Historical Events
1812 – Upon learning of plans by the Americans to execute a surprise attack, Laura Secord walks 32 km to warn British troops, results in a British surprise victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams
1936 – Virgin Islands receives a constitution from US (Organic Act)
1959 – Vanguard SLV-6 launched for Earth orbit (fails)
1977 – Walt Disney’s animated film “The Rescuers” is released, first Disney film to get a sequel
2002 – WLAF World Bowl 10, Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf: Berlin Thunder beats Rhein Fire, 26-20
Famous Birthdays
1888 – Harold Burton, American politician (Rep (R) Ohio 1941-45), U.S. Supreme Court justice, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1964)
1937 – Bernie McGann, Australian jazz alto saxophone player and composer, born in Granville, Australia (d. 2013)
1939 – Don Matthews, American CFL HOF coach (Grey Cup 1985 BC Lions, 1995 Baltimore Stallions, 1996-97 Toronto Argonauts, 2002 Montreal Alouettes), born in Amesbury, Massachusetts (d. 2017)
1944 – Michael Obst, German coxsman (Olympic gold 1960), born in German FR
1952 – Graham Greene, First Nations actor (Dances with Wolves; The Green Mile; Leonard on “Northern Exposure”), born in Ohsweken, Six Nations Reserve, Ontario (d. 2025)
Famous Deaths
1535 – John Fisher, English Catholic clergyman (Bishop of Rochester, 1504-35; Cardinal, 1535), martyr, and saint, executed and beheaded by order of Henry VIII at about 65
1984 – (Dillwyn) “Dill” Jones, Welsh jazz stride pianist, dies of throat cancer at 60
1992 – Chuck Mitchell, American actor (General Hospital, Porky’s, Better Off Dead), dies at 64
2015 – James Horner, American Academy Award-winning film composer (Titanic; Apollo 13; Avatar), dies in a plane crash at 61
2017 – Hervé Filion, Canadian harness racing driver (World Driving C’ship 1970; Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year 1969-74, 76, 78, 81, 89), dies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 77