IV of Austria
1545 – John Taverner, English composer (Western Wynde), dies at about 55
1987 – Theodore Brameld, author (Use of Explosive Ideas), dies at 83
1995 – Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, American lawyer and civil rights activist (challenged University of Oklahoma segregation laws in Supreme Court and won), dies at 67
2002 – Roman Tam, Hong Kong singer (b. 1950)
2020 – Sid Hartman, American sports journalist (Minneapolis Star Tribune; WCCO 830 AM), dies at 100

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Historical Events

732 – Battle of Tours: Umayyad army led by Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi defeated by Frankish Aquitainian force led by Charles Martel during Umayyad invasion of Gaul
1982 – Pope John Paul II canonizes Rev Maximilian Kolbe, who volunteered to die in place of another inmate at Auschwitz concentration camp, a saint
1994 – Value of Russian ruble decreases, 3081 rubles per dollar
1995 – Robert E Lucas awarded Nobel Prize in economics
2003 – Shirin Ebadi is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, making her the 1st Iranian Muslim women to receive the prize
2018 – Hurricane Michael makes landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, as a category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 mph (250 km/h), going on to kill 27, having killed 15 in Central America

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Famous Birthdays

1344 – Mary Plantagenet, English princess, daughter of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, born in Waltham, Hampshire (d. 1362)
1847 – Gheorghe Dima, Romanian composer, born in Șcheii Brașovului, Romania (d. 1925)
1870 – Louise Mack, Australian poet and novelist, born in Hobart, Tasmania (d. 1935)
1887 – Rie Cramer, Dutch writer and illustrator, born in Sukabumi, Dutch East Indies (d. 1977)
1936 – Judith Chalmers, English TV hostess (Wish You Were Here), born in Stockport, Cheshire, England
1965 – Steve Scalise, American politician (Representative-R-Louisiana 2008-), born in New Orleans, Louisiana

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Famous Deaths

1797 – Carter Braxton, American plantation owner and signer of the US Declaration of Independence, dies at 61
1875 – Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy, Russian novelist, poet and dramatist (Prince Serebrenni), dies of morphine toxicity at 58
1939 – Eleanor Rigby, a real person whose name may have suggested the title to The Beatles song (b. 1895)
1989 – Joe Techner, American jazz trumpeter (Elliot Lawrence Band – “Elevation”), dies at 63
1993 – Djillali Belkhenchir, Algerian doctor, murdered at 52
2022 – Sergio Brighenti, Italian soccer forward (9 caps; Modena, Internazionale, Triestina, Padova, Sampdoria), dies at 90

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Historical Events

1571 – -13] Synod of Emden, Calvinist leaders establish the Dutch Reformed Church.
1917 – British assault on Broodseinde, France
1918 – Musical “Sometime” with Mae West premieres in NYC
2001 – Brendan Shanahan scores a hat trick in Red Wings 4-3 OT win at San Jose; becomes second player in NHL history to score an opening-night hat trick twice in his career
2015 – American rock band Van Halen’s final public performance takes place at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California.
2019 – Fuel subsidies end in Ecuador after four decades, prompting nationwide protests and President Lenín Moreno to declare 60-day state of emergency

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Famous Birthdays

1807 – Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, French Canadian politician (Prime Minister of the Province of Canada), born in Boucherville, Lower Canada (d. 1864)
1872 – Ernest Blood, American Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Passaic HS, NJ, 200-1 record, 1915-24), born in Manchester, New Hampshire (d. 1955)
1936 – Charlie Hurley, Irish soccer centre half (40 caps Republic of Ireland; Sunderland 402 games), born in Cork, Ireland (d. 2024)
1942 – Jenny Arean [Joanna Klarenbeek], Dutch actress, cabaret and theatre singer (“Vluchten kan niet meer”), born in Lisse, Netherlands
1948 – Tom Webster, Canadian ice hockey right wing (Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings) and coach (NY Rangers, LA Kings), born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario (d. 2020)
1949 – Armand Assante, American actor (Private Benjamin, Unfaithfully Yours), born in New York City

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Famous Deaths

1590 – Cujacius [Jacques Cujas], French lawyer, dies at about 68
1946 – Barney Oldfield, American auto racer (International Motorsports Hall of Fame; first to drive at 60mph on circular track), dies of a heart attack at 67
1948 – Arthur Whitten Brown, British aviator (first nonstop airplane crossing of the Atlantic with John W. Alcock), dies at 62
1970 – Curtis Turner, American auto racer (184 NASCAR races over 17 years, 17 wins), dies in aeroplane crash at 46
1974 – Anne Sexton, American poet (Live or Die; Pulitzer 1967), dies at 45
2013 – Võ Nguyên Giáp, Vietnamese general (Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam War) and politician, dies at 102

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Historical Events

1889 – In Colorado, Nicholas Creede strikes it rich in silver during the last great silver boom of the American Old West.
1950 – Bob Shaw of Chicago Cardinals sets NFL record with 5 TD receptions in 55-13 win against Baltimore Colts; Cardinals quarterback Jim Hardy tosses 6 touchdown passes
1975 – Four Ulster Volunteer Force members killed after a bomb they are carrying prematurely explodes in Farrenlester, near Coleraine
1989 – TV true life drama “A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story” premieres on NBC in the US
2005 – The Ethan Allen tour boat capsizes on Lake George in Upstate New York, killing twenty people
2016 – Ryder Cup Golf, Hazeltine National GC: US regains Cup; beats Europe, 17-11; Americans Brooks Koepka, Brandt Snedeker and Patrick Reed each win 3 matches

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Famous Birthdays

1646 – Guillaume Poitevin, French composer and teacher, born in Boulbon, France (d. 1706)
1930 – Jayasinghrao Ghorpade, Indian cricket batsman (8 Tests @ 15.26; Baroda), born in Panchgani, Maharashtra (d. 1978)
1947 – (Frank) “Skip” Konte, American keyboardist, songwriter (The Blues Image – “Ride Captain Ride”; Three Dog Night, 1973-76), and record producer, born in Canon City, Oklahoma
1948 – Yuri Vasenin, Russian soccer midfielder (9 caps USSR; FC Zorya Voroshylovhrad), born in Chernyakhovsk, Russia (d. 2022)
1948 – Chris LeDoux, American country singer (“Ridin’ for a Fall”), born in Biloxi, Mississippi (d. 2005)
1950 – Michael Rutherford, British rock bassist and guitar player (Genesis; Mike and the Mechanics – “Living Years”), born in Chertsey, Surrey, England

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Famous Deaths

1863 – Justinus van de Brugghen, lawyer/minister of Justice, dies
1988 – Alec Issigonis, Greek-British automotive designer who designed the Mini, dies at 81
1991 – Jan H Christianse, political chairman (CDA), dies
1994 – Harriet (Hilliard) Nelson [Peggy Lou Snyder], American singer and actress (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet; Follow the Fleet), dies of heart failure at 85
2006 – Milly Vitale, Italian actress (7 Little Foys, War and Peace, Juggler), dies at 73
2006 – Tamara Dobson, American actress (Amazons; Cleopatra Jones), dies of complications from pneumonia and multiple sclerosis, at 59

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Historical Events

1688 – Louis-Armand de Lom d’Arce leaves Michillimakinac on a mysterious journey of exploration about which he later writes he discovered a ‘Long’ river
1706 – Treaty of Altranstädt: Charles XII of Sweden and August II of Saksen; Augustus renounces his claims to the Polish throne and his alliance with Russia
1964 – Ringo Starr forms Brikley Building Company Ltd
1964 – Willi Stoph succeeds Otto Great as Prime Minister of German Democratic Republic
2018 – Pakyong Airport, India’s 100th airport, is opened in the Himalayan mountains at 1,400 meters by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
2020 – David Attenborough breaks Jennifer Aniston’s record as the fastest person to reach 1 million followers on Instagram

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Famous Birthdays

1667 – Jean-Louis Lully, French composer and son of Jean-Baptiste Lully, born in Paris, France (d. 1688)
1833 – Henry Alanson Barnum, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Jamesville, New York (d. 1892)
1924 – Jean-Pierre Warner, British high court judge (d. 2005)
1950 – Mohinder Amarnath, Indian cricket batsman (69 Tests, 11 x 100, 24 x 50, HS 138; Punjab, Delhi, Baroda), born in Patiala, India
1966 – Bernard Gilkey, American MLB outfielder (NY Mets), born in St Louis, Missouri
1971 – Peter Salisbury, English drummer (The Verve), born in Chippenham, England

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Famous Deaths

1180 – Manuel I Komnenos, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (1143-80), dies at 61
1517 – Frederik IV, of Baden, bishop of Utrecht, dies
1976 – Romney Brent, Mexican-American actor and writer (Dinner at the Ritz), dies at 74
2001 – Peter Shore, British politician (Labour), dies at 77
2004 – Joep Straesser, Dutch composer (Blossom songs, Ramasasiri), dies at 70
2019 – Jimmy Nelson, American ventriloquist (Nestles – Farfel the Dog), dies at 90

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Historical Events

1922 – US National Championship Men’s Tennis, Germantown CC, Philadelphia: Bill Tilden wins third straight US singles title; beats fellow American Bill Johnston 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
1979 – Louis LaRusso II’s stage drama “Knockout”, starring Danny Aiello, closes at the Helen Hayes Theater, NYC, after 154 performances
1982 – Massacre of 1000+ Palestinian refugees at Chatila and Sabra begins
1999 – 1st ever season of “Big Brother” reality show begins on the Veronica channel in The Netherlands
2000 – 25th Toronto International Film Festival: “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” directed by Ang Lee wins the People’s Choice Award
2021 – Idaho Department of Health and Wellness says whole state now in a hospital resource crisis, will ration healthcare, due to COVID-19 surge

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Famous Birthdays

1823 – Michael Obrenovic, ruler of Serbia (1839-42,1860-68), born in Kragujevac, Serbia (d. 1868)
1889 – Claude Albert Barnett, American journalist and founder (Associated Negro Press), born in Sanford, Florida (d. 1967)
1933 – Jim Gilbert, British artist and criminal, born in London (d. 1995)
1943 – David Wilshire, British MP (C) (Section 28, Parliamentary expenses scandal), born in Bristol, England
1962 – Roger Ross Williams, American director (1st African American director to win an Oscar for “Music by Prudence”), born in Easton, Pennsylvania
1963 – Richard Marx, American rock musician (“Hold on to the Night”), born in Chicago, Illinois

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Famous Deaths

1936 – Karl Buresch, Austrian lawyer and politician, dies at 57
1992 – Lee Tully, entertainer, dies
2001 – Samuel Z. Arkoff, American film producer and co-founder of American International Pictures, dies at 83
2003 – Sheb Wooley, American vocalist (Purple People Eater, Hee Haw), dies at 82
2004 – Izora Rhodes Armstead, American disco singer (Two Tons O’ Fun; The Weather Girls – “It’s Raining Men”), dies of heart failure at 62
2023 – Lionel Morgan, Australian rugby league winger (3 Tests; first Indigenous Australian to play in a recognised RL Test), dies at 85

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