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February 10th
0060 - St. Paul is thought to have been shipwrecked at Malta. 1098 - Crusaders defeated Prince Redwan of Aleppo at Antioch. 1134 - Died this day, Robert III/II Curthouse, Duke of Normandy. 1162 - Died this day, Boudouin III, son of King Fulco of Anjou, husband of Theodora. 1164 - Died this day, Hugo van Fosses/Prémontré, abbott of Prémontré. 1258 - Huegu, a Mongol leader, seized Baghdad, bringing an end to the Abbasid caliphate. 1364 - The Treaty of Brno (Moravia) was signed which guaranteed that Tyrol would be kept in the families of the Luxemburgs and Hapsburgs. 1482 - Died this day, Luca della Robbia, Italian sculptor (majolica reliefs). Died aged 81. 1495 - Died this day, Sir William Stanley, English lord chamberlain, executed for conspiracy. Brother of Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby. Turned to Henry Tudor after falling from Richard III's favour. His support at Bosworth helped Henry VII win. Executed after supporting the impostor Perkin Warbeck. 1495 - King's College was founded under Roman Catholic sponsorship in Aberdeen, Scotland. In 1860 it merged with the Protestant Marischal College (established in 1593) to become the University of Aberdeen. 1535 - 12 nude Anabaptists ran through Amsterdam streets. 1546 - German reformer Martin Luther wrote in a letter to his wife Kate: 'Pray, and let God worry.' 1549 - Tomé de Sousa was appointed Governor-General of Brazil. 1567 - Died this day, Lord Darnley Stuart, husband of English queen Mary Queen of Scots, murdered. 1588 - Died this day, Joost Sybrantsz Buyck, Amsterdam merchant, regent. Died aged about 82. 1598 - Died this day, Anna van Bull, first wife of Polish/Swedish king Sigismund II. 1609 - Born this day, Sir John Suckling, English Cavalier poet, dramatist, courtier. 1620 - Supporters of Marie de Medici, the queen mother, who has been exiled to Blois, were defeated by the king's troops at Ponts de Ce, France. 1635 - Académie Française was founded in Paris by Cardinal Richelieu. 1637 - Born this day, Henriëtte Catharina van Nassau, Dutch daughter of Frederik Henry. 1657 - Died this day, Sebastian Stosskopf, Elizabethian painter. Died aged 59. 1670 - Born this day, Norbert van Flowers [Cephalus], Flemish painter. 1670 - Born this day, William Congreve, in England, restoration writer (Old Bachelor, Way of the World). 1676 - Wampanoag Indians under King Philip killed all men in Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1678 - Died this day, Philip Vingboons, Amsterdam's master builder, buried. 1685 - Born this day, Aaron Hill, English playwright, poet (Tragedy of Zara). 1686 - Born this day, Johann F. Gronovius, Dutch physician, botanist. 1686 - Died this day, William Dugdale, Garter King of Arms (1677-86). 1696 - Born this day, Johann Melchior Molter, composer. 1702 - Born this day, Jean-Pierre Guignon, composer. 1711 - Died this day, Lukas Fencer, Dutch poet (Meleager & Atalante). Died aged 22. 1713 - The Netherlands and England signed an accord concerning the anti-French Barrier. 1716 - Scottish pretender to the throne, James III returned to France. 1717 - Born this day, Pierre de La Garde, composer. 1720 - Edmund Halley was appointed 2nd Astronomer Royal of England. 1728 - Born this day, Peter III Feodorovich, German/Russian czar of Russia (1761-62). 1735 - Born this day, Johann Christoph Kuhnau, composer. 1741 - Born this day, Franz Adam Veichtner, composer. 1746 - The English Pelham government resigned. 1749 - The 10th, and final volume of Fielding's Tom Jones was published. 1750 - Born this day, Stanislao Mattei, composer. 1763 - The Peace of Paris between Britain, France and Spain ended the Seven Years War. Canada was ceded to Britain, France received various West Indies possessions and Spain won Louisiana and Havana. 1772 - Died this day, Jozef Wenceslas, monarch of Liechtenstein, general. Died aged 75. 1772 - Died this day, Louis Tocqué, French painter. Died aged 75. 1774 - Died this day, Florian Leopold Gassmann, composer. Died aged 44. 1774 - Andrew Becker demonstrated a diving suit. 1775 - Born this day, Charles Lamb, in London, England, critic, poet, essayist. Died in 1834. 1783 - Died this day, James Nares, composer. Died aged 67. 1788 - Born this day, Johann Peter Pixis, composer. 1794 - Joseph Haydn's 99th Symphony in E, premiered. (Where?). 1795 - Born this day, Ary Scheffer, Dutch painter, etcher, sculptor. 1799 - Napoleon Bonaparte left Cairo, Egypt, for Syria, at the head of 13,000 men. 1807 - A US coast survey was authorised by US Congress. 1807 - Born this day, Abner Clark Harding, Brigadier General (Union volunteers). Died in 1874. 1814 - Napoleon Bonaparte personally directed lightning strikes against enemy columns advancing towards Paris, beginning with a victory over the Russians at Champaubert. 1816 - Died this day, Johann Paul Aegidius Martini, composer. Died aged 74. 1818 - Born this day, Isham Green Harris, Governor (Confederacy). Died in 1897. 1819 - Born this day, Richard Storrs Willis, composer. 1821 - Born this day, William Read Scurry, Confederate Army Brigadier General. Died in 1864. 1822 - Died this day, Albert-Kasimir, duke of Saxon-Teschen, Governor of Hungary. Died aged 83. 1824 - Born this day, Samuel Plimsoll, in Bristol, England, inventor. Devised the Plimsoll line for ships. 1824 - Simon Bolívar was named dictator by the Congress of Peru. 1825 - Died this day, Paul van Hemert, Dutch theologist, philosopher (Kant). Died aged 68. 1827 - Born this day, Peter J. Savelberg, Dutch Limburgs monastery founder. 1829 - Died this day, Leo XII [Annibale Sermattei], Italian Pope (1823-29). Died aged 68. 1832 - Died this day, Antonio Benedetto Maria Puccini, composer. Died aged 84. 1837 - Died this day, Alexander S. Pushkin, Russian poet and novelist, he was aged 37 and was killed in a duel. Regarded as Russia's greatest poet, his works include the historical tragedy Boris Godunov. 1840 - Queen Victoria married her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in the Chapel Royal at St. Jame's. 1840 - The Act of Union, uniting Upper and Lower Canada, came into effect. 1841 - Born this day, Walter Parratt, composer. 1841 - The Penny Red replaced the Penny Black postage stamp. 1846 - The British defeated the Sikhs in the battle of Sobraon, in India. 1846 - Led by religious leader Brigham Young, the first Mormons began a long westward exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Utah. 1846 - Born this day, Mildred Childe "Life" Lee, daughter of confederate General Robert E. Lee. 1847 - Born this day, A. N. Hornby, cricketer, pioneering England Test batsman. 1855 - US citizenship laws were amended. It granted US citizenship to all children, born abroad, of US parents. 1859 - General Horsford defeated Begum of Oude and Nana Sahib in the Indian mutiny. 1860 - John Brahms' 2nd Serenade in A, premiered. 1861 - Died this day, Francis Danby Exmouth, painter. 1862 - Born this day, W. H. "Gobo" Ashley, cricketer, took 7 wickets in 1 Test for South Africa in 1889. 1862 - The Dutch 2nd government of Thorbecke was formed. 1863 - The first US fire extinguisher patent was granted to Alanson Crane of Virginia. 1863 - P. T. Barnum staged the wedding of his star midgets, Tom Thumb at three feet, four inches and Mercy Lavinia Warren at just two feet, eight inches, in New York, before a small gathering of 2,000 of their closest friends. 1866 - Born this day, Bror Beckman, composer. 1866 - Born this day, Rafael Altamira Crevea, Spanish lawyer, historian. 1866 - The Dutch government Frans van der Putte was formed. 1868 - Conservatives and the military, seized Convention Hall in Florida. 1868 - Born this day, William Allen White, in Emporia, Kansas, editor, journalist (Pulitzer 1942). Died in 1944. 1869 - Born this day, Vasily Pavovlich Kalafati, composer. 1870 - The City of Anaheim was incorporated for the first time. 1870 - The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) was founded in New York, NY. 1870 - Born this day, Fritz Klimsch, German sculptor, painter. 1872 - Born this day, Anne Anema, Dutch lawyer, journalist, politician (ARP). 1876 - Died this day, Johan August Soderman, composer. Died aged 43. 1878 - The Zanjon Treaty (US-Cuba) formalised the agreement of 8 February and was signed against the opposition of rebel leaders, including General Antonio Maceo, because it neither provided for independence nor abolished slavery. 1878 - Peter Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony in F, premiered. 1879 - The first electric arc light was used in a California Theatre. 1879 - Born this day, Franz Carl Bornschein, composer. 1879 - Henry Morton Stanley departed for the Congo. 1879 - Died this day, Honoré V. Daumier, French painter, lithographer. Died aged 70. 1879 - Died this day, Wolter R. baron van Hoëvell, Dutch vicar, abolitionist. Died aged 66. 1880 - Died this day, Isaäc M. "Isaac A" Crémieux, French minister of Justice. Died aged 83. 1880 - Born this day, Jesse G. Vincent, in Arkansas, engineer designed 1st V-12 engine. 1880 - Pope Leo XIII published his encyclical Arcanum about Christian marriage. 1881 - Jacques Offenbach's opera Les Contes d'Hoffman premiered in Paris. 1882 - Rimski-Korsakovs opera Snyegurochka premiered in St Petersburg. 1883 - A fire at the un-insured New Hall Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, killed 71 people. 1884 - Born this day, Herbert Hordern, cricketer (pioneering leggie for Australia & Philadelphia). 1887 - Born this day, [Fran J] Vital Celen, Flemish literary, author. 1887 - Died this day, Ellen Wood, English author (Pomeroy Abbey). Died aged 73. 1887 - Died this day, Pieter van der Aa, Dutch geographer. Died aged 54. 1888 - Born this day, G. Ungaretti, writer. 1889 - Born this day, Howard Spring, British author, novelist, writer, critic (O Absalom). 1890 - Born this day, Cor Ruys, Dutch actor (Princess Stage). 1890 - Around 11 million acres, ceded to the US by Sioux Indians, was opened up for settlement. 1890 - Born this day, Boris L. Pasternak, Russian novelist and poet (Dr. Zhivago, Nobel 1958). Died in 1960. 1891 - Born this day, Harold, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis, Governor-General of Canada (1945-52). 1892 - Born this day, Alan Hale [Rufus Alan Mackahan], in Washington DC, actor (Little John-Adventures of Robin Hood). 1893 - Born this day, William [Bill] T. Tilden II, tennis player (US Open 1920-25, 1929). 1893 - Born this day, Jimmy [James Francis] Durante, in New York, NY, American comedian and film actor. Famed for his long nose. (and good-night Mrs Calabash). Died in 1980. 1894 - Born this day, Roy D'Arcy, in San Francisco, California, actor (Warning Shadows, Revolt of Zombies). 1894 - Born this day, [Maurice] Harold Macmillan, in London, British prime minister (C) (1957-1963). 1896 - Born this day, Olin Howlin, in Denver, Colorado, actor (Swifty-Circus Boy). 1897 - Born this day, John Franklin Enders, in Connecticut, micro-biologist, virologist (polio-Nobel 1954). 1897 - The New York Times began using the slogan All the News That's Fit to Print. 1898 - Born this day, Dame Judith [Frances Margaret] Anderson, in Adelaide, Australia, actress (Laura, Rebecca, Tycoon). Died in 1992. 1898 - Born this day, Bertolt Brecht, in Germany, poet and dramatist, playwright (Mother Courage), composer (The Threepenny Opera). Died in 1956. 1898 - Born this day, Joseph Kessel, French journalist, writer (Army of the Shadows). 1898 - Born this day, Robert Keith, in Fowler, Indiana, actor (Battle Circus, Branded, Wild One). 1899 - The Church of England first authorized use of the 1885 English Revised (RV or ERV) Version of the Bible in Anglican liturgy and worship. 1899 - A temperature of -39ºF (-39ºC) was recorded in Milligan, Ohio. A state lowest temperature record. 1899 - A US-Spain peace treaty was signed by President McKinley. The US got Puerto Rico and Guam. 1900 - Born this day, Rebecca Negrin. 1900 - Peter Ostlund skated a world record 500 metres in 45.2 seconds. 1901 - Born this day, Stella Adler, in New York, actress and teacher. (My Girl Tisa) . 1902 - Born this day, Walter H. Brattain, in Amoy, China, US physicist, one of the inventors of the transistor. (Nobel 1956-transistor) . 1902 - Born this day, Armand Bernier, Belgian poet (Sorcier Triste). 1902 - Died this day, J. N. Krieger, German Selenographer. 1903 - Born this day, Matvey Isaakovich Blanter, composer. 1904 - Born this day, John Farrow, in Sydney, Australia, director, actor (Botany Bay, Wake Island). 1904 - Japan and Russia declared war on each other, after Japan's surprise attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur disabled 7 Russian warships. 1905 - Born this day, John Dierkes, in Ohio, actor (Daughter of Dr Jekyll, Hanging Tree). 1905 - Died this day, Ignacy Krzyzanowski, composer. Died aged 78. 1905 - Born this day, Max Schubert, winemaker. 1905 - Born this day, Lon Chaney Jr., actor. Died in 1973. 1905 - Born this day, Vilko Ukmar, composer. 1905 - Born this day, Walter Brown, sports organizer (NBA). 1906 - Born this day, John "Cat" Thompson, basketball hall of famer (elected 1962). 1906 - Born this day, Lon Chaney Jr., in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, actor (Dracula vs. Frankenstein, The Phantom, Hawkeye, Pistols 'n' Petticoats). 1906 - Born this day, Erik Rhodes [Ernest Sharpe], actor (Top Hat, Night at the Ritz). 1906 - Britain's first modern, and largest battleship HMS Dreadnought was launched. 1906 - A state of siege was proclaimed in Zululand. 1906 - Born this day, Henry Phelps Brown, historian, economist. 1906 - Born this day, Walraven (Wally) van Hall, Dutch banker, resisted Nazis. 1907 - Born this day, Grace Hamilton, first black member of Georgia state legislature. 1908 - Born this day, Jean Coulthard, composer. 1908 - Tommy Burns knocked out Jack Palmer in 4 rounds for the heavyweight boxing title. 1909 - Born this day, Lord Milne. 1910 - Born this day, Dominique Georges Pire, in Belgium, Belgian cleric and educator, aided World War II (WWII) refugees (Nobel 1958). 1910 - Born this day, Douglas Spencer, actor (Thing, This Island Earth, River of No Return). 1910 - Born this day, Joyce Grenfell, actress (Pickwick Papers, Americanization of Emily). She is well known, and best remembered for her monolgues, songs, and comic writings. She was an accomplished actress and starred in many well known films, including the St Trinians along with George Cole, Alastiar Sims and Frankie Howerd. She was also appeared regularly on television, radio and the stage, and entertained troops during the war with her usual wit, charm and humour. She was the daughter of a madcap socialite American mother, Nora Langhorne, and architect Paul Phipps. She was born Joyce Phipps in 1910. The neice of Nancy Astor, she spent a lot of her younger years at the Astor family home, Cliveden, and despite being born three quarters American, she is quintessentially English in character. Died in November 1979. 1910 - Born this day, Paul Whitelaw, cricketer (New Zealand opening batsman vs England 1933). 1912 - Born this day, Lord Orr-Ewing. 1912 - Died this day, Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister, surgeon (pioneer of antiseptic). 1912 - Hobbs and Rhodes made 323 runs in an opening stand vs Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground. 1913 - Edward Sheldon's Romance premiered in New York, NY. 1913 - Born this day, Philippa Bevans, actress (Notorious Landlady, World of Henry Orient). 1913 - Born this day, Ragnhild Marie Hatton, historian. 1913 - The bodies of Antarctic explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his party were found 13 months after they disappeared on their South Pole mission. 1914 - Born this day, Larry Adler, in Baltimore, Maryland, harmonica virtuoso. (Harmonicats) (blacklisted performer). Died 7 August 2001 aged 87. 1994 tribute album Glory Of Gershwin. 1915 - President Wilson blasted the British for using the US flag on merchant ships to deceive the Germans. 1915 - Born this day, [Pierce] Allie Reynolds, baseball. Died in 1994. 1915 - Died this day, Albert J-BJ Thijs, Belgian Colonial pioneer (Congo). Died aged 65. 1916 - Born this day, Edward R. Roybal, (Representative-D-California, 1963- ). 1916 - Conscription was first introduced in Britain, despite the misgivings of Liberal Prime Minister Herbert Asquith. 1917 - Johanna Westerdijk was installed as the Netherlands first female professor. 1917 - Died this day, Emile Pessard, composer. Died aged 73. 1918 - Died this day, Abdül-Hamid II, 34th sultan of Turkey (lost Serbia/Egypt). Died aged 65. 1918 - Born this day, Gordon Pirie, in England, Group Captain. 1918 - Born this day, Idwal Pugh, British ombudsman. 1920 - Born this day, J. Heslop-Harrison, botanist. 1920 - Born this day, Alex Comfort, English physician and author, poet (Joy of Sex, Wreath for the Living) . 1920 - Major league baseball representatives outlawed pitches that involve tampering with the ball - including the application of sandpaper or emery paper. It may be the law of baseball but, like others, this law was meant to be broken (many times). Several umpires have the nail files to prove it. 1921 - Born this day, Adrian Cruft, composer. 1922 - Born this day, Harold Hughes, (Governor-D-New Jersey). 1922 - Born this day, Neva Patterson, in Nevada, actress (Governor & JJ, Doc Elliot, Nichols). 1923 - Died this day, Wilhelm Konrad von Rontgen, physicist (Nobel 1901). Died aged 77. 1923 - Ink paste was manufactured for the first time by Standard Ink Company. It was available in one colour - black. 1923 - Owen Davis' Icebound premiered in New York, NY. 1923 - SDAP spoke out against allied occupation of Ruhrgebied. 1923 - Born this day, Cesare Siepi, in Milan, Italy, basso (New York Metropolitan Opera). 1923 - Born this day, Allie Sherman, football. 1924 - Born this day, [Norman] Bud Poile, hockey. 1924 - Born this day, Randy Van Horne, in El Paso, Texas, singer (Nat King Cole Show). 1924 - Bucky Harris, aged 27, became the youngest baseball manager, managing Washington Senators. 1925 - The first waterless gas storage tank was put into service, in Michigan City, Indiana. 1926 - Born this day, Danny Blanchflower, British football player. 1926 - Building of the Olympian Stadium in Amsterdam began. 1927 - Born this day, Leontyne [Mary Violet] Price, in Laurel, Mississippi, opera singer, soprano (Porgy & Bess). 1927 - Born this day, Jakov Lind, German/British author (Counting My Footsteps). 1927 - President Calvin Coolidge asked for a second disarmament conference. 1927 - Born this day, Nigel Bagnall, British field marshal. 1927 - Born this day, Viscount Cowdray, British financier, multi-millionaire. 1928 - Born this day, Hans Nielsen, in Denmark, lightweight boxer (Olympics gold 1924). 1928 - Born this day, Gene Taylor (Representative-D-St Louis, 1973- ), 1929 - Born this day, Hallgeir Brenden, in Norway, 15K/18K cross country (Olympics gold 1952, 1956). 1929 - Born this day, Henk Heidweiler, Surinam ambassador to the Netherlands. 1929 - Born this day, Jerry Goldsmith, pianist, composer (Twilight Zone). 1929 - Born this day, Jim Whittacker, mountain climber (first American to climb Mt. Everest). 1929 - In London, renowned Baptist clergyman and devotional author F. B. Meyer, 81, preached his last sermon. He soon entered a nursing home where his health failed rapidly, and he died on March 28th. 1930 - Born this day, Robert Wagner, in Detroit, Michigan, US actor, future husband of Natalie Wood and Jill St. John. (It Takes a Thief, Hart to Hart). 1930 - Born this day, John Gilpin, English ballet dancer (Études, Alice in Wonderland). 1930 - Born this day, Peter Phillips, composer. 1930 - The Grain Stabilization Corporation was authorised by US Congress. 1931 - New Delhi became the capital of India. 1931 - Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's American's Sweetheartpremiered in New York, NY. 1931 - Born this day, Gerhard Rosenfeld, composer. 1931 - Born this day, Makoto Shinohara, composer. 1931 - Born this day, Thomas Bernhard, writer. 1932 - Born this day, Donald Hilton, Moderator (General Assembly of United Reformed Church). 1932 - Born this day, Rockin Dopsie Sr. [Alton Jay Rubin], Jazz-Fusion singer (Zydeco). 1932 - Died this day, R. H. Edgar Wallace, British writer, journalist (3 Just Men). Died aged 76. 1933 - A temperature of -54ºF (-48ºC) was recorded in Seneca, Oregon. A state record. 1933 - Primo Carnera knocked out Ernie Schaaf in round 13 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was not a happy crowd on hand. The spectators were joined by the press at ringside who shouted, "Fake!" at the knockout. Schaaf died later as a result of that punch. Apparently, it was no fake. 1933 - Delivery of the first singing telegram took place. It was delivered by the Postal Telegram Company, New York City. 1933 - A Dutch sea-plane bombed a Dutch ship. 1933 - Hitler proclaimed the end of Marxism. 1933 - A mutiny on 7 Provinces ended. It had begun on 4 February. 23 were killed. 1934 - Born this day, Kirk Fordice, Governor of Mississippi. 1934 - The Byrd souvenir sheet was issued in New York City by the US Postal Service. It was the first unperforated ungummed US stamp. One had to cut the stamps out of the sheet and then put some glue on the back to get them to stick on an envelope. Fortunately, the Postal Service changed this idea after many complaints. 1934 - The first Jewish immigrant ship to break the English blockade in Palestine, did so this day. (Name of ship anyone?) 1934 - Howard Hanson's Merry Mount premiered in New York, NY. 1934 - Joseph Stalin ended the 17th CPSU-congress and says Life becomes merrier. 1934 - Thomson/Gertrude Stein's opera Four Saints in Three Acts premiered in New York, NY. 1935 - Born this day, Conrad Klapheck, German painter (typewriters). 1935 - Born this day, Salvator Pueyo, composer. 1935 - The Pennsylvania Railroad began a passenger service with a new streamlined electric locomotive. The engine was 79-1/2 feet long and weighed in at a hefty 230 tons. 1935 - Born this day, Theodore Antoniou, composer. 1936 - Born this day, Olwyn Bowey, painter. 1936 - Born this day, Sylvia Williams, museum director, curator. 1937 - Born this day, Don Wilson, rock guitarist, The Ventures, 1960 US No.2 and UK No.8 single Walk Don't Run, 1960 UK No.4 single Perfidia, also recorded Hawaii-Five-O theme. 1937 - Born this day, Yuriy Poyarkov, USSR volleyball player (Olympics 2 gold/1 silver 1964, 1972). 1937 - Born this day, Lord Justice Rose. 1937 - Ragnhild Hveger swam a world free style record 400 metres in 5 minutes 14.2 seconds. 1937 - Born this day, Roberta Flack, in Asheville, North Carolina, USA, soul singer. Worked as a high school music teacher. 1972 UK No.14 single The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, 1973 US No.1 and UK No.6 single Killing Me Softly With His Song, 1980 UK No.3 single Back Together Again, 1983 UK No.2 single with Peabro Bryson, Tonight I Celebrate My Love. 1938 - King Carol II of Romania drove out the dictator Goga. 1939 - Born this day, Barbara Kolb, in Hartford, Connecticut, composer (Trobar Jus). 1939 - Died this day, Pius XI [Ambrogio D A Ratti], Italian Pope (1922-39). Died aged 81. 1939 - The Japanese occupied the island of Hainan in French Indochina. 1939 - Born this day, Peter Purves, actor and former Blue Peter presenter. 1940 - Born this day, Jimmy Merchant, rock vocalist, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, 1956 UK No.1 and US No.6 single Why Do Fools Fall In Love, 1957 UK No.12 single I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent, 1957 UK No.4 single Baby Baby, 1957 UK No.1 single Goody Goody. 1940 - Born this day, Hamish Imlach, folk singer, comic. 1940 - Born this day, Mary Rand-Bignal-Toomey, in England, long jumper (Olympics gold 1964). 1940 - Born this day, Peter Middleton, CEO (Lloyd's). 1940 - In The Mood by Glenn Miller hit No.1 on the US charts. 1940 - Tom and Jerry created by Hanna and Barbera was debuted by MGM. 1940 - The US female Figure Skating championship was won by Joan Tozzer. 1940 - The US male Figure Skating championship was won by Eugene Turner. 1941 - The first highway post office made its first trip, from Washington DC to Harrisonburg, Virginia. 1941 - Anti-Nazi Het Parool began publishing in the Netherlands. 1941 - London severed diplomatic relations with Romania. 1941 - Iceland was attacked by German planes. 1941 - Born this day, John Hampshire, cricketer (of Yorkshire Century on debut for England 1969). 1941 - Born this day, Michael Apted, director, researcher (Granada TV). 1942 - Born this day, Michael Bishop, CEO (British Midland Airways), 1942 - Ted Fio Rito's orchestra recorded Rio Rita for Decca Records in Los Angeles. Bob Carroll sang on the disc that became the group's theme song. 1942 - Glenn Miller received the first ever gold disc for selling one million copies of Chattanooga Choo Choo. 1942 - The war halted civilian car production at Ford in America. 1943 - Born this day, Ral Donner [Ralph Stuart], in Black Mountain, North Carolina, singer, 1961 US No.4 and UK No.25 single You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Until You Loose It, with Chicago, 1976 UK and US No.1 single If You Leave Me Now. Died 6 April 1984. 1943 - Died this day, Wa'er shot dead by Defiance. 1943 - The 8th Army swept through North Africa to Tunisia. 1943 - Van der Veen Resistance started a fire in an Amsterdam employment bureau. 1944 - The Belgium resistance fighter and author, Kamiel van Baelen, was arrested. 1944 - Submarines U-666, U-545 and U-283 sank off Ireland. 1944 - Born this day, Frances Moore Lappe, author. 1944 - Born this day, Frank Keating, Governor of Oklahoma. 1944 - Born this day, Peter Allen, in Australia, singer, pianist (I Go to Rio, Legs Diamond). 1944 - Pay As You Earn income tax was introduced in the UK. 1945 - B-29s bombed the Tokyo area. 1945 - Died this day, Juan de Hernandez, composer. Died aged 63. 1945 - Born this day, John Hayes, Secretary-General (British Law Society). 1945 - Born this day, Klas Tuinstra, Dutch MP (CDA). 1945 - Rum & Coca Cola by the Andrews Sisters hit No.1 on the US charts. 1946 - The first black pro-baseball player Jackie Robinson marries Rachel Isum. 1946 - Born this day, Keith Mans, MP. 1946 - Born this day, Clifford T. Ward, singer, songwriter, 1973 UK No.8 single Gaye. Died 18 December 2001. 1947 - US Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall prayed: 'Save Thy servants from the tyranny of the nonessential. Give them the courage to say "No" to everything that makes it more difficult to say "Yes" to Thee.' 1947 - Italy ceded most of Venezia Giulia to Yugoslavia. 1947 - The province of Petsamo was returned to the Soviet Union by Finland. 1947 - The Netherlands Radio Union was formed. 1947 - World War II (WWII) peace treaties were signed. 1948 - The guerrilla army of Greek General Markos bombed Saloniki. 1948 - Died this day, Ewart Astill, cricket all-rounder (9 Tests for England 1927-30). 1948 - Died this day, Sergei Eisenstein, Russian director (Battleship Potemkin). Died aged 50. 1948 - Born this day, Conrad Cummings, composer. 1949 - Born this day, Nick Owen, UK broadcaster. 1949 - Born this day, Joe Lavender, NFLer, football. 1949 - Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman opened at the Morocco Theatre in New York City. Lee J. Cobb, Arthur Kennedy and Mildred Dunnock starred. The play later became a major motion picture. 1949 - Born this day, Nigel Olsson, drums, Elton John band. 1950 - Born this day, Mark Spitz, in Modesto, California, swimmer (Olympics 9 gold/silver/bronze 1968, 1972). 1950 - Born this day, Gail Rebuck CEO (Random House). 1950 - Born this day, Mike Rutherford, rock musician, Genesis, 1978 UK No.7 single Follow You Follow Me, 1980 UK No.8 single Turn It On Again, 1981 UK No.9 single Abacab, 1983 UK No.4 single Mama, 1992 UK No.7 single I Can't Dance, with Mike & the Mechanics, 1989 UK No.2 single The Living Years. 1950 - Died this day, Armen Tigran Tigranyan, composer. Died aged 70. 1951 - Died this day, Joseph Bovet, composer. Died aged 71. 1951 - Born this day, Roxanne Pulitzer, in Glendale, California, author (The Prize Pulitzer). 1951 - John and Marsha by Stan Freberg peaks at number 21 on the US charts. 1951 - The Shah of Persia marries 19 year old Soraja Esfandiara Bakhtiari. 1951 - Born this day, Zeudi Araya, in Asmara, Ethiopia, Miss Ethiopia (1969). 1952 - Born this day, Mike Varty, NFLer, football. 1953 - Born this day, Carl Joseph Stone, composer. 1953 - Born this day, John Shirley, US sci-fi author (Eclipse Penumbra, Eclipse Corona). 1953 - The Ice Dance Championship at Davos was won by Jean Westwood and Lawrence Demmy of Great Britain. 1953 - The Ice Pairs Championship at Davos was won by Jennifer and John Nicks of Great Britain. 1953 - The Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Davos was won by Tenley Albright of the USA. 1953 - The Men's Figure Skating Champion in Davos was won by Hayes Alan Jenkins of the USA. 1954 - President Eisenhower warned against US intervention in Vietnam. 1954 - The Ice Dance Championship at Oslo was won by Jean Westwood and Lawrence Demmy Great Britain. 1954 - The Ice Pairs Championship at Oslo was won by Frances Dafoe and Norris Bowden of Canada. 1954 - The Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Oslo was won by Gundi Busch of Germany. 1954 - The Men's Figure Skating Championship in Oslo was won by Hayes Alan Jenkins of the USA. 1955 - Born this day, Lusia Mae Harris, in Minter City, Mississippi, basketball player (Olympics silver 1976). 1955 - Bell Aircraft displayed a fixed-wing vertical takeoff plane - The Fairey Rotodyne. 1955 - The South African government carried out its threatened destruction of the black Johannesburg township of Sophiatown and the enforced eviction of its 60,000 inhabitants, when 3,000 armed police moved in ahead of bulldozers. 1956 - Born this day, [Gregory John] Greg Norman, in Queensland, Australia, PGA golfer 'The White Shark' (1984 Kemper). 1956 - My Friend Flicka premiered on CBS, later on NBC, TV. 1956 - Elvis Presley recorded Heartbreak Hotel for RCA Records in Nashville, Tennessee. The record received two gold records, one for each side. The hit on the other side was I Was the One. And for the trivia buffs among you, impress your friends with this snippet of info - the first known million-seller was by Ben Selvin back in 1919. It also was a two sided hit, featuring I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles and Darandella. 1956 - Little Richard recorded Long Tall Sally. 1957 - Born this day, Debbie Brinkley, in Tasmania, golfer (1990 T25 Victorian Open). 1957 - Born this day, Pranab Roy, cricketer (son of Pankaj, Indian batsman 1982). 1957 - Fay Crocker won the LPGA Serbin Golf Open. 1957 - The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was formed. 1957 - Died this day, Laura Ingalls Wilder, US author (Little House on Prairie). Died aged 90. 1958 - The Annette serial began on ABC-TV's Mickey Mouse Club. 1958 - Died this day, Billy Vine, actor (54th Street Revue). Died aged 42. 1958 - Born this day, Norman Harris, guitarist, songwriter, producer. Worked with The Delfonics, The Trammps, MFSB. Died of a heart attack 21 March 1987. 1958 - Frank Sinatra started a five week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Come Fly With Me. 1958 - Born this day, Sharon Stone, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, actress (Basic Instinct, Total Recall). 1959 - Born this day, Tonga [Uliuli Fifita], wrestler (WCW/WAR/WWF, Ming, Haku, Islanders). 1959 - Dutch Princess Wilhelmina published Lonely, but not alone. 1959 - A tornado in St. Louis killed 19 and injured 265 people. 1959 - Born this day, Dennis Louis Gentry, US football. 1960 - Unsinkable Molly Brown closed at the Winter Garden in New York City after 532 performances. 1960 - Charles Ives' Lincoln, the Great Commoner premiered. 1960 - Born this day, Lionel Cartwright, in Ohio, country vocalist (I Watched it on the Radio). 1960 - Adolph Coors, the beer brewer, was kidnapped in Golden, Colorado. 1961 - Born this day, David Ward, cricketer (prolific Surrey batsman). 1961 - The Los Angeles franchise in the American Football League was transferred to San Diego. The team was called "the Dodgers" in Los Angeles. 1961 - Born this day, Eva Pfaff, in West Germany, tennis player. 1961 - Born this day, George Stephanopoulos, presidential adviser to president Clinton. 1961 - AFL's Los Angeles Chargers moved to San Diego. 1961 - The Niagara Falls hydroelectric project began producing power. 1961 - Walter Piston's 7th Symphony, premiered. 1961 - Born this day, Robbie Neville, singer, 1987 UK No.3 single C'est La Vie. 1962 - Jim Beatty set an American indoor mile record of 3 minutes 58.9 seconds in Los Angeles, California. 1962 - In Berlin, US U-2 spy-plane pilot Gary Powers, shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960, was exchanged for KGB agent Rudolf Abel. 1962 - Born this day, Cliff Burton, rock musician, bass, Metallica, died 27 September 1987, when the bands tour bus crashed as it was travelling between Stockholm and Copenhagen. Burton was found crushed to death under the bus. 1962 - Born this day, Jean-Marie Banos, in Lavelanet, France, Canada sabre (Olympics-9/10-1988, 1992, 1996). 1962 - Died this day, Willem Paerels, Netherlands/Belgian painter, graphic artist. Died aged 83. 1962 - Henry Mancini went to No.1 on the US album chart with the soundtrack to Breakfast At Tiffany's. 1963 - Born this day, Lenny [Leonard Kyle] Dykstra, baseball, centerfielder (New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies). 1963 - Born this day, Bennie Thompson, NFLer (Saints, Chiefs, Cleveland Browns/Ravens). 1963 - Born this day, Harris Huizingh, soccer player (FC Groningen). 1963 - Born this day, Joakim Nystrom, i n Sweden, tennis player. 1963 - Mickey Wright won the LPGA St. Petersburg Women's Golf Open. 1963 - US female Figure Skating championship was won by Lorraine Hanlon. 1963 - US male Figure Skating championship was won by Thomas Litz. 1964 - Australian destroyer Voyager sank off Australia after a collision with aircraft carrier Melbourne. 82 were killed. 1964 - WBGU TV channel 27 in Bowling Green, Ohio (PBS) began broadcasting. 1964 - Born this day, Francesca Neri, in Trento, Italy, actress (Ages of Lulu). 1964 - Born this day, Mir Aimal Kansi, in Quetta, Pakistan, murderer (FBI Most Wanted). 1964 - The American press reported that "millions of teenage boys are spending extra time in front of the mirror trying to make their hair look like Paul McCartney's...," following an appearance of the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show the previous night. 1964 - Born this day, Roger Reijners, soccer player (MVV). 1964 - Born this day, Sam Graddy, in Gaffney, South Carolina, 4x100 meter runner (Olympics gold 1984). 1965 - Chad and Jeremy guested on CBS-TV's Dick Van Dyke Show. 1965 - Born this day, Lenny Webster, in New Orleans, Louisiana, catcher (Montréal Expos). 1965 - Born this day, Marjolein Macrander, Dutch actress (Drowned). 1965 - A quote, often used later by others, was first stated by Hubert H. Humphrey who said, The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbour. Humphrey was a noted and much beloved US Senator from Minnesota and a Vice-President in the Lyndon B. Johnson administration. He ran for the Presidency but lost to Richard M. Nixon. 1966 - Born this day, Daryl Johnston, NFL running back (Dallas Cowboys). 1966 - Protester David Miller was convicted of burning his draft card. 1966 - Died this day, Billy Rose, US theatre producer (Diamond Horse Show), aged 66. 1966 - The Harmel government in Belgium resigned. 1966 - Bob Marley married Rita Anderson. 1967 - The 25th Amendment (Presidential Disability & Succession) came into effect. 
1967 - Born this day, Laura Dern, in Los Angeles, California, actress (Blue Velvet, Mask, Small Talk). 1967 - Born this day, Bradley Hughes, in Mordialloc, Victoria, Australia, Australian golfer. 1967 - Born this day, Dwayne 'Road Grader' White, NFLer (New York Jets, St Louis). 1967 - The Beatles recorded their classic A Day in the Life, and with them in the studio were some other famous names from the music world: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, Mike Nesmith of the Monkees, Donovan, Marianne Faithfull, and George Harrison's wife, model Patti Boyd. 1968 - Died this day, Pitirim A. Sorokin, Russian/US sociologist, aged 79. 1968 - Born this day, Peter Popovic, in Koping, Sweden, NHL defenseman (Montréal Canadiens). 1968 - One hit wonder Paul Mauriat started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Love Is Blue, it made No.12 in the UK. 1968 - The Four Tops Greatest Hits was at No.1 on the UK album chart, the first No.1 album for the Tamla Motown label. 1968 - Born this day, Ryan Bowen, US baseball pitcher (Florida Marlins). 1968 - Spooky by Classics IV hit number 3 on the US charts. 1968 - Peggy Fleming won the Olympics figure skating gold medal in Grenoble, France at the Winter Olympics. Hers was the only gold medal won in this Olympics by an American athlete. 1969 - LSU Pete Maravich scored 66, despite losing to Tulane 101-94. 1969 - Born this day, Jayhawk Owens, in Cincinnati, Ohio, catcher (Colorado Rockies). 1969 - Born this day, Tim Clark, US baseball outfielder (Florida Marlins). 1970 - Born this day, Alberto Castillo, Dominican/US baseball catcher (New York Mets). 1970 - Born this day, Bobby Jones, in Fresno, California, pitcher (New York Mets). 1970 - Born this day, Brendan Eppert, in St. Louis, Missouri, speed skater (Olympics 1994). 1970 - A dry powder avalanche moving at 120 mph smashed into a youth hostel killing 40 Belgian, French, & German youths at Val d'Isere in France. 1970 - Rain upto 26.4cm fell on Mount Washington in New Hampshire. A state record. 1971 - American Mensa, Ltd was incorporated in New York. 1971 - John Guares' House of Blue Leaves premiered in New York, NY. 1971 - The Royal Albert Hall banned a scheduled concert featuring Frank Zappa. 1971 - Born this day, Kevin Sefcik, in Oaklawn, Illinois, infielder (Philadelphia Phillies). 1971 - Born this day, Marty Nothstein, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, sprint cyclist (Olympics silver 1996). 1971 - Born this day, Wayne Gandy, tackle (St Louis Rams). 1972 - Born this day, Michael Kasprowicz, cricketer (Australian Test fast bowler vs West Indies 1996). 1972 - Appearing at The Rainbow Theatre, were The Faces, tickets were 75p. 1972 - Born this day, Nancy Christian, in Scottsdale, Arizona, WPVA volleyballer (US Open 17th 1995). 1972 - Born this day, Sara Simmons, in Belmont, Massachusetts, rower (Olympics 1996). 1972 - David Bowie appeared at the Tolworth Toby Jug, London, the opening date of his Ziggy Stardust tour. 1972 - Born this day, Torey Hunter, NFL cornerback (Houston Oilers). 1972 - The BBC banned Give Ireland Back to the Irish by Wings. 1972 - Ras al Khaima joined the United Arab Emirates. 1972 - The USSR performed a nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk USSR. 1973 - Rangers shut-out Islanders 6-0 for a second time. 1973 - An 83 metre wide gas tank on Staten Island, New York exploded. 40 people were crushed. 1973 - Mushtaq Mohammad followed up 201 to take 5-49 vs New Zealand at Dunedin. 1973 - Elton John had his first UK No.1 album when Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player started a 6 week run at the top. 1974 - Born this day, Andrew English, CFL receiver (British Columbia Lions). 1974 - Born this day, Lea Ghirardi-Rubbi, in Colombes, France, tennis star (1994 Futures NC). 1974 - Producer Phil Spector was seriously burned in a car crash, but recovered. He needed extensive plastic surgery that dramatically altered his looks. 1974 - Born this day, Ty Law, NFL cornerback (New England Patriots). 1974 - Silver futures hit record four dollars, 81 and a half cents an ounce in London. 1974 - Gigi closed at the Uris Theatre in New York City after 103 performances. 1974 - Gail Denenber won the LPGA Sears Women's Golf Classic. 1974 - An Iran/Iraqi border fight broke out. 1974 - Judy Ikenberry won the first US women's marathon in 2 hours 55 minutes 17 seconds. (Where was it held?) 1975 - William 'Judy' Johnson was selected to baseball Hall of Fame. 1975 - Died this day, Dave Alexander, bass player with Iggy Pop And The Stooges, from pneumonia aged 28. 1975 - Born this day, Tina Thompson, WNBA forward (Houston Comets). 1975 - Pakistan banned the opposition National Awami Party and arrested its leaders. 1975 - Born this day, Claire Goose, actress (Casualty). 1976 - Elvis Presley was made a police reserve for the Memphis police. 1977 - The Clash started recording their debut album at CBS studio's London. 1977 - Born this day, Rosanna Tavarez, Eden's Crush, 2001 US No. 8 single Get Over Yourself. 1977 - Died this day, Grace Mary Williams, composer. Died aged 70. 1977 - Physicist Yuri Orlov, a leader of a Soviet dissident group monitoring implementation of the 1975 Helsinki human rights accord, was arrested. 1977 - Born this day, Stephanie Ann Foisy, in Concord, New Hampshire, Miss New Hampshire-America (1995). 1977 - Yehonathan Netanyou Lane in the Bronx was named in honour of Bronx-born. 1977 - Party with Comden and Green opened at the Morosco Theatre in New York City for 92 performances. 1978 - Frank C. Carlucci succeeded John F. Blake as deputy director of the CIA. 1978 - The TV movie Dead Man's Curve, based on the lives of Jan and Dean, aired on ABC. 1979 - The Metropolitan Museum announced the first major theft in its 110-year history. A $150,000 Greek marble head. 1979 - Border was named the 12th man for Australia, the only Test Cricket he missed. 1979 - Rod Stewart started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?, his third US No.1 single. It also made No.1 in the UK. Also today Rod started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Blondes Have More Fun'. 1980 - Ianford Wilson's Talley's Folly premiered in New York, NY. 1980 - Jane Blalock won the LPGA Elizabeth Arden Golf Classic. 1981 - Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo was named Spanish prime minister by King Juan Carlos. 1981 - Eight were killed and 198 injured by a fire at the Las Vegas Hilton. 1981 - In the 33rd NHL All-Star Game, Campbell beat Wales 4-1 at Los Angeles, California. 1981 - Dennis Lillee became Australian Cricket's top wicket-taker with 249. 1982 - 28 skiers performed backflips while holding hands. It was performed at Bromont, Quebec. 1982 - Died this day, K. R. Meher-Homji, cricketer (Test as Indian, catch no stumped). 1983 - Died this day, Eduard Franz, actor (Zorro). Died aged 80. 1983 - The Anglican synod voted 338-100 against unilateral UK nuclear disarmament. 1984 - Americans and other foreigners were evacuated from Beirut following the withdrawal of US Marines from Lebanon. 1984 - On this day former British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan on his 90th birthday, was made Earl Of Stockton. 1985 - A temperature of -61ºF (-52ºC) was recorded at Maybell, Colorado. A state record. 1985 - Challenger moved to Vandenberg Air Force Base for mating with STS 51-E mission. 1985 - In the 35th NBA All-Star Game, West beat East 140-129 at Indiana. 1985 - Andrea Schöne skated a ladies world record 5 km in 7 minutes 32.82 seconds. 1985 - Patty Sheehan won the LPGA Sarasota Golf Classic. 1985 - One of the Houston Rockets' Twin Towers, seven-foot-four-inch Ralph Sampson (the Rockets star center), scored 24 points to lead the West over the East, 140-129 in the NBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, Indiana. Sampson was named the games' Most Valuable Player. 1985 - The USSR performed a nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk USSR. 1986 - John Lennon's Live in NYC album was released. 1986 - The largest Mafia trial in history, with 474 defendants, opened in Palermo, Italy. 1986 - Died this day, Brian Aherne, actor (Juarez, My Sister Eileen, Rosie). Died aged 83. 1987 - Philippine troops murdered 17 civilians - became known as the Lupao Massacre. 1987 - US Surgeon General C. Everett Koop endorsed television advertising for condoms to help curb the spread of AIDS. 1988 - A 3-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco struck down the US Army's ban on homosexuals. It was later overturned by appeal. 1988 - A coup by Rocky Malebane-Metsing in Bophuthatswana failed. 1989 - Died this day, Dan Kelly, NHL sportscaster. Died aged 52. 1989 - The 100th episode of Miami Vice was seen on US TV. 1989 - The Minor League Football System opened an organisational meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. 1989 - To gain deregulation World Wrestling Federation (WWF) admitted in a New Jersey court, that pro-wrestling was an exhibition and not a sport. 1989 - Celtic Kansas City Jones and Cavalier Lenny Wilkens were elected to the NBA Hall of Fame. 1989 - This day saw the Test Cricket debut of Aaqib Javed, in a Pakistan vs New Zealand match at the age of 16 years 189 days. 1989 - Michael Manley became prime minister of Jamaica. 1989 - Tony Robinson of Jamaica became Nottingham's first black sheriff. 1989 - The US performed a nuclear test at its Nevada Test Site. 1989 - On this date in 1989, Ronald H. Brown, a former Supreme Court lawyer and leader of the National Urban League, was elected chairman of the Democratic Party National Committee. He was the first African American to hold the top position in a major political party in the United States. Brown, born in Washington, DC, in 1941, was raised in New York City's Harlem, where he worked as a welfare caseworker before joining the US Army. After holding important positions in the National Urban League, an advocacy group for the renewal of inner cities, he became a member of the US Supreme Court bar and served as chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee. As chairman of the Democratic Party, Brown played a pivotal role in securing the 1992 election of Bill Clinton, the first Democratic president in 12 years. In 1993, he was appointed America's first African American secretary of commerce by President Clinton, a capacity in which he served until 3 April 1996, when he and 32 other Americans were killed when their plane crashed into a mountain in Croatia. Brown had been leading a delegation of business executives to the former Yugoslavia to explore business opportunities that might help rebuild the war-torn region. 1990 - Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson in 10 rounds to become heavyweight boxing champion. (Where was it held). 1990 - Perrier Water pulled its product from supermarket shelves due to benzene contamination of the water. 1990 - South African President F. W. de Klerk announced that Nelson Mandela would be freed on 11 February. 1990 - The 6th largest wrestling crowd of 63,900, watched a match at Tokyo Dome. (at the time, has it been beaten?) 1990 - The US female Figure Skating championship was won by Jill Trenary. 1990 - Paula Abdul started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Opposites Attract, her fourth US No.1, and a No.2 hit in the UK. 1991 - La Bete opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York City for 24 performances. 1991 - In the 41st NBA All-Star Game East beat West 116-114 at Charlotte, North Carolina. 1991 - Beth Daniel won the LPGA Phar-Mor at Inverrary Golf Tournament. 1991 - Johann Koss skated a world record 10 km in 13 minutes 43.54 seconds. 1991 - Lithuanians voted overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet Union. Parliament had already declared independence in March 1990. 1991 - ANC gunmen ambushed an Inkatha Freedom Party motorcade outside Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, killing 17 and wounding 29. 1992 - An Indianapolis jury convicted former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson in the rape of a beauty pageant contestant. 1992 - Died this day, Alex Haley, noted black US writer (Autobiography of Malcolm X, Roots). Died in Seattle of a heart attack aged 70. Haley would be best-remembered for his gripping account of African family history spanning two centuries, Roots, which was later turned into a wildly successful TV mini-series. 1992 - In Indianapolis, former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was found guilty of rape of an 18-year-old beauty contestant, Desiree Washington. The jury found him guilty on all three counts after deliberating for 9 hours. 1992 - Died this day, Florence Tarlow, died of cancer aged 70. 1992 - Dangerous Women had its final episode aired on WWOR-TV. 1992 - Died this day, Mau Kopuit, Dutch editor-in-chief (New Israeli Weekly Newspaper). 1992 - Died this day, Meade Roberts, screenwriter, died of congestive heart failure aged 61. 1992 - Died this day, Thomas Graftdijk, Dutch writer (Dr Faustus). 1992 - The New Kids on the Block filed suit on this date against former producer Gregory McPherson, accusing him of slander. McPherson had publicly accused the group of lip-syncing, and said that the young entertainers did on 20 percent of the singing in concerts and on their 1988 hit album, Hangin' Tough. McPherson claimed that New Kids manager Maurice Starr and Starr's brother were the real voices. The group's attorney denied his claim. Two months later, McPherson dropped his $21 million suit against Starr. 1992 - Died this day, Wim Ramaker, Dutch director, writer (On Death Track). 1992 - Bonnie Blair won the first gold medal in the 1992 Olympics for the USA. 1993 - Jani Sievinen swam a world record 200 metre backstroke in 1 minute 55.59 seconds. 1993 - The US officially backed the peace plan in Bosnia. 1993 - Died this day, John Grossman, Czechoslovakian director (Process, Revisor). 1993 - Died this day, Joy Garrett, actress (Days of Our Live), died of liver failure aged 47. 1993 - Michael Jackson Talks To Oprah Winfrey aired on ABC and drew an astounding 90 million viewers. It was a special edition of the Oprah Winfrey show, with Jackson giving his first TV interview for 14 years, live from Neverland Valley Ranch. 1993 - Died this day, Maurice Bourges-Maunoury, Prime Minister of France (1957). 1993 - President Clinton moved to make good on a campaign pledge to cut the government. He announced a 100,000-person reduction in the federal work force over the next three years. 1993 - A gang of more than 40 people ambushed two trucks in a mountainous region of Mexico, shooting to death at least 24 men in a drug-related family feud. 1994 - Snoop Doggy Dog made his UK live debut at London's Leicester Square Equinox. 1994 - Russia called for a Security Council meeting to consider putting Sarajevo under United Nations (UN) administration. 1995 - Died this day, Kenton Kilmer, poet, translator. Died aged 85. 1995 - Died this day, Louis Sen A Kaw, Suriname's great dam builder. Died aged 75. 1995 - Chelsi Smith at the age of 21, from Texas, was crowned the 44th Miss USA. 1995 - Sun Cayun pole vaulted to a female indoor world record of 4.12 metres. 1995 - Died this day, Paul Monette, writer. Died aged 49. 1995 - Died this day, S van der Linde, church historian. Died aged 89. 1995 - The US female Figure Skating championship was won by Nicole Bobek. 1996 - An IBM computer called Deep Blue made chess history by comfortably beating world champion Garry Kasparov, a machine's first victory under classic tournament rules. 1996 - Died this day, Hugh Francis Lamprey, ecologist. Died aged 67. 1996 - B.B. King guested on CBS-TV's Touched By An Angel. 1997 - The 5th annual ESPY Awards were presented. 1997 - Comet Shoemaker-Holt 2 made its closest approach to Earth (1.9245 AU). (How near?) 1997 - Died this day, Milton Cato, Prime Minister of San Vincent & Grenadines (1979-84). 1997 - The 13th Soap Opera Digest Awards were presented. 1997 - Lemrick Nelson was found guilty of the fatal stabbing on Hasidic Jew Yankel Rosenbaum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn in 1991. 1997 - Died this day, Brian McManus Connolly, musician. Singer with the 1970's Glam rock group Sweet, died of kidney failure, aged 47. 1997 - The O.J. Simpson jury reached a decision on $25 million in punitive damages. 1997 - Soyuz TM-25 was launched to the MIR space station. 1997 - During a gig by Blur at London's Astoria, Spice Girls Ginger and Sporty were thrown off the stage after joining the band. The security didn't recognise them. 1998 - Monica Lewinsky's mother began two days of testimony before a grand jury investigating allegations that President Clinton had an affair with the former White House intern. 1998 - After being vacant for more than three years, the office of surgeon general was filled when the Senate approved the nomination of Dr. David Satcher, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control. 1998 - Axl Rose was charged with disorderly conduct following a row with a baggage handler at Arizona Airport, Rose was later released on bail. 1998 - AOL raised its monthly flat rate Internet access fee from $19.95 to $21.95. 1998 - Olympics figure skater Peggy Fleming underwent breast cancer surgery. 1998 - Died this day, Buddy the Wonder Dog, (Air Bud), died of cancer aged 9. 1998 - Died this day, Maurice Schumann, French foreign minister (1969-73). 2000 - 74 hostages and their dependents claimed refuge in the UK after being freed from a hi-jacked plane at Stanstead. 2001 - A dismembered body found in a Japanese cave was formally identified as that of missing British bar hostess Lucie Blackman. 2001 - Police were investigating Eminem over suspected drugs offences after he appeared to consume Ecstasy pills and encouraged the audience at his Manchester show to take drugs. Over 100 gay rights protesters also picketed the show. 2002 - Elton John performed at the National Basketball Association All-Star Game in Philadelphia. 2002 - Enrique Iglesias started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with Escape. 2002 - The Department of Health was planning a publicity blitz to convince parents the controversial MMR vaccine was safe for children. 2003 - England informed the International Cricket Council that they intended to boycott the World Cup opener in Harare. The England and Wales Cricket Board's decision followed attempts by the ICC to reassure England that their safety fears over Zimbabwe were unfounded. The ECB formally informed the ICC in a letter that England's cricketers would not play the match on Thursday 13 February. 2003 - The Home Office insisted that it expected asylum applications to be halved by September. 19xx - Born this day, Elaine [Kaufman], in New York, NY, restauranteur (Elaine). Elaine's is something of a landmark restaurant in New York - and a great place to star-watch New York's film literati. Elaine's is a clubhouse of New York's intellectual elite who come to savour Elaine Kaufman's Italian-Jewish comfort food. |
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.