Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1265 – 1st English Parliament not summoned by the monarch formally convened (some authorities)
1904 – Ålesund Fire: the Norwegian coastal town Ålesund is devastated by fire, leaving 10,000 people homeless and one person dead. Kaiser Wilhelm II funds the rebuilding of the town in Jugendstil style.
1969 – Cream releases their last album “Goodbye”
1973 – 23rd NBA All-Star Game, Chicago Stadium: East beats West, 104-84; MVP: Dave Cowens, Boston Celtics, C
1994 – Bernie Kosar is 2nd QB to throw TD passes in AFC and NFC Champ games
2005 – “Numb3rs”, starring Rob Morrow and David Krumholtz, debuts on CBS

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Famous Birthdays

1786 – Auguste de Montferrand, French architect, born in Trocadéro, Paris (d. 1858)
1919 – Hans Hass, Austrian zoologist and underwater scientist, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2013)
1941 – (Perry) “Buddy” Buie, American rock songwriter, and record producer (Atlanta Rhythm Section – “So Into You”; “Imaginary Lover”), born in Marianna, Florida (d. 2015)
1961 – Fausto Gresini, Italian Grand Prix motorcycle racer (125cc World C’ship 1985, 87) and team manager (Aprilia Racing, Gresini MotoGP), born in Imola, Italy (d. 2021)
1967 – Robert Globb, Slovenian politician (Prime Minister of Slovenia 2022-), born in Šempeter pri Gorici, Yugoslavia
1971 – Kevin Mawae, American football center (Seattle Seahawks), born in Savannah, Georgia

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Famous Deaths

1866 – Thomas Love Peacock, English satirical writer (headlong Hill), dies at 80
1936 – Clara Butt, English alto singer (Country of Hope and Glory), dies at 62
1972 – Big Maybelle [Mabel Smith], American RandB singer (A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On; Candy), dies from complications of diabetes at 47
2001 – Eugene [Brother Jack] McDuff, American jazz organist (George Benson, Brother Jack), dies of heart failure at 74
2017 – Gorden Kaye, British actor (Allo Allo), dies at 75
2021 – Larry King [Zeiger], American radio and TV host (“Larry King Live”, CNN), dies of sepsis and renal failure at 87

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Historical Events

1528 – England and France declare war on Emperor Charles V
1924 – KGO-AM in San Francisco CA begins radio transmissions
1940 – 1st radio broadcast of “Road to Happiness” on CBS
1964 – World’s largest cheese (15,723 kg) manufactured in Wisconsin for New York’s World Fair
1994 – 45th NHL All-Star Game, Madison Square Garden, NYC: East beats West, 9-8; MVP: Mike Richter, NY Rangers, G
2017 – Chile declares a State of Emergency and requests international assistance as wildfires rage out of control

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Famous Birthdays

1654 – Richard Blackmore, English physician and writer (d. 1729)
1921 – André Hodeir, French classical and jazz violinist, and composer, born in Paris (d. 2011)
1925 – Leslie Silver, English paint manufacturer, Chairman of Leeds United, born in London, England (d. 2014)
1952 – Ace Vergel, Filipino actor (d. 2007)
1955 – Thomas David Jones, United States astronaut (STS 59, 68, 80, sk: 98), born in Baltimore, Maryland
1973 – George Noga, CFL linebacker (Winnipeg Blue Bombers)

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Famous Deaths

1536 – Bernhard Knipperdolling, German religious leader (b. 1495)
1954 – Princess Margaret of Prussia, Queen consort-elect of Finland, dies at 81
1978 – Oliver Leese, British World War II general, dies at 83
1988 – Parker Fennelly, actor (Kettles on Old MacDonald’s Farm), dies at 96
2005 – Rose Mary Woods, American secretary to Richard Nixon (claimed to have erased part of Watergate tapes by accident), dies at 87
2021 – Tony Jones, American NFL tackle (Super Bowl 1997, 98; Second-team All-Pro 1994; Pro Bowl 1998; Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos), dies at 54

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Historical Events

1749 – Verona Philharmonic Theatre destroyed by fire. Rebuilt 1754.
1900 – The second contingent of Canadian troops sails from Halifax to fight in South Africa against the Boers
1948 – Three of the greats of cricket make their debut in a drawn 1st Test match at Bridgetown, Barbados; Sir Clyde Walcott and Sir Everton Weekes for the West Indies, and Jim Laker for England
1972 – Mizoram, formerly part of Assam, creates an Indian union territory
1978 – Bee Gees’ album “Saturday Night Fever” goes #1 for 24 weeks
1990 – 41st NHL All-Star Game, Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA: Wales beats Campbell, 12-7; MVP: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, C

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Famous Birthdays

1878 – Egon Friedell, Austrian journalist, actor and writer (Kleine Portratgalerie, Der Partylowe), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1938)
1888 – Herbie Collins, Australian cricket all-rounder and captain (19 Tests, 1,352 runs @ 45.06, 4 x 100s), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 1959)
1937 – George Flynn, American pianist, composer (Trinity), and teacher (Columbia; DePaul), born in Miles City, Montana
1971 – Tommy Puett, actor (Tyler-Life Goes On, America’s Top 10), born in Gary, Indiana
1980 – Aubrie Rippner, tennis star (1995 USTA National Girls 18), born in Los Angeles, California
1988 – Felipe Neto, Brazilian vlogger (YouTube), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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Famous Deaths

1118 – Pope Paschal II, born Raniero (1099-1118), dies
1519 – Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Spanish explorer executed on charges of treason at about 42 [birthdate undocumented, born c. 1475; exact death date uncertain, may have been as early as 15 January)
1815 – Matthias Claudius, German poet (Death and the Maiden), and journalist (Der Wandsbecker Bote), dies at 74
1881 – Wilhelm Matthias Naeff, Swiss Federal Councilor (b. 1802)
1942 – Henryk Opieński, Polish violinist, conductor, choral director, composer (Zygmunt August and Barbara), and musicologist (Moniuszko), dies at 72
2005 – John L. Hess, American journalist (b. 1917)

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Historical Events

1356 – Edward Balliol abdicates as King of Scots
1919 – International Lawn Tennis Challenge, Double Bay, Sydney: Gerald Patterson beats Algernon Kingscote 6-4, 6-4, 8-6 to retain title for Australasia over the Great Britain, 3-1; ends 4-1
1968 – US female Figure Skating championship won by Peggy Fleming
1990 – Black January – crackdown of Azerbaijani pro-independence demonstrations by Soviet army in Baku
2013 – AFC Championship, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough: Baltimore Ravens beat New England Patriots, 28-13
2017 – Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States of America and Mike Pence as the 48th Vice President

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Famous Birthdays

1880 – Walter W. Bacon, American politician (d. 1962)
1907 – Paula Wessely, Austrian actress and producer (Masquerade), born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (d. 2000)
1952 – Patrick Smith, Australian sports journalist (The Age, The Australian, SEN; Walkley Award 1997, 2002, 04), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 2023)
1955 – Hiromi Ōta, Japanese pop singer (Momen no handkerchief), born in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
1956 – Maria Larsson, Swedish politician, born in Långasjö, Sweden
1975 – Kati Agócs, American-Canadian composer (The Debrecen Passion), and educator (New England Conservatory), born in Windsor. Ontario

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Famous Deaths

1707 – Humphrey Hody, English theologian (b. 1659)
1936 – George V, King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India (1910-36), dies at 70 after being euthanized by his doctor
1979 – Gustav Winckler, Danish pop singer (“Skibet skal sejle i nat”- “The Ship Is Leaving Tonight”), dies in a car crash at 53
1994 – Aar van de Werfhorst [pseudonym for Pieter Gerhardus Jansen], Dutch writer, dies at 87
2007 – Anatol Rapoport, Ukrainian-American mathematician and biologist (game theory), dies at 95
2018 – John Coleman, American journalist, co-founder of The Weather Channel and broadcaster (1953-2014), dies at 83

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Historical Events

1511 – Italian city Mirandola surrenders to the French
1806 – United Kingdom re-occupies the Cape of Good Hope following victory in the Battle of Blaauwberg over French vassal, the Batavian Republic. Establishes British rule in South Africa.
1949 – Cuba recognises Israel.
1966 – British composer Michael Tippett’s cantata “Vision of St Augustine” premieres in London
1994 – -36°F (-38°C) in New Whiteland, Indiana (state record)
2001 – Cult film “Donnie Darko” written and directed by Richard Kelly, starring Jake Gyllenhaal premieres at the Sundance Film Festival

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Famous Birthdays

1848 – Matthew Webb, English long distance swimmer who was first to swim unassisted across the English Channel, born in Dawley, England (d. 1883)
1924 – Jean Francois Revel, French philosopher and author (Ni Marx ni Jesus), born in Marseille, France (d. 2006)
1931 – Ron Packard, American politician (Rep-R-CA, 1983-2001), born in Meridian, Idaho
1936 – Elliott Schwartz, composer, born in New York City
1936 – Ziaur Rahman, Bangladeshi military officer and President of Bangladesh (1977-81), born in Bagbari, Bengal Presidency, British India (d. 1981)
1974 – Walter Jones, American football offensive tackle (Seattle Seahawks), born in Aliceville, Alabama

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Famous Deaths

1647 – Johan van Beverwijck, Dutch physician (Treas of Ongesontheyt), dies at 52
1956 – Charles Dingle, American actor (The Little Foxes), dies at 68
1969 – Alcide “Slow Drag” Pavageau, American jazz guitarist and double-bassist, dies at 80
1970 – Hal March [Harold Mendelson], American comedian, actor and TV host ($64,000 Question; Outrage), dies of lung cancer at 49
1997 – Adriana Caselotti, voice of Snow White in Disney’s animated film, dies at 70
2008 – Suzanne Pleshette, American actress (The Birds; The Bob Newhart Show – “Emily”), dies at 70

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Historical Events

1908 – Frederick Delius’ “Brigg Fair” premieres in London
1915 – Train crashes at Colima-Guadalajara Mexico, about 600 die
1992 – Comedian Pat McCormick injured in a car accident
1992 – 43rd NHL All-Star Game, Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA: Campbell beats Wales, 10-6; MVP: Brett Hull, St. Louis, RW
2001 – New York’s Mike Richter picks up his 267th career NHL win to become the winningest goaltender in team history; passes Ed Giacomin; Rangers beat the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs, 2-1 in overtime
2004 – NFC Championship, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia: Carolina Panthers beat Philadelphia Eagles, 14-3

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Famous Birthdays

1903 – Berthold Goldschmidt, German-British opera composer (Beatrice Cenci), born in Hamburg, German Empire (d. 1996)
1919 – Juan Antonio Orrego-Salas, Chilean composer, born in Santiago, Chile (d. 2019)
1962 – Dito, Portuguese soccer defender (17 caps; Braga, Benfica, Vitória Setúbal) and manager (Portimonense, Moreirense), born in Barcelos, Portugal (d. 2020)
1964 – Jane Horrocks, British actress (Little Voice, Corpse Bride, Absolutely Fabulous), born in Rossendale Valley, Lancashire, England
1979 – Leo Varadkar, Irish politician (Prime Minister, 2017-), born in Dublin, Ireland
1986 – Eugene Lee Yang, American filmmaker and internet personality (Buzzfeed, The Try Guys), born in Waco, Texas

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Famous Deaths

1677 – Jan van Riebeeck, Dutch founder of Cape Colony (Cape Town), dies at 57
1859 – Alfred Vail, American inventor and early telegraph pioneer, dies at 51
1954 – Sydney Greenstreet, British actor (Casablanca, Maltese Falcon), dies at 74
1978 – Walter H. Thompson, English Scotland Yard detective, bodyguard of Winston Churchill, dies of cancer at 77
1996 – Leonor Fini, Argentine artist, dies at 87
2021 – Perry Botkin Jr, American arranger, composer (“Nadia’s Theme”), and producer (Incredible Bongo Band), dies at 87

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Historical Events

1893 – Franco-Russian Alliance is signed
1971 – At a party conference in Dublin, Sinn Féin end their 65 year abstentionist policy and agree that any elected representative could take their seat at the Dáil
1973 – New Philippine constitution names Marcos president for life
1983 – 10th American Music Awards: John Cougar, Rick Springfield, and Olivia Newton-John win
1986 – 2nd Sundance Film Festival: “Smooth Talk” wins Grand Jury Prize Dramatic
1995 – Australia beat Australia A 2-0 to win cricket’s World Series Cup

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Famous Birthdays

1867 – Carl Laemmle, German-born film executive (d. 1939)
1927 – Eartha Kitt, American singer (Santa Baby), dancer, activist, and actress (Batman – “Catwoman”), born in North, South Carolina (d. 2008)
1934 – Sydney Hodkinson, Canadian-American classical composer and educator (Eastman School, 1973-99), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (d. 2021)
1954 – Susan Kiefel, Australian lawyer and judge, born in Cairns, Australia
1959 – Susanna Hoffs, American actress and musician (Bangles-Walk Like an Egyptian), born in Los Angeles, California
1982 – Alex Varkatzas, American heavy metal singer (Atreyu), born in Orange County, California

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Famous Deaths

1661 – Andres Malong, Philippines rebel leader, executed
1933 – John Hodges, Australian cricket fast bowler (2 Tests [first 2 played], 6 wickets; Victoria), dies at 77
1996 – Giles Playfair, English writer, dies at 85
2008 – Rod Allen [Bainbridge] British pop-rock singer and bassist (Fortunes – “You’ve Got Your Troubles”; “Here It Comes Again”), dies of cancer at 63
2010 – Jyoti Basu, Indian Communist politician, dies at 95
2016 – Dale “Buffin” Griffin, English rock drummer (Mott The Hoople – “All Young Dudes”), and producer (BBC’s John Peel sessions), dies from complications of Alzheimer’s disease at 67

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Historical Events

1939 – The Irish Republican Army (IRA) begins a 14 month long bombing campaign in England
1949 – KNBH (now KNBC) TV channel 4 in Los Angeles, CA (NBC) 1st broadcast
1970 – Curt Flood files a civil lawsuit challenging baseball’s reserve clause
1972 – Super Bowl VI, Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, LA: Dallas Cowboys beat Miami Dolphins, 24-3; MVP: Roger Staubach, Dallas, QB
1985 – “Playboy” announces end of stapling centerfolds
2016 – First ever flower grown in space – a zinnia aboard the International Space Station using NASA Veggie system

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Famous Birthdays

1672 – Francesco Mancini, Neapolitan composer, born in Naples, Kingdom of Naples, Spanish Empire (d. 1737)
1928 – Pilar Lorengar [Lorenza Pilar García], Aragones soprano, born in El Gancho, Zaragoza, Spain (d. 1996)
1938 – Michael Pataki, American actor (Get Christie Love), born in Youngstown, Ohio
1950 – (Kemji) “Damo” Suzuki, Japanese rock singer (Can; Damo Suzuki’s Network), born in Japan
1950 – Jesse Dizon, American actor, born in Oceanside, California
1996 – Jennie Kim, South Korean singer and actress (Blackpink), born in Seoul, South Korea

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Famous Deaths

1917 – George Dewey, U.S. Admiral of the Navy, won Battle of Manila Bay, dies at 79
1919 – Jaroslav Jeremiáš, Czech pianist and composer, dies at 19
1924 – Maurice de Plessys, French poet (Palace Occidental), dies at 59
1942 – Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Governor General of Canada (1911-16), dies at 91
1979 – Peter Butterworth, British actor and comedian (Carry On), dies of a heart attack at 63
1998 – Dimitris Horn, Greek actor (A Girl in Black), dies of cancer at 66

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Historical Events

1552 – France signs secret treaty with German Protestants
1927 – Tennessee Supreme Court overturns (on a technicality) John T. Scopes’ guilty verdict for teaching evolution in the “Scopes monkey trial”, but the law itself remains in force
1937 – Spanish Civil War: Second Battle of the Corunna Road ends after both forces withdraw
1964 – Teamsters negotiate 1st national labor contract
1975 – Space Mountain opens at Disney World in Orlando, Florida
1997 – Space Shuttle Atlantis docks with Mir Space Station

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Famous Birthdays

1885 – Grover Lowdermilk, American baseball player, born in Sandborn, Illinois (d. 1968)
1888 – Joseph Henabery, American director (Cobra), born in Omaha, Nebraska (d. 1976)
1893 – Dragisa Cvetkovic, Serbian politician (Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1939-41), born in Niš, Kingdom of Serbia (d. 1969)
1905 – Torin Thatcher, British actor (Houdini, Isranbul, Lady Godiva), born in Bombay Presidency, British India (d. 1981)
1964 – Osmo Tapio Räihälä, Finnish composer, born in Suomussalmi, Finland
1974 – Mike Minter, American football safety (Carolina Panthers) and college coach (Campbell University 2013-23), born in Cleveland, Ohio

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Famous Deaths

69 – Galba [Servius Sulpicius Galba], 6th emperor of Rome (68-69), lynched by his successor Otho at 70
1953 – Patrick Vretblad, Swedish composer, dies at 76
1969 – Theodor Werner, German painter, dies at 82
1981 – Emanuel Celler, American politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York), dies at 92
1989 – Wilf Slack, English cricketer, dies while playing cricket in Gambia at 34
2001 – Bob Braun, American TV and radio personality (Dotty Mack Show), dies at 71

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Historical Events

1868 – North Carolina constitutional convention meets in Raleigh
1927 – Toronto Maple Leafs 1st hat trick (Hap Day) vs NY Rangers
1961 – Chicago Bear Willard Dewveall becomes 1st NFLer to join AFL
1979 – John McEnroe wins his first of 3 season-ending ATP Masters Grand Prix tennis titles 6–7, 6–3, 7–5 against fellow American Arthur Ashe at Madison Square Garden, NYC
1993 – Polish ferry boat capsizes in storm, 50 die
1998 – Charles Barkley pleads not guilty to an assault charge

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Famous Birthdays

1477 – Hermann of Wied, German Catholic archbishop (d. 1552)
1914 – Gaetano Alibrandi, Italian Catholic priest and papal diplomat, born in Castiglione di Sicilia, Catania, Sicily (d. 2003)
1925 – Jean-Claude Beton, Algerian-born French businessman, entrepreneur and soft-drink manufacturer (Orangina), born in Boufarik, French Algeria (d. 2013)
1947 – Rubén Olivares, Mexican boxer (4-division world champion), born in Mexico City
1978 – Just Blaze [Justin Smith], American hip hop producer, born in Paterson, New Jersey
1980 – Byron Leftwich, American football player, born in Washington, D.C.

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Famous Deaths

1676 – Pier Francesco Cavalli, Italian opera composer, dies at 73
1887 – Peter Donders, Dutch Roman Catholic missionary to Suriname, dies at 77
1890 – Francesco D’Arcais, Italian composer, dies at 59
1978 – Robert Heger, German conductor and composer, dies at 91
1993 – Elisabeth Antoinette de Vreugd, chambermaid for Dutch Queen, dies at 98
2006 – Henri Colpi, French New Wave film editor and director, dies at 84

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