Historical Events
1768 – John Wilkes is imprisoned for writing an article for “The North Briton” severely criticizing King George III. This action provokes rioting in London.
1916 – Disastrous fire in Ellendale, North Dakolta
1929 – British Open Men’s Golf, Muirfield: Walter Hagen wins 4th Open title, by 6 strokes from fellow American Johnny Farrell
1974 – 7th ABA championship: NY Nets beats Utah Stars, 4 games to 1
1990 – French TGV-train hits record speed of 510.6 kph
2005 – A hand grenade thrown by Vladimir Arutyunian lands about 65 feet (20 metres) from U.S. President George W. Bush while giving a speech to a crowd in Tbilisi, Georgia, it malfunctions and does not detonate
Famous Birthdays
1843 – Benito Pérez Galdós, Spanish novelist (Episodios Nacionales), born in Las Palmas, Spain (d. 1920)
1922 – David Orr, deputy chairman (Inchcape)/CEO (British Council, Unilever)
1922 – Nancy Walker, American actress (Rhoda, McMillan and Wife), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1992)
1937 – Tamara Press, USSR, shot putter/discus thrower (Olympic gold 1960)
1949 – Michael Larson, American “Press Your Luck” scandal big-winning contestant, born in Lebanon, Ohio (d. 1999)
1953 – Steve Thomas, rocker (Shooting Star)
Famous Deaths
1569 – Juan the Avila, Spanish minister/writer
1696 – Jean de La Bruyère, French writer (The Characters, or the Manners of the Age, with The Characters of Theophrastus), dies at 50
1833 – François Andrieux, French playwright, dies at 74
1989 – Woody Shaw, American jazz musician (b. 1944)
1992 – John Lund, American actor (High Society, Wackiest Ship in the Army), dies at 81
2002 – Lynda Lyon Block, convicted murderer (b. 1948)