Historical Events
1942 – American sailor Charles J. French (22) swims for over six hours in waters near Guadalcanal while towing a life raft with fifteen survivors from his US Navy ship, which is sunk by Japanese gunfire
1973 – Limited-run revival of Sigmund Romberg, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Frank Mandel’s musical “The Desert Song” opens at Uris Theater, NYC, for 15 performances
1982 – US Men’s Amateur Golf Championship, The Country Club: Jay Sigel wins 8 and 7 over David Tolley
1994 – Jingyi Le swims a world record in the 100 m women’s freestyle in 54.01 seconds
2018 – UK Prime Minister Theresa May confirms in Parliament that two Russian military intelligence officers undertake a Novichok nerve agent attack, prompting international condemnation
Famous Birthdays
1876 – Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, German field marshal, born in Landsberg am Lech, Germany (d. 1956)
1946 – Freddie Mercury [Farrokh Bulsara], British singer-songwriter (Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”), born in Stone Town, Sultanate of Zanzibar (d. 1991)
1946 – Dennis Dugan, American actor and director (Can’t Buy Me Love, Howling), born in Wheaton, Illinois
1951 – Paul Breitner, German footballer, born in Kolbermoor, Germany
1971 – Carlester Crumpler, American NFL tight end (Seattle Seahawks), born in Greenville, North Carolina
Famous Deaths
1890 – Ludwig Deppe, German composer, dies at 61
1931 – John Thomson, football player who died in an accidental collision during a match (b. 1909)
1939 – Cornelis J “Cor” van Ast, Dutch actor and director (Ghost Hotel, Two Boys), dies at 67
1965 – Thomas Johnston, Scottish-born politician (b. 1882)
2016 – Duane Graveline, American doctor and astronaut, dies at 85