Historical Events
1877 – Thomas Edison demonstrates his phonograph (gramophone) to the editors of “Scientific American”
1949 – Chiang Kai-shek flees to Taiwan
1953 – Israel’s PM Ben-Gurion retires
1954 – Japanese government of Joshida resigns
1956 – Australian swimmer Murray Rose claims his 3rd gold medal at the Melbourne Olympics when he wins the 1,500m in 17:58.9; also wins 400m and 4 x 200m relay
1982 – In Texas, Charles Brooks, Jr. becomes the first person to be executed by lethal injection in the US.
Famous Birthdays
1545 – Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, King consort of Mary I of Scotland, born in Temple Newsam, Yorkshire, England (d. 1567)
1604 – Ambrosius Reiner, German composer, born in Altdorf, Weingarten, Württemberg (d. 1672)
1754 – Jack Jouett, American politician and patriot (warn Thomas Jefferson of British attack), born in Albemarle County, Virginia (d. 1822)
1948 – Gary Morris, country singer/actor (Colbys), born in Fort Worth, Texas
1972 – Hermann Maier, Austrian skier
1979 – Jennifer Carpenter, American actress
Famous Deaths
1899 – Antoni de Kontski, Polish pianist and composer, dies at 82
1947 – Tristan Bernard, French playwright and novelist, dies at 81
1947 – Nicholas Murray Butler, American philosopher, diplomat (Nobel Peace Prize 1931), educator (Columbia University President), dies at 85
1979 – Prince Chahryar Shafik, Shah of Iran’s nephew, murdered in Paris
1985 – Robert Graves, English writer and poet (King Jesus), dies at 90
1993 – Félix Houphouet-Boigny, President of Ivory Coast (1960-93), dies at 88