Historical Events
802 – Empress Irene of Byzantium driven out
1756 – Giacomo Casanova escapes from prison in Venice by climbing onto the roof
1863 – The Maori Wars resumed as British forces in New Zealand led by General Duncan Cameron began their Invasion of the Waikato
1932 – Greek government of Venizelos falls
1953 – TV broadcasting begins in Belgium
1982 – “Rock ‘n Roll!: The 1st…” closes at St James NYC after 9 performances
Famous Birthdays
1291 – Philippe de Vitry, French composer and poet, born in Paris (d. 1361)
1941 – Derek Bell, British racing driver, born in Pinner, Middlesex, England
1941 – Lucas Brown Jackson, American basketball player (Olympic gold 1964), born in San Marcos, Texas
1957 – Robert Pollard, American rocker (Guided by Voices), born in Dayton, Ohio
1970 – Craig Kelly, English actor (Queer as Folk, Coronation Street), born in Lytham St Annes, England
1994 – Spencer Achtymichuk, Canadian actor (The Final Cut)
Famous Deaths
1977 – Joan Tetzel, American actress (Hell Below Zero, Joy in the Morning), dies of cancer at 56
1994 – John Wyndham Pope-Hennessy, English art historian and director of British Museum (1974-76), dies at 80
2005 – John “Beatz” Holohan, American drummer (Bayside), dies in an auto accident at 31
2009 – Tom Wheatcroft, English businessman and car collector (Donington Grand Prix Collection ), dies at 87
2012 – Brian Cobby, British actor (Evita, The Nudist Story) and the first male voice of the British speaking clock, dies from health complications at 83
2018 – Willie McCovey, American Baseball Hall of Fame 1st baseman (6 x MLB All Star; NL MVP 1969; NL home run leader 1963, 68, 69; SF Giants), dies of an infection at 80