Historical Events
1956 – Indian states of Punjab, Patiala and most of the East Punjab States Union merge as the Punjab State
1962 – USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR
1976 – “Don’t Step on My Olive Branch” opens at Playhouse NYC for 16 performances
1977 – US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1986 – Fire in Sandoz factory in Basel, 30 tons of chemicals in the Rhine
2007 – 5-time Grand Slam tennis winner Martina Hingis admits testing positive for cocaine during Wimbledon; maintains innocence; retires from tennis; no desire for fight with anti-doping authorities
Famous Birthdays
1351 – Leopold III, Duke of Austria (1365-68), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1386)
1815 – Douglas H. Cooper, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Amite County, Mississippi (d. 1879)
1825 – Joseph B. Palmer, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Rutherford County, Tennessee (d. 1890)
1961 – Louise Boije af Gennäs, Swedish writer and novelist (Stjärnor utan svindel)
1977 – Steve Hutchinson, American NFL offensive guard (7 x Pro Bowl; 5 First Team All Pro), born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
1978 – Manju Warrier, Indian actress (How Old Are You?), born in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India
Famous Deaths
1814 – Alexander Samoylov, Russian general and statesman (b. 1744)
1879 – Zachariah Chandler, American merchant and politician (found Republican Party), dies at 65
1964 – Clifford “Doc” Carlson, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Pittsburgh 367–248 [.597]), dies at 70
1975 – Doro Merande, actress (That Was The Week That Was), dies at 77
1995 – Lex Hixon, religious teacher/author, dies at 53
2015 – Fred Thompson, US senator (R-Tenn)/actor (In the Line of Fire), dies at 73