|
February 6th
0337 - St Julius I began his reign as Catholic Pope. 0743 - Died this day, Hisham ibn 'Abd al-Malik, 10th Moslem caliph, aged about 52. 0891 - Died this day, Photius, Byzantine theologist, patriarch of Constantinople, saint. 1140 - Died this day, Thurstan, archbishop of York. 1461 - Born this day, Dzore Drzic, Croatian poet. 1497 - Died this day, John Ockeghem, Flemish singer, composer, aged 79. 1508 - Maximilian I became emperor of the Roman Empire. 1564 - Born this day, Christopher Marlowe, English poet, dramatist (Dr Faustus). 1608 - Born this day, Antonio Vieira, Portuguese Jesuit preacher. 1612 - Born this day, Antoine Arnauld [Grand Arnauld], French lawyer, theologist. 1612 - Died this day, Christopher Clavius, calendar reformer, (birth date unknown). 1626 - Huguenot rebels and French signed the Peace of La Rochelle. 1637 - Born this day, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, unified Japan. 1659 - On this date, the first known cheque was drawn. (Who by and for how much?) 1665 - Born this day, Queen Anne, the last Stuart ruler (1702-14) and second daughter of James II, was born in London. 1673 - Born this day, Maximilian Dietrich Freisslich, composer. 1685 - Died this day, Charles II, king of Great Britain and Ireland. His last words to his brother James were: 'Don't let poor Nellie starve' - referring to his favourite mistress Nell Gwynne. James II acceded to the throne. 1693 - A Royal charter was granted to the College of William and Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia. 1695 - Died this day, Ahmed II, 21st sultan of Turkey (1691-95). 1665 - Born this day, Andre Cheron, composer. 1699 - Died this day, Jozef Ferdinand van Bavarian, heir of Spanish king Carlos II. 1705 - Born this day, Johann Matthias Leffloth, composer. 1724 - Born this day, Paul-Louis Cyffle, Flemish sculptor (Terre de Lorraine). 1725 - Died this day, Johann Philipp Krieger, composer, aged 75. 1756 - Born this day, Aaron Burr, in Newark, New Jersey, US statesman, third US Vice President (1801-05). 1778 - Born this day, Ugo Foscolo, in Italy, writer (Last Letters of Jacopo Ortis). 1778 - After recognising America, France and America signed the Treaty of Commerce and Friendship in Paris, the first US treaty. 1783 - Died this day, [Lancelot] Capability Brown, English architect (Kew), aged about 67. 1785 - Died this day, Iman Willem Falck, Dutch governor of Ceylon (1765-83), aged 48. 1788 - Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the Constitution. 1793 - Died this day, Carlo Goldoni, Italian author (L'avaro), aged 85. 1793 - Born this day, Pietro Rovelli, composer. 1798 - Died this day, Niels Schiorring, composer, aged 55. 1798 - Born this day, Theodore Caruelle d'Aligny, French painter, etcher. 1804 - Died this day, Joseph Priestley, English theologist, philosopher, chemist, aged 70. 1804 - Born this day, Ragnerus L. van Andringa de Kempenaer, officer, swindler. 1807 - Died this day, John Reid, composer, aged 85. 1807 - Born this day, Hans Matthison-Hansen, composer. 1811 - The Prince of Wales became Prince Regent on the established insanity of George III. 1815 - New Jersey issued the first US railroad charter. 1818 - Born this day, William Maxwell Evarts, (Union). Died in 1901. 1819 - Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles founded a free harbour in Singapore. 1820 - The first organised emigration of blacks back to Africa took place when 86 free black colonists sailed from New York City to Sierra Leone, Africa. 1820 - The US population was announced at 9,638,453, with 1,771,656 blacks. Or 18.4% of the population. 1830 - Born this day, Marcellus Monroe Crocker, Brigadier General (Union volunteers). Died in 1865. 1832 - Born this day, John Brown Gordon, Major General (Confederate Army). Died in 1904. 1832 - The first appearance of cholera was noted in Edinburgh, Scotland. 1832 - A US ship destroyed a Sumatran village in retaliation for piracy. 1833 - Born this day, James Ewell Brown Stuart [JEB], Major General (Confederate Army). 1833 - Born this day, José María de Pereda y Sanchez de Pourrúa (Santander), Spanish writer (Sotileza). Died 1 March 1906. 1834 - Born this day, William Dorsey Pender, Major General (Confederate Army). Died in 1863. 1836 - HMS Beagle with Charles Darwin aboard reached Diemen's Country in Tasmania. 1838 - During the Boers Great Trek, Boer leader Piet Retief was murdered by the Zulu king Dingane's warriors. 1838 - Born this day, Henry Irving [John H. Brodribb], in England, knighted 1895, actor (Hamlet). 1840 - The Treaty of Waitangi was signed under which New Zealand's Maori population accepted Queen Victoria's sovereignty in their lands. 1843 - The first minstrel show in America, The Virginia Minstrels, opened at the Bowery Amphitheatre in New York City. 1848 - Born this day, Luigi Mancinelli, composer. 1854 - Composer R. Schumann was saved from a suicide attempt into the Rhine. 1859 - Died this day, Johannes Josephus Viotta, composer, aged 45. 1860 - Born this day, [Eliza J] Johan de Meester, journalist, writer (Geertje). 1861 - The first meeting of the Provisional Congress of Confederate States of America was held. 1861 - English Admiral Robert Ritzroy issued the first storm warnings for ships. 1862 - General Grant initiated a campaign in Mississippi Valley. 1862 - A Naval engagement took place at Tennessee River between the USS Conestago and the CSS Appleton Belle. 1864 - A skirmish occured at Barnett's Ford in Virginia. 1865 - The second day of the battle at Dabney's Mills (Hatcher's Run). 1865 - Died this day, John Pegram, US Confederate brigadier-general, in battle aged 33. (What battle?) 1865 - General Robert E. Lee was appointed commander in chief of the armies of the Confederacy. 1866 - Born this day, Karl T. Sapper, German geographyist, geologist (Vulkankunde). 1867 - The Peabody Fund was established to promote Black education in the South. 1874 - Born this day, Milton Bennett Medary, US architect (Washington Chapel). 1878 - Born this day, Waclaw Gieburowski, composer. 1880 - J. Palisa discovered asteroid #212 Medea. 1881 - Died this day, Pieter Mijer, Govorner-General of Netherlands Indies (1866-72), aged 68. 1881 - Born this day, Karl Weigl, composer. 1885 - N.R. Pogson discovered asteroid #245 Vera. 1886 - Born this day, Louis Pierard, Belgian journalist, writer (Gross Germany). 1891 - The Dalton Gang committed a train robbery on Southern Pacific #17. 1893 - Born this day, Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, president of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (1962-63). 1895 - Born this day, George Herman 'Babe' Ruth, in Baltimore, baseball great (Yankees). 1897 - Died this day, Ebenezer C. Brewer, British writer (Dictionary of Phrase & Fable). 1897 - Born this day, Alberto [de Almeida] Cavalcanti, in Brazil, director (Nicholas Nickleby). 1899 - Born this day, Ramon Novarro [Jose R.G. Samaniegos], Mexican-US actor (Ben Hur). 1899 - The Treaty of Paris was ratified by the US Senate by one vote, ending the Spanish-American War. 1900 - The Battle at Vaalkrans, South-Africa took place during the Boers vs British army. 1901 - Born this day, Ben Lyon, actor (I Cover the Waterfront, Night Nurse). 1902 - Born this day, Louis Nizer, lawyer (defended blacklisted stars in 1950s, Catspaw). 1902 - The Young Women's Hebrew Association was organised in New York City. 1903 - Born this day, Pieter G. Buckinx, Flemish writer (Temptation of Poverty). 1904 - Born this day, Claudio Arrau, in Chile, composer, pianist (Boston Symphony Orchestra). 1905 - Born this day, Wladislaw Gomulka, premier of Poland. 1908 - Born this day, Amintore Fanfani, premier of Italy. 1908 - Born this day, General Edward Lansdale, model for Quiet American and Ugly American. 1909 - Born this day, Israel Citkowitz, composer. 1910 - Born this day, Irmgard Keun, West German writer (Das kunstseidene Mudchen). 1911 - The first old-age home for pioneers opened in Prescott, Arizona. 
1911 - A great fire occured in Constantinople/Istanbul, Turkey. 1911 - Born this day, Ronald Wilson Reagan, in Main Street, Tampico, Whitesides, Illinois, 40th US President (1981-89), film actor (Bedtime for Bonzo), and credited with ending the Cold War. Married Jane Wyman (Sarah Jane Fulks on 26 January 1940 in Glendale, LA County, California. (Jane Wyman (Sarah Jane Fulks was born on 4 January 1914 in St. Joseph, Missouri.) Also married Anne Frances Robbins, daughter of Kenneth Seymour Robbins and Edith Luckett, on 4 March 1952. (Anne Frances Robbins was born on 6 July 1923 in Manhattan, New York, NY.) 1912 - Born this day, Eva Braun, mistress of Adolph Hitler. 1913 - Born this day, John Lund, in Rochester, New York, actor (Wackiest Ship in the Army). 1914 - Died this day, J. Albert Neuhuys, painter (Hague school). 1915 - Born this day, Derk Roemers, Dutch politician (Social-Democrat). 1916 - M. Wolf discovered asteroid #817 Annika. 1916 - Died this day, Anne C.A.I. van Diest, Belgian physician, feminist. 1917 - Died this day, Edouard A. Drumont, French anti-semite journalist. 1917 - Born this day, Zsa Zsa Gabor, in Budapest, Hungary, actress (Queen of Outer Space). 1917 - Born this day, Arthur Gold, in Toronto, Canada, pianist. 1917 - Born this day, Liberato Firmino Sifonia, composer. 1918 - After decades of suffragette action and a delay due to World War I (WWI), women over 30 and men over 21 won the right to vote in Britain as the Representation of the People Act received royal assent. 1918 - Died this day, Gustav Klimt, Austrian painter, cartoonist. 1919 - This was the first day of 5-day Seattle general strike. 1919 - Died this day, Friedrich W. Mengelberg, German sculptor, painter. 1919 - Born this day, Louis Heren, journalist, writer (China's Three Thousand Years). 1920 - Born this day, James H. Scheuer, (Representative-D-New York, 1965-73, 75- ). 1920 - Saarland was administrated by the League of Nations. 1922 - Born this day, Denis Norden, broadcaster (It'll Be Alright On The Night). 1922 - Born this day, Patrick McNee, in London, England, actor (Jonathan Steed-Avengers). 1922 - The Washington Conference between the United States, France, Japan, Italy and Britain ended with agreement on restricting use of poison gas and submarine warfare. 1922 - Cardinal Achille Ratti was elected to succeed Pope Benedict XV as Pius XI. 1923 - Born this day, Maurice Le Roux, composer. 1923 - Died this day, Edward E. Barnard, US astronomer (discovered the 5th moon Jupiter). 1924 - The BBC pips or time signal was heard for the first time. 1924 - Born this day, Billy Wright, English soccer player. 1924 - Born this day, Paolo Volponi, Italian poet. 1926 - The National Football League adopted a rule that made players ineligible for competition until their college classes graduate. 1927 - Violinist Yehudi Menuhin, aged 10, performed for the first time in Paris. 1927 - Died this day, Daniel F. Scheurleer, musicologist, banker, aged 71. 1929 - Born this day, Keith Waterhouse, writer (Billy Liar, Say Who Are You?). 1929 - Born this day, Sixten Jernberg, in Sweden, skier (Olympic-gold-1956, 1960, 1964). 1929 - Rudy Vallee and his orchestra recorded Deep Night (Victor disc #21868). It says in the fine print, under the artist’s name, that the tune was written by Vallee, himself. 1931 - Born this day, Rip Torn, in Texas, actor (Coma, Summer Rental, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof). 1932 - Dog sled racing happened for the first time in Olympic competition. The demonstration program was presented by the United States and Canada, from Lake Placid, New York. 1932 - Born this day, Francois Truffaut, in France, French film director (Jules & Jim, Fahrenheit 451). 1932 - A fascist coup occured in the Memel territory. 1932 - M. Wolf discovered asteroid #1219 Britta. 1933 - A temperature of -90 degrees F (-68 degrees C), was recorded at Oymyakon, USSR (An Asian record). 1933 - A 112 foot ocean wave was observed near Manila. 1933 - The highest recorded sea wave (not a tsunami), was measured at 34 metres, during a Pacific hurricane. 1933 - Born this day, Walter E. Fauntroy, (Representative-D-DC, 1971- ). 1933 - The 20th Amendment to the US Constitution was adopted, allowing the president to take office in January instead of March. 1933 - Born this day, Mamie Van Doren [Joan Lucille Olander], actress, in Rowena, South Dakota. Among her 1960s movies were Sex Kittens Go to College (1960), College Confidential (1960), 3 Nuts in Search of a Bolt (1964), The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966), and Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women (1968). 1935 - Turkey held its first election to allow women to vote. 1935 - The board game Monopoly went on sale for the first time. 1936 - The 4th Winter Olympic games opened in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. 1936 - Pravda criticised Sjostakovitsj' ballet The Bright Brook. 1936 - Born this day, Wies Andersen [Alois de Bois), Belgian actor, producer (Maigret). 1937 - K. Elizabeth Ohi became the first Japanese woman lawyer as she received her degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois. 1938 - Died this day, Marianne V. von Werefkin, Russian-German house painter, aged 77. 1938 - A. Bohrmann discovered asteroid #2350 von Lude. 1938 - Y. Vaisala discovered asteroids #1462 Zamenhof and #1463 Nordenmarkia, #1477 Bonsdorffia and #1478 Vihuri. 1938 - Born this day, Ellsworth Milburn, composer. 1939 - Born this day, Mike Farrell, in St Paul, Minnesota, actor (BJ Honeycutt-M*A*S*H, Battered). 1939 - Elvis Presley's father, Vernon, was released from prison after serving eight months for altering a check. (Cheque). 1939 - The Spanish government fled to France. 1940 - Born this day, Jimmy Tarbuck, comedian, Game show host (Winner Takes All). 1940 - Born this day, Tom Brokaw, in Yankton, South Dakota, television news anchorman (NBC Nightly News 1982- ). 1941 - Auke Adema won the 7th Dutch 11 Cities Skating Race. 1941 - Born this day, Gigi Perreau, in Los Angeles, California, actress (Journey to Center of Time). 1941 - Born this day, Stephen Albert, composer. 1941 - Died this day, Maximilien Luce, French painter, aged 82. 1941 - Born this day, Dave Berry, singer, 1964 UK No.5 single The Crying Game. 1941 - During the Battle of Beda Fomm: the Italian 10th army was destroyed. 1941 - British troops conquered Bengazi, Libya. 1942 - Born this day, Sarah Brady, handgun activist. 1942 - Born this day, John London, session bass player. Worked with The Monkees, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Died 12 February 2000. 1942 - Y. Vaisala discovered asteroid #2479 Sodankyla. 1942 - Died this day, Wobbe de Vries, linguist, aged 78. 1943 - Died this day, H.A. Seyffardt, Dutch Lieutenant-General, NSB 'minister', aged 71. 1943 - Frank Sinatra made his debut as vocalist on radio’s Your Hit Parade. Frankie had left the Tommy Dorsey Band just four months prior to beginning the radio program. He was described as, '...the biggest name in the business'. 1943 - Swashbuckler screen actor Errol Flynn, age 33, was acquitted of three charges of statutory rape by a jury in Los Angeles Superior Court. 1943 - General Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed commander-in-chief of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in North Africa. He later became World War II (WWII) Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. 1943 - Born this day, Fabian Forte, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, singer, 1959 US No.3 single Tiger. 1943 - Born this day, Gayle Hunnicutt, in Ft Worth, Texas, actress (Legend of Hell House, Dallas). 1944 - Born this day, Michael Tucker, in Baltimore, Maryland, actor (Stuart Markowitz-LA Law). 1945 - Born this day, Bob Marley [Robert Nesta Marley], singer, songwriter, guitarist, 'The King of Reggae', born in Rhoden Hall, St Ann's, Jamaica. Formed as The Wailers in 1964. In 1982, a set of commemorative stamps in memory of Bob Marley were issued in Jamaica. His biggest hit was the 1975 classic single No Woman No Cry. Marley also had a 1983 UK No.4 single Buffalo Soldier. A 1984 compilation album Legend spent weeks at No.1 on the UK chart. In 1974, Eric Clapton scored a US No.1 with his version of the Bob Marley song I Shot The Sheriff - UK No.9. In 1976, an attempt was made on Bob Marley's life when seven gunmen burst into his Kingston home injuring Marley, his wife Rita and manager Don Taylor. The attack was believed to be politically motivated. During 1980, Bob collapsed while jogging in New York's Central Park and after hospital tests he was diagnosed as having cancer. He died of lung cancer and a brain tumour on 11 May 1981 aged 36. In 1998, a music industry poll was published by London Magazine Time out, naming the top Stars from the Past 30 years. 5th was Marvin Gaye, 4th James Brown, 3rd Bob Marley, 2nd The Beatles and 1st place went to David Bowie. In 1990, the 6th February was proclaimed a national holiday in Jamaica to commemorate his birth. 1945 - The Russian Red Army crossed the river Oder. 1947 - Born this day, Alan Jones, saxaphone, Amen Corner, 1969 UK No.1 single If Paradise Is Half As Nice. 1947 - Died this day, Albert J.M. Bakker, actor (Teun the night watch), aged 82. 1947 - Died this day, Luigi Russolo, composer, aged 61. 1947 - Born this day, Charles Hickcox, US 200 metre, 400 metre medley swimmer (Olympic-3 gold-1968). 1948 - Died this day, Robert Brasillach, French author, nazi collaborator, aged 38. 1948 - KNXT (now KCBS) TV channel 2 in Los Angeles, California (CBS) made its first broadcast. 1949 - Born this day, Frank Rich, US politician ?. 1949 - Born this day, Manuel Orantes, tennis player. 1950 - For the first time, NBC radio broadcast Dangerous Assignment. The show starred Brian Donlevy in the role of Steve Mitchell. 1950 - Born this day, Natalie Cole, in Los Angeles, California, singer, 1989 UK No.2 single Miss You Like Crazy, daughter of Nat 'King' Cole. (Pink Cadillac). 1950 - Born this day, Mike Batt, songwriter, composer, arranger, The Wombles, 1974 UK No.3 single Remember Your A Womble, composer of Bright Eyes, a 1979 UK No.1 single for Art Garfunkel. 1950 - Born this day, Punky Meadows, rock musician (Angel). 1951 - The 'Broker Special' train crashed through temporary a wooden overpass at Woodbridge, New Jersey, killing 84. 1951 - Radio commentator Paul Harvey was arrested for trying to sneak into Argonne Atomic Laboratory in Illinois, to demonstrate shortfalls in their security. 1952 - King George VI died during the night at Sandringham aged 56. His daughter, on safari in South Africa at the time, succeeeded him as Queen Elizabeth II. (She was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953.) 1952 - Born this day, Russell Grant, astrologer. 1956 - St. Patrick Center, the first circular school building in the United States, opened in Kankakee, Illinois. 1956 - Born this day, Jon Walmsley, in Lancashire, England, actor (Jason-Waltons). 1956 - Born this day, Linda Grovenor, actress (Die Laughing, Wheels of Fire). 1956 - Chicago's Daily Defender, began publishing. 1956 - The University of Alabama refused admission to Autherine Lucy (because he was black). 1957 - Born this day, Jerry Marotta, rock musician (Orleans-Love Takes Time). 1957 - Born this day, Robert Townsend, comedian, actor, director (Hollywood Shuffle, Ratboy). 1957 - Born this day, Kathy Najimy, actress. 1958 - Seven Manchester Utd footballers - Busby's Babes - were killed when their plane crashed in Munich. Also eight journalists and three club staff were killed. They were returning from a European Cup match. 1958 - George Harrison joined Liverpool group The Quarrymen. 1958 - Born this day, Barry Miller, in Los Angeles, California, actor (Fame, Peggy Sue Got Married). 1959 - Fidel Castro was interviewed by Edward R. Murrow. 1959 - The US launched the first successful Titan intercontinental ballistic missile. 1960 - Died this day, Jesse Belvin, singer (Goodnight, My Love), in an auto accident in Hope, Arkansas. (His wife died of her injuries a week later). 1960 - Born this day, Megan Gallagher, actress (Slap Maxwell). 1961 - Born this day, Yuri Ivanovich Onufriyenko, in Russia, major, cosmonaut. 1961 - The Sunday Telegraph began publication. 1961 - Danny Blanchflower became the first person to refuse to appear on This Is Your Life. 1961 - Died this day, Archibald T. Davison, composer, aged 77. 1961 - Jail, No Bail Jail-in movement started in Rock Hill, South Carolina. 1961 - KOAP TV channel 10 in Portland, Oregon (PBS) began broadcasting. 1962 - Schoolman Athletic Field in the Bronx was named. 1962 - Born this day, Axl Rose [William Bailey], in Lafayette, Indiana, rock singer, vocals, Guns N' Roses, 1988 US No.1 and 1989 UK No.6 single Sweet Child O' Mine. 1963 - Died this day, Mohammed ibn al-Chattabi Abd el-Krim, Moroccon opposition leader. 1963 - Died this day, Werner Erich Josten, composer, aged 78. 1964 - France and Great-Britain signed an accord over building the channel tunnel. 1964 - WCIU TV channel 26 in Chicago, Illinois (IND) began broadcasting. 1964 - Died this day, Sophocles Venizelos, premier of Greece (1944, 50-51). 1964 - France and Britain agreed on the joint construction of a Channel tunnel. 1964 - Born this day, Skip Ewing, in Redlands, California, country singer (Coast of Colorado). 1965 - The Righteous Brothers started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with the Phil Spector produced You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin. The song was also No.1 in the UK for the duo who were not related in any way. 1965 - The Rolling Stones second album Rolling Stones No.2 started a three week run at No.1 on the UK charts. 1965 - Died this day, Jack Wagner, actor (Jive Junction), aged 68. 1966 - Died this day, Johan Algot Haquinius, composer, aged 79. 1966 - Born this day, Rick Astley, singer, 1987 UK and US No.1 single Never Gonna Give You Up. 1967 - A cultural revolution started in Albania. 1967 - Heavyweight Cassius Clay beat Ernie Terrell in Houston, Texas. 1967 - P. Wild discovered asteroid #1803 Zwicky and #3021. 1967 - Died this day, Martine Carol, actress (Nana, Atomic Agent), aged 46. 1968 - The Dutch 2nd Chamber condemned the US bombing of North Vietnam. 1968 - Former President Dwight Eisenhower shot a hole-in-one while playing golf. 1968 - KESD TV channel 8 in Brookings, South Dakota (PBS) began broadcasting. 1968 - L. Chernykh discovered asteroids #1772 Gagarin and #1890 Konoshenkova. 1968 - Died this day, C. Montague Shaw, actor (Buck Rogers, Planet Outlaws), aged 85. 1968 - Joan Whitney Payson was elected president of the New York Mets. She turned out to be a good luck charm. One year later, the ‘Miracle’ Mets became world champions. 1968 - The tenth Winter Olympics opened in Grenoble, France. 1969 - Born this day, April Lerman, in Chicago, Illinois, actress (Lila-Charles in Charge). 1970 - Died this day, Roscoe Karns, actor (Capt Shafer-Hennesey), aged 78. 1971 - NASA Astronaut Alan B. Shepard took a six-iron that he had stashed away inside his spacecraft and swung at three golf balls on the surface of the moon. The first time a golf ball was hit on the moon. 1972 - Over 500,000 pieces of irate mail arrived at the mail room of CBS-TV, when word leaked out that an edited-for-TV version of the X-rated movie, The Demand, would be seen on the tube. 1972 - Died this day, Julian H. Steward, US anthropologist (South American), aged 70. 1973 - Died this day, Ira S. Bowen, US physicist, astronomer (Mt Wilson/Palomar). 1973 - 40,000 civil servants demonstrated against higher pension contributions. 1973 - Bernice Fekete skipped her curling rink to second straight 8-ender, Edmonton. 1973 - P. Wild discovered asteroid #2033 Basilea. 1974 - The Caribbean island of Grenada was declared independent and a member of the British Commonwealth. 1974 - The Rangers shut-out the Islanders 6-0 for the 3rd time 1974 - The Dutch speed limit was set at 100km/h due to the oil crisis. 1976 - George Harrison released This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying). 1976 - In the United States, Lockheed Aircraft Corporation admitted it had bribed officials in the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Italy. 1976 - Born this day, Kim Zmeskal, in Houston, Texas, US gymnast (Olympic-1992). 1976 - Died this day, Vince Guaraldi (Cast Your Fate To The Wind and the music from all those Peanuts TV specials), of a heart attack. 1977 - The Rangers shut-out the Islanders 4-0 for the 4th time. 1977 - Alain Prieur jumped his motorcycle 65 metres over 16 buses, near Paris. 1977 - Harley Race beat Terry Funk in Toronto, to become NWA wrestling champion. 1977 - Died this day, Peter Laughner, from US punk band Pere Ubu, aged 25. 1978 - Muriel, wife of late Hubert Humphrey (Senator-D-Minnesota) took his office. 1978 - Perth Observatory discovered asteroid #3301. 1978 - A snowstorm hit New England, and parts of Rhode Island. 54 inches or 137cm of snow fell. 1979 - The Supreme court of Lahore affirmed the death sentence against premier Bhutto. 1979 - Died this day, Alain Ravages, artist, writer, aged 47. 1979 - Died this day, Arthur van Schendel, art historian, aged 68. 1981 - Former Beatles, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison teamed up once again to record a musical tribute to John Lennon. The result of that session became All Those Years Ago. The song went to No.2 on the US pop music charts for three weeks. It was recorded on Harrison’s own Dark Horse label. 1981 - N. Thomas discovered asteroids #2779 Mary, #2999 Dante and #3352 McAuliffe. 1981 - Suleiman Nyambui ran a world record 5000 metres indoor in 13 minutes 20.4 seconds. 1981 - Died this day, Hugo Montenegro, composer, in California from emphysema. 1968 UK No.1 and US No.2 single The Good The Bad And The Ugly from the soundtrack to the Clint Eastwood spaghetti western film. 1982 - Kraftwerk became the first German act to have an UK No.1 single when The Model / Computer Love topped the chart. 1982 - The J Geils Band started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Centrefold, the bands only US No.1. It was a No.3 hit in the UK. The bands album Freeze-Frame started a four week run at No.1 on the US album chart on the same day. 1982 - Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey was hospitalised after being attacked. 1982 - Died this day, Ben Nicholson, in England, painter, sculptor (Circle). 1983 - Nazi fugitive Klaus Barbie was charged in France with crimes against humanity. 1983 - In the 13th AFC-NFC pro bowl, NFC won 20-19. 1984 - E. Bowell discovered asteroids #3316 Herzberg and #3506 French. 1984 - Moslem militiamen took over West Beirut from the Lebanese army. 1985 - The noted French mineral water company, Perrier, debuted its first new product in 123 years. On grocery shelves and in trendy establishments, one could find water with a twist of lemon, lime or orange added to the well-established popular product line. 1985 - Died this day, Charles Briggs, actor (13 Frightened Girls, Capt Newman), aged 53. 1985 - Died this day, Dandy Nichols, actress (Confessions of a Window Cleaner, Till Death Us Do Part), aged 78. 1985 - Steve Wozniak, cofounder of Apple Computer and inventor of the best-selling Apple II computer, resigned from the company on this day in 1985. The company, which started in Wozniak's garage in 1976, had become a massive bureaucracy by the mid-1980s. Wozniak had developed his first computer, the Apple I, as a project to impress his friends in the Homebrew Computing Club. With Steve Jobs' help, he created the Apple II, which went on sale in 1977 and quickly became popular with mass-market consumers, not just electronics hobbyists. As the fastest growing company in history, Apple experienced serious growing pains, including the hiring of a professional management team. Wozniak, who preferred to remain an engineer rather than participate in management politics, objected to the tactics and strategies of Apple's management. 1986 - Feargal Sharkey's mother and sister were held at gunpoint by terrorists in Londonderry. 1986 - Died this day, William Collier, actor (Up the River, She's My Weakness). 1986 - New Jersey Devil Peter McNab became the 42nd NHLer to score 350 goals. 1987 - President Ronald Reagan turned 76 years old, adding another year to the record of being the oldest US President in history. President Dwight D. Eisenhower had been the previous recordholder, by serving the country from the Oval Office at the age of 70. 1987 - Gary Numan's record label 'Numa', closed down. 1987 - Broad no-smoking rules took effect for 890,000 employees in 6,800 federal buildings across the US. 1988 - Died this day, Lee Goodman, actor (Imitation of Life). 1988 - Tiffany started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Could've Been. It was a No.4 hit in the UK. She recorded the song 5 years previously when she was 13. 1989 - Died this day, King Tubby, Reggae producer, after being shot in the street outside his home. Worked with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Carlton Barrett. 1989 - Lech Walesa began negotiating with the Polish government. 1989 - Died this day, Barbara Tuchman, US historian (Guns of August, Pulitzer Prize). 1990 - Ground breaking began on the Baltimore Orioles' new $102 million stadium. 1990 - Died this day, Jane Novak, actress (Ghost Town), from a stroke aged 94. 1990 - Died this day, John Merivale, actor (Caltiki). 1990 - Billy Idol suffered serious injuries when he failed to pull up at a stop sign and crashed from his Harley-Davidson motorbike into a car. 1990 - Over 200 women filed court actions against Chuck Berry after it was alleged that he had been secretly filming them in the toilets of the restaurant he owned. 1990 - West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl proposed unifying the currencies of East and West Germany. 1990 - Steve Briers of Wales recited the entire lyrics of Queen's album A Night At The Opera in 9 minutes and 58.44 seconds - backwards! 1990 - Brett Hull became the first son of NHL 50 goal scorer (Bobby) to score 50. 1991 - President Bush authorised the direct shipment of emergency medical supplies to the Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine. 1991 - Died this day, Danny Thomas, comedian (Jazz Singer), aged 76 of a heart attack. 1991 - Died this day, Marten Levendig, Dutch TV correspondent to Moscow. 1991 - Mousey Davis became the first coach of the New York-New Jersey Knights. 1992 - Died this day, Frank Wilson, actor (Beware, Sunday Sinners, Club). 1992 - Died this day, Wade Preston, actor (Man Called Sledge, Long Ride from Hell). 1992 - A military transport plane crashed into a restaurant and hotel in Evansville, Indiana, killing 16 people. 1993 - United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali asked NATO for authority to order air strikes against Serb artillery positions in Bosnia. 1993 - Little Angles went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Jam their only UK No.1 LP. 1993 - Died this day, Arthur Ashe, tennis champion, aged 49, of complications brought on by AIDS (AIDS-related pneumonia). (Wimbledon 1975). 1993 - On the UK Channel 4 television show Saturday Zoo, was Lenny Kravitz. 1993 - Died this day, Frances Hunt, actress (You're a Sweetheart). 1993 - Wales Conference beat Campbell 16-6, in the NHL All Star Game. 1994 - Jose Maria Figueres was elected president of Costa Rica. 1994 - Leonid Voloshin jumped a world record 17.77 metres. 1994 - Died this day, Ignace Strasfogel, Polish-US pianist, conductor, composer, aged 84. 1994 - Died this day, Jack Kirby, US comic artist (Hulk, Spiderman), aged 76. 1994 - Died this day, Joseph Cotten, actor (Citizen Kane), aged 88. 1994 - Died this day, Norman Del Mar, conductor, writer (Conducting Brahms). 1994 - Defense Minister Elisabeth Rehn of the Swedish People's Party conceded defeat to Martti Ahtisaari of the opposition Social Democrats in Finland's presidential election. 1994 - Togo held its first multiparty election for parliament. 1994 - Chaka Demus and Pliers started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with Tease Me. 1995 - USA Today reported that MGM-UA Home Video said it would stop selling a videotape containing a World War II (WWII)-era cartoon in which Bugs Bunny called buck-toothed Japanese characters 'slant eyes' and other ethnic slurs. The 1944 cartoon Bugs Nips the Nips was part of the Golden Age of Looney Tunes series. MGM's spokeswoman said the cartoon "reflected Hollywood's part in the war effort." About 8,000 copies had been sold. 1995 - The US House of Representatives approved, 294-134, the line-item veto. 1996 - Pat Buchanan won the Republican presidential caucuses in Louisiana. 1996 - Ex Jam members Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler reached a high court settlement with Paul Weller after suing him for more than £100,000, after claiming they were owed royalties and group assets. 1997 - Ecuador's Congress voted to oust embattled President Abdala Bucaram on grounds of mental incompetence. 1997 - President Clinton sent Congress a $1.69 trillion budget he said would put the country on course for a balanced budget by 2002. 1997 - The head of Mexico's leading anti-drug agency was forced to resign after evidence emerged that he'd taken brides from a drug cartel. 1998 - President Clinton said he would never consider resigning because of allegations that he had an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. 1998 - Died this day, Carl Wilson, the Beach Boys' lead guitarist and youngest of the Wilson brothers, at the age of 51 in Los Angeles. He'd been diagnosed with lung cancer which then spread to his brain. Despite chemotherapy, Wilson lost the battle. During the group's publicised ups and downs with drugs over the years, Carl's steady influence reportedly was responsible for keeping the group together. 1998 - Died this day, Falco, Austrian singer, was killed in a car accident. He scored the 1986 UK and US No.1 single Rock Me Amadeus. 2000 - The Tories expelled Lord Archer from the party for five years. 2001 - Controversial politician Ariel Sharon was elected prime minister of Israel. 2002 - The Queen marked the 50th anniversary of King George VI's death by visiting a cancer unit. (Where?) 2003 - The Bank of England slashed interest rates to a 48-year low, bringing the rate down to 3.75%. 2003 - The Rolling Stones performed a free concert in Los Angeles to draw attention to global warming. 2003 - A British documentary on Michael Jackson aired on ABC-TV's 20/20. |
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.