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February 13th
1130 - Gregorio de' Papareschi was elected as Pope Innocent II. 1130 - Died this day, Honorius II [Lamberto], Pope (1124-30). 1199 - Died this day, Stefanus Nemanja (Symeon), monk. 1237 - Died this day, Jordanus of Saxon, second general of Dominicans, drowned. 1315 - Died this day, Jan I. van Chalon-Arlay, mayor of Neuchƒtel. 1332 - Died this day, Andronicus II Paleologus, Byzantine emperor (1282-1328), monk. 1349 - Jews were expelled from Burgsordf, Switzerland. 1440 - Born this day, Hartmann Skull, German physician, humanist, historian. 1480 - Born this day, Girolamo Aleandro, so called Hieronymus Aleander, Italian humanist and diplomat, scholar, and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, was born in Treviso, he studied at Padua and then in Venice, where he met Aldus Manutius. In 1508 he went to Paris on the advice of and with an introduction from Erasmus. Budac was among his first private pupils. In 1509 he gave a course of lectures in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin at Paris and taught there intermittently until 1513. His Lexicon Graeco-Latinum appeared in 1512. After ill-health forced him to give up teaching he was employed as a papal envoy, having a notorious confrontation with Luther in Germany in 1520-21. A principal in the Lutheran crisis, he obtained the condemnation of Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms (1521), and he made an outline of policy for the Counter Reformation. He became Vatican librarian (1519) under Leo X and later cardinal (1536). Aleandro was an influential teacher. Sometimes his classes numbered 1500 students and he was largely responsible for introducing Greek studies to Paris. 1510 - Charles van Gelre conquerored Oldenzaal. 1542 - Died this day, Katherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, was beheaded. 1545 - Willem of Nassau became prince of Orange. 1599 - Born this day, Alexander VII, [Fabio Chigi], in Siena, Italy, pope (1655-67). 1601 - John Lancaster led the first East India Company voyage from London. 1602 - Died this day, Alexander Nowell, English churchman, dean of St Paul's. 1610 - Born this day, Jean de la Badie, French divine, founder of Lagardists. 1622 - Born this day, Adam Pijnacker, landscape painter, etcher. 1629 - Died this day, Girolamo Giacobbi, composer, aged 61. 1635 - Died this day, Georg R. Weckerlin, German poet. 1635 - The oldest public institution in America, the Boston Latin School, was founded. 1651 - Flemish missionaries Joris van Yellow departed to the Congo. 1658 - Born this day, John B. Wellekens, poet, painter. 1660 - Born this day, Johann Sigismund Kusser, composer. 1668 - Spain recognised Portugal. 1678 - Tycho Brahe first sketched his 'Tychonic system' of the solar system. 1689 - Parliament adopted and presented to William and Mary, the Bill of Rights, the basis for the constutional monarchy. 1692 - The Glencoe massacre took place in the Scottish Highlands, when the MacDonalds were massacred by their traditional enemies, the Campbells. Apparently murdered on orders of King Willem III. 1693 - Died this day, Johann Kaspar Kerll, composer, aged 65. 1682 - Born this day, Giovanni Battista Piazzetta, in Venice, painter (Fortune Teller). 1713 - Born this day, Domingo Miguel Bernaube Terradellas, composer. 1721 - Born this day, John Reid, composer. 1724 - Died this day, Francisco Jose Coutinho, composer, aged 43. 1741 - Andrew Bedford published the first American magazine (American Magazine). 1755 - Rebel leader Mangkubuni signed the Treaty of Gianti. 1755 - Born this day, Francois Alexander Sallantin, composer. 1757 - Born this day, John C. Hespe, journalist, politician. 1764 - Born this day, Talleyrand, France/Napolean's foreign minster. 1768 - Born this day, Edouard Mortier, French general, duke, prime minister (1834-35). 1777 - Marquis de Sade was arrested without charge, and imprisoned in Vincennes fortress. 1787 - Born this day, James P. Carrell, composer. 1795 - The first state university in the US opened, University of North Carolina. 1798 - Died this day, Wilhelm H. Wackenroder, German writer (Fantasies of Art). 1799 - The first US law regulating insurance was passed, by Massachusetts. 1805 - Born this day, David Dudley Field, lawyer, law codifier. 1805 - Born this day, Peter G.L. Dirichlet, in Germany, number theorist, analysist. 1809 - The French took Saragossa, Spain after a long siege. 1814 - Died this day, Augustin Holler, composer, aged 70. 1816 - Over two 13-14 February, Teatro San Carlo in Naples was destroyed by fire. 1820 - Born this day, Bela Albrecht Pal Keler, composer. 1822 - Born this day, Lev A Miss, Russian nobleman, poet. 1829 - Born this day, Gerard Keller, writer (Netherlands Spectator). 1831 - Born this day, John Aaron Rawlins, Bvt Major General (Union Army). Died in 1869. 1832 - The first appearance of cholera in London. 1833 - Born this day, William Whedbee Kirkland, Brigadier General (Confederate Army). Died in 1915. 1837 - Born this day, Valentin de Zubiaurre y Unionbarrenechea, composer. 1837 - There was a riot in New York over the high price of flour. 1840 - Born this day, Georg Jacobi, composer. 1841 - Died this day, Thomas Ainsworth, English-Dutch industrialist, aged 45. 1849 - Died this day, Christian Rummel, composer, aged 61. 1849 - Born this day, Lord Randolph Churchill, in England, politician, Winston's father. 1852 - Born this day, Johan L.E. Dreyer, Danish astronomer (New gen catalogue of nebulae). 1858 - Sir Richard Burton and John Speake explored Lake Tanganyika, Africa. 1859 - Born this day, Franc Van de Goes, writer, marxist theorist. 1860 - King Basse Kajuara departed Boni South-Celebes. 1861 - On this date the earliest military action to be honoured with a Medal of Honor award was performed by Colonel Bernard J.D. Irwin, an assistant army surgeon serving in the first major US-Apache conflict. Near Apache Pass, in south-eastern Arizona, Irwin, an Irish-born doctor, volunteered to go to the rescue of Second Lieutenant George N. Bascom, who was trapped with sixty men of the US Seventh Infantry by the Chiricahua Apaches. On 13 February Irwin and fourteen men, initially without horses, begin the one-hundred-mile-march to Bascom's forces riding mules. After fighting and capturing Apaches along the way, and recovering stolen horses and cattle, they reached Bascom's forces on 14 February, and proved instrumental in breaking the siege. The first US-Apache conflict had begun several days before, when Cochise, the Chiricahua Apache chief, kidnapped three white men to exchange for his brother and two nephews, held by the US army on false charges of stealing cattle and kidnapping a child. When the exchange was refused, Cochise killed the white men and the army responded by killing his relatives, setting off the first of the Apache wars. Although Irwin's bravery in this conflict was the earliest Medal of Honor action, the award itself was not created until 1862, and it was not until 21 January 1894, that Irwin received America's highest military honour. 1861 - Born this day, Uchimura Kanzo, in Tokyo, religious writer (How I Became a Christian). 1862 - Born this day, Karel Weis, composer. 1862 - The Siege of Ft Donelson in Tennessee commenced. It lasted until the 16th. 1864 - Miridian Campaign fighting took place at Chunky Creek & Wyatt, Mississippi. 1866 - The Jesse James gang raided their first bank, in Liberty, Missouri, stealing $150,000. 1867 - Johann Strauss the Younger's waltz, The Blue Danube, was first played publicly in Vienna. 1870 - Born this day, Leopold Godowsky, in Lithuania, virtuoso pianist, composer. 1874 - Born this day, Henry Spiekman, social-democratic politician. 1877 - Born this day, Jazeps Medins, composer. 1882 - Died this day, Henry Highland Garnet, diplomat, aged 66 in Monrovia, Liberia. 1883 - Died this day, Richard Wagner, German composer (The Ring, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre (The Valkyries), Siegfried and Götterdämmerung (The Twilight of the Gods), aged 69 in Venice. 1883 - Born this day, Bainbridge Crist, composer. 1883 - Born this day, [Harold] Hal Chase, baseball player, manager. 1885 - Born this day, [Elizabeth Virginia] Bess Truman, wife of President Truman, first lady (1945-52). 1886 - Painter Thomas Eakins resigned from the Philadelphia Academy of Art after the controversial over use of male nudes in a coed art class. 1886 - Born this day, Ricardo Guiraldes, in Argentina, novelist, poet (Don Segundo Sombra). 1887 - Born this day, Alvin York, famed US soldier with 25 kills in World War I (WWI). 1888 - Born this day, Georgios Papandreou, Greek prefect of Lesbos, minister, premier. 1888 - Born this day, Heintje Davids [Hendrika David), chorus performer. 1891 - Died this day, David D. Porter, US Admiral (Civil War), aged 77. 1892 - Born this day, Grant Wood, US artist, painter (American Gothic). 1892 - Born this day, Robert Houghwout Jackson, 84th Supreme Court justice (1941-54). 1893 - Born this day, Ana Pauker-Rabensohn, in Romania, communist, foreign minister (1945-52). 1895 - The moving picture projector was patented. 1895 - Born this day, Fred Essler, actor (Unsinkable Molly Brown, Saratoga Trunk). 1896 - Died this day, Karl Reinthaler, composer, aged 73. 1899 - A temperature of -16 degrees Fahrenheit (-27 degrees Celsius) was recorded in Minden, Louisiana. (A state record). 1899 - A temperature of -1 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) was recorded in New Orleans, Louisiana. 1899 - A temperature of -2 degrees Fahrenheit (-19 degrees Celsius) was recorded in Tallahassee, Florida. (A state record). 1901 - M. Wolf discovered asteroids #473 Nolli and #474 Prudentia. 1902 - Born this day, Blair Moody, in New Haven, Connecticut, (Senator-Michigan). 1902 - Born this day, Karl Menger, US mathematician (theory of dimension). 1903 - Born this day, Georges Simenon, in Belgium, mystery writer (Snow Was Black). Wrote Maigret novels. 1905 - A temperature of -29 degrees Fahrenheit (-34 degrees Celsius) was recorded in Pond, Arkansas. (A state record). 1905 - A temperature of -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 degrees Celsius) was recorded in Lebanon, Kansas. (A state record). 1905 - A temperature of -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 degrees Celsius) was recorded in Warsaw, Missouri. (A state record). 1907 - Died this day, Marcel Bertrand, French mining engineer. 1908 - Born this day, Gerald Strang, in Claresholm, Canada, composer. 1908 - Born this day, Sulo Nurmela, in Finland, 4 X 100K relay skier (Olympic gold 1936). 1910 - Born this day, William B. Shockley, in London, US physicist (Nobel 1956). 1912 - Born this day, French J. Van den Brande, Flemish actor. 1912 - Born this day, Jose de Capriles, US fencer (Olympic 1936, 1948, 1952). 1912 - Born this day, Margaretta Scott, actress (Crescendo, Where's Charley, Counterblast). 1914 - Born this day, George Kleinsinger, in San Bernardino, California, composer (Tubby the Tuba). 1914 - The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) was formed in New York City. 1915 - Born this day, Lyle Betther, in Philadelphia, actor (Harry-Grand Jury, Lone Ranger). 1916 - Born this day, James Griffith, in Los Angeles, California, actor (Sheriff of Cochise). 1917 - Born this day, Polly Rose, actress (Myrtle-Love That Jill). 1917 - Dutch spy Mata Hari was arrested by the French. 1918 - Born this day, Helen Stephens, in Fulton, Missouri, 100 metres runner (Olympic gold 1936). 1918 - Born this day, Patty Berg, in Minnesota, golfer (1943, 1955 AP Sports Woman of Year). 1919 - Born this day, Eddie Robinson, winningest college football coach (Grambling). 1919 - Born this day, Joan Edwards, in New York City, NY, singer (Joan Edwards Show). 1919 - Born this day, 'Tennessee' Ernie Ford, in Bristol, Tennessee, entertainer, singer (Sixteen Tons). 1920 - Born this day, Boudleaux Bryant, songwriter with his wife Felice wrote The Everly Brothers hits, Bye Bye Love, All I Have To Do Is Dream, Wake Up Little Susie and Raining In My Heart a hit for Buddy Holly. Died 25 June 1987. 1920 - The National Negro Baseball League was organised. 1920 - Born this day, Eileen Farrell, in Willimantic, Connecticut, operatic soprano. 1921 - Born this day, Henk van Galen Last, journalist. 1921 - Born this day, Zao-Wou-Ki, Chinese-French painter, graphic artist. 1921 - Died this day, Willem P.C. Knuttel, bibliography, librarian, aged 67. 1922 - Born this day, Francis Pym or Lord Pym of Sandy, English politician and former member of the Cabinet. Entered parliament in 1961 and serving under Edward Heath as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1973-1974), and Margaret Thatcher as Defence Secretary (1979-1981), was Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council (1981-1982) then Foreign Secretary (1982-1983). He stood down at the 1987 election and was subsequently made Lord Pym of Sandy. 1923 - Born this day, Chuck Yaeger, famed test pilot, first man to break sound barrier. 1923 - The first Black pro Basketball team, Renaissance, was organised. 1924 - Born this day, Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber, French economist, politician. 1925 - US Congress curtailed the role of the Supreme Court. 1925 - Born this day, John Arends, poet, author. 1926 - Born this day, Barney Childs, composer. 1927 - There was an uprising against the regime of General Carmona in Portugal. 1927 - Born this day, Harry Wich, set designer. 1927 - Died this day, Brooks Adams, US philosopher (New Empire), aged 78. 1929 - Born this day, [General] Omar Torrjos Herrera, president Panama. On 7 September 1977, General Omar Torrijos Herrera and President Jimmy Carter signed treaties giving Panama gradual control of the canal, phasing out US military bases, and guaranteeing the canal's neutrality. 1930 - Born this day, Dotty McGuire, in Middletown, Ohio, singer (McGuire Sisters). 1931 - Born this day, Marjorie Jackson, in Austria, 100 metre, 200 metre dash (Olympic gold 1952). 1933 - Born this day, Caroline Blakiston, actress (At Bertram's Hotel). 1933 - Born this day, Emanuel Ungaro, in France, fashion designer (Neiman-Marcus Award-1969). 1933 - Born this day, Paul Biya, president of Cameroon (1982- ). 1933 - Born this day, Kim Novak, actress, in Chicago, Illinois, (Bell Book & Candle). 1934 - Born this day, George Segal, US film actor (Carbon Copy, Fun with Dick & Jane). Apparently plays the banjo too. 1934 - Austrian Dollfuss government banned the socialistic party. 1935 - The first US surgical operation for the relief of angina pectoris, was performed in Cleveland. 1935 - Died this day, Violet Paget, British author (Gospels of Anarchy), aged 78. 1935 - H. Van Gent discovered asteroids #1342 Brabantia, #1353 Maartje and #2378. 1936 - Born this day, Leamon King, in Tulare, California, 4 X 100 metres relayer (Olympic gold 1956). 1937 - Born this day, Sigmund John, in German DR, cosmonaut (Soyuz 31/29). 1937 - Prince Valiant comic strip first appeared; was known especially for its historical detail. 1937 - Maribel Vinson won her 9th US figure skating championship. 1937 - NFL Boston Redskins moved to Washington. 1937 - Born this day, Susan Oliver, in New York City, NY, actress (Ann-Peyton Place, Star Trek-Cage). 1938 - Born this day, Oliver Reed, British film actor (Big Sleep). 1939 - A. Wachmann discovered asteroid #1586 Thiele. 1939 - Born this day, Valeri I. Rozhdestvensky, cosmonaut (Soyuz 23). 1941 - Born this day, Bo Svenson, in Goteborg, Sweden, actor (North Dallas 40, Walking Tall). 1941 - Nazi leaders attacked the Dutch Jewish Council. 1942 - Born this day, Donald E. Williams, in Lafayette, Indiana, Captain USN, astronaut (STS 51D, STS 34). 1942 - Born this day, Carol Lynley, actress, in New York City, NY, (Night Stalker, Fantasy Island, Immortal). 1942 - Operation Seelowe (the invasion of England) was cancelled by Germany. 1943 - German forces made an assault on Sidi Bou Zid, in Tunisia, General Eisenhower visited the frontline. 1943 - Born this day, Leo Frankowski, US sci-fi author (High Tech Knight, Flying Warlord). 1943 - Died this day, William Walraven, journalist, writer (Miskende Grumbler). 1944 - Born this day, Jerry Springer, TV talk show host. 1944 - Born this day, Peter Tork, in Washington DC, vocals, keyboards, bass, The Monkees, 1967 UK and US No.1 single I'm A Believer, plus 10 US and 8 UK top 40 singles. 1944 - Born this day, Stockard Channing, in New York City, actress (Grease, Big Bus, Without a Trace). 1945 - Born this day, Keith Nichols, jazz pianist. 1945 - Soviet forces captured Budapest, Hungary. The 49-day battle killed more than 50,000 German troops. 1945 - Born this day, Roy Dyke, Ashton Gardner & Dyke, 1971 UK No.3 single The Resurrection Shuffle. 1945 - 1400 RAF and 450 USAF airplanes bombed Dresden, devastating one of the world's most beautiful cities. It was done in three waves over a 14-hour period. As many as 135,000 people were killed. 1946 - Born this day, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, German director, actor (Ehe der Maria Braun). 1947 - Born this day, Tony Butler, rock bassist, Big Country, 1983 UK No.10 single Fields of Fire (400 miles), 1983 UK No.17 single In a Big Country, 1983 UK No.9 single Chance, 1984 UK No.8 single Wonderland, 1986 UK No.7 single Look Away, plus 19 other singles chart entries. 1983 UK No.3 album The Crossing, 1984 UK No.1 album Steeltown, 1986 UK No.2 album The Seer, 1990 UK No.2 album Through A Big Country - Greatest Hits, plus 6 other album chart entries. 1948 - Wright Flyer, the first plane to fly, returned to the US from England. (Had it been on show then?) 1950 - Born this day, Peter Gabriel, UK rock singer, vocals, Genesis and solo, 1974 UK No.21 single I Know What I Like In Your Wardrobe, left Genesis in 1975, solo, 1986 US No.1 and UK No.4 single Sledgehammer from the 1986 UK No.1 and US No.2 album So, 1980 UK No.4 single Games Without Frontiers, 1992 UK No.2 album Us. 1950 - Born this day, Roger Christian, vocals, The Christians, 1988 UK No.8 single Harvest For The World. 1951 - Born this day, Rod Dees, Showaddywaddy, 1976 UK No.1 single Under The Moon Of Love plus over 20 other UK top 40 singles. 1951 - Born this day, David Naughton, in Hartford, Connecticut, actor (My Sister Sam, Separate Vacations). 1951 - Born this day, James Naughton, singer, actor. 1952 - Born this day, Ed Gagliardi, bass, Foreigner, 1985 UK and US No.1 single I Want To Know What Love Is. 1952 - Died this day, Alfred Einstein, German-US musicologist. 1952 - Born this day, David Puilum Choi, in Hong Kong, murderer (FBI Most Wanted List). 1953 - Born this day, Sharon Wyatt, in Lebanon, Tennessee, actress (Tiffany-General Hospital). 1954 - Frank Selvey scored 100 points for Furman beating Newberry 149-95. 1955 - Israel acquired 4 of the 7 Dead Sea scrolls. 1955 - KRCG TV channel 13 in Jefferson City, Missouri (CBS) began broadcasting. 1955 - Born this day, John de Lies, saxophonist. 1955 - Born this day, Scott Smith, rock musician (Loverboy-Get Lucky). 1956 - Born this day, Peter Hook, bass, vocals, Joy Division, 1980 UK No.13 single Love Will Tear Us Apart, New Order, 1983 UK No.9 single Blue Monday, Revenge, Monaco, 1997 UK No.11 single What Do You Want From Me. 1956 - Born this day, Liam Brady, ex-footballer. 1956 - KYW-AM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania gave calls to WTAM (now WWWE) in Cleveland. 1957 - The Southern Christian Leadership Conference organised in New Orleans. 1957 - Born this day, Doris King, in Nashville, Tennessee, singer (Girls Next Door-Don't Be Cruel). 1958 - Born this day, Mark Fox, congas, percussion, Haircut 100, 1982 UK No.3 single Love Plus One. 1958 - Died this day, Georges Rouault, French painter (Christ aux outrages), aged 86. 1959 - Died this day, William L. Axt, composer, aged 70. 1959 - The first Barbie dolls went on sale. They were created by Ruth Handler and were named after her daughter Barbara. 1959 - Miro Cardon, premier of Cuba, resigned. 1960 - France became the fourth country, after the US, USSR, and Great Britain, to detonate a nuclear weapon. It exploded its first atomic bomb, in the Sahara desert. 1960 - Died this day, Delmar G. Roos, designer of jeep, aged 79. 1960 - Born this day, Kelly McCormick, in Anaheim, California, diver (Olympic-silver-1984). 1960 - Born this day, Matt Salinger, actor (Captain America, Deadly Deception). 1960 - Born this day, Michael Craig, rock bassist, Culture Club, Do You Want to Hurt Me. 1961 - Born this day, Henry Rollins, singer, poet, actor, Black Flag, Rollins Band, 1994 UK No.27 single Liar/Disconnected. (Big Ugly Mouth). 1961 - Born this day, Les Warner, The Cult, 1987 UK No.11 single Lil' Devil. 1961 - Frank Sinarta launched his own record label. Reprise Records, later the home of Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman and The Beach Boys. 1962 - Born this day, Rob Ellis [PJ Harvey], 1993 UK No.27 single 50ft Queenie. 1962 - Born this day, Jackie Silva, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, volleyballer (Pan Am-Bronze). 1963 - Born this day, Penelope Ann Miller, actress (Awakenings, Chaplin, Freshman). 1963 - Born this day, Roberta Vasquez, in Los Angeles, California, playmate for November 1984, 1963 - Died this day, Harry Steers, bowling hall of famer. 1963 - Born this day, Jesse Birdsall, actor. 1965 - At only sixteen years old, Peggy Fleming won the US figure skating championships. 1965 - Died this day, Jerry Burke, pianist (Lawrence Welk Show). 1965 - Died this day, William H. Kilpatrick, US mathematician, philosopher, aged 93. 1965 - Gary Lewis recorded Count Me In. 1965 - Born this day, Stephen Manley, in Los Angeles, California, actor (Donny-Married the 1st Year). 1966 - Born this day, Freedom Williams, singer, C&C Music Factory, 1991 UK No.4 single Things That Make You Go Hmmm..., 1991 US No.1 single Gonna Make You Sweat. 1967 - Born this day, Melanie Denise Bridges, in Derry, New Hampshire, Miss New Hampshire-America for 1991. 1968 - Died this day, Ildebrando Pizzetti, composer, aged 87. 1968 - Died this day, Mae Marsh, actress (Birth of a Nation, Intolerance), aged 72. 1968 - The US sent 10,500 additional soldiers to Vietnam. 1969 - Mary Hopkin's Postcard album on the Apple label, was released. 1969 - The Suriname government of Pengel resigned. 1969 - Anne Sexton's first book of poems, Love Poems, was published. 1969 - Apple Records released the first album, Postcard, of its newest discovery, Mary Hopkin. 1969 - It was announced that eggs removed from a woman volunteer had been fertilised in a test tube as a result of research at Cambridge University. 1970 - A man-eating tiger was reported to have killed 48, 80km from New Delhi. 1971 - American Vice President Spiro Agnew managed to injure three spectators with his first two tee shots in the Bob Hope classic on this day. 1971 - The Osmonds started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with One Bad Apple. The group had been appearing on TV in the US from 1962, on the Andy Williams Show and then the Jerry Lewis show. 1971 - Born this day, Sonia [Sonia Evans], UK No.1 single in 1989 with You'll Never Stop Me Loving You. 1971 - Ike and Tina Turner's Proud Mary entered the Billboard charts, eventually reaching No.4. 1972 - Appearing at London's Roundhouse, The Greasy Truckers Party, with Hawkwind, Man and Brinsley Schwarz. 1972 - The 11th Winter Olympic games closed at Sapporo, Japan. 1973 - The US dollar was devalued by 10%. 1973 - After becoming ill during a concert in Las Vegas, Elvis Presley presented Doctor Sidney Bowers with a Lincoln Continental to show his appreciation. 1974 - David Bowie turned down an offer from the Gay Liberation group to compose 'the world's first Gay National Anthem'. 1974 - Born this day, Robbie Williams [Robert Peter Williams], in Stoke On Trent, England, formally with Take That the biggest UK boy band of the 90's. 1995 UK No.1 single 'Back For Good' and seven other UK No.1 singles. Robbie quit Take That on 17 July 1995. His biggest hit was Angels in 1998, his first UK No.1 Millennium in 1998. He's had three UK No.1 albums. Robbie and his co-writer Guy Chambers won songwriters of the year at the 1999 Ivor Novello songwriting awards. During 1998, Robbie checked into re-hab, reportedly suicidal, being sued by his ex manager Nigel Martin-Smith. In 1999, it was reported that Robbie was ready to quit his pop career. He was quoted as saying he was so disillusioned with the music business, he no longer enjoyed it and was thinking of a career in films. Robbie set up a children's charity in 2000 with the cash he earned from a deal with Pepsi. The trust, 'Give It Sum', boasted £2m seed money. Beneficiaries included UNICEF and Jeans For Genes, a research charity. 1974 - Dissident Russian novelist Alexander Solzhenitsyn was expelled from the USSR. 1974 - Dissident Nobel writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn was expelled from USSR. 1975 - Cyprus pulled out of the Turkish-Cypriot Federation. 1975 - Jefferson Starship recorded Miracles. 1975 - Died this day, Dagmar Godowsky, actress (Common Law, Red Lights). 1975 - Died this day, Eric Harding Thiman, composer, aged 74. 1975 - Died this day, Henry P. Van Dusen, US protestant theologist, aged 77. 1976 - Died this day, General Murtala Mohammed, head of Nigeria, was killed during a coup. 1976 - Died this day, Lily Pons, French-US soprano, opera diva (Metropolitan Opera), aged 71. 1976 - Genesis released their first album since the departure of Peter Gabriel, A Trick Of The Tail featuring 8 new tracks with drummer Phil Collins taking on the role of lead vocalist. 1976 - The 101'ers featuring Joe Strummer played at The Town Hall, Hampstead, London and on the same night DP Costello, (Elvis Costello) played at The Half Moon, Putney, London supporting Vivian Stanshall. 1976 - Dorothy Hamill won an Olympic figure-skating gold, in Innsbruck, Austria. 1976 - Peter Casserly of New Zealand hand-sheered a record 353 lambs in 9 holes. 1977 - Eric Heiden became the first American to win the world speed skating championship. 1977 - S.J. Bus discovered asteroid #2791 Paradise. 1977 - Died this day, Jack Gardner, actor (Wild Bill Hickok, 3 Russian Girls, Bluff). 1978 - 'Al Green Day' was declared in Los Angeles. 1979 - Washington State's Hood Canal Bridge broke up in a windstorm. 1980 - Phil Lynott married Caroline Crowther the daughter of TV personality Leslie. 1980 - Police raided the home of John Lydon who greeted them waving a ceremonial sword, the only illegal item they found was a canister of tear gas, claimed to be for defence against intruders. 1980 - Died this day, David Janssen [Meyer], actor (Fugitive, Harry O), aged 49. 1980 - Apollo Computer Inc was incorporated. 1980 - Harvard College discovered asteroids #2482 Perkin and #2658 Gingerich. 1981 - The longest sentence was published by the New York Times, at 1286 words. (Sentence anyone?) 1981 - 'One Plus One' cassettes were launched by Island Records, one side had one of their artists albums and the other was blank so you could record on it! 1982 - The Jam became the first band since the Beatles to play two numbers on the same edition of Top Of The Pops, when they performed A Town Called Malice, and Precious, their double 'A' sided No.1. 1982 - The marble slab was stolen from the grave of Lynyrd Skynyrd's singer Ronnie Van Zant, police found it two weeks later in a dried-up river bed. 1982 - Died this day, Zeng Jinlian, in Hunan, China, grew to 8 feet 1 inch (tallest woman), aged 17. 1982 - Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon started its 402nd weekon the charts. 1982 - The Islander's Bryan Trottier scored 5 goals against Flyers. 1983 - The World Boxing Council became the first to cut boxing from 15 to 12 rounds. 1983 - Died this day, Marion Nixon, actress (Dr Bull, Sweepstakes), of cancer aged 78. 1983 - Marvin Gaye sang the US national anthem at the National Basketball Association All-Star Game in Los Angeles. 1984 - Konstantin Chernenko succeeded the late Yuri Andropov as Soviet leader. Chernenko would die 13 months later and be succeeded by Mikhail Gorbachev. 1984 - 6 year old Texan Stormie Jones got her first heart and liver transplant. 1985 - H. Debehogne discovered asteroid #3365. 1985 - Polish police arrested 7 Solidarity leaders. 1988 - The 15th Winter Olympic games opened at Calgary, Canada. 1988 - Christine Wachtel ran a world record 800 metres indoor in 1 minute 56.40 seconds. 1988 - The European Community planned to do away with inner boundaries as of 1 January 1992. 1988 - Heike Dreschler long jumped a world record indoor at 7.37 metres. 1989 - Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood presented the Brit Awards, 'We've seen a bevy of newcomers arrive who look set here to stay... Bros, Passadenas, Brother Beyond and more' said Sam Fox. 1989 - Michael Jackson fired his manager, Dileo who reportedly was seeking a $60 million settlement to prevent him revealing Jackson's life style to the press. 1989 - Kidnapped Belgian Premier Vanden Boeynants was freed. 1989 - The Salvadoran army attacked Encuentros hospital, and raped and killed patients. 1989 - Oklahoma football player Charles Thompson was charged with selling cocaine; he was later sentenced to 2 years in prison. 1990 - 50 were killed at an Inkatha-UDF battle in Natal, South Africa. 1990 - Larry Bird (Celtics) ended an NBA free throw streak of 71 games. 1990 - The US, France and England gave Germany the OK to reunify. 1990 - Heavyweight boxer James 'Buster' Douglas became the undisputed world heavyweight title holder when his controversial knockout victory over Mike Tyson two days earlier was recognised by two holdout sanctioning bodies. 1990 - The two Germanys and the Big Four powers agreed to pursue German unity. 1990 - Died this day, Ken Lynch, actor (Paratroop Command, Legend of Tom Dooley). 1991 - Died this day, Bernard Sauer. 1991 - Died this day, Eddie Bartell, actor (Every Night at Eight). 1991 - Iraq claimed hundreds of civilians were killed when US bombs hit a building in Baghdad; the United States said the building was a heavily fortified military command center. 1991 - 36 people were killed when an Ash Wednesday mass at a Mexican church turned ugly. 1991 - Sotheby's announced the discovery of a long-lost manuscript of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. The manuscript was the first half of Twain's original version, heavily corrected in his own handwriting, which had been missing for more than a century. The manuscript surfaced when a 62 year old Los Angeles librarian finally got around to sorting through some old papers in six trunks sent to her when an aunt from upstate New York died. Twain, it turned out, had sent the second half of the manuscript to the librarian's grandfather, James Gluck, who had solicited it for the Buffalo and Erie Library in Buffalo, New York, where Twain had once lived. At the time, Twain was unable to find the entire manuscript, and it was presumed lost for more than 100 years. However, it turned out that Twain did eventually find the manuscript and send it to Gluck. A custody war over the manuscript ensued, with the sisters, the library, and the Mark Twain Papers Projects in Berkeley, California, squabbling over rights to the papers. Ultimately, the three parties struck a deal: The library would hold the rights to the physical papers, but all three parties would share in the publication rights. Because the novel contained previously unpublished material, and showed Twain's edits, interest in publishing the manuscript was high, and in 1995 Random House won the rights to publish the book for an undisclosed price. 1991 - Syria told Germany they were ready to recognise Israel. 1991 - The US bombed an Iraqi air raid shelter, killing 334 people. 1992 - West beat East 14 to 9 in Major Soccer League all star game. 1992 - The United Nations (UN) secretary-general said he would recommend sending a large UN peacekeeping force to Yugoslavia, despite a thinly veiled threat by Serbian rebel leaders that they may be attacked. 1992 - Died this day, Bob den Uyl, journalist, writer (Restless Travel). 1993 - Died this day, Agatha Hagtingius-Seger, author (Sparkles Chain), aged 91. 1993 - Three men were killed and another wounded in a shooting at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida. 1993 - Holland's 2 Unlimited started a five week run at the UK No.1 with the single No Limit. 1993 - Died this day, Patrick Waite, founder member of Musical Youth. 1993 - The Cult went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Pure Cult. 1993 - Ljubow Kremljowa ran a world record 1000 metres indoor in 2 minutes 34.84 seconds. 1993 - Merlene Ottey ran a world record 200 metres indoor in 21.87 seconds. 1993 - Sergei Boebka pole vaulted an indoor record of 6.14 metres. 1994 - Inna Lassovskaya jumped a world record 14.9 metres. 1994 - Johann Olav Koss skated a world record 5000 metres in 6 minutes 34.96 seconds. 1994 - A ship disaster near Ranong, Thailand, killed 200 people. 1994 - Died this day, Jack Kirby, cartoonist (Marvel Comics), aged 76. 1994 - Died this day, Theo Bitter, painter, set designer, aged 79. 1995 - A war crimes tribunal in Geneva indicted 21 Serbs for crimes against humanity in the war in Bosnia. Only one was in custody. 1996 - Take That split up, the biggest band of the 1990s announced their demise in front of the world's press at The Hilton in Manchester, the band had achieved 7 No.1 singles and 2 No.1 albums. They released one more single and a Greatest Hits album. 1997 - Born this day, Prince Michael Jackson Jr, Michael Jackson became a father when Debbie Rowe gave birth to a baby boy. 1997 - Died this day, Michael Menson of Rebel MC, from a brain haemorrhage sustained in a racist attack. 1989 UK No.3 single Street Tuff. 1998 - Former Stone Roses singer Ian Brown, was arrested by police at Manchester Airport after an incident during a flight from Paris, he was found guilty in August the same year and jailed for 4 months, British Airways also banned him from flying with the airline. 1998 - Cuba began releasing 299 political prisoners following an appeal by Pope John Paul II. 1998 - Nigerian troops overthrew the military junta that had ruled Sierra Leon since ousting the democratically elected government in May 1997. 1999 - Monica started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Angel Of Mine. 1999 - Died this day, Miss Toni Fisher (The Big Hurt), of a heart attack. 2000 - Gabrielle started a three week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with Rise. 2000 - Oasis scored their fifth UK No.1 single with Go Let It Out. The first release on the band's 'Big Brother' label. 2000 - The government was under pressure to launch an inquiry into MI6 links to an attmept to assasinate Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. 2002 - British Airways was accused of 'butchery' after bosses unveiled plans to cut 5,800 jobs. 2002 - Died this day, Waylon Jennings, country singer, songwriter, after a lengthy fight with diabetes. As a member of the Crickets, gave up his plane seat to the Big Bopper on the 'day the music died'. 2002 - Pakistani police said the prime suspect in the abduction and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl had been arrested. 2003 - Thirteen MPs of all parties tabled a motion demanding a vote before any military action took place in Iraq. |
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.