Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1812 – James Madison re-elected President of the US, Elbridge Gerry Vice-President
1944 – US 95th Infantry division occupies bridge at Saar, GErmany
1971 – Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is appointed President of the United Arab Emirates
1972 – USC tailback Anthony Davis becomes first to score 6 touchdowns against Notre Dame; in a 45-23 victory over the Fighting Irish Davis at the LA Coliseum he scores on runs of 1, 4, 5 and 8 yards and 2 kickoff returns
1988 – ESPN airs its 10,000th edition of ‘Sports Center’, making it the most televised cable program in history
1991 – Muslim Shi’ites release American hostage Joseph Cicippio held in Lebanon

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Famous Birthdays

1929 – Harvey Phillips, American tubist (NYC Ballet Orchestra), born in Aurora, Missouri (d. 2010)
1933 – K. Veeramani, Indian anti-caste activist, born in Cuddalore, Madras Presidency, British India
1960 – Deb Haaland, American politician (1st Native American to head a cabinet agency as Secretary of the Interior 2021-), born in Winslow, Arizona
1983 – Chris Burke, Scottish soccer winger (7 caps; Rangers F.C., Kilmarnock), born in Glasgow, Scotland
1986 – Claudiu Keșerü, Romanian soccer forward (37 caps; FC Nantes, Steaua București), born in Oradea, Romania
1993 – Kostas Stafylidis, Greek soccer left back (30 caps; 1899 Hoffenheim), born in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece

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Famous Deaths

1863 – Jane Appleton Pierce, American 1st lady (1853-57) and wife of Franklin Pierce, dies of tuberculosis at 57
1890 – Cadmus M. Wilcox, American Major General (Confederate Army – American Civil War), dies at 66
1931 – Vincent d’Indy, French composer (Symphony on a French Mountain Air), and teacher, dies at 80
1973 – Watson Washburn, American tennis player (runner-up Wimbledon doubles 1924, US Nationals 1921, 23; founder International Tennis Hall of Fame), dies at 79
2007 – Thomas F. Torrance, Scottish Protestant theologist, dies at 94
2015 – Anthony Valentine, British actor (Colditz), dies at 76

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Historical Events

1864 – Raid at Stoneman: Knoxville, Tennessee to Saltville, Virginia
1887 – Sherlock Holmes first appears in print in “Study in Scarlet” by Arthur Conan Doyle
1936 – Ernest Brundin and Frank Lyon obtain US patent for hydroponic (soil-less) culture of plants
1978 – US President Jimmy Carter more than doubles national park system size
2012 – FC Barcelona with 13 wins and a draw sets new La Liga start to Spanish football season record; Lionel Messi scores twice in 5-1 win over Athletic Bilbao; pass Real Madrid’s 1991-92 season mark
2018 – Computer-animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” starring Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld premieres in Los Angeles (Academy Award Best Animated Film 2019)

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Famous Birthdays

1917 – Geraldine McCullough, American painter and sculptor (Phoenix), born in Maywood, Illinois (d. 2008)
1946 – (Raymond) “Gilbert” O’Sullivan, Irish singer-songwriter (“Alone Again Naturally”), born in Waterford, Ireland
1948 – Neil Warnock, English soccer winger and manager (Crystal Palace, Leeds, QPR, Cardiff City), born in Sheffield, England
1971 – Rob Waldrop, American College Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle (Outland Trophy 1993 Arizona; CFL, Toronto Argonauts), born in Atlanta, Georgia
1972 – Norbert Wójtowicz, Polish historian and theologian
1981 – Francia Elena Márquez Mina, Colombian human rights activist, environmentalist and politician (Vice-President of Colombia), born in Yolombó, Colombia

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Famous Deaths

1723 – Susanna Centlivre, English actress known as “the most successful female playwright of the eighteenth century”, dies at 66 (approximately)
1750 – Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr, German mathematician, astronomer and cartographer, dies at 73
1884 – William Swainson (lawyer), second, and last, Attorney-General (New Zealand) of the Crown Colony of New Zealand (b. 1809)
1971 – Arthur B. Spingarn, American lawyer and civil rights activist (NAACP chairman, 1940-65), dies at 93
1998 – Bertil Nordahl, Swedish soccer midfielder and manager (15 caps; Atalanta; Olympic gold 1948), dies at 81
2001 – Ellis R. Dungan, American born Indian film director, dies at 92

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Historical Events

1861 – Harper’s Weekly publishes EE Beers’ “All quiet along the Potomac”
1885 – Opera “El Cid” premieres (Paris)
1907 – Pike Place Market dedicated in Seattle
1949 – New Zealand general election won by Sidney Holland’s National party, ousting Peter Fraser’s Labour government
2020 – Alphafold’s DeepMind AI program announces it has achieved scientific breakthrough by being able to predict how proteins fold into 3D shapes
2022 – Artificial intelligence Chatbot ChatGPT prototype released by A.I. lab OpenAI, able to answer complex questions, write poetry and mimic some human emotions

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Famous Birthdays

1847 – August Klughardt, German composer, born in Köthen, Germany (d. 1902)
1880 – Herbert Jones, British thoroughbred jockey (British Triple Crown [Diamond Jubilee] 1900; 8 x British Classic Race wins), born in Epsom, England (d. 1951)
1907 – Jacques Barzun, French author (The House of Intellect), born in Créteil, France (d. 2012)
1943 – Jerry Hunt, American experimental composer and video artist, born in Waco, Texas (d. 1993)
1958 – Juliette Bergmann, Dutch bodybuilder
1964 – David Wood, NBA forward (Dallas Mavericks)

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Famous Deaths

1678 – Andries de Graeff, Dutch leader during Dutch Golden Age (Mayor of Amsterdam 1657-71), dies at 67
1933 – Arthur Currie, Canadian army officer (1st Canadian commander of Canadian Corps, WWI), dies from pneumonia complications at 57
1990 – Norman Cousins, American editor (Saturday Review) and peace activist, dies at 75
2008 – Naomi Datta, British geneticist and bacteriologist (pioneer in investigating the development of resistance to antibiotics by bacteria), dies at 86
2010 – Monty Sunshine, British jazz clarinetist and bandleader (Petite Fleur), dies at 82
2010 – Garry Gross, American photographer (b. 1937)

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Historical Events

1825 – Gioachino Rossini’s comic opera “Il barbiere di Siviglia” (The Barber of Seville) become 1st opera performed in Italian in US, staged at New York City’s Park Theater
1950 – National Council of Church of Christ in US forms
1963 – US President LBJ sets up the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy
1971 – USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
1975 – New Zealand general election won by the National Party headed by Robert Muldoon
2008 – 73rd Iron Bowl: Alabama beats Auburn 36-0 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama’s first win in the series in seven years

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Famous Birthdays

1627 – John Ray, English naturalist (advances in taxonomy), born in Black Notley, England (d. 1705)
1899 – Arvid Kleven, Norwegian flautist and composer, born in Trondheim, Norway (d. 1929)
1961 – Masayoshi Yamashita, Japanese heavy metal bass guitarist (Loudness), born in Osaka, Japan
1969 – Ben Iroha, Nigerian football player (Vitesse), born in Aba, Nigeria
1977 – Andy Beshear, American politician, Governor of Kentucky (2019-), born in Louisville, Kentucky
1990 – Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit, American actor (Full House), born in Los Angeles, California

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Famous Deaths

1530 – Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal, adviser and Lord Chancellor, (1515-29) to England’s King Henry VIII, dies just before facing treason trial at about 55
1957 – Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Austrian-American composer (Violanta; The Adventures of Robin Hood), dies at 60
1989 – Ann Burton [Anna Rafalowicz], Dutch jazz singer, dies of throat cancer at 56
2003 – Larry Booker (Moondog Spot), American pro wrestler (WWF Tag Team champion 1981), dies of a heart attack at 51
2006 – Allen Carr, English anti-smoking campaigner (b. 1934)
2018 – Charles Harrison, American industrial designer (view finder), dies at 87

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Historical Events

1879 – Battle at Lydenburg South Africa: Gen Wolseley beats Sekhukhenes Pedi-Zulu
1899 – Second Boer War: Battle of Modder River (Cape Colony), British Lord Methuen defeats Boer forces of Piet Cronjé and Koos de la Rey
1938 – Dmitri Shostakovich’s Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2 premieres in Moscow, USSR
1950 – Walter O’Malley fires Burt Shotton as Dodgers manager
1981 – 46th Iron Bowl: Alabama beats Auburn 28-17 in Birmingham
2019 – European parliament declares a climate emergency

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Famous Birthdays

1640 – Willem de Vlamingh, Dutch sea captain who explored the then “New Holland”, the central west coast of Australia, born in Oost-Vlieland, Dutch Republic (d. c. 1698)
1907 – Alberto Moravia [Pincherle], Italian author (Indifferent Ones), born in Rome, Italy (d. 1990)
1936 – Gary Hart, American politician (Sen-D-Co, 1975-86), born in Ottawa, Kansas
1962 – Karen Marsden, Australian field hockey goalie (Olympic gold 1996; World Cup gold 1994; Champions Trophy gold 1993), born in Perth, Australia
1971 – William Simas Jr, pitcher (Chicago White Sox), born in Hanford, California
1984 – Joross Gamboa, Filipino actor

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Famous Deaths

1641 – Robert Dowland, English luitist/son of John Dowland, dies at about 50
1698 – Louis de Buade de Frontenac, French soldier and Governor General of New France (1672-82, 1689-98), dies at 76
1801 – Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu, French geologist (b. 1750)
1994 – Vicente Enrique y Tarancon, Spanish cardinal, dies at 87
1996 – Charles Bressler, American tenor, specializing in early music (New York Pro Musica, 1953-63), and educator, dies at 70
2020 – Vítor Oliveira, Portuguese soccer midfielder (Braga, Portimonense) and manager (won 11 promotions to Primeira Liga, 6 as champion), dies from a heart attack at 67

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Historical Events

1947 – Joe DiMaggio wins his 3rd MVP, beating Ted Williams by 1 vote
1963 – The Convention on the Unification of Certain Points of Substantive Law on Patents for Invention is signed at Strasbourg
1965 – 1966 NFL Draft: University of Texas linebacker Tommy Nobis #1 pick by Atlanta Falcons
2006 – The Canadian House of Commons endorses Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s motion to declare Québécois a nation within a unified Canada.
2011 – Roger Federer claims a record 6th ATP World Tour Finals tennis title with a 6–3, 6–7, 6–3 win over Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final in London, England
2019 – US President Donald Trump signs two bills backing Hong Kong protesters, which check the territories autonomy and ban the sale of munitions to Hong Kong police, angering China

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Famous Birthdays

1929 – Billy Nair, South African union/SACP leader (20 yrs in Robbeneiland Prison)
1939 – Dave Giusti, American baseball player (Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Seneca Falls, New York
1945 – Barbara Anderson, American actress (Eve-Ironside, Mission Impossible), born in Brooklyn, New York
1955 – Bill Nye, American TV host and science presenter (Bill Nye the Science Guy) and engineer, born in Washington D.C.
1960 – Martin van Geel, Dutch soccer player (Willem II), born in Goirle, Netherlands
1966 – Edward Hall, British theatre director of Hampstead Theatre (Rose Rage), born in England

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Famous Deaths

1967 – (Héctor) Ettore Panizza, Argentinian composer (Aurora; Bizancio). and opera conductor, dies at 92
1986 – Steve Tracy, actor (Percival-Little House on Praire), dies at 61
1995 – Giancarlo Baghetti, Italian auto racer (French GP 1961) and journalist/photographer, dies from cancer at 60
2007 – Robert Cade, American physician and inventor of Gatorade, dies at 80
2017 – Bob Seidemann, American photographer and album cover artist (Blind Faith; Jerry Garcia), dies at 75
2021 – Eddie Mekka [Mekjian], American stage and screen singer and actor (Laverne and Shirley – “Carmine – The Big Ragu”), dies at 69

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Historical Events

1939 – 4 soviet soldiers killed on Finnish-Russian border
1956 – TV game show “The Price Is Right”, hosted by Bill Cullen, debuts on NBC
1966 – CFL Grey Cup, Empire Stadium, Vancouver: Saskatchewan Roughriders win their first Championship; defeat Ottawa, 29-14
1969 – 35th Heisman Trophy Award: Steve Owens, Oklahoma (RB)
1978 – CFL Grey Cup, CNE Stadium, Toronto: Edmonton Eskimos first of 5 straight titles; beat Montreal Alouettes, 20-13
1989 – Luis Alberto Lacalle becomes President of Uruguay

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Famous Birthdays

1816 – William H. T. Walker, American Major General (Confederate Army), born in Augusta, Georgia (d. 1864)
1939 – Tina Turner [Anna Mae Bullock], American singer (Ike and Tina – “Proud Mary”; solo -“What’s Love Got To Do With It”), born in Nutbush, Tennessee (d. 2023)
1939 – Mark Margolis, American stage and screen actor (Breaking Bad; The Wrestler), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2023)
1948 – Krešimir Ćosić, Croatian basketball player, born in Zagreb, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia (d. 1995)
1953 – Shelley Moore Capito, American politician (Senator-R-West Virginia, Rep-R-WV 2001-15), born in Glen Dale, West Virginia
1955 – Tracy Hickman, American sci-fi author (Dragons of Spring Dawning), born in Salt Lake City, Utah

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Famous Deaths

1821 – Friedrich Heine, German composer, dies at 57
1941 – Niels Hansen Jacobsen, Danish sculptor and ceramist (Trold, der vejrer kristenblod), dies at 80
1957 – Aleksei M Remizov, Russian author (Iveren), dies at 80
1972 – R. P. Keigwin, English academic, dies at 89
1978 – Frank Rosolino, American jazz trombonist (The Frank Rosolino Sextet), kills himself after shooting his sons at 52
2022 – Brian Hogan, English rugby league forward (5 Tests; St. Helens, Wigan, Bradford Northern, Widnes), dies at 74

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Historical Events

1034 – Malcolm II, King of Scots (Máel Coluim mac Cináeda) (b. 980) dies; Donnchad, the son of his second daughter Bethóc and Crínán of Dunkeld, inherits the throne.
1165 – Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa visits Utrecht
1817 – First sword swallower in US performs (NYC)
1948 – KING TV channel 5 in Seattle, WA (NBC) begins broadcasting
1955 – Race segregation forbidden on trains and buses between US states
2000 – 12th Rugby League World Cup: Australia beats New Zealand 40-12

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Famous Birthdays

1886 – Percy Holmes, English cricket batsman (7 Tests; Yorkshire CCC), born in Huddersfield, England (d. 1971)
1924 – Lorraine “Tui” St. George Tucker, American recorder player and composer (Peyote Concerto), born in Fullerton, California (d. 2004)
1925 – Jose Napoleon Duarte, Salvadoran politician, President of El Salvador (1984-89), born in Santa Ana, El Salvador (d. 1990)
1947 – Linda LaFlamme, American rock keyboardist and songwriter (It’s A Beautiful Day – “White Bird”), born in Brooklyn, New York
1965 – Yasmin “Yaz” Farooq, Waupun Wisc, rower (Olympic 4th 1992, 96)
1980 – Kushan Liyanarachchi, Sri Lankan, prominent Live Buddhism Practitioner

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Famous Deaths

1640 – Giles Farnaby, composer, dies
1913 – Robert Stawell Ball, Irish mathematician and astronomer (Ball Screw), dies at 73
1997 – Barbara [Monique Andrée Serf], French singer (“L’Aigle noir”), dies at 67
1998 – Nelson Goodman, American philosopher (b. 1906)
2006 – Kenneth M. Taylor, American pilot (b. 1919)
2006 – Luciano Bottaro, Italian comic book artist, dies at 75

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Historical Events

1434 – River Thames in London freezes over
1639 – 1st observation of transit of Venus by Jeremiah Horrocks and William Crabtree – helped establish size of the Solar System
1951 – CFL Grey Cup, Varsity Stadium, Toronto: Ottawa Rough Riders claim their 4th Championship with 21-14 win over Saskatchewan Roughriders
1953 – Los Angeles Dodgers sign Walter Alston to a 1-year pact as manager for 1954; signs 23 one year agreements until 1976
1969 – Apollo 12 returns to Earth
1970 – 36th Heisman Trophy Award: Jim Plunkett, Stanford (QB)

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Famous Birthdays

1938 – Willy Claes, Belgian politician
1938 – David Newell, American (Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood – “Mr. McFeely”), born in O’Hara Township, Pennsylvania
1938 – Oscar Robertson [The Big O], American NBA guard (Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Olympic gold 1960), born in Charlotte, Tennessee
1942 – Billy Connolly, Scottish comedian and actor (Blue Money), born in Anderston, Glasgow, Scotland
1951 – Graham Price, British rugby player
1970 – Doug Brien, kicker (New Orleans Saints)

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Famous Deaths

1468 – Jean de Dunois, French soldier (b. 1402)
1770 – Charles-Jean-François Hénault, French historian (b. 1685)
1957 – Diego Rivera, Mexican painter (En el Arsenal) and husband of Frida Kahlo, dies at 70
1959 – Dally Messenger, Australian rugby league centre (9 Tests; NSW; Eastern Suburbs; ARL ‘Immortal’; Dally M Medal) and rugby union utility (2 caps), dies from heart failure at 76
2006 – (Juhani) “Juice” Leskinen, Finnish rock singer-songwrirter (“Musta aurinko nousee – Black Sun Rises”; “Marilyn”), and poet, dies from multiple medical issues at 56
2021 – Guillermo Echevarría, Mexican swimmer (1,500m WR 16:28.1 1968), dies at 73

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Historical Events

1644 – “Areopagitica”, a pamphlet by John Milton decrying censorship, is published
1946 – “Gypsy Lady” closes at Century Theater NYC after 79 performances
1970 – Arthur Young resigns as Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
1980 – National Black Independent Party forms
1988 – Yankees sign free agent 2nd-baseman Steve Sax to 3-year contract
2014 – A suicide bomber kills 40 people at a volleyball tournament in eastern Afghanistan

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Famous Birthdays

1641 – Anthonie Heinsius, Dutch statesman (d. 1720)
1931 – Oscar C. Yatco, Filipino violinist and conductor, born in Tanuan, Batangas, Philippines (d. 2014)
1934 – Robert Towne, American producer and screenwriter (Chinatown), born in Los Angeles, California
1955 – Steven Brust [Karl Zoltan], American sci-fi author (Yendi, Jhereg), born in St. Paul, Minnesota
1963 – Gwynne Shotwell, American engineer and businesswoman (SpaceX), born in Evanston, Illinois
1967 – Salli Richardson, American actress (Posse), born in Chicago, Illinois

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Famous Deaths

1980 – Thien-an Thich, Zen teacher/Vietnamese Rinzai line, dies in LA at 54
1987 – Alton Adams, American composer (1st black bandmaster in the United States Navy), dies at 98
1990 – Bo Diaz, catcher, crushed to death by a satellite dish at 37
1996 – Art Porter, saxophonist, dies at 35
2005 – (John) “Fritz” Richmond, American folk musician (washtub bass and jug), and recording engineer, dies of lung cancer at 66
2006 – Nick Clarke, English radio presenter (b. 1948)

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