Historical Events
1606 – Spanish troops under Spinola occupy Fort Rhine Birch
1958 – Britain transfers Christmas Island (south of Java) to Australia
1979 – Nigeria adopts a constitution, and Alhaji Shagari becomes president
1981 – US’s largest private investment bank, Salomon Brothers, is sold to commodities trader Phibro Corporation for $483 million
1990 – Meteorite explodes above Pacific Ocean
Famous Birthdays
1901 – Jimmie Reese, American baseball infielder and coach (LA Angels Hall of Fame), born in New York City (d. 1994)
1967 – Mike Pringle, American Canadian Football Hall of Fame running back (CFL MOP 1995, 98; Montreal Alouettes), born in Los Angeles, California
1972 – Danielle Scott-Arruda, American volleyball middle blocker (International Volleyball HOF; Olympic silver 2008, 12), born in Baton Rouge Louisiana
1981 – Deborah James, British teacher, journalist, author (You, Me and the Big C), and charity campaigner, born in London, England (d. 2022)
1986 – Jurnee Smollett-Bell, American actress (Lovecraft Country), born in New York City
Famous Deaths
1500 – John Alcock, English bishop and chancellor (founded Jesus College, Cambridge), dies at about 70
1901 – Abdur Rahman Khan, Emir of Afghanistan (1880-1901)
1947 – Olive Borden, “the Joy Girl,” American silent film and stage actress (Chloe, Love Is Calling You; 3 Bad Men, Fig Leaves), dies of a stomach ailment and pneumonia at 40
1979 – Roy Harris, American composer (When Johnny Comes Marching Home: An American Overture), dies at 81
2019 – Karel Gott, Czech singer ‘Sinatra of the East’, dies at 80