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February 15th
383BC - Died this day, Buddha Shakyamuni, Zen Buddhist, in Kusinagara, India aged 80. 0037 - Born this day, Claudius Drusus Germanicus Caesar Nero, emperor of Rome (54-68). 0399 - Philosopher Socrates was sentenced to death. 1043 - Died this day, Gisela, wife of Roman Catholic-German emperor Conrad II the Salier, at the age of 52. 1145 - Died this day, Lucius II [Gherardo Caccianemici], Italian Pope (1144-45). 1145 - Bernardo was elected as Pope Eugene III. 1152 - Died this day, Konrad III, Roman-German King (1138-1152), aged about 58. 1368 - Born this day, Sigismund, in Nürnberg, Germany, Holy Roman emperor (1410-37). 1386 - King Jagiello of Lithuania was baptised into the Christian faith. Lithuania being the last heathen nation in Europe, Jagiello's conversion finalised the Macedonian Vision in Acts 16:9, leading St. Paul to begin taking the Gospel to Europe. 1386 - Duke, Philip the Stout, formed the Council of Flanders. 1483 - Born this day, Babur, founder of Mughal dynasty in India (1526-30). 1497 - Born this day, Philipp Melanchthon, in Germany, Protestant reformer. 1503 - Died this day, Henry Deane, Archbishop of Canterbury (1501-03). 1519 - Born this day, Pedro Menéndez de Aviles, explored Florida, founded St Augustine, Florida. 1524 - Born this day, Charles de Guise, archbishop, cardinal of Reims. 1539 - Emperor Charles received Cardinal Pole in Toledo. 1552 - The Dutch coast was hit by a heavy storm. 1557 - Born this day, Alfonso Fontanelli, composer. 1563 - Russian troops occupied Polotsk, Lithuania. 1564 - Born this day, Galileo Galilei, in Pisa, Italy, Italian astronomer, mathematician, physicist, inventor. With a homemade telescope, he examined space and discovered sunspots, Jupiters moons and the mountains and valleys of the Moon. His descriptions of the laws of falling bodies changed the field of physics. Believing that the Earth revolves around the Sun, he faced opposition from the Catholic Church, and angered philosophers who believed Aristotles tenant that no new object could exist in the universe. The Vatican admitted in 1992, it made a mistake in condemning him, 350 years after his death. Died in Arcetri, Italy, 8 January 1642 aged 77. 1568 - Died this day, [Henry] Hendrik van Brederode, Dutch noble (Compromise of Nobles), aged 36. 1571 - Born this day, Michael Praetorius, in Kreuzberg, Germany, music theorist, composer (Syntagma music). 1580 - Died this day, Cunerus Petri, Dutch theologist, bishop of Leeuwarden. 1597 - Died this day, Pieter J. Kies, Dutch mayor of Haarlem (1572-73), aged about 66. 1600 - Died this day, José the Acosta, Spanish missionary (Peru), aged 59. 1620 - Born this day, François Charpentier, French scholar, archaeologist. 1621 - Died this day, Michael Praetorius, German composer (In Dulce Jubilo), aged 50. 1637 - Died this day, Ferdinand II, King of Bohemia and Hungary, German Emperor (1619-37), aged 58. 1637 - Ferdinand III succeeded Ferdinand II as Holy Roman Emperor. 1645 - The English standing army was first founded. 1650 - Born this day, Anne Jules duke de Noailles, marshal of France (hugenot). 1660 - Born this day, Frans Anneessens, Belgian merchant, dean of artisans. 1660 - Died this day, Klaas Geritsz Compaen, Dutch buccaneer, merchant, aged 72. 1666 - Born this day, Antonio M. Valsalva, Italian anatomist (eardrums, glottis). 1680 - Died this day, Jan Swammerdam, Dutch entomologist (Bible of Nature), aged 41. 1682 - Died this day, Claude de la Colombisre, French jesuit, writer, royal chaplain. 1686 - Died this day, Mathias Rauchmüller, German sculptor (Piasten mausoleum Poland). 1686 - Jean Baptiste Lully's opera Armide premiered in Paris. 1689 - The German Parliament declared war on France. 1701 - Died this day, Adam Drese, German composer, aged 80. 1705 - Born this day, Charles A. Vanloo, French painter. 1707 - Born this day, Claude Prosper, in Paris, France, novelist. 1710 - Born this day, Louis XV, the Well-Beloved, in Versailles, King of France (1715-74). Died 10 May 1774 aged 64. 1713 - Died this day, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, writer. 1726 - Born this day, Abraham Clark, farmer, lawyer, politician, signed Declaration of Independence. Died 15 September 1794 aged 68. 1740 - Born this day, Ernst Eichner, composer. 1744 - Died this day, Frantisek Antonin Mica, composer, aged 49. 1744 - Died this day, John Hadley, inventor (sextant). 1745 - Colley Cibbers' Papal Tyranny premiered in London. 1748 - Born this day, Jeremy Bentham, in London, England, philosopher, originator (Utilitarian). 1759 - Born this day, Friedrich A. Wolfius [Wolf], German philological (Prolegomena). 1759 - Died this day, Alexander von Papenhoven, Flemish religious sculptor, aged 89. 1760 - Born this day, Jean-François Le Sueur, composer. 1761 - Died this day, Carlo Cecere, composer, aged 54. 1762 - Anglican hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter, 'We serve a gracious Master who knows how to overrule even our mistakes to His glory and our own advantage'. 1763 - Austria, Prussia and Saxony signed the Peace of Hubertusburg. It ended hostilities in the Seven Years' War. 1764 - St Louis was founded as a French trading post by Pierre Laclade Ligue. 1764 - Born this day, Jens I. Baggesen, Danish writer, linguist (Labyrinth). 1768 - Born this day, Jozef B. Cannaert [Olim], Flemish lawyer. 1768 - The first mustard manufactured in America, was advertised, in Philadelphia. 1774 - Born this day, W.G. Frederik, prince of Orange. 1775 - Angelo Braschi was chosen as Pope Pius VI. 1778 - Died this day, Johann Gottlieb Gorner, composer, aged 80. 1780 - Born this day, Carel Asser, Dutch jurist, lawyer. 1781 - Died this day, G.E. Lessing, writer, aged 52. 1781 - Died this day, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, in Camenz, a small Saxon town, where his father was a clergyman of scanty means and of a severe and stubborn nature. Being the eldest son, it was intended that he should follow his father's calling, as was then the custom in Germany, playwright, critic. 1783 - Born this day, Johann Nepomuk Poissl, composer. 1785 - Born this day, Claude Louis Marie Navier. 1789 - Born this day, Friedrich Fesca, composer. 1795 - Born this day, Charles Niellon, Belgian brigade general (10 day campaign). 1797 - The Battle of Cape St Vincent took place. 1797 - Born this day, Henry Steinway [Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg], manufacturer, piano maker, in Wolfshagen, Germany. He had an interest in making instruments, but in 1815 he was drafted for the army. After returning from the army, he made a zither, a stringed musical instrument played by plucking. In 1818 he became the organist of a village church, and in 1820 he became interested in making pianos. In February of 1825 he married Juliane Thiemer and gave his first piano to her as a wedding gift. They had seven children, Christian, Doretta, Charles, Henry, Wilhemina, William, and Albert. In 1839 Steinweg received the first prize at a fair in Brunswick, Germany, for his pianos. His business failed soon after and in 1851 he went to America with his family. He worked at first in various piano factories in New York, then on 5 March 1853 he and his sons started their own business. By 1860 the business had become so great that they moved to another location. In July of 1864 the Steinwegs changed their name legally to Steinway. In 1865 two of his sons died, and on 7 February 1871 aged 73, Steinway, the great and well-known maker of pianos, also died, leaving the legacy of the Steinway piano for the following generations for years to come. 1798 - The first serious fist fight occured in US Congress. (Who between?) 1799 - The first US printed ballots were authorised, for use in elections in the State of Pennsylvania. Originally, these ballots, which are still used in many smaller municipalities across the county, were called 'vest-pocket tickets', because, like those of today, the ballot ticket slid into a heavy-paper pocket which fits nicely in a vest pocket. 1800 - Born this day, Frederik W. Conrad, Dutch hydraulic engineer, railway pioneer. 1803 - Born this day, John Augustus Sutter, in Baden, Germany, though his parents had originally come from Switzerland, Swiss/US colonist of California gold rush fame (New Helvetia, California, Sutter Mill where gold was discovered on the morning of 24 January 1848, by a carpenter named James Marshall, who was building a sawmill for Sutter upstream on the American River near Coloma.) He died a pauper in a cheap hotel in Washington, 18 June 1880 aged 77. 1804 - New Jersey became the last northern state to abolish slavery. 1807 - Born this day, Ignacy Feliks Dobrzynski, composer. 1809 - Born this day, Cyrus Hall McCormick, inventor, manufacturer, patented the Mechanical Reaper. Died 13 May 1884 aged 75. 1811 - Born this day, Domingo F. Sarmiento, President of Argentina (1868-74). 1812 - Born this day, Charles Lewis Tiffany, in Killingly, Connecticut, jeweller designer and company founder (Tiffany). Died 18 February 1902 aged 90. 1817 - Born this day, Charles F. Daubigny, French restauranteur, painter. 1818 - Died this day, Charles XIII, King of Sweden (1809-18), Norway (1814-18), aged 69. 1819 - Born this day, Christopher Sholes, in Mooresburg, Pennsylvania, inventor (typewriter). 1820 - Born this day, Susan Brownell Anthony, in Adams, Massachusetts, women's suffragette, political activist. Died 13 March 1906, aged 86 in Rochester, New York. 1820 - Died this day, Pierre-Joseph Cambon, member of Committee the Salut Public, aged 63. 1820 - Died this day, William Ellery, US attorney, revolutionary, jurist, (signed Declaration of Independence), aged 92. Was born 22 December 1727. 1821 - Born this day, Abraham de Amorie van der de Have, theologist, poet. 1822 - Born this day, Theodor Uhlig, composer. 1823 - Born this day, Li Hung-Tshang, Chinese rebel leader, viceroy of Tsheli Canton. 1826 - Born this day, George J. Stoney, Irish physicist, introduced the term electron for the fundamental unit of electricity. Died 5 July 1911 aged 85. 1827 - Born this day, Francis Pratt, inventor, toolmaker, introduced interchangable parts. 1828 - Born this day, Johan H. van Dale, schoolmaster (New Dutch Language Dictionary). 1829 - Born this day, Silas Weir Mitchell, US physician, author (Roland Blake). 1831 - Died this day, Henry Maudslay, inventor (metal lathe). 1832 - Died this day, Hardenack Otto Conrad Zinck, composer, aged 85. 1834 - Born this day, Sir William Preece, English electrical engineer, wireless pioneer. 1835 - Born this day, Alexander Stuart Webb, Major General (Union Army). Died in 1911. 1835 - Died this day, Henry Hunt, British politician. 1841 - Died this day, Sibrand Acker Stratingh, Dutch doctor, chemist (electrical car), aged 53. 1842 - The first adhesive stamp was used in the USA by the City Despatch Post, a private delivery company, in New York, NY. 1844 - Died this day, Henry Addington, Lord Sidmouth, British premier (1801-04), aged 86. 1845 - Born this day, Elihu Root (R), US Secretary of State (1905-09), Nobel Peace Prize (1912). 1845 - William Parsons, Earl of Rosse, first used a 72 inch (183 cm) reflector. 1847 - Born this day, Robert Fuchs, composer. 1848 - Sarah Roberts was barred from a white school in Boston. 1849 - Died this day, Pierre F. Verhulst, Belgian mathematician (logistic curve), aged 44. 1851 - Black abolitionists invaded a Boston courtroom rescuing a fugitive slave. 1852 - Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, in London, admitted its first patient. 1855 - Born this day, Gustav Hollaender, composer. 1856 - Born this day, Frank Harris Galway, in England, writer. 1856 - Died this day, Heinrich Heine, poet. 1857 - Died this day, Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka, Russian composer, aged 53. Considered the father of Russian classical music. Glinka was the first Russian composer to make a serious effort to put the indigenous sounds of Russian folk music into classical compositions, and for this he was honoured. 1858 - Born this day, William Pickering, in Boston, astronomer, discovered the 9th and 10th moons of Saturn. Died 17 January 1938 aged 79. 1860 - Wheaton College was chartered in Illinois under Methodist sponsorship. The following year the school passed into Congregational control. Today, Wheaton is non-denominational. 1861 - Born this day, Alfred North Whitehead, English mathematician, philosopher (Adventures of Ideas). 1861 - Born this day, Halford John Mackinder, in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, geographer. 1861 - Fort Point was completed and garrisoned, but it has never fired a cannon in anger. 1862 - Union General Ulysses S. Grant launched a major assault on Fort Donelson, Tennessee. 1864 - Died this day, William Dyce, painter. 1864 - A fire in Rotterdam, Netherlands, damaged the Museum Boymans. 1865 - Died this day, Nicholas Wiseman, first Archbishop of Westminster (1850-65). 1866 - Born this day, Bannister Fletcher, in London, architect, architectural historian. 1869 - Charges of treason against Jefferson Davis were dropped. 1870 - Ground was broken for the Northern Pacific Railway near Duluth, Minnesota. 1874 - Born this day, Emilis Melngailis, composer. 1874 - Born this day, Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, in Kilkee, Ireland, South Pole explorer (Endurance, Antarctica). Died 5 January 1922 aged 47. 1876 - An historic elm tree at Boston was blown down. 1879 - President Rutherford B. Hayes signed a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the US Supreme Court. 1882 - The first cargo of frozen meat left New Zealand for Britain, on the SS Dunedin. It arrived on 25 May. 1882 - Born this day, John Barrymore [Blythe], in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, actor, (Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, The Tempest, Beloved Rogue), sibling to actors Lionel Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore, father of actors John Drew Barrymore & Diana Barrymore and grandfather of actor Drew Barrymore. Died 29 May 1942 aged 60. 1884 - Born this day, Albert C. Gilbert, inventor, manufacturer, (Erector set). 1885 - Born this day, Richard Wurz, composer. 1885 - Died this day, Leopold Damrosch, composer, aged 52. 1886 - Born this day, Sax Rohmer, in England, author (Dr Fu Manchu). 1887 - Died this day, Alexander Borodin, composer. 1887 - Born this day, H. M. Bateman, in Sutton Forest, New South Wales, Australia, cartoonist. 1890 - Born this day, Robert Ley, German chemist, parliament member, MP (NSDAP). 1892 - Born this day, James Forrestal, US banker, minister of Navy, politician, first Secretary of Defense. Died 22 May 1949 aged 57. 1893 - Born this day, Harm H. Kamerlingh Onnes, painter, etcher, ceramist. 1893 - Born this day, Walter Donaldson, US pianist, composer (Girl Crazy, Whoopee). 1894 - Born this day, Oswaldo Aranha, in Brazil, lawyer, statesman (1st President of United Nations (UN)). 1895 - 23 cm or 9 inches of snow fell in New Orleans. 1896 - Born this day, Arthur Shields, in Dublin, Ireland, actor, variety show host (River, Enchanted Island, Your Show Time). Died 27 April 1970 aged 74. Barry Fitzgerald's brother. 1896 - Died this day, E.J. Nicholson, writer. 1897 - Born this day, Earl H. Blaik, in Detroit, Michigan, college football hall of fame coach (elected 1965). Died 6 May 1989. 1898 - Born this day, Ibuse Masuji, Japanese writer (Yôhai Taichô, Kuroi Ame). 1898 - Born this day, Toto (Antonio de Curtis), in Naples, Italy, actor (Motorizzate, Noi Duri). 1898 - The battleship Maine blew up in Havana Harbour killing 260 officers and crew. Although no clear evidence of foul play could be produced, this event would lead to the Spanish-American War. The United States media led by 'yellow journalist' William Randolph Hearst blamed Spain and established the cry Remember the Maine. 1899 - Born this day, Gale Sondergard, in Litchfield, Minnesota, actress (Cat & Canary, Road to Rio). 1899 - Born this day, Georges Auric, in Lodève, France, composer (It Always Rains on Sunday). Died 23 July 1983. He was a child prodigy and had his first compositions published at the age of 15. Films he scored include Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast (1946), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), Moulin Rouge (1952), Roman Holiday (1953), The Wages of Fear (1955), Rififi (1956), Bonjour Tristesse (1958), and Therese and Isabelle (1968). Gave up writing for motion pictures in 1962 after accepting the directorship of the Paris Opera and then became chairman of SACEM the French Music Copyright Society. 1899 - Born this day, Lillian Disney, Mrs Walt Disney. 1899 - M. Wolf and A. Schwassmann discovered asteroid #442 Eichsfeldia. 1900 - Boer War - General French effected the relief of Kimberley. 1900 - Unable to get backers in Philadelphia, John McGraw withdrew Baltimore from a proposed new American Association, ending prospects for the league as a rival to the NL. Two weeks later he signed to manage Baltimore (NL). 1901 - The first British parliament of the 20th century opened with a new member for Oldham. His name was Winston Churchill. 1901 - Born this day, André Parrot, French archaeologist, theologist (Assur). 1901 - Born this day, Christmas Humphreys, in England, lawyer, writer, Buddhist (Awakening of Zen). 1901 - Born this day, Paul Haesaerts, Flemish architect, painter (Animisme). 1902 - Died this day, Wilhelmina J.R. Albregt-Engelman, Dutch actress, aged 68. 1902 - Berlin's underground railway, the U-Bahn, opened. 1903 - The first Teddy Bear was introduced in America, made by Morris and Rose Michtom who were Russian immigrants. 1903 - Died this day, Julie Verstraete-Lacquet, Flemish actress, aged 69. 1904 - Born this day, Antonin Magne, French bicyclist (Tour de France 1931, 1934). 1904 - Born this day, Mary Adshead, muralist, painter. 1905 - Born this day, Harold Arlen [Hyman Arluck], US composer, songwriter, singer, arranger, pianist (Over the Rainbow, Stormy Weather, It's Only a Paper Moon). Died 23 April 1986 aged 81. 1905 - Died this day, Lewis Wallace, US diplomat, lawyer, writer (Ben Hur), aged 77. Born 10 April 1827. 1905 - The first race meet at Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas was held. 1906 - The British Labour Party was organised. 1906 - Born this day, Stephen Brown, CEO of Stone-Platt Industries. 1907 - Born this day, Cesar Romero, in New York City, NY, actor, Hollywood's 30-40s Latin lover, (The Joker-Batman, Ocean's 11, Steve McQuinn-Passport to Danger, Peter Stavros-Falcon Crest, The Thin Man's gigolo). Died 1 January 1994 aged 86. 1907 - Born this day, Jean Langlais, composer. 1908 - Born this day, Sidney Gilliat, producer. 1908 - Born this day, Ypk fan der Fear, Frisian writer (Reade Runen). 1909 - Born this day, Harold Beeley, British diplomat. 1910 - Died this day, Albert Fuchs, composer, aged 51. 1910 - Born this day, 9th Earl of Jersey, English landowner (large), art collector. 1910 - Born this day, Millicent Fenwick, writer, editor, congressperson, Vogue editor, told us to 'get out and vogue' decades before Madonna did. Died 16 September 1992 aged 82. 1911 - Born this day, Leonard Woodcock, labor leader (UAW). 1912 - Yuan Shik-K'ai was elected the first President of the Republic of China. 1912 - Born this day, George Mikes, in Hungary, British writer (How to Be an Alien). 1912 - Fram reached latitude 78º 41' South, the farthest south ever by a ship. 1913 - The first avant-garde art show in America opened in New York NY. 1913 - Born this day, Willy Vandersteen, Belgian cartoonist (Suske & Wiske). 1914 - The movie The Squaw Man was released in the movie theatres in the USA. 1914 - Born this day, Arthur Sydney Martin, spy catcher. 1914 - Born this day, Kevin McCarthy, in Seattle, Washington, actor (The Survivors, Flamingo Road-Claude Weldon, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Death of a Salesman, Howling) 1914 - Born this day, R.W. Woods, bishop (Worcester). 1915 - Born this day, Taft Jordan, jazz trumpeter, singer, with Chick Webb, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman bands. Died in 1981. 1915 - Born this day, Paul Ferris, British author. 1916 - Born this day, Ian Ballantine, publisher (Ballantine Books). 1916 - Died this day, Nikolay Nikolayevich Lodizhensky, composer, aged 73. 1916 - The New York Yankees bought Frank 'Home Run' Baker from the Athletics for $37,500. 1917 - The San Francisco Public Library (Main Branch at Civic center) was dedicated. 1917 - Died this day, Charles A. van Ophuysen, Dutch orientalist, aged 60. 1917 - M. Wolf discovered asteroid #865 Zubaida. 1917 - Died this day, Vernon Castle [Vernon Blythe], dancer, aviator, aged 30. Was born 2 May 1887 in Norwich, England, originally a magician and performer in nightclubs in England, went to the US in 1906 and made his debut as an actor in 1907. While working in the Hen Pecks, he met future wife Irene Foote, whom he married in 1911. Vernon and Irene Castle opened a school for dancing in New York called Castle House. They danced in some Broadway plays such as In Old Dutch (1907), The Girl behind the Counter (1907), The Midnight Sons (1909), Sunshine Girl (1913), Watch Your Step (1914), Miss (1917), Let's Dance (1922-24). He died during World War I (WWI) in 1917 in an routine airplane crash. He was a Captain in the British Royal Flying Corps. After a serious crash he returned home as a Flight Instructor in Fort Worth, Texas. His plane crashed during a routine lesson. Irene continued dancing and started a un-successful movie career. Irene Castle's daughter name is Barbara Kreutz. 1918 - Born this day, Alan Arbus, in New York, NY, actor (Dr Sidney Freedman-MASH, The Gangster Chronicles). 1918 - Born this day, Hank Locklin [Lawrence Hankins], country singer, songwriter. 1918 - The first World War II (WWI) US army troop ship was torpedoed and sunk by Germany, off Ireland. 1918 - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania adopted the Gregorian calendar. 1919 - Died this day, Pieter K. Pel, Dutch internist (Pel-Ebstein fever), aged 66. 1919 - The American Legion was organised in Paris. 1920 - Born this day, Ingmar Milveden, composer. 1920 - K. Reinmuth discovered asteroid #926 Imhilde. 1920 - Born this day, Piet van Aken, Flemish writer (Devil Sails to US, Niggers). 1920 - The Pathe serial was released, Daredevil Jack, directed by W. S. Van Dyke, and starred boxer Jack Dempsey and featured Lon Chaney. In 1926, Gene Tunney appeared in the serial The Fighting Marine just before his fight with Dempsey. 1920 - Born this day, Richard O'Brien, CEO of Manpower Services Commission. 1921 - Died this day, Hans Haym, composer, aged 60. 1921 - Arthur Mailey completed 9-121 vs England, an Australian Test Cricket record. 1922 - Marconi began regular broadcasting transmissions from Essex. 1922 - Died this day, [Clara G. Meijer-Wichmann] Clara Wichmann, German-Dutch anarchist, feminist, aged 36. 1922 - Born this day, Herman Kahn, in New Jersey, writer (Thinking About the Unthinkable). 1922 - The Permanent Court of International Justice, sitting at The Hague in the Netherlands, held its first session. 1923 - Born this day, Keene Curtis, in Salt Lake City, Utah, actor (The Magician's Max, Amanda's). 1923 - Born this day, Yelena Bonner, in Moscow, soviet dissident, wife of Andre Sakharov. 1923 - Born this day, Justice Drake, British justice. 1923 - Died this day, Josephine B. Willson Bruce, US black theorist, aged 69. 1924 - Died this day, Lionel Monckton, English composer (Country Girl), aged 62. 1925 - The London Zoo announced it would install lights to cheer up fogged-in animals. 1926 - A contract air mail service began in US. (Where abouts?) 1926 - Rex Ingram's Mare Nostrum was based on the story of Mata Hari, and it starred Antonio Moreno and Alice Terry. It opened at the Criterion. 1926 - The Brooks Atkinson Theatre opens at 256 W 47th St in New York City. 1927 - Born this day, Harvey Korman, in Chicago, Illinois, comedian, TV/movie actor, cartoon voicer (Danny Kaye Show, Carol Burnett Show, Tim Conway Show, Blazing Saddles). 1927 - Born this day, Frank Dunlop, director, Edinburgh International Festival. 1927 - Born this day, Gottfrid Grasbeck, composer. 1927 - Born this day, William Bentley, diplomat. 1928 - Died this day, Herbert Henry Asquith, prime minister of Great-Britain (1908-16), aged 75. 1929 - Born this day, James Schlesinger, US Secretary of Defense (1973-75). 1929 - Born this day, Countess of Dysart. 1929 - Born this day, Gerald Harper, broadcaster, actor (Tunes of Glory, Extra Day). 1929 - On this day the Oxford English Dictionary was completed, after 70 years' work costing 300,000 pounds. 1929 - Born this day, Graham Hill, in London, England, British racing car driver, won the Grand Prix world championship in 1962 and 1968 and the Indianapolis 500 in 1966. Died 29 November 1975 aged 46. 1929 - Born this day, Paul Ferris, author. 1930 - Died this day, Franklin L. Sheppard, aged 78. He served on the editorial committee of the 1911 edition of the Presbyterian Hymnal, but is better remembered for composing the hymn tune TERRA BEATA, to which This Is My Father's World is most commonly sung. 1930 - Born this day, C.F. Payne, in Cleveland, Ohio, British chief constable. 1930 - Weona beat Toluca in the Illinois Basketball Tournament in 10 overtimes. 1931 - The first Dracula movie was released. (Title?). 1931 - The spring training site of the New York Yankees in St Petersburg, was renamed Miller Huggins Field in honour of the team's late manager. 1931 - Born this day, [Patricia] Claire Bloom, in London, actress (Backstairs at the White House, As the World Turns-Orlena Grimaldi, Mighty Aphrodite, Charly, Look Back in Anger). 1931 - Born this day, W.K. Reid, British ombudsman. 1932 - Born this day, Adrian Swire, British aircraft magnate (Cathay Pacific). 1932 - Tom Mix married Mabel Ward. 1932 - Died this day, Minnie Maddern Fiske, actress (Henrik Ibsen's plays), aged 66. 1932 - US bobsled team member Eddie Eagan became the only athlete to win gold in both Summer and Winter Olympics (1920 boxing gold). 1932 - The third Winter Olympics games closed at Lake Placid, New York. 1932 - Australia beat South Africa in cricket by an innings, in 5 hours 53 minutes playing time. 1932 - George Burns and Gracie Allen debuted as regulars on The Guy Lombardo Show on CBS Radio this day. The couple were so popular, that soon, they would have their own Burns & Allen Show on both radio and later, television. Both were big hits for three decades. George and Gracie continued on radio for 18 years before making the switch to TV. 1932 - John Van Druten's There's Always Juliet premiered in New York, NY. 1933 - President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt escaped an attempt on his life in Miami, when shots fired at him by an assailant, Giuseppe Zangara, missed. However, Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak was killed. 1933 - Karl Radek praised the invincible force of the German communist party. 1933 - The social-democratic newspaper Vorwärts was banned again in Berlin. 1933 - Died this day, Anton J. Cermak (Mayor-D-Chicago), assassinated in Miami. 1933 - Born this day, Adolfo Cardones [Adolfo Sardina], in Cuba, fashion designer (Nancy Reagan). 1934 - Born this day, Niklaus Wirth, in Switzerland, computer programmer, inventor (PASCAL), author. 1934 - US Congress passed the Civil Works Emergency Relief Act, allotting new funds for Federal Emergency Relief Administration. 1935 - Born this day, John R. Block, US Secretary of Agriculture (1981-86). 1935 - Born this day, Roger B. Chaffee, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lieutenant Commander USN, astronaut. Died 27 January 1967 aged 31 in the Apollo I fire. 1935 - Born this day, Susan Brownmiller, in Brooklyn, New York, feminist, author, political activist (Against Our Wills). 1936 - Born this day, Andrew Miller, British principal (Stirling University). 1936 - A temperature of -60 degrees F (-51 degrees C), was recorded in Parshall, North Dakota. A state record. 1936 - Sonja Henie, of Norway, won a third consecutive Olympics figure skating gold. 1936 - Hitler announced the building of Volkswagens. 1937 - Born this day, Nicholas Bayne, diplomat. 1937 - Born this day, P. J. Squire, British headmaster (Bedford Modern School). 1937 - Born this day, Terry Everett (Representative-R-Alabama). 1937 - Born this day, Zoltan Pesko, composer. 1938 - Born this day, Jack Tinker, drama critic. 1938 - Born this day, Lord Justice Ward, British judge. 1938 - Born this day, Bill Bradley [Will Jr.], musician. 1939 - Lillian Hellman's Little Foxes premiered in New York, NY. 1939 - Born this day, Ollie Ellefsäter, in Norway, 3K steeplechase (Olympics 1960). 1939 - Died this day, Foppe G. Scheltema, Dutch lawyer, aged 47. 1939 - Died this day, Henri Jaspar, premier of Belgium (1926-31), aged 68. 1939 - Born this day, Jo Clayton, US sci-fi author (Irsud, Maeve, Star Hunters). 1939 - Born this day, Tony Bloom, deputy CEO of Sketchley. 1939 - Born this day, Alvin Cash, singer (Twine Time). 1940 - Hitler ordered that all British merchant ships would be considered warships. 1940 - Born this day, John Hadl, NFL Quarterback, (Chargers, Rams, Packers), 33,513 career yards. 1941 - K. Reinmuth discovered asteroids #1561 Fricke and #1785 Wurm. 1941 - Born this day, Brian Holland, in Detroit, Michigan, producer, pianist, songwriter, Holland-Dozier-Holland, wrote for Motown, Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Four Tops, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Freda Payne, Chairmen Of The Board. 1941 - Born this day, Dan Crompton, Nottinghamshire, Chief Constable. 1941 - Born this day, Florinda Bolkan, in Ceara, Brazil, actress (Damned, Last Valley, Word). 1941 - Duke Ellington and his Orchestra recorded one of big band's all time classics. Take the 'A' Train was recorded at Victor Records' Hollywood studio and became the Duke's signature song. The recording receives a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1976. 1942 - A German U-boat fired shells at the Antillian oil refinery. 1942 - Japanese troops marched into Palembang, South Sumatra. 1942 - Born this day, Glyn Johns, producer, worked with, Eric Clapton, The Stones, The Who, and the Beatles. 1942 - British forces in Singapore surrendered to Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita. Winston Churchill described the fall of Singapore to Japan as 'a heavy and far-reaching military defeat'. 1942 - Died this day, Guido Adler, Austrian musicologist, aged 91. 1942 - Died this day, Stanislav Binicki, composer, aged 69. 1943 - Died this day, Thomas 'Fats' Waller, US jazz pianist (Hot Chocolate), aged 38. 1943 - Died this day, William Victor Harris, composer, aged 73. 1943 - The Germans broke the American Army's lines at the Fanid-Sened Sector in Tunisia, North Africa. 1943 - A women's camp at Tamtui on Ambon (Moluccas) was hit by an allied air raid. 1943 - My True Story was heard for the first time on ABC radio. The program continued for 17 years and was presented in cooperation with True Story magazine. 1944 - 891 British bombers attacked Berlin. 1944 - American bombers attacked the Abbey of Monte Cassino in an effort to neutralize it as a German observation post in central Italy. 1944 - Born this day, Denny Zager, Zager & Evans, 1969 US and UK No.1 single In The Year 2525. 1944 - Born this day, Mick Avory, drums, The Kinks, 1967 UK No.3 single Waterloo Sunset plus 19 other UK top 40 singles. 1944 - Born this day, Aleksandr A. Serebrov, in USSR, cosmonaut (Soyuz T-7, T-8, TM-8, TM-17). 1944 - Born this day, Tineke Netelenbos, Dutch MP, Dutch 2nd Chamber member (PvdA). 1945 - Born this day, Douglas R. Hofstadter, in New York, NY, author (Gödel, Escher, Bach). 1945 - Born this day, John Anthony Helliwell, musician, saxophonist, songwriter, Supertramp, 1979 UK No.7 and US No.6 single The Logical Song. 1946 - Royal Canadian mounted police arrested 22 people as Soviet spies. 1946 - Born this day, Clare Short, former Labour MP, International Development Secretary. 1946 - Born this day, John Greenway, British MP. 1946 - Edith Houghton, aged 33, was signed as a baseball scout by the Philadelphia Phillies. The first female scout in the major leagues. 1946 - The Bank of England was nationalised. 1947 - Toplitzky of Notre Dame closed at the Century Theatre in New York City after 60 performances. 1947 - Born this day, John Adams, in Worcester, Massachusetts, composer (Nixon on China). 1947 - Born this day, Rusty Hamer, in Tenafly, New Jersey, actor (Danny Thomas Show, Rusty Williams-Make Room for Daddy). Died 19 January 1990 aged 42. 1947 - Born this day, Marisa Berenson, in New York, NY, model, actress (Barry Lyndon, Death in Vienna, SOB). She later had a key role in the movie Cabaret (1972). 1947 - Born this day, David Brown, bass, Santana, 1977 UK No.11 single She's Not There. 1947 - Born this day, Sherry [Sharon] Jackson, actress. 1948 - Born this day, Ron 'The Penguin' Cey [Charles], in Tacoma, Washington, 3rd baseman (Los Angeles Dodgers). 1948 - Mao Zedong's army occupied Yenan. 1949 - Dmitri Shostakovich's Song of the Woods premiered in Leningrad. 1949 - Born this day, Ken Anderson, NFL quarterback (Cincinnati Bengals). 1949 - Born this day, Christopher Rouse, composer. 1949 - Born this day, Earl of Carlisle. 1949 - Born this day, Jess Walton, in Michigan, actress (Jill Foster Abbott-Young & Restless). 1950 - A poll of sportswriters in America, determined the sports figures of the half century. So honoured were Jim Thorpe, Babe Ruth, George Mikan, Jack Dempsey, 'Babe' Didrikson, Bobby Jones, Bill Tilden, Johnny Weissmuller, Jesse Owens, and Man O'War. 1950 - Born this day, Donna Hanover Giuliani, TV news anchor (WPIX), wife of Mayor Giuliani. 1950 - Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse-tung sign a mutual defense treaty in Moscow. 1950 - Born this day, Nikolai Sergeivich Grekov, in Russia, cosmonaut. 1950 - KENS TV channel 5 in San Antonio, Texas (CBS) began broadcasting. 1950 - W.M. Inge's Come Back, Little Sheba premiered in New York, NY. 1950 - WSYR (now WSTM) TV channel 3 in Syracuse, New York (NBC) began broadcasting. 1950 - Walt Disney's animated movie Cinderella was released in movie theatres in the USA. 1950 - Stromboli was released nationally in the USA. 1951 - Bedtime for Bonzo starring Ronald Reagan as a monkey's father, premiered in Indianapolis. 1951 - Born this day, Jane Seymour [Joyce Penelope Frankenberg], in Middlesex, England, UK actress (East of Eden, Captains & the Kings, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman-Dr. Michaela 'Mike' Quinn, Solitaire-Live and Let Die (1973), Lassiter). 1952 - Born this day, Melissa Manchester, in the Bronx, New York, pianist, harpsichordist, composer, songwriter, actress, writer, singer, 1975 US No.6 single Midnight Blue. Sang lead in National Lampoon's Deteriotta. 1953 - Born this day, Derek Conway, British MP. 1953 - The Alan Young Show, a TV Variety second run, first went on the air. 1953 - The first American to win the women's world figure skating championship was 17-year-old Tenley Albright. She won the competition in Davos, Switzerland. 1954 - Born this day, Matt Groening, in Portland, Oregon, cartoonist (Life in Hell, Futurama, The Simpsons). Voices Simpsons' Maggie's pacifier sucking. 1954 - The 800th episode of the BBC's The Archers was broadcast. It is now the most popular radio show of all time. A record 10 million people tune in to follow the everyday story of simple country folk. The daily doings of Jack and Doris Archer, Walter Gabriel and other Ambridge residents has become compulsive listening. 1954 - The first bevatron came into operation at the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. 1954 - Born this day, Larry Payne, baseball. 1954 - Joe Turner recorded the original version of Shake Rattle & Roll, which was the first UK top 5 for Bill Haley and The Comets before Rock Around The Clock. 1954 - WRDW TV channel 12 in Augusta, Georgia (CBS) began broadcasting. 1955 - The first pilot plant to produce man-made diamonds was announced. 1955 - Died this day, S.Z. Sakall, actor (Dolly Sisters, Casablanca), aged 71. 1955 - The UK announced it intended to build 12 nuclear power stations in the next decade, spending around £300 million ($900 million) in the process. 1955 - Born this day, Bev Francis, in Australia, world women's power-lifting champion. 1955 - Born this day, Clive Aslet, British editor (Country Life). 1956 - The Pirates and Kansas City A's cancelled an exhibition game in Birmingham, Alabama, because of local ordinance barring black from playing against white. 1956 - Urho Kekkonen was appointed President of Finland. 1956 - Born this day, Desmond Haynes, cricketer (West Indies opener-greatest batsman in 1-day history). 1956 - Born this day, Hilda Beatriz 'Hildita' Guevara, in Cuba, daughter of Che Guevara. 1957 - Born this day, Jimmy Spencer, auto racer, NASCAR driver. 1957 - Born this day, Bienvenida Buck, in Velencia, Spain, lover of British Peter Harding. 1957 - Born this day, Charles Edward Pevensey Tennant, aristocrat. 1957 - Born this day, Jake E. Lee, rock musician (Badlands-Dreams in the Dark). 1957 - Andrei A. Gromyko replaced Dmitri T. Shepilov as the Soviet Foreign Minister. 1958 - Get A Job by The Silhouettes, reached the top spot on the US pop charts. It remained at No.1 for two weeks. One week earlier, the number one song was Sugartime, by The McGuire Sisters, a song that definitely was not classified as rock 'n' roll. Get A Job was replaced by Tequila, an instrumental by a studio group known as The Champs. 1958 - The Ice Dance Championship at Paris was won by June Markham and Courtney Jones of Great Britain. 1958 - The Ice Pairs Championship at Paris was won by Barbara Wagner and Rob Paul of Canada. 1958 - The Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Paris was won by Carol Heiss of the USA. 1958 - The Men's Figure Skating Championship in Paris was won by David Jenkins of the USA. 1958 - Sjafroeddin Prawiranegara formed an anti-government of Middle Sumatra. 1958 - The Dick Clark Show, aka Saturday Night Beechnut Show, debut on ABC-TV. Guests on the debut show were Connie Francis, Chuck Willis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pat Boone, and Johnnie Ray. 1959 - Antonio Segni formed an Italian government. 1959 - Louise Suggs won the LPGA St Petersburg Golf Tournament. 1959 - Born this day, Ali Campbell, musician, guitar, vocals, UB40, 1983 UK No.1 and& 1988 US No.1 single Red Red Wine and over 30 other top 40 hit singles, and also solo, 1995 UK No.5 single That Look In Your Eye. 1959 - Born this day, Guy De Alwis, cricketer, wicket-keeper (Sri Lankan mid 80s). 1959 - Died this day, Sir Owen W. Richardson, English physicist, winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1928 for his work on electron emission by hot metals, the basic principle used in vacuum tubes. Was aged 79. Was born 26 April 1879. 1959 - Born this day, Joe Hesketh, US baseball player (Boston Red Sox). 1960 - Born this day, Mikey Craig, bass, Culture Club, 1983 UK No.1 and 1984 US No.12 single Karma Chameleon plus 7 other UK top 10 singles. 1960 - (Do The) Mashed Potatoes (Part 1) by Nat Kendrick and The Swans peaked at No.84 on the US singles chart. 1960 - Born this day, Darrell Green, NFL cornerback (Washington Redskins). 1960 - Born this day, Jeanne Goldsmith, in Los Angeles, California, WPVA volleyballer (National-5th-1987). 1961 - The Marcels recorded Blue Moon. 1961 - Died this day, all 18 members of the US figure skating team, killed in a Belgian Sabena 707 plane crash near Brussels. 1961 - A Belgian Sabena Airlines 707 crashed near Brussels killing 73, including 18 members of the US figure-skating team. 1961 - Jackie Wilson was shot by Juanita Jones, a female fan who had gone to his New York apartment demanding to see him, the gun went off as he tried to disarm her, and left him with a stomach wound. 1961 - Died this day, Jack Whiting, actor (Top Speed, Life of the Party), aged 59. 1961 - Died this day, Marubel Vinaon Owen, figure skater (Olympics silver 1932). 1961 - Australia beat the West Indies 2-1 in one of best Test Cricket series ever. 1962 - The US performed a nuclear test at its Nevada Test Site. 1962 - Died this day, Vladimir Sokoloff, actor (Road to Morocco, Cloak & Dagger), aged 72. 1962 - Born this day, Mike and David Miliner, The Pasadenas, 1992 UK No.4 single I'm Doing Fine Now. 1962 - CBS contracted with the NCAA to attain full rights to televise NCAA football games for the next two years. The NCAA received $10,200,000. 1962 - Born this day, [Babette] Renee Props, in Oklahoma, actress (Ellie-As the World Turns, Get Shorty, Weird Science). 1963 - The first US female world figure skating champion was won by Tenley Albright. 1963 - Ken Lynch recorded Misery, the first Lennon-McCartney song by someone else. 1963 - In The Flintstones episode titled Fred's New Job - Operation Get You A Raise was aired. It involved Barney dressing up as 'Mr. Rockafeather' and making a counter-offer for Fred's services, it backfired, and Fred was fired by Mr. Slate. 1964 - The Beatles Meet the Beatles! album went No.1 on the US chart and stayed No.1 for 11 weeks. 1964 - The Dave Clark Five appeared on the UK TV show Thank Your Lucky Stars. 1964 - Bill Bradley scored 51 points for Princeton. 1964 - Goethe Link Observatory discovered asteroid #2417 McVittie and #3717. 1964 - Strange Things Happening by Little Jr. Parker peaked at No.99 on the US singles chart. 1964 - Born this day, Chris Farley, actor, comedian (Saturday Night Live, Wayne's World, Coneheads, Todd O'Connor-Da Skit). Died 18 December 1997 aged 33. 1964 - Born this day, William Mark Price, NBA guard (Washington Bullets, Orlando Magic). 1964 - The Beatles released the single Eight Days A Week/I Don't Want To Spoil The Party in the US. 1964 - Died this day, Ken Hubbs, 2nd baseman (Chicago Cubs), dies in plane crash at 22. 1965 - The NFL teams pledged not to sign college seniors until completion of all their games, including bowl games, and empowered the Commissioner to discipline the clubs up to as much as the loss of an entire draft list for a violation of the pledge. 1965 - The Greatest Story Ever Told starring Charlton Heston, Max von Sydow, Carroll Baker, and John Wayne premiered at the Warner Cinerama Theatre. 1965 - Born this day, Craig Matthews, cricket pace bowler (South African Test). 1965 - The Greatest Story Ever Told, with Carroll Baker and Janet Margolin, opened in US theatres. 1965 - John Lennon passed his driving test first time. 1965 - Canada's maple leaf flag was raised for the first time. 1965 - Died this day, Nat King Cole (Nathaniel Adams Coles), US rhythm and blues singer, jazz singer, pianist, songwriter, the first black to have his own television show, died of lung cancer in Santa Monica, California, aged 47. Born 17 March 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama. During his singing career, Cole had many hit recordings, most notably Mona Lisa, Ramblin' Rose, Smile, and Unforgettable, and he earned a Grammy for Midnight Flyer. Twenty-six years after his death in 1991, his daughter, Natalie, re-released Unforgettable with her singing duet with the previously-recorded singing of her deceased father. The song topped the charts, becoming a major hit all over again. Cole made a few films during his career, which included St. Louis Blues and appeared with Jane Fonda in Cat Ballou. 1965 - Canada replaced the Union Jack flag with the Maple Leaf. It was unfurled in ceremonies in Ottawa. 1965 - John Lennon passed his driving test. 1966 - Kees Verkerk became the world champion all-round skater. 1966 - Born this day, Melido Perez, Dominican/US baseball pitcher (New York Yankees). 1966 - Born this day, Petra Huber, in Austria, tennis player. 1966 - Died this day, Camillo Torres, Colombian priest, guerrilla fighter. 1967 - The first anti-bootleg recording laws were enacted. 1967 - Died this day, James Frank Duryea, aged 97, inventor. Was born 8 October 1869. With his brother, Charles, invented first gasoline auto built and operated in the US. 1967 - Died this day, Antonio Moreno, Spanish actor, director (It, Careers), aged 79. 1967 - The French Diadème 1-D satellite was launched into Earth orbit. 1967 - Born this day, Michael Easton, actor, poet (Ally McBeal, Total Recall 2070, VR.5, Tanner Scofield-Days of Our Lives, 413 Hope Street). 1967 - Thirteen US helicopters are shot down in one day in Vietnam. 1967 - Died this day, William C. Bullitt, first US ambassador in USSR, aged 76. 1967 - The group Chicago formed (as The Big Thing). 1967 - D66 (D'66) won 7 seats in the Dutch 2nd Chamber. 1967 - The longest dream (REM sleep) on record, was made by Bill Carskadon, in Chicago at 2 hours 23 minutes. 1968 - Died this day, Little Walter [Marion Walter Jacobs], in Chicago, Illinois, singer, songwriter, composer, bandleader and peerless harmonica virtuoso, aged 37, from injuries incurred in a street fight. Was born 1 May 1930 in Marksville, Louisiana. Was a key member of Muddy Waters' band. First harmonica player to amplify his harmonica giving it a disorted echoing sound. 1968 - Pattie Boyd, George Harrison, and John and Cynthia Lennon arrived in India to study meditation with the Maharishi, McCartney and Starr arrived four days later. Ringo returned before the others comparing the experience to be like a Butlins holiday camp. 1968 - Born this day, Kurt Robin McKinney, in Louisville, Kentucky, actor (Ned Ashton-General Hospital, Matt-Guiding Light). 1968 - Born this day, Michael Easton, in Los Angeles, California, actor (Tanner-Days of Our Lives). 1968 - Anaheim's Les Salvage scored 10, 3-point baskets in an ABA game vs Denver. 1968 - WVUT TV channel 22 in Vincennes, Indiana (PBS) began broadcasting. 1969 - Starting a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart Diana Ross and The Supremes Join The Temtations. 1969 - Ramblin' Gamblin' Man by Bob Seger System peaked at No.17 on the US singles chart. 1969 - Died this day, 'Pee Wee' Russell, jazz performer, clarinetist, reeds, aged 62. Was born 27 March 1906. 1969 - Everyday People by Sly & The Family Stone peaked at No.1 on the US singles chart. It was the start of a four week run at No.1. 1969 - Born this day, Brian Williams, in Lancaster, South Carolina, pitcher (Detroit Tigers, Astros). 1969 - Born this day, Edgar Bennett, NFL running back (Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31). 1969 - A hairdresser named Vickie Jones was arrested in Fort Myers, Florida for giving a phoney Aretha Franklin concert. Jones was so realistic that no one asked for a refund. 1969 - Sly & The Family Stone started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Everyday People, their first No.1. 1969 - Starting a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart was Diana Ross and The Supremes Join The Temptations. 1969 - Touch Me by The Doors peaked at No.3 on the US singles chart. 1969 - The Monkees's Instant Replay album was released in the US. 1970 - Born this day, Gloria Trevi, in Mexico, sexy Spanish vocalist (A Gatas). 1970 - Sandblasting, which is a method of cutting hard substances by the erosive action of a jet of driven sand, was invented by B. C. Tilgham and was demonstrated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1970 - Born this day, Nathaniel Mills, in Evanston, Illinois, speed skater (Olympics 1994). 1970 - Born this day, Tyrone Legette, NFL cornerback (New Orleans Saints). 1970 - Nationalists disrupted a United Nations (UN) session on Congo. 1970 - Ard Schenk became the world champion all-round skater. 1970 - Born this day, Emily May Young, actress, (Step By Step). 1970 - Carol Mann won the LPGA Burdine's Golf Invitational. 1970 - A Dominican DC-9 crashed into the sea at Santo Domingo, killing 102. 1970 - KAMU TV channel 15 in College Station, Texas (PBS) began broadcasting. 1970 - The Daughters of the American Revolution imposed a ban against rock concerts at their Washington DC auditorium, Constitution Hall, after Sly & the Family Stone arrived five hour late for their gig and the crowd inflicted $1,000 worth of damage on the building. 1971 - Born this day, Barbara Failey-Herbert, in South Africa, golfer (1989 winner South Africa Champion). 1971 - Born this day, Jim Butler, in Iowa City, Iowa, table tennis player (Olympics 1992, 1996). 1971 - Joe Garagiola's Memory Game, a TV game show, debuted on NBC. 1971 - Born this day, Renee O'Connor, actress, (Gabrielle-Xena Warrior Princess). 1971 - Born this day, Tyrone Legette, cornerback (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). 1971 - Britain officially adopted the decimal currency system and the 1,200-year-old £/s/d coinage system was replaced with 100 pence to the pound. The date was labelled D-Day. 1971 - Died this day, Marian Viktorovich Koval, composer, aged 63. 1972 - Died this day, Edgar P. Snow, US author, journalist (Battle for Asia), aged 66. 1972 - Died this day, [Josephus C.F.] Jef Last, Dutch poet, Indonesian politician, aged 73. 1972 - Born this day, Jaromir Jagr Kladno, in Czechoslovakia, NHL right wing (Penguins, Czechoslovakia Olympics gold 1998). 1972 - Bill Torrey became the first Islander General Manager. 1972 - Born this day, Lance Scott, NFL offensive linesman (Arizona Cardinals). 1972 - Dimitrios Papadopoulos became metropolitan of Imbros/Tenedos. 1972 - President Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra of Ecuador was deposed for the 5th time. (1934-35, 1944-47, 1952-56, 1960-61, 1968-72). 1973 - Friendsville Academy in Tennessee, ended a 138-game basketball losing streak. (Who did they beat?) 1973 - The USSR launched Prognoz 3 to study the sun (589/200,300 km). 1973 - Born this day, Amy Van Dyken, 50 metre/100 metre freestyle/100 metre butterfly swimmer (Olympics 2 gold 1996). 1973 - Ohio erected metric distance signs along Interstate 71, expecting the rest of the US to follow. They remain the only kilometre signs in the US. 1973 - Died this day, Wally Cox [Wallace Maynard], actor, cartoon voicer, panelist, singer, comedian, (Adv's of Hiram Holiday, Robinson Peepers-Mr. Peepers, Hollywood Squares, voiced Underdog), aged 48. Was born 6 December 1924 in Detroit. 1973 - Died this day, Tim Holt [Charles John Jr.], TV and movie actor (Stagecoach, Hitler's Children), of cancer aged 55. Was born 5 February 1918. 1974 - In a Brady Bunch episode called Top Secret, Bobby and Oliver, aided by their youthful imaginations, become convinced that they are onto a spy plot that involves Mike, an FBI agent is checking Mike's security clearance and so the boys get the idea that Mike is working on some secret plans. Sam, the butcher, asks Mike's help with a confidential project, and Bobby is sure that Sam is passing the 'secret plans' to the Russians. 1974 - Died this day, Kurt Magnus Atterberg, composer, aged 86. 1974 - Boston's Phil Esposito scored his 1,000th point, an assist in the Bruins' 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. 1974 - US gas (petrol) stations threaten to close because of federal fuel policies. 1974 - Born this day, Erik Schulz, in Port Huron, Michigan, pairs skater (& Ilana Goldfogel). 1974 - Born this day, Jodie McMullen, Miss Australia-Universe, Miss Congeniality 1996. 1974 - Born this day, future Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew was foaled at White Horse Acres, Lexington, Kentucky. 1974 - Born this day, Tim Hall, running back (Oakland Raiders). 1974 - Born this day, Ugueth Urbina, in Caracas, Venezuela, pitcher (Montréal Expos). 1974 - David Bowie released the single Rebel, Rebel in the US. 1974 - New York's Bottom Line Club, a showcase nightclub for major new talent, opened. Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, and James Taylor and Carly Simon were among those in the audience. 1975 - TG Sheppard's first country chart hit, Devil In The Bottle, reaches No.1 in the US. 1975 - Born this day, Robert Fuchs, soccer player (PSV). 1975 - Linda Ronstadt went to No.1 on the US singles chart with You're No Good, the singers only solo chart topper out of 12 other top 40 hits. 1975 - Died this day, Julian Huxley, biologist. 1975 - Died this day, Joel Hopkins, musician, Sam Lightnin's brother. Was aged 71. Born 3 January 1904. 1975 - Rhyme Tyme People by Kool & The Gang peaked at No.63 on the US singles chart. 1975 - Died this day, Pelham G. Wodehouse, writer. 1976 - Born this day, Brandon Boyd, Incubus, 2001 US No.9 and UK No.40 single Drive. 1976 - The 12th Winter Olympics games closed at Innsbruck, in Austria. 1976 - Joanne Carner won the LPGA Orange Blossom Golf Classic. 1976 - Bette Midler bailed seven members of her entourage out of jail after they were arrested on cocaine and marijuana possession charges. 1977 - The social-democrats won the Danish parliamentary election. 1977 - W. Sebok discovered asteroid #2491. 1977 - Glen Matlock was fired from The Sex Pistols, being replaced by Sid Vicious. 1977 - Born this day, Brook Wackman, rock musician. 1977 - US gold certification was awarded for The Best Of George Harrison. 1978 - Guitarist Mike Bloomfield was found dead in his car in San Francisco aged 39, apparently of an accidental drug overdose. Bloomfield had been in various blues bands and had worked with Dylan and Dr John. 1978 - Died this day, Ilka Chase, actress (Masquerade Party), aged 72. 1978 - Escaped mass murderer Ted Bundy was recaptured, in Pensacola, Florida. 1978 - Leon Spinks beat Muhammad Ali in 15-rounds to capture the world heavyweight crown. Spinks won a split decision over Ali, who had held the title for seven years. The 24-year-old challenger had only seven professional fights to his credit. The title bout was held in the Pavilion at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. 1978 - England were all out 64 to New Zealand in cricket (Geoff Boycott was Captain). 1978 - Hal Ashby's Coming Home starring Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, and Bruce Dern opened at the Cinema 1 and in Los Angeles at the Avco. 1978 - Zaire revised its constitution. 1979 - The Temple City Kazoo Orchestra appeared on the Mike Douglas Show. 1979 - The US performed a nuclear test at its Nevada Test Site. 1979 - Died this day, Alex Bradford, actor, composer (Your Arms too Short...), aged 51. 1979 - Died this day, Mehdi Rahimi, in Iran, General, military Governor of Tehran, executed. 1979 - At the 21st Grammy Awards, for 1978, the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack won Album of the Year and the Bee Gees took home statues for Best Pop Group and Best Arrangement for Voices for Staying Alive. Billy Joel's Just the Way You Are won Record and Song of the Year. Donna Summer's Last Dance won two Grammys: Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song. Taste of Honey also won. 1979 - Born this day, Kaj-Erik Eriksen, actor (Quarantine). 1979 - Paul Shirley, aged 21, of Australia, sucked a lifesaver sweet for 4 hrs 40 mins. 1980 - Z. Vavrova discovered asteroid #3592. 1980 - Wayne Gretzky, then a 19-year with the Edmonton Oilers, equalled an NHL record with seven assists in the Oilers 8-2 win over the Washington Capitals. He set a rookie record in the game by registering his 96th point of the season. 1980 - Speed skater Eric Heiden won the first of five gold medals at the Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York. He skated 500 metres in 38.03 seconds. 1981 - A rocket-powered ice sled attained 399 kph, at Lake George, New York. 1981 - Joanne Carner won the LPGA S&H Golf Classic. 1981 - For the first time, Football league matches were played on a Sunday. 1981 - Died this day, Jack Crapp, cricketer (7 Tests for England 1948-49, 319 runs). 1981 - Died this day, Mike Bloomfield, rock musician, blues singer, guitarist, songwriter, harmonica, pianist, of a heroin drug overdose aged 36 in his car in San Francisco, California. Was born 28 July 1944 in Chicago. Member of Paul Butterfield Blues Band; soloist; Electric Flag, session musician. 1981 - Died this day, Thomas Beversdorf, composer, aged 56. 1982 - Welterweight boxing champion, Sugar Ray Leonard, knocked out Bruce Finch in the third round of a fight in Reno, Nevada. Leonard was injured in the second round and underwent retinal surgery in May. He retired, for the first time in November 1982, but returned to the ring in 1984. 1982 - Dan Issel (NBA-Nuggets), began a streak of 63 consecutive free throws. 1982 - The Ocean Ranger oil-drilling platform was lost off Newfoundland during a severe storm, 84 died. 1982 - Died this day, Rolfe Sedan, actor (Mailman-George Burns Show), aged 86. 1982 - Television actor and Screen Actors Guild president Ed Asner, along with other actors, held a Washington press conference. The meeting was to announce a $25,000 contribution for leftist rebels in El Salvador to provide medical aid to the people, who Asner asserted were being ignored by the military government. Charlton Heston, former SAG president, openly criticised Asner for failing to distinguish that he acted as an individual in the conference, not as the elected head of the 50,000-member actors' union. Asner later admitted to his mistake. 1983 - N. Thomas discovered asteroid #3367 Alex, #3413 Andriana, #3525 Paul and #3580. 1983 - Born this day, Ashley Lyn Cafagna, in Iowa City, Iowa, actress (Kimberly-Bold & the Beautiful, Saved By The Bell: The New Class). 1983 - Tim Conway spoofed the old fashioned Bogart-style detective in CBS's Ace Crawford, Private Eye. Also in the cast were Joe Regalbuto and Billy Barty. 1984 - Died this day, Leamon Hunt, US director-General in Sinai, killed by communists. 1984 - A revamped Pretenders began a 52-date US tour. 1984 - Died this day, Avon Long, dancer, actor (Chicken George Moore-Roots Next Generation), of cancer aged 73. Was born 18 June 1910. 1984 - Died this day, Ethel Merman [Zimmermann], opera singer, movie and stage actress (Anything Goes, Call Me Madam, Everything's Coming up Roses, Kid Million, Lola Lasagne-Batman), in her sleep aged 76. Was born 16 January 1909 in Astoria, New York. (Other source says born 1912), Ernest Borgnine's ex. 1984 - 500,000 Iranian soldiers moved into Iraq. 1984 - Walt Disney Productions announced the formation of Touchstone Productions. 1985 - Lost In America starring Albert Brooks who directed also and Julie Haggerty opened in theatres in the USA. 1985 - The John Hughes film The Breakfast Club opened. Simple Minds has a No.1 hit with Don't You (Forget About Me) from the soundtrack. 1985 - STS 51-E vehicle moved to the launch pad. 1985 - Pope John Paul II met with leaders of the American Jewish Committee, and issued a statement condemning anti-Semitism as 'incompatible with Christ's teaching'. 1985 - The World chess championship match was abandoned at Karpov 25, Kasparov 23. 1985 - The Center for Disease Control reported that more than half of all nine-year-olds in the US showed no sign of tooth decay. Fluoride was given credit for these 'pearly' figures. 1985 - Appearing at The Gaumont, Ipswich, England, were The Boomtown Rats. 1986 - Whitney Houston started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with How Will I Know. It made No.5 in the UK. 1986 - Sade started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Promise. 1986 - Living Bibles International moved to its present headquarters in Naperville, Illinois. Founded in 1968 by Ken Taylor, editor of the Living Bible, LBI is an interdenominational Bible distributing agency, working in 45 countries. 1986 - A first in the music biz, as Whitney Houston started a 2 week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with How Will I Know. It made No.5 in the UK. Her single replaced a song recorded by her first cousin, Dionne Warwick That's What Friends Are For. Whitney is the daughter of singer Cissy Houston. 1986 - A crowd of 44,180, the largest NBA crowd to date, turned out at the Pontiac Silverdome to watch the Pistons beat the Sixers 134-133 in overtime. 1986 - The Philippines National Assembly proclaimed Ferdinand E. Marcos president for another six years, following an election marked by allegations of fraud. 1986 - In Between Days (Without You) by The Cure peaked at No.99 on the US singles chart. 1986 - Life's What You Make It by Talk Talk peaked at No.90 on the US singles chart. 1986 - When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean peaked at No.2 on the US singles chart. 1986 - Wood Beez (pray like Aretha Franklin) by Scritti Politti peaked at No.91 on the US singles chart. 1987 - People magazine reported that John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, had considered killing many other celebrities, including Paul McCartney, Johnny Carson, Elizabeth Taylor and Ronald Reagan. 1987 - ABC-TV began broadcasting the Amerika mini-series, a controversial mini-series about a Soviet takeover of the United States that was criticised by some as potentially damaging to superpower relations. 1987 - Craig Stadler was disqualified from the Andy Williams Open for kneeling on a towel to make a shot. 1987 - Karlstad skated a world record 10km in 14 minutes and 3.92 seconds. 1987 - Dr. Demento appeared on KLSX-FM 97.1 for the first time after spending 16 years on KMET, which became 94.7 The Wave, a new age station. 1987 - Nikolai Guljajev became the world champion skater. 1987 - Died this day, Jimmy Holiday, US singer (Baby I Love You), aged 42. 1987 - Died this day, Osmo Uolevi Lindeman, composer, aged 57. 1988 - Died this day, Frederick [Fritz] Loewe, composer. 1988 - Died this day, Gardiner Means, US economist, aged 91. 1988 - President Kurt Waldheim of Austria vowed in a televised address to his nation not to 'retreat in the face of slanders' concerning his service for the German Army during World War II (WWII). 1988 - Died this day, Gerard Holt, architect, aged 83. 1988 - Died this day, Neil R[onald] Jones, science fiction writer (Space War, Twin Worlds), aged 78. 1988 - Died this day, Richard P. Feynman, physicist, author (Nobel 1965, Physical Law), aged 69. Was born 11 May 1918. 1988 - Def Leppard were forced to cancel a concert in El Paso, Texas, when they received threats that the gig would be disrupted, after singer Jo Elliot had referred to El Paso as 'the place with all those greasy Mexicans'. 1988 - The US performed a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site. 1989 - Israel attacked the border strip of Taba near Egypt. 1989 - The Soviet Union announced that it had withdrawn the remainder of its troops from Afghanistan, ending nine years of military intervention. 1989 - Golden State picked up 25 steals against San Antonio in a 133-96 win at the Oakland Coliseum. That tied the NBA record originally set by the Warriors on 25 March 1975, in a 139-122 home win over the LA Lakers. 1990 - Died this day, Henry Brandon, actor (Assault on Precinct 13), aged 77. 1990 - Great Britain and Argentina agreed to restore full diplomatic relations, severed in the 1982 war over the Falkland Islands. 1990 - Died this day, Jack Fletcher, actor (Any Wednesday), of heart attack aged 68. 1990 - Unable to agree on a contract, owners locked baseball fields on what was to be the opening day of spring practice. 1990 - President Bush and the leaders of Colombia, Bolivia and Peru met in Cartagena, Colombia, for a drug-fighting summit. 1991 - Iraq proposed a conditional withdrawal from Kuwait, an offer dismissed by President Bush as a cruel hoax. 1991 - Died this day, Gary Gears, Chicago disk jockey, aged 46 of a heart attack. 1991 - Died this day, Luis Escobar, Spanish actor (Don Juan My Love), aged 78. 1991 - Kelly Emberg ex-girlfriend of Rod Stewart, filed a $25 million palimony suit in Los Angeles. 1991 - Born this day, Nicholas Garland, son of Pamela Sue Martin. 1991 - A freighter with dynamite on board, exploded in Phang Nga, Thailand, 120 died. 1991 - Troy State set an NCAA Division II record with 103 points in second half routing DeVry Institute 187-117. 1992 - Two Spaniards completed the first east-west balloon flight across the Atlantic when they arrived in Venezuela from Spain. 1992 - The 100th episode of Cops aired on the Fox Network. 1992 - I Can't Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt peaked at No.18 on the US singles chart. 1992 - A Milwaukee, Wisconsin jury rejected mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer's insanity plea and held him responsible for the brutal sex-torture murders of at least fifteen people. The judge sentenced him to fifteen consecutive life prison terms. 1992 - Died this day, William H. Schuman, US composer, educator, Pulitzer Prize-winner, President of Julliard, aged 81. Was born 4 August 1910. (Amer Festival Overture, Juilliard). 1992 - Diamonds & Pearls by Prince and The N.P.G. peaked at No.3 on the US singles chart. 1992 - Keep It Comin by Keith Sweat peaked at No.17 on the singles chart. 1992 - The Ivory Coast village of Krinjabo named Michael Jackson King of the Sanwis. 1992 - Paper Doll by P.M. Dawn peaked at No.28 on the US singles chart. 1993 - Died this day, George Wallington [Giacinto Figlia], Italian bebop-pianist. 1993 - A total of 695 players shared in the post-season pool of $14.9 million. 1993 - An overflow crowd jammed NBC's Burbank, California, studios to see Duran Duran on The Tonight Show. 1993 - Joel and Maggie romped in the sack on Northern Exposure. 1993 - Bombings by the Mafia drug lords killed 14 in Bogota, Colombia. 1993 - President Bill Clinton issued an economic 'call to arms', asking Americans in a televised Oval Office address to accept a painful package of tax increases and spending cuts to rebuild the economy. 1993 - The Howard Stern Radio Show premiered in Rochester, New York on WNVE 95.1 FM. 1993 - The Slovak parliament elected economist Michal Kovac as a newly-independent Slovakia's first president. 1994 - North Korea ended a yearlong standoff with the International Atomic Energy Agency, after it allowed the agency's inspectors to check seven declared nuclear plants. 1994 - The US asked Aristide to adopt a peace plan from Haiti. 1994 - Died this day, Andrei Tsjikatilo [Chikatilo] [Rostov Ripper], Russian mass murderer, executed. Russian serial killer, who raped and butchered more than 50 victims, was executed after losing an 11th-hour appeal for clemency. 1994 - Viacom won a hard-fought victory to acquire Paramount Communications. 1994 - A federal court jury ruled Michael Jackson did not steal the idea for his hit song Dangerous from a Denver woman who had sent him a demo tape. 1994 - Died this day, Tiger Haynes, US actor, guitarist, jazz musician, The Three Flames jazz combo, (Moscow on the Hudson, Cosby Show), aged 86. Was born 13 December 1907. 1994 - Aaron Barnhart began his weekly Late Show News, a weekly electronic sheet with news and program lineups of late night television spanning broadcast, cable, and even pay TV in the USA. 1995 - On 15 February 1995, police arrested Kevin Mitnick on suspicion of stealing 20,000 credit-card numbers from the Internet service provider Netcom. Authorities accused Mitnick of exploiting a security hole that allowed him to enter Netcom's computer system. Although Netcom officials discovered that the files had been tampered with, they did not realise credit-card data had been stolen until another Internet company found the stolen files on its computers and reported them to Netcom. 1995 - Died this day, Francis Taylor, builder, aged 90. 1995 - Died this day, Joseph Ortiz, French-Algerian extremist, rebel, aged 77. 1995 - Died this day, Lord Taylor of Hadfield, British president of Taylor Woodrow Group, aged 90. 1995 - Died this day, Nabila Diahnine, Algerian architect, feminist, murdered aged 33. 1995 - Died this day, Sahnoun Jawhari, Tunisian Annahda-leader, aged 40 while in jail. 1995 - Died this day, Viscount Camrose, British landowner, Conservative. 1995 - Burundi premier Anatole Kanyenkiko resigned. 1995 - Born this day, Aquinnah Kathleen Fox and Schuyler Frances Fox, daughters of Tracy Pollan and Michael J. Fox. 1995 - The Dow-Jones closed at a record 3986.17. 1995 - The population of the People's Republic of China hit 1.2 billion. 1995 - United States Presidents Gerald Ford, George Bush, and Bill Clinton joined legendary entertainer Bob Hope in a gold foursome at Hope's Bob Hope Classic golf tournament. It was the first time three US Presidents had played in one foursome. 1996 - A federal judge temporarily blocked the Communications Decency Act, saying the government had to explain what material it considered indecent before it could enforce the law, designed to protect children from sexually explicit material on computer networks. 1996 - Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin announced he would run for re-election. 1996 - It was reported that Take That were the UK's biggest single selling artists with sales over 3.9 million. 1996 - Died this day, Bruno Ferenc Straub, Hungarian statesman. 1996 - An ammunition dump at the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul blew up, killing at least 60 people. 1996 - The British government said a three-year inquiry into arms sales to Iraq before the Gulf War had cleared ministers of conspiracy and had revealed no official cover-up. 1996 - Died this day, Margaret Courtenay, actress (Royal Flash, Duet for One), aged 72. 1996 - Died this day, McLean Stevenson, actor, comedy writer, panelist (Michael Nicholson-The Doris Day Show, Tim Conway Comedy Hour, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake-MASH, Mac Ferguson-McLean Stevenson Show, In the Beginning, Larry Adler-Hello Larry, James-Condo, Match Game), aged 66. Born 14 November 1929 in Bloomington, Illinois. Adlai E. Stevenson's great-nephew. 1996 - The NCAA football rules committee voted to require a tiebreaker in all NCAA football games. 1996 - Died this day, Oscar Abrams, community organiser, aged 58. 1996 - Died this day, Tommy Rettig, actor (Jeff Miller-Lassie), computer programmer (Clipper), aged 54. Was born 10 December 1941 in Jackson Heights, New York. 1997 - The US female Figure Skating championship was won by Tara Lipinski. 1997 - The US male Figure Skating championship was won by Todd Eldridge. 1997 - Texas went to No.1 on the UK album chart with White On Blonde. 1997 - U2 went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Discotheque, the bands third UK No.1. 1998 - Died this day, Martha Gelhorn, female war correspondent, aged 89. 1998 - Dale Eggeling won the Los Angeles Women's Golf Championship. 1998 - In the Daytona 500 race, Dale Earnhardt was the winner. 1999 - Rolling Stones Day was declared in the state of Minnesota by Governor Jesse Ventura, a one-time Stones concert bodyguard. 2000 - Sting pulled-out of a concert in Vienna in protest at the inclusion of Jorg Haider's far right freedom party in Austria's new government. Lou Reed had also cancelled shows in the country. 2001 - A man accused of a sword attack which left a Liberal Democrat worker dead and an MP seriously injured was declared unfit to stand trial at Bristol Crown Court. 2002 - A £100m immigration removal centre near Bedford was wrecked when asylum seekers staged a mass break-out. 2002 - Kerrang! magazine overtook the New Musical Express (NME) for the first time to become the best selling UK weekly music publication. It claimed news bands such as Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park had given them a new teenage audience. 2003 - Upwards of one million people marched through London to protest against likely military action on 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.