Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1699 – Pirate Captain William Kidd is captured in Boston
1907 – Tom Reece takes 5 weeks to compile the highest recorded billiards break in a match (499,135) in London, his ‘cradle’ cannon method is soon banned
1956 – Cleveland outfielder Jim Busby hits a second grand slam on consecutive days during Indians 4-2 win v Kansas City A’s
2012 – Gunmen kill 18 people in Turbat, Pakistan
2016 – African American Philando Castile is shot by police in St Paul, Minnesota after being pulled over for a broken rear light, killing is filmed

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Famous Birthdays

1885 – Ernst Busch, German field marshal (WWII), born in Essen, German Empire (d. 1945)
1916 – Unica Zürn, German writer and artist, born in Berlin (d. 1970)
1948 – Wadih Sa’adeh, Lebanese-Australian poet (Laysa Lil Massa’ Ikhwah), born in Lebanon
1960 – Lauri Merten, American golfer (US Open 1993), born in Waukesha, Wisconsin
1967 – Heather Nova [Frith], Bermudian singer-songwriter (Oyster), born in Bermuda

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Famous Deaths

1218 – Eudes III, Duke of Burgundy (b. 1166)
1974 – Carlos Isamitt, Chilean composer, dies at 87
2000 – Akira Miyazawa, Japanese jazz saxophonist, dies at 72
2010 – Harvey Fuqua, American RandB singer-songwriter (The Moonglows – “Sincerely”), producer (Marvin Gaye), and record label executive (Motown), dies of a heart attack at 80
2020 – Ennio Morricone, Italian trumpeter, and composer of classical music and film scores (“The Mission”; “Cinema Paradiso”; “The Hateful Eight”), dies at 91

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Historical Events

1884 – German consul-general Gustav Nachtigal takes possession of Cameroon
1959 – Jack Gelber’s “Connection” premieres in NYC
1960 – Mongolia adopts constitution
1961 – KUSD TV channel 2 in Vermillion, SD (PBS) begins broadcasting
1961 – 80 die in collisions in Algiers

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Famous Birthdays

1654 – Antonio Maria Pacchioni, Baroque composer, baptized in Modena, Duchy of Modena and Reggio (d. 1738)
1886 – Willem Drees, Dutch politician (co-founder of the Labour Party (PvdA); Prime Minister, 1948-58), known as “Daddy Drees”, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1988)
1904 – Ernst Mayr, German-American biologist (evolutionary theory), born in Kempten, Bavaria, Germany (d. 2005)
1934 – Diane Andersen, Danish-Belgian concert pianist, born in Copenhagen, Denmark
1975 – Chris Gratton, Canadian NHL center (Canada World C’ships gold 1997; Tampa Bay Lightning), born in Brantford, Ontario

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Famous Deaths

1472 – Charles of Artois, Count of Eu, French military leader (b. 1394)
1864 – Dimitris Plapoutas, Greek general and revolutionary figure in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, dies at 78
1887 – August Pott, German philological (Etymology Forschungen), dies at 84
1948 – Georges Bernanos, French writer (The Diary of the Country Priest), dies at 60
1985 – Marion Byron, American actress (Steamboat Bill Jr, Broadway Babies), dies at 73

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Historical Events

1845 – Texas Congress votes almost unanimously for annexation to US
1904 – International Lawn Tennis Challenge, Wimbledon: Laurence Doherty and Reggie Doherty beat Paul de Borman and William le Maire de Warzée 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 to give British Isles an unassailable 3-0 lead over Belgium (ends 5-0)
1912 – Jack Johnson beats “Fireman” Jim Flynn by disqualification in 9 in Las Vegas to retain world heavyweight boxing title
1944 – Allied forces in Normandy fire a coordinated Fourth of July salute against German lines, using 1,100 American guns
2025 – MLB Chicago Cubs belt franchise record 8 home runs in 11-3 win over visiting St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field

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Famous Birthdays

1753 – Jean-Pierre Blanchard, French ballonist (1st balloon flights in England and U.S.), born in Les Andelys, France (d. 1809)
1845 – Thomas John Barnardo, Irish-born British social worker, and philanthropist (established Barnardo homes for children), born in Dublin, Ireland (d. 1905)
1921 – Gérard Debreu, French-American economist (Nobel Prize, 1983), born in Calais, France (d. 2004)
1931 – Duncan Lamont, Scottish jazz and session trumpet and saxophone player, arranger, and songwriter (“I Told You So”), born in Greenock, Scotland (d. 2019)
1948 – Jeremy Spencer, British rock guitarist (Fleetwood Mac – “Oh Well”), born in Hartlepool, County Durham, England

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Famous Deaths

943 – Taejo of Goryeo, ruler of Korea (918 to 943), unified the Later Three Kingdoms, dies at 70
973 – Ulrich of Augsburg, Prince-Bishop of Augsburg and first saint to be canonized by a Pope, dies at 82 or 83 (b. 890)
1826 – John Adams, Second US President (1797-1801), Vice President (1789-97) and Founding Father, dies at 90
1976 – Yonatan Netanyahu, Israel commander killed freeing Israeli hostages during Operation Entebbe in Uganda, at 30 years
2021 – Richard Lewontin, American geneticist (The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm), dies at 92

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Historical Events

987 – Hugh Capet, is coronated as King of France, in Paris, after being elected by the nobility
1849 – French forces enter Rome to restore Pope Pius IX to power, providing a major obstacle to Italian unification
1884 – Dow Jones publishes its first stock index, the Dow Jones Transportation Average
1886 – In Germany, Karl Benz first drives the first automobile in Mannheim at a top speed of 16 km/h (10 mph)
1988 – Gene Nelson of the Oakland A’s becomes first AL pitcher to steal a base since 1973 in 9-8 win over Toronto Blue Jays

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Famous Birthdays

1906 – Alberto Lleras Camargo, Colombian journalist and politician (President of Colombia, 1945-46 and 1958-62; Secretary General of the Organization of American States, 1948–54), born in Bogotá, Colombia (d. 1990)
1913 – Hugh Stirling Mackenzie, British Royal Navy officer, born in Inverness, Scotland (d. 1996)
1923 – Sue Ryder, Baroness Ryder of Warsaw and Cavendish, British volunteer with Special Operations Executive in the Second World War, born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England (d. 2000)
1959 – Stoyan Deltchev, Bulgarian gymnast (Olympic gold horizontal bar 1980), born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
1970 – Shawnee Smith, American actress (Saw), born in Orangeburg, South Carolina

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Famous Deaths

1863 – Little Crow [Ta-oya-te-duta], Mdewakanton Dakota leader (Treaty of Mendota), shot and killed by settlers at about 53
1863 – Elon John Farnsworth, American Brigadier General (Union Army), dies at the battle of Gettysburg at 25
1918 – Mehmed V, 35th Ottoman Sultan (1909-18), dies at 73
1994 – Pieter Hennipman, Dutch economist, dies at 85
2025 – David Mabuza, Deputy President of South Africa (2018-23), dies at 64

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Historical Events

1954 – Wimbledon Men’s Tennis: Czech Jaroslav Drobný beats Ken Rosewall of Australia 13-11, 4-6, 6-2, 9-7 for his only Wimbledon singles title
1990 – TV cooking competition show “MasterChef” presented by Loyd Grossman, and created by Franc Roddam, first airs in the UK
1995 – LA Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo is first Japanese player to be selected for a MLB All-Star Game when he is named in the NL squad
2019 – Virginie Viard presents her first haute couture collection as designer at Chanel after the death of Karl Lagerfeld at the Grand Palais
2020 – Funeral for slain Ethiopian singer Hachalu Hundessa in Ambo amid nationwide unrest at his death that has killed over 80 people

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Famous Birthdays

1363 – Maria, Queen of Sicily and Duchess of Athens and Neopatria, born in Catania, Kingdom of Sicily (d. 1401)
1589 – Guillaume Messaus, Flemish composer, born in Antwerp, Dutch Republic (d. 1640)
1903 – Alec Douglas-Home, British Prime Minister (Conservative: 1963-64), born in London (d. 1995)
1949 – Hanno Pöschl, Austrian actor (“Exit…But No Panic”; “Tales from the Vienna Woods”), born in Vienna, Austria
1958 – Thomas Bickerton, American Methodist bishop, born in Glen Dale, West Virginia

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Famous Deaths

1778 – Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French philosopher, political theorist, and writer (Confessions) whose works inspired French Revolution leaders and Romantic academics, dies of cerebral bleeding from a stroke at 66
1917 – Herbert Beerbohm Tree, British actor and theatre manager (King John, Trilby), dies at 64
1963 – Seth Barnes Nicholson, American astronomer who discovered four satellites of Jupiter, dies at 71
2013 – Fawzia Fuad, Egyptian princess who became Queen of Iran as the first wife of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, dies at 91
2020 – Betsy Ancker-Johnson, American physicist (plasmas), inventor (high-frequency signal generator), first woman Presidential appointee to the Department of Commerce and first woman VP in the automotive industry, dies at 93

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Historical Events

1823 – United Provinces of Central America declares itself independent of Mexico and Spain
1847 – First US postage stamps go on sale, 5 cent Franklin and 10 cent Washington, NYC
1862 – US Internal Revenue Law imposes first federal taxes on inheritance, tobacco, and incomes over $600 (progressive rate)
1960 – Robert Bolt’s “A Man For All Seasons” premieres in London
1978 – Former US President Richard Nixon makes his first public speech since resigning in 1974

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Famous Birthdays

1879 – Leon Jouhaux, French socialist and co-founder UN’s ILO (Nobel 1951), born in Paris (d. 1954)
1896 – Pavel Antokolsky, Russian poet and theatre director (Syn), born in St. Petersburg, Russian Empire (d. 1978)
1915 – Joseph Ransohoff, American neurosurgeon and pioneer in the modern neurosurgery, born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 2001)
1953 – Mike Haynes, American College-Pro Football HOF cornerback (Super Bowl XVIII LA Raiders; First-team All-Pro 1984, 85; 9 x Pro Bowl; NE Patriots), born in Denison, Texas
1955 – Li Keqiang, Chinese Premier of the State Council and China’s head of government, born in Dingyuan County, Anhui Province (d. 2023)

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Famous Deaths

1614 – Isaac Casaubon, English classical scholar (Atheneaus), dies at 55
1860 – Charles Goodyear, American chemist and manufacturing engineer who invented the vulcanization process for rubber, dies at 59
1931 – Alice Mary Robertson, American educator, social worker and 2nd woman in US Congress, dies at 77
1943 – C Bakker, Dutch resistance fighter (census bureau), executed
2017 – Norman Dorsen, American lawyer, human rights advocate and president of the American Civil Liberties Union, dies of complications from a stroke at 86

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Historical Events

1979 – “Good Times” single released by Chic (Billboard Song of the Year 1979)
1996 – “Moon Over Buffalo” closes at Martin Beck Theater NYC after 308 performances
1998 – Sega Channel, cable’s 1st on-demand video game service, closes down
2006 – Cirque du Soleil’s musical-acrobatic extravaganza “The Beatles – LOVE” opens in a specially built theatre at The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada
2013 – US Open Women’s Golf, Sebonack GC: Inbee Park of South Korea wins her second US title, 4 strokes ahead of compatriot I.K. Kim

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Famous Birthdays

1669 – Mauritius Vogt, German composer, born in Königshofen, Electorate of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1730)
1743 – Niels Schiørring, Danish musician and composer, born in Favrskov Municipality, Denmark (d. 1798)
1912 – Tibor de Machula, Hungarian-Dutch cellist, born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania (d. 1982)
1967 – Tom Spencer, English punk rock singer, guitarist and songwriter (The Yo-Yo’s; The Professionals), born in Chipping Barnet, England
1978 – Ben Cousins, Australian Football League player (Richmond), born in Geelong, Victoria

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Famous Deaths

1839 – Johan Olof Wallin, Swedish poet and archbishop (Dead Angel), dies at 59
1953 – Göte Carlid, Swedish composer (Eine kleine Teemusik), dies at 32
1993 – Spanky McFarland, American actor (Our Gang; The Little Rascals), dies suddenly at age 64
2002 – Pete Gray [Wyshner], American baseball outfielder (First of three one-armed men to play MLB; St Louis Browns), dies at 87
2020 – Aleksandr Kabanov, Russian water polo player (Olympic gold 1972, 80; World C’ship gold 1975, 82) and coach (Russian men’s and women’s teams), dies at 72

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Historical Events

1072 – Former Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes blinded by rivals and exiled
1863 – Confederate General Robert Lee orders his forces to concentrate near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
1900 – The Imperial Chinese Court issues what is essentially a declaration of war against foreigners in China, blaming them for hostilities and giving license to the Boxers for even greater ferocity
1969 – US Open Women’s Golf, Scenic Hills CC: Donna Caponi wins first of 4 major titles; beat Peggy Wilson by 1 stroke
2017 – Mihai Tudose confirmed as Romanian Prime Minister, by parliament, succeeding Sorin Grindeanu

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Famous Birthdays

1805 – Hiram Powers, American sculptor (Greek Slave), born in Woodstock, Vermont (d. 1873)
1885 – André Gailhard, French classical music composer, born in Paris, France (d. 1966)
1919 – Slim Pickens [Louis Burton Lindley Jr], American rodeo performer and actor (Dr Strangelove; Blazing Saddles), born in Kingsburg, California (d. 1983)
1964 – Stedman Pearson, English pop vocalist (Five Star – “Rain or Shine”; “The Slightest Touch”), born in Islington, London
1978 – Nicole Scherzinger, American singer (Pussycat Dolls), born in Honolulu, Hawaii

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Famous Deaths

1953 – Jules van Nuffel, Belgian composer, priest, and musicologist (Nova Organi Harmonia), dies at 70
1967 – Oskar Maria Graf, German-American writer (Wir sind Gefangene (We Are Prisoners)), dies at 72
1999 – Allan Carr, American film producer and director (Grease, Happiest Millionaire), dies at 62
2000 – Coen Flink, Dutch actor (Pastorale 1943, Havinck, Honneponnetje), dies at 68
2018 – Irina Szewińska, Polish athlete, administrator (Olympic various sprint gold 1964, 68, 76), dies of cancer at 72

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Historical Events

1855 – Sigma Chi Fraternity is founded at Miami University
1869 – Amsterdam typographer strike
1923 – MLB Brooklyn Robins blow 7-0 lead, as Phillies win 8-7 at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia
1948 – British begin airlift “Operation Plainfare” to West Berlin
2024 – Boy band Seventeen are the first K-pop group to play the main Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury

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Famous Birthdays

1893 – Luciano Gallet, Brazilian pianist, composer, conductor, and educator, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (d. 1931)
1907 – Paul-Emile Victor, French polar explorer, ethnologist, and writer (La civilisation du phoque), born in Geneva, Switzerland (d. 1995)
1957 – Mike Skinner, American auto racer (NASCAR SuperTruck Series 1995; Daytona 500 pole and Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year 1997), born in Susanville, California
1962 – Anisoara Stanciu-Cusmir, Romanian long jumper (Olympic gold 1984), born in Brăila, Romania
1983 – Maui Taylor, Filipino model and actress (Kool Ka Lang), born in Brighton, England

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Famous Deaths

1971 – Martha Wise, American serial killer who poisoned 17 family members, one of the most sensational murder cases of the 1920s in Ohio, dies in prison at 88
1981 – Floyd “Candy” Johnson, American jazz saxophonist (Andy Kirk; Count Basie; Bill Doggett), and educator, dies at 59
2001 – Mortimer J. Adler, American philosopher and author (Encyclopedia Brittanica), dies at 98
2003 – Russell Endean, South African cricket wicketkeeper (28 Tests, 3 x 100, HS 162no, 41 dismissals; Transvaal, MCC), dies at 79
2022 – Deborah James, British teacher, journalist, author (You, Me and the Big C), and charity campaigner, dies of cancer at 40

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Historical Events

1914 – US signs treaty of commerce with Ethiopia
1999 – Tony Hawk is the first skateboarder to land a “900” (a 2½-revolution aerial spin) at the X Games in San Francisco, California
2003 – Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Radiohead, Moby, and R.E.M. headline; other performers include David Gray, The Polyphonic Spree; Jimmy Cliff, Sigur Rós, Los Lobos, and Yes
2018 – Democrat Representative Joseph Crowley is defeated in New York Primary election by liberal challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
2023 – Archaeologists in Roman city of Pompeii uncover a “pizza” painting in a fresco from house next to a bakery (more likely flatbread as lacks essential ingredients tomatoes and mozzarella)

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Famous Birthdays

1884 – Gaston Bachelard, French philosopher (La psychanalyse du feu), born in Bar-sur-Aube, France (d. 1962)
1889 – Alfred Courtens, Belgian sculptor, born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1967)
1905 – Ruby Middleton Forsythe, African-American teacher who taught for 50 years in one-room schoolhouse in South Carolina, born in Charleston, South Carolina (d. 1992)
1959 – Dan Jurgens, American comic book writer (The Death of Superman), born in Ortonville, Minnesota
1966 – J. J. Abrams, American writer, producer and director (Lost; Star Wars: the Force Awakens; Mission Impossible III), born in New York City

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Famous Deaths

1917 – Karl Allmenröder, German World War I flying Ace, dies at 21
2010 – Dolph Briscoe, American businessman and 41st Governor of Texas (1973-79), dies at 87
2011 – Elaine Stewart, American actress and model (The Bad and the Beautiful, Take the High Ground), dies at 81
2016 – Alvin Toffler, American author (Future Shock, Power Shift, The Third Wave), dies at 87
2025 – Audrey Shakir, American jazz vocalist (Jazz at the Lincoln Center Big Band), dies at 73

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