Historical Events
1943 – Allies conquer Soussa, North-Africa
1954 – Belgian Van Houtte government resigns
1982 – 3 CBS employees shot to death in NYC parking lot
2002 – Pedro Carmona becomes interim President of Venezuela during the military coup against Hugo Chávez.
2024 – Music festival Coachella kicks off, headlined by Lana Del Ray, Tyler The Creator, Doja Cat and No Doubt
Famous Birthdays
1777 – Henry Clay, American politician known as “the Great Compromiser”, Speaker of the House, Senator and Secretary of State (1825-29), born in Hanover County, Virginia (d. 1852)
1839 – Nikolay Przhevalsky, Russian naturalist and explorer (East and Central Asia), born in Kimborovo, Russia (d. 1888) (OS 31 March)
1899 – Chief Thundercloud [Victor Daniels], Cherokee actor (The Lone Ranger; Colt .45), born in Muskogee, Indian Territory (d. 1955)
1912 – Harold Maguire, British air marshal, born in Kilkishen, Ireland (d. 2001)
1953 – Tony James, English rock bassist (Sigue Sigue Sputnik – Love Missile F-111), born in Shepherds Bush, London
Famous Deaths
352 – Julius I, pope (337-52), dies
1788 – Carl Joseph Toeschi, German composer, dies at 56
1898 – Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau, Roman catholic cardinal, Archbishop of Quebec, dies at 78
1981 – Hans Chemin-Petit, German composer, dies at 78
1996 – Marthe Robert, French essayist and translator who influenced Sigmund Freud, dies at 82