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February 4th
0211 - Died this day, Lucius Septimius Severus, the Roman emperor responsible for making the empire's government a military monarchy. 0708 - Died this day, Sisinnius, Greek-Syrian pope 708 (20 days). 0856 - Died this day, Hrabanus Maurus, East France, archbishop of Mainz. 0900 - Louis III was crowned king of Germany. 1189 - Died this day, Gilbert of Sempringham, English monastery founder, saint. 1194 - Richard I Lion Hearted paid Leopold O. Fenrik VI's ransom of 100,000. (What currency?) 1222 - Died this day, Willem I, earl of Holland (1203-22). 1465 - Born this day, French van Brederode, leader of Hoeksen. 1503 - Died this day, Queen Elizabeth, consort of Henry VII of England. 1505 - Died this day, Johanna van Valois, Queen of France, saint, aged 40. 1508 - Maximilian I assumed the imperial title without being crowned. (Where?) 1549 - Born this day, Eustache du Caurroy, composer. 1553 - Died this day, Caspar Othmayr, composer, aged 37. 1575 - Born this day, Pierre de Berulle, at Srilly, near Troyes, French cardinal, statesman. He died 2 October 1629. 1581 - Born this day, Daniel Selich, composer. 1586 - Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, became land guardian of the Netherlands. 1590 - Died this day, Gioseffo Zarlino, composer, aged 73. 1600 - Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler met for first time outside of Prague. 1617 - Died this day, Louis Elsevier, publisher, aged about 76. 1640 - Died this day, Hendrick C. Devout, seascape painter. 1646 - Born this day, Hans A. Freiherr von Abschatz, poet. 1660 - Born this day, Andre Campra, composer. 1688 - Born this day, Pierre De Marivaux, in Paris, France, writer (Marianne). 1693 - Born this day, George Lillo, bourgeois English dramatist (London Merchant). 1698 - Born this day, Heinrich A. Fouque, Prussian general. 1746 - Born this day, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Polish-born American patriot (New York Bridge). 1746 - Died this day, Robert Blair, Scottish poet (Grave), aged 46. 1751 - Born this day, Blas de Laserna, composer. 1764 - Born this day, Carel H. Verhuell, Dutch-French vice-admiral, minister of Navy. 1767 - Born this day, Johann Franz Volkert, composer. 1768 - Born this day, Maurits C. van Hall, Minister of Heicop & Boeicop, lawyer, politician. 1769 - Born this day, Samuel I. Wiselius, lawyer, businessman, writer. 1781 - Died this day, Josef Myslivecek, composer, aged 43. 1783 - England officially proclaimed an end to hostilities in America. 1783 - The worst earthquake in 8 years killed some 50,000 in Calabria, Italy. 1787 - The first Anglican bishops of New York and Pennsylvania were consecrated in London. 1787 - Shays' Rebellion, an uprising of debt-ridden Massachusetts farmers led by Daniel Shays, ended with defeat at Petersham. 1789 - George Washington, the commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, was unanimously elected the first president of the United States by all 69 presidential electors who cast their votes. John Adams of Massachusetts, who received 34 votes, was elected vice president. 1794 - The French National Convention proclaimed the abolishment of slavery. 1797 - An earthquake in Quito, Ecuador killed 40,000. 1802 - Born this day, Mark Hopkins, physician, educator, philosopher (Williams College). 1805 - Born this day, Georg Andreas Henkel, composer. 1805 - Born this day, William H. Ainsworth, English writer (Old St Paul's, Rookwood). 1815 - Died this day, Geert Reinders, cattle breeder, aged 77. 1815 - Died this day, Jacob van Strij, cartoonist, graphic artist, aged 58. 1816 - Died this day, Meingosus Gaelle, composer, aged 64. 1819 - Born this day, Joshua Norton, in San Francisco, Norton I, self proclaimed emperor of USA. 1822 - Free American Blacks settled in Liberia, West Africa. 1824 - J.W. Goodrich introduced rubber galoshes to the public. 1826 - Born this day, Halbert Eleazer Paine, Bvt Major General (Union volunteers). Died in 1905. 1834 - Died this day, Amelie Julia Candielle, composer, aged 66. 1840 - Born this day, (Sir) Hiram Stevens Maxim, in Sangerville, Piscataquis County, Maine in the United States of America but emigrated to England, inventor, of the Maxim Gun in 1884, the first portable, fully automatic machine gun. Also experimented in powered flight. He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1901 for his inventions. Founded an armaments company to produce his machine gun in Crayford, Kent, later bought out by the Vickers corporation in 1896. Their updated version of the design, referred to as the Vickers gun, was the standard British machine gun for many years. Died 24 November 1916, in London, and is buried in West Norwood Cemetery. 1841 - Born this day, Clement Ader, French inventor (1st to fly a heavier-than-air craft). 1842 - Born this day, Georg Brandes [Morris Cohen], Danish literary-historian, critic. 1844 - Died this day, Willem the Clerq, merchant, aged 49. 1846 - Mormons left Nauvoo, Missouri for settlement in the west. 1847 - The first US telegraph company was established in Maryland. 1849 - Born this day, Jean Richepin, French poet, writer (Les Chansons de Gueux). 1849 - The University of Wisconsin began, in one room with 20 students. 1854 - Died this day, Carl Ludwig Cornelius Westenholz, composer, aged 66. 1854 - Alvan Bovay proposed the name 'Republican Party' in Ripon, Wisconsin. 1855 - Soldiers shot Jewish families in Coro, Venezuela. 1858 - H. Goldschmidt discovered asteroid #52 Europa. 1861 - At the first Confederate constitutional convention in Montgomery, Alabama, six states, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina, elected Jefferson Davis president of the Confederacy. 1861 - The 25-year period of conflict known as the Apache War began at Apache Pass, Arizona, with the arrest of Apache Chief Cochise for raiding a ranch. Cochise escaped his US Army captors and declared war. 1864 - A skirmish occured at Big Black River Bridge, Mississippi. 1865 - The Hawaiian Board of Education was formed. 1865 - Robert E. Lee was named commander-in-chief of the Confederate Army. 1866 - Mary Baker Eddy cured her injuries by opening a bible. 1869 - Died this day, Johan M. Dautzenberg, Flemish author, novelist (Future), aged 60. 1874 - The Battle of Kumasi ended the Ashanti War between Britain and Ghana. 1874 - Born this day, Robert Liefmann, German economist (Unternehmersverbunde). 1875 - Born this day, Ludwig Prandtl, Germany, physicist (father of aerodynamics). 1875 - Born this day, Raymond Moulaert, composer. 1875 - Princess Louise married Prince Philip von Saksen-Coburg-Gotha in Belgium. 1876 - Born this day, Victor Jean Leonard Vreuls, composer. 1881 - Born this day, Fernand Leger, in France, French cubist, ceramist, painter (City). 1881 - Born this day, Kliment J. Worosjilow, marshal, president USSR (1953-60). 1884 - Born this day, Julius Callewaert, Flemish dominican, bringing up children. 1885 - Born this day, Cairine Ray Wilson, in Montreal, first female Canadian senator (appointed). 1887 - The Interstate Commerce Act authorised federal regulation of railroads in the US. 1888 - A. Charlois discovered asteroid #272 Antonia. 1888 - Born this day, Paul Althaus, German theologist (That Christian Wahrheit). 1889 - Born this day, Walter Catlett, US actor (Front Page, Tale of 2 Cities). 1891 - Born this day, Yuri Losmann, in Estonia, marathon runner (Olympic-silver 1920). 1892 - Born this day, Yrl Henrik Kilpinen, Finnish composer. 1893 - Born this day, Bernard Rogers, in New York City, composer (Warrior, Marriage of Aude, Passion). 1893 - Born this day, Raymond Dart, Australian paleoanthropologist (Australopithecus). 1894 - Died this day, Antoine J. 'Adolfo' Sax, inventor of the saxophone. He was born 6 November 1814. His new instrument 'The Saxophone' was patented in 1840. Died aged 79. 1895 - Born this day, [Anna HM] Annie Romein-Verschoor, historian (Erflaters). 1895 - Born this day, [Johann] Hanns Rauter, German SS, Lieutenant General, SS police chief in Netherlands. 1895 - Died this day, Faustina Hasse Hodges, composer, aged 71. 1895 - The Van Buren Street Bridge opened in Chicago, Illinois. The first rolling lift bridge. 1896 - Died this day, Henry David Leslie, composer, aged 74. 1897 - Born this day, Ludwig Erhard, chancellor of Germany (CDU). 1899 - A revolt occured against US occupation of the Philippines. 1900 - Born this day, Jacques Prevert, in France, poet, screenwriter (Paroles). 1901 - Queen Victoria, the longest-reigning monarch in British history was laid to rest in the family mausoleum at Windsor, two weeks after her death on 22 January, aged 81. The Queen's last days were spent at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Her son and heir, the new King Edward VII, was at her deathbed. The Queen's body lay in state for ten days at Osborne before being carried to the mainland by the royal yacht Alberta. The funeral train then made its stately progress to London. By Victoria's own instruction the colour black was banned from her funeral, the hangings in London's streets were purple cashmere with white satin bows. An 81-gun salute was sounded - one for every year of her life - and a simple service was read before a small congregation. Queen Victoria, the Empress of India, ascended the throne in 1837 aged 18 and married Prince Albert from the German duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1840. Her reign lasted 63 years. In her lifetime Britain reaped the benefits of the Industrial Revolution, becoming the leading industrial nation of the world. At its height, the Empire over which 'the sun never sets' stretched across five continents, encompassing over a quarter of the world's population. 1901 - Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines opened in New York City, marking the first time that Ethel Barrymore received billing as a star. 1902 - Born this day, Captain Charles Lindburgh, in Detroit, Michigan, US pioneer aviator, 'Lucky Lindy'. The first to fly solo across the Atlantic. 1903 - Born this day, Berend van den Amstel [Bernard C.E.D. Hattink], actor (Beatrice). 1903 - Born this day, Edwin Denby, in Tientsin, China, US dance critic, poet (Snoring in N). 1903 - Montreal AAA beat Winn Victorias 2 games to 1 and 1 tie for the Stanley Cup. 1903 - Born this day, Frank Howley, in Hampton, New York, Brigadier General (Answers for Americans). 1903 - Born this day, Siro Cisilino, composer. 1904 - The Russo-Japanese War began when Japan laid siege to Port Arthur. 1904 - Born this day, Herman B. Wiardi Beckman, SDAP-politician, resistance fighter. 1904 - Born this day, MacKinlay Kantor, in Webster City, Iowa, novelist (Andersonville). 1904 - Born this day, Predrag Milosevic, composer. 1905 - Born this day, Eddie Foy Jr, in New Rochelle, New York, actor (Eddie-Fair Exchange). 1906 - Born this day, Clyde W. Tombaugh, US astronomer (discovered Pluto). 1906 - Born this day, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German theologist (Friend Kirche). 1906 - Born this day, Primo Carnera, Italian boxer (champ-1933). 1908 - J.H. Metcalf discovered asteroid #1345 Potomac. 1908 - Born this day, Gordon Fraser, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, newscaster (All Star News). 1909 - Born this day, Robert Coote, in London, actor (Timmy-Rogues, Theodore-Nero Wolfe). 1910 - Born this day, Alfred Mendelsohn, composer. 1910 - Born this day, Uys Krige, South African playwright, novelist (Orphan of the Desert). 1911 - Died this day, Peter A 'Piet' Cronje, South Africa Boer general, aged about 75. 1912 - Born this day, Byron Nelson, in Fort Worth, Texas, PGA golfer (won 19 tournaments in 1945). 1912 - Born this day, James Craig, actor (Devil & Daniel Webster, Cyclops). 1913 - Born this day, Woody Hayes [Wayne], college football coach (Ohio, 1968 coach of year). 1913 - Louis Perlman, of New York City, received a patent for his famous, demountable tyre-carrying rims - also called wheels. 1913 - Born this day, Rosa Lee Parks, civil rights activist. 1913 - The National Institute of Arts and Letters was founded in the US. 1914 - Born this day, Alfred Andersch, German writer (Red Head). 1914 - Born this day, Ida Lupino, in London, England, actress (Adventures of Sherlock Holmes). 1914 - US Congress approved the Burnett-anti-immigration law. 1915 - Born this day, William Talman, in Detroit, Michigan, actor (Hamilton-Perry Mason, Crashout, One Minute to Zero). 1915 - Experiments to find a cause of pellagra began at Mississippi Penitentiary. 1915 - Born this day, Sir Norman Wisdom, English actor and comedian, singer. Don't Laugh At Me. (Kraft Music Hall). 1916 - Born this day, David Vassall Cox, composer. 1917 - Born this day, Aga Yahya Khan, Pakistan military, politician. 1917 - The Belgium Council of Flanders was established. 1919 - The City of Bremen Soviet Republics was overthrown. 1919 - Born this day, Frank van Klingeren, architect (Mooring Post, Dronten). 1920 - The first flight from London to South Africa took-off. 1921 - Died this day, Xavier Mellery, Belgian painter, illustrator, aged 75. 1921 - Born this day, Betty Friedan, in Peoria, Illinois, feminist writer (Feminine Mystique). 1922 - WGY-AM in Schenectady, New York began radio transmissions. 1923 - Born this day, Conrad Bain, in Alberta, Canada, actor (Maude, Diff'rent Strokes). 1924 - Mahatma Gandhi was released after spending two years in jail in Bombay. 1924 - The first Winter Olympic games closed at Chamonix, France. 1924 - B. Jekhovsky discovered asteroid #1017 Jacqueline. 1926 - Austrian chancellor Seipel said he wanted to join with Germany. 1926 - John Giola, of New York City, became famous as the Charleston endurance dance champion. With the new dance craze sweeping America, Giola decided to make good on it by dancing, non-stop, for 22 hours and 30 minutes. 1927 - British driver Malcolm Campbell broke the world land speed record in his car Bluebird, driving at 174.224 miles per hour. 1927 - Died this day, Thomas Linnemann Laub, composer, aged 74. 1927 - KGA-AM in Spokane, Washington began radio transmissions. 1928 - Born this day, Dave Ketchum, in Quincy, Illinois, actor (Agent 13-Get Smart). 1928 - Died this day, Hendrik A. Lorentz, physicist: L transformation, Nobel 1902. 1929 - The first area of Green Belt was approved, five miles of land near Hendon, Middlesex. 1929 - E. Delporte discoverd asteroid #1664 Felix. 1930 - The first tieless, soundless, shockless streetcar tracks, were laid in New Orleans. 1931 - Born this day, Isabel Peron [Maria Martinez], dancer, president of Argentina. 1931 - National League adopted a deader baseball. 1932 - E. Delporte discovered asteroid #1239 Queteleta. 1932 - Japanese troops attacked Harbin, Manchuria. 1932 - L. Volta discovered asteroid #1238 Predappia. 1932 - Born this day, Ivan Davis, in Electra, Texas, pianist. 1932 - The first Winter Olympics held in the United States, the 3rd Winter Olympic games, opened at Lake Placid, New York. The venue would again be the home of the Winter Olympics in 1980, when the US Hockey Team won its 'Do you believe in miracles?' gold medal. 1933 - The crew of 7 Provinces mutinied after pay cuts (ended 10 February). 1934 - Reinmuth discovered asteroids #2824 Franke, #3219 Komaki, #3370 Kohsai and #3404. 1934 - Born this day, Jouko Sakari Linjama, composer. 1935 - Born this day, Martti Talvela, in Hiitola Karelia, Finland, operatic basso. 1935 - CBS radio presented Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch for the first time. The program was the story of Kentucky shantytown life. 1936 - The first radioactive substance produced synthetically (radium E). 1936 - Born this day, Daan van Golden, sculptor. 1936 - Born this day, Gary Conway, in Boston, Massachusetts, actor (Burke's Law, Land of the Giants). 1937 - Born this day, Collin Wilcox, in Highlands, North Carolina, actor (To Kill a Mocking Bird). 1937 - Jim Margie, Philadelphia, bowled 900 in 3 (unsanctioned) games. 1937 - Born this day, John Devitt, in Australia, 100 metre freestyle swimmer (Olympic-gold-1960). 1937 - Born this day, Magnar Solberg, in Norway, 20K biathalete (Olympic-gold-1968, 1972). 1937 - Glen Gray and his Casa Loma Orchestra recorded A Study in Brown, on Decca Records. 1938 - Adolf Hitler became Germany's war minister and Joachim von Ribbentrop took over foreign affairs. Hitler seized control of the German army and put Nazi officers in key posts as part of a plan that led to World War II (WWII). 1938 - The play, Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, opened in New York City at the Henry Miller Theatre. The play was a Pulitzer prize-winner for the writer. 1938 - Born this day, Donald W. Riegle Jr, (Senator-D-Michigan, 1976-). 1939 - Born this day, Jacques Charlier, Belgian sculptor. 1939 - Born this day, Stan Lundine, (Representative-D-New York, 1976-86). 1939 - World mile record-holder, Glenn Cunningham, said in the newspaper that 'running a four-minute mile is beyond human effort', and that the best mile run will always be 4:01.66. The mark has been shattered several times since. Jim Ryun did it on at least a couple of occasions; and more recently a time of 3:44:39 by Noureddine Morceli from Algeria. 1939 - Died this day, Edward Sapir, US linguist, cultural antropologist (indian). 1939 - Died this day, Henri W.A. Deterding, oil magnate (Royal Oil, Shell). 1940 - Born this day, John Schuck, in Boston, Massachusetts, comedian (McMillan & Wife, Holmes & Yoyo). 1941 - Died this day, Johann Peter Kirsch, Luxembourg church historian, aged 79. 1941 - The United Service Organization (USO) was founded to provide support worldwide for United States service people and their families. 1941 - Born this day, John Steel, drums, The Animals, 1964 UK and US No.1 single House Of The Rising Sun. 1941 - A British Panzer division occupied Maus, Libya. 1941 - Dutch premier De Geer flew to Berlin. 1942 - Clinton Pierce became the first US general wounded in action in World War II (WWII). 1943 - Died this day, Frank Calder, first NHL president. 1943 - Born this day, Cheryl Miller, in Sherman Oaks, California, actress (Paula-Daktari, Born Free). 1944 - The US 7th Infantry Division captured Kwajalein. 1944 - Born this day, Daniel A. Mica, (Representative-D-Florida, 1979-). 1944 - Born this day, Florence LaRue [Gordon], in Pennsylvania, The 5th Dimension, 1969 US No.1 and UK No.11 single Aquarius. 1945 - Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin met at Yalta in the Crimea to discuss plans for the defeat of the Axis powers and to decide on the post-war future. 1945 - Born this day, David Brenner, in Philadelphia, comedian, TV talk show host. 1946 - Born this day, Mary Meyer, 500 metre speed skater, won a silver medal at the 1968 Winter Olympics. 1947 - Born this day, Dan Quale, US politician, US Vice-president (1989-1992). 1947 - Born this day, Sanford Bishop, (Representative-D-Georgia). 1948 - Born this day, Alice Cooper [Vincent Furnier], in Detroit, Michigan, US rock singer, singer, Earwigs, Alice Cooper Band, 1972 UK No.1 single School's Out. 1948 - Ceylon became a self-governing independent state within the British Commonwealth. It later changed its name to Sri Lanka. 1948 - Born this day, Robert Coover, novelist (Pricksongs & Descants). 1948 - Born this day, Rod Grams, (Representative-R-Minnesota). 1949 - A failed assassination attempt was made on the life on the Shah of Persia. 1949 - Born this day, Michael Beck, in Memphis, Tennessee, actor (Hans Helms-Holocaust). 1950 - Born this day, Pamela Franklin, in Tokyo, Japan, actress (Satan's School for Girls). 1950 - Born this day, James Dunn, vocals, The Stylistics, 1975 UK No.1 single Can't Give You Anything But My Love, plus 15 other UK top 40 singles. 1951 - Born this day, Phil Ehart, Kansas, 1978 US No.3 single Dust In The Wind, UK No.59 single Carry On Wayward Son. 1952 - Born this day, Lisa Eichhorn, actress. 1952 - Born this day, Jerry Shirley, drums, Humble Pie, 1969 UK No.4 single Natural Born Bugie. 1952 - Jackie Robinson became the first black executive of a major TV station (WNBC New York). 1952 - Born this day, Jenny Shipley, former New Zealand Prime Minister. 1952 - Born this day, Lisa Eichhorn, in Reading, Pennsylvania, actress (Cutter's Way, Yanks). 1953 - Born this day, Svetlana Ulmasova, in USSR, 3K (world title 1978). 1953 - Sweet rationing came to an end in Britain. 1953 - Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis appeared in the film, The Stooge, which premiered at the Paramount Theatre in New York City. The comedy duo went dramatic in this film - which had been sitting on the shelves of the Hal Wallis Studios until that time. 1953 - Died this day, Alexander Loudon, diplomat (League of Nations), aged 60. 1954 - The Drifters recorded White Christmas. 1954 - Died this day, Vaclav Vackar, composer, aged 72. 1956 - Died this day, Leendert A. Dark, Dutch social demograt party-minister of Justice, aged 56. 1956 - Died this day, Peder Gram, composer, aged 74. 1957 - Died this day, Joseph Hardaway, creator of Bugs Bunny, aged 66. 1957 - Died this day, Miguel Covarrubias, Mexican illustrator. 1957 - Smith-Corona Manufacturing Incorporated, of Syracuse, New York, began selling portable electric typewriters. The first machine was a ‘portable’ of 19 pounds! Soon, other manufacturers offered similar models - made of lighter weight plastics, with a lot less of the sophisticated workings inside. 1958 - Died this day, Frederik de Merode, Belgian prince, aged 46. 1958 - Born this day, Mary Ann Pascal, actress (Samantha-Brothers). 1959 - Born this day, Lawrence Taylor [LT], NFL's greatest line backer (New York Giants). 1959 - Born this day, Zenani Mandela, daughter of Nelson and Winnie Mandela. 1959 - Died this day, Una O'Connor, actress (Banjo, Invisible Man), aged 78. 1959 - Frankie Avalon and Jimmy Clanton took over headlining the 'Winter Dance Party' after Buddy Holly's death. 1960 - Born this day, Tim Booth, vocals, James, 1991 UK No.2 single Sit Down. 1960 - Born this day, Pamelyn Ferdin, actress (Happy Birthday Wanda June, Tool Box Murders). 1961 - Born this day, Vern Fleming, in New York, basketball player (Olympic-gold-1984). 1961 - Johnny Burnette underwent an emergency apendectomy in Hollywood. 1961 - Sputnik 7 was launched into Earth orbit. 1962 - Nedelya, a supplement of the Soviet newspaper Izvestia, claimed that, “...baseball is an old Russian game.” 1962 - The first colour supplement was published by The Sunday Times with features on pop art. 1962 - Born this day, Clint Black, in Long Branch, New Jersey, country singer (A Better Man). 1962 - Francisco Orlich Bolmarich was elected president of Costa Rica. 1963 - Born this day, Wasserman, guitar, The Offspring, 1999 UK No.1 single Pretty Fly, (For A White Guy). 1963 - Born this day, Pirmin Zurbriggen, Swiss alpine skier (Olympic-gold-1988). 1963 - Born this day, Tracie Ruiz, synchronised swimmer (Olympic-gold-1984). 1964 - US weekly publication Newsweek was the first American magazine to carry a cover story on the Beatles. 1964 - On 4 February 1964, the federal government put an end to one of America's more shameful bits of legislation by authorising the Twenty-fourth Amendment, which effectively outlawed the poll tax. The tax stemmed back to the 1880s, when members of the burgeoning Populist party began to build a potentially potent coalition of African American and lower class white voters in the South. Across the region, planters, merchants, and industrialists moved to preserve their power and pushed for the passage of a deliberately prohibitive poll tax. The legislation, adopted by a host of Southern states, proved all too effective, as scores of African-Americans, as well as the 'poorer sort' of whites, simply could not afford to pay the tax and thus lost the right to vote. However, thanks in large part to the efforts of Senator Spessard L. Holland of Florida, the once recalcitrant Congress slowly came around to the cause of outlawing the tax and passed the Twenty-fourth Amendment. On 23 January 1964, the amended was ratified by the South Dakota legislature, giving it the three-fourths majority necessary to make it the law of the land. 1964 - The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) began a 6 month test of reactions to sonic booms over Oklahoma City. 1965 - The Righteous Brothers had their first UK No.1 single with You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling. It was also a US No.1 at the same time. 1965 - Died this day, U C Greyhound, champion trotter (horse), aged 33. 1966 - Died this day, Gilbert H. Grosvenor, president National Geographic Society, aged 90. 1966 - Born this day, Marissa Laakso, in Boston, Massachusetts, Miss Massachusetts-America 1991. 1966 - Born this day, Spike, rock musician. 1966 - An All Nippon Airways Boeing 727 jet aircraft crashed in Tokyo Bay, killing 133 passengers and crew. 1967 - The US launched Lunar Orbiter 3. 1967 - The Monkees self titled debut album started a seven week run at No.1 on the UK chart. 1968 - The world's largest hovercraft was launched at Cowes, Isle of Wight. It weighed 165 tonnes. 1968 - BBC Radio Nottingham broadcast the first phone-in programme in Britain. 1968 - Born this day, Steve Queralt, Ride, 1992 UK No.9 single Leave Them All Behind. 1968 - Died this day, Eddie Baker, actor (Elmer & Elsie), aged 70. 1968 - Died this day, Gerard de Brabander [John G. Jofriet), poet (Nothing New), aged 67. 1969 - Died this day, Thelma Ritter, actress (All About Eve, Pillow Talk), aged 63. 1969 - Bowie Kuhn took office as Commissioner of Baseball. He served only a six-month term, succeeding General William Eckert. 1969 - 41,163, then the largest NBA crowd, watched a doubleheader Cincinatti-Detroit, San Diego-Boston. 1969 - John Madden was named head coach of NFL's Oakland Raiders. 1969 - 'Carl Perkins Day' was celebrated in Jackson, Mississippi. 1970 - Born this day, Gabrielle Anwar, actress. 1970 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono donated their hair for an auction in aid of the Black Power movement. 1970 - Born this day, Nicole Wood, in Canton, Ohio, playmate for April 1993. 1971 - In Belo Horizonte, Brazil, a government exhibit under construction collapsed on 200 workers, killing more than 65. 1971 - Diana Ross guested on Danny Thomas' Make Room For Granddaddy TV show. 1971 - Rolls-Royce, the symbol of British engineering excellence collapsed into the hands of the receiver. The government said it would nationalise the aero-engine division, but sell off the luxury car side to private enterprise. The company was brought down by a contract to make RB211 jet engines for Lockheed. 1971 - Apollo 14 lander Antares landed on the Moon with Shepard & Mitchell on board. 1971 - Baseball announced a special hall of fame wing for blacks. 1971 - The National Guard was mobilised to quell rioting in Wilmington, North Carolina. 1972 - Zambian President Kenneth Kuanda banned the opposition United Progressive Party and arrested its leader, Simon Kapepwe, together with more than 120 members. 1972 - Born this day, Bobby Goulding, rugby league player. 1972 - Senator Strom Thurmond suggested John Lennon should be deported. 1973 - The Reshef - Israel's missile boat - was unveiled. 1973 - The Islanders and Sabres had a penalty free game. 1973 - Born this day, Oscar De La Hoya, in Los Angeles, California, US boxer (Olympic-gold-1992). 1974 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono temporarily separated. 1974 - 19-year-old Patricia Hearst, the grand-daughter of the late William Randolph Hearst, was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army, from her apartment in Berkeley, California. She later joined them in an armed robbery. 1974 - Grenada achieved independence within the British Commonwealth. 1974 - Died this day, Mihail Andricu, composer, aged 79. 1974 - Benzine rationing ended in Netherlands. 1974 - Chimpanzee Nim Chimsky signed his first word, at 2 months. 1975 - Born this day, Natalie Imbruglia, singer, 1997 UK No.2 single Torn. 1976 - The 12th Winter Olympic games opened in Innsbruck, Austria. 1976 - Died this day, Edward Benjamin Britten, composer, aged 62. 1976 - Lourenco Marques, the capital of Mozambique, was renamed Maputo. 1976 - An earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale and resulting mudslides caused the deaths of 23,000 people just north of Guatemala City; 1.5 million people were made homeless. 1978 - The elevated train jumped the track, and crashed onto Chicago St. 11 died, were 200 hurt. 1977 - Wings released Maybe I'm Amazed. 1978 - Junius Jayawardene was sworn in as Sri Lanka's first president. 1978 - Abba started a 7 week run at No.1 on the UK chart with The Album, their third No.1 LP. 1978 - Appearing at the Oasis, Swindon, were Talking Heads plus special guests Dire Straits. 1978 - The Bee Gees started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Staying Alive. From the film soundtrack Saturday Night Fever, it gave the brothers their 5th US No.1, and was also No.1 in the UK. 1978 - Died this day, Bergen Evans, English professor ($64,000 Question), aged 73. 1978 - Up Town Ranking by Althia and Donna was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. It was the Jamaican duo's only hit. 1980 - Abolhassan Bani-Sadr was installed as president of Iran. 1982 - The indoor distance record for a paper airplane was set at 47 metres in Tacoma, Washington. 1982 - Suriname premier Chin A. Sen fled the country. 1982 - Great Britain's Laker Airways, a pioneer of cheap transatlantic air fares, collapsed. 1982 - Died this day, Alex Harvey, Scottish singer, of a heart attack in Zeebrugen, Belgium. 1982 - Died this day, Sue Carol, actress (She's My Weakness), aged 73 of a heart attack. 1983 - A. Mrkos discovered asteroid #3324. 1983 - Jose Happart became mayor of Lead, Belgium. 1983 - Died this day, Jim Ameche, actor (Festival of Stars), aged 68. 1983 - Died this day, Reginald Denham, director, writer (Death at BC House), aged 89. 1983 - Died this day, Karen Carpenter, singer, from heart failure due to anorexia nervosa at the age of 33, at her parents' home in Downey, California. The singer, who had performed with her brother, Richard, would be best-remembered for her songs (They Long to Be) Close to You and We've Only Just Begun, which dominated the songs of choice for weddings throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The untimely death of the young, velvet-throated Grammy Award winner saddened and shocked the world. Her death shed new light on the devastating consequences of anorexia, an eating disorder brought on by compulsive dieting. At one low point in Carpenter's career, she was forced to cancel a command performance before Queen Elizabeth II of England, and a concert tour of Europe and the Orient, due to the illness. Standing five feet, four inches, she had dieted down to 90 pounds. 1983 - The Smiths appeared at The Hacienda, Manchester, England. 1984 - Culture Club started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Karma Chameleon, the groups 5th US top 10 hit. It was also a No.1 in the UK. 1984 - Eurythmics scored their first UK No.1 album with their second release Touch, featuring the singles Here Comes The Rain Again, Who's That Girl and Right By Your Side. 1984 - Backstage Magic opened at CommuniCore. 1984 - Frank Aquilera set a world frisbee distance record on 168 metres in Las Vegas. 1985 - 20 countries (but not US) signed a UN treaty outlawing torture. 1985 - Naval exercises were canceled when the US refused to tell New Zealand of nuclear weapons. 1986 - Israeli fighters intercepted a Libyan ship. 1987 - The Sacramento Kings scored only 4 points in the first quarter against the Lakers; the fewest in a period since the introduction of the 24 second shot-clock in 1954. 1987 - American yachtsmen Dennis Conner, Tom Whidden and Peter Isler won the America’s Cup from Australia with Stars and Stripes ’87. (Australia's Kookaburra 3). 1987 - Died this day, flamboyant pianist Liberace, at the age of 67 in his block-long palace in Palms Springs, California, officially of a brain disease. At one time, the entertainer was the highest-paid performer in Las Vegas. 1989 - Sheriff went to No.1 on the US singles chart with When I'm With You. It was not a hit in the UK. 1990 - Nine Israeli tourists and two Egyptian guards were killed when masked assailants opened fire on a bus en route to Cairo. 1990 - Danny Everett ran a world record 400 metres indoor in 45:04 seconds. 1990 - Lyudmila Narozhi-Lenko ran a world record 60 metres hurdles indoor in 7.69 seconds. 1991 - US postage was raised from 25 cents to 29 cents. 1991 - Iran offered to mediate an end to the Persian Gulf War. 1991 - Died this day, Bob Leslie, actor. 1991 - Cher At The Mirage aired on CBS-TV. 1992 - Died this day, Fred Slyter, actor. 1992 - Died this day, John Dehner, actor (Apache, Cowboy, Boys from Brazil), aged 76. 1992 - US Congress passed a jobless benefits extension bill. 1992 - Loyal troops put down an attempted coup against President Carlos Andres Perez in Venezuela. 1992 - Appearing at The Borderline in London, were Pearl Jam, tickets were £5. 1993 - US Congress approved legislation giving employees unpaid leave in the event of a birth or a medical emergency in their family. President Clinton signed it into law the next day. 1993 - The US Centers for Disease Control expanded its investigation into contaminated hamburger meat that sickened hundreds of people in four Western US states. (State names?) 1993 - The Russian space agency tested an 82 inch wide space mirror. 1994 - 20 died in an armed assault on a mosque in Khartoum, Sudan. 1994 - Merlene Ottey ran a world record 50 metres indoor in 6.00 seconds. 1994 - A Russian team improved the ladies world record 4x800 metres indoor. Setting it at 8 minutes 18.71 seconds. 1994 - Mortar bombs killed nine people in a food line in Serb-besieged Sarajevo. 1994 - Died this day, Han Jansen, painter, aged 62. 1994 - Died this day, Harold Schneider, US producer (5 Easy Pieces, War Games), aged 55. 1994 - Polish Finance Minister Marek Borowski resigned after clashing with Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak. 1994 - Died this day, John Veldkamp, geophysicist, director (KNMI), aged 84. 1994 - Died this day, Justinus Darmojuwono, Indonesian archbishop, cardinal, aged 79. 1995 - Celine Dion started a seven week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Think Twice. The song peaked at No.95 on the US chart. 1996 - Rob Pilatus of the defunct pop duo Milli Vanilli was arrested in Los Angeles after witnesses said he tried to break into a car and force his way into a house. He was charged with eight criminal counts accusing him of attacking two people. Pilatus, age 31, was also accused in a 21 December 1995 incident of hitting a man with a lamp during a dispute. 1996 - NBC aired the first of two parts of the mini-series Gulliver's Travels, starring Ted Danson as the title character. The venture, with its huge financial investment, had the potential for being a giant flop, but it was a gamble that paid off. The show was NBC's highest-rated miniseries in four years, and most critics praised its faithfulness to the Jonathan Swift tale. 1996 - A Colombian cargo plane crashed into homes near the Paraguayan capital Asuncion, killing at least 22 people. 1997 - 73 Israeli soldiers were killed when two military helicopters collided in midair in a storm in northern Israel. 1997 - 16 months after O. J. Simpson was cleared of murder charges, a civil trial jury in Santa Monica, California, blamed him for the killings of his ex-wife and her friend and ordered him to pay $8.5 million in compensatory damages. (Another source says $33.5 millions). 1999 - Died this day, Gwen Guthrie, soul singer, of cancer, she had worked with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and written songs for Sister Sledge and Roberta Flack. 1999 - An unarmed African immigrant was shot to death by four New York City officers searching for a rape suspect. The four officers later were charged with second-degree murder. 2000 - Bjorn Ulvaeus confirmed that the members of Abba had turned down a $1 billion offer by an American and British consortium to reform the group. 2000 - Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams accused Britain of undermining efforts to resolve the arms crisis with the IRA after direct rule was reimposed. 2000 - Canadian teacher Amy Gehring, 26, was cleared of having sex with two teenage pupils by a jury at Guildford Crown Court. 2001 - Atomic Kitten started a four week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Whole Again, the groups first UK chart topper. 2002 - President Bush submitted a $2.13 trillion budget for the 2003 fiscal year to Congress, including a 14 percent or $48 billion increase in defense spending. 2003 - Tony Blair's plans to reform the House of Lords were left in disarray after MPs rejected all options offered. |
Trivia
Trivia - petty details or considerations, matters or things that are very unimportant, inconsequential, or nonessential; trifles; trivialities.
Trivial - of very little importance or value; insignificant: "Don't bother me with trivial matters." Trivially - unimportant, nugatory, slight, immaterial, inconsequential, frivolous, trifling.