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February 23rd
0155 - Martyrdom of Polycarp, an early Church Father who was a disciple of the Apostle John. Arrested at age 86, Polycarp was burned at the stake for refusing to deny the Christian faith. 0303 - Emperor Diocletian ordered the general persecution of Christians in Rome. 1516 - The Hapsburg Charles I succeeded Ferdinand in Spain. 1540 - Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado began his unsuccessful search for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold in the American Southwest. 1574 - The 5th War of Religion broke out in France. 1615 - The Estates-General in Paris was dissolved, having been in session since October 1614. 1633 - Born this day, Samuel Pepys, English diarist. Died in 1703. 1685 - Born this day, George Frederick Handel, in Halle, Saxony, German Baroque composer. Died in 1759. He settled in England and became court composer to George II. 1743 - Born this day, Meyer Amschel Rothschild, banker and founder of the Rothschild dynasty in Europe. 1744 - Colonial missionary to the American Indians David Brainerd wrote in his journal, 'There is a God in heaven who over-rules all things for the best; and this is the comfort of my soul'. 1775 - Anglican hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter, 'How great and honorable is the privilege of a true believer! That he has neither wisdom nor strength in himself is no disadvantage, for he is connected with infinite wisdom and almighty power'. 1778 - Baron von Steuben joined the Continental Army at Valley Forge. 1787 - Born this day, Emma Willard, educator, writer. Died in 1870. 1820 - The Cato Street Conspiracy, an attempt to assassinate British Cabinet ministers, was foiled with only hours to spare. The plotters were executed. 1821 - The Philadelphia College of Apothecaries was established, the first pharmacy college - in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1821 - Died this day, John Keats, poet, of tuberculosis at the age of 25. 1834 - Scottish clergyman Robert Murray McCheyne wrote in his journal, 'Rose early to seek God and found Him whom my soul loveth. Who would not rise early to meet such company?' 1836 - The Mexican army, led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, lay seige to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, USA. The entire garrison was eventually killed. Leading several thousand Mexican troops, they began besieging the Alamo mission settlement held by a force of 145 Texans led by Colonel Travis, Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett. The siege ended on 6 March with all the Texans killed. 1839 - William F. Harnden organised the America's first express service - in Boston, Massachusetts. The service operated between Boston and New York City. 1846 - The Liberty Bell tolled for the last time, to mark George Washington's birthday. 1847 - Forces led by Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexicans at the Battle of Buena Vista. 1848 - Died this day, John Quincy Adams, former sixth US President. Died in the Speaker's Room, Congress, Washington DC. Is buried in Quincy, Massachusetts. 1854 - Great Britain officially recognised the independence of the Orange Free State. 1861 - Texas became the seventh state to secede from the Union. 1863 - British explorers John Speke and J. A. Grant announced the discovery of the source of the Nile. 1866 - King Alexander Cuza of Romania was forced to abdicate and was succeeded by Charles, Prince of Hohenzollern as Carol I. 1868 - Born this day, W. E. B. [William Edward Burghardt] Du Bois, US historian and civil rights leader, founder of what became the NAACP. 1874 - Major Walter Wingfield patented the rules of an outdoor game he called Sphairistike but it survives today as lawn tennis, from the French tenez. 1883 - Born this day, Victor Fleming, film director (The Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind). 1885 - John Lee survived three attempts to hang him in Exeter Prison, after the trap failed to open. 1886 - Charles M. Hall completed his invention of aluminum. He produced it using electricity. 1898 - Writer Emile Zola was imprisoned in France for his letter J'accuse in which he accused the French government of anti-semitism and the wrongful imprisonment of army captain Alfred Dreyfus. 1899 - Born this day, Erich Kastner, German poet, novelist and children's author (Emil and the Detectives). 1901 - Britain and Germany agreed on a boundary between German East Africa and Nyasaland. 1904 - Japan guaranteed Korean sovereignty in exchange for military assistance. 1904 - Born this day, William Shirer, CBS broadcaster and author (The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich). 1905 - The Rotary Club was founded by four men in Chicago, Illinois by Attorney Paul Harris. A national association of the very popular civic club was formed in 1910 and, in 1922 the organisation which was for men only, adopted the name Rotary International. It continues with millions of members throughout the world - both men and women. 1915 - Redoubtable French actress Sarah Bernhardt had her right leg amputated on this day, but was back on stage later the same year, still playing romantic roles. 1916 - US Secretary of State Lansing hinted that the US may have to abandon the policy of avoiding 'entangling foreign alliances'. 1919 - Benito Mussolini broke with the Socialist party and founded his own Fasci del Comattimento (Fascist) party in Italy. 1921 - An airmail plane set a record of 33 hours and 20 minutes from San Francisco to New York. 1924 - Born this day, Allan MacLeod Cormack, physicist, developed the CAT scan. 1926 - President Calvin Coolidge opposed a large air force, believing it would be a menace to world peace. 1927 - The Federal Radio Commission began its work of assigning frequencies, hours of operation and power allocations for radio broadcasters across the US. The name was changed to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on 1 July 1934. 1930 - Born this day, Elston Howard, baseball. Died in 1980. 1933 - Born this day, Lee Calhoun, hurdler, Olympic Hall of Fame. Died in 1989. 1934 - Casey Stengel became manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, as he signed his first (of many) major league contracts. 1935 - The first rocket air mail flight took place, in Greenwood Lake, New York. 1936 - In Russia, an unmanned balloon rose to a record height of 25 miles. 1937 - Bing Crosby sang with Lani McIntyre and his band as Sweet Leilani was recorded on Decca Records. The Academy Award-winning song was featured in the movie Waikiki Wedding. 1938 - Twelve Chinese fighter planes dropped bombs on Japan. 1938 - Born this day, Sylvia Chase, newscaster. 1938 - Born this day, Diana Varsi, actress. 1939 - Born this day, Peter Fonda, US actor, director. 1939 - Walt Disney won an Oscar for the film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Academy Award ceremonies that were held at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Disney actually received one Oscar statuette and seven miniature ones for his work. 1940 - Walt Disney's animated feature Pinocchio, based on the story by Collodi (real name: Carlo Lorenzini), was released to the general public. Using a new multiplane camera, this innovative film was able to capture never-before-seen dimension in an animated movie. Critics were enchanted with Disney's treatment of the story, although the nephew of the fable's author asked the Italian Ministry of Popular Culture to sue Disney for libel in portraying Pinocchio "so he easily could be mistaken for an American," when the puppet was Italian. Nothing came of Paolo Lorensini's objections. The film did well at the box office. Disney had the movie dubbed in seven languages at an additional cost of $65,000. However, when Pinocchio was released, World War II (WWII) was underway and the European market was inaccessible; as a result, Disney lost a major source of revenue. Jiminy Cricket's song, When You Wish Upon a Star, later won an Oscar for Best Song. 1942 - On this date in 1942, in the first raid against the continental United States in World War II (WWII), the Japanese submarine I-17, commanded by Captain Kozo Nishino, fired approximately thirteen shells against the Barnsdall Oil Refinery in Ellwood, California, about twelve miles west of Santa Barbara. The submarine was about half a mile off shore. During the attack, which lasted about twenty minutes, one shell made a direct hit on the rigging and pumping equipment of an oil well, causing about five hundred dollars in damage. No one was injured in the attack, which was the first of only a handful of Japanese raids against the continental United States. On June 21 of the same year, the Oregon coast was shelled, and on 9 September, Japanese balloons dropped incendiaries over Oregon in an unsuccessful attempt to set fire to the forests of Oregon and Washington. There were no recorded American casualties in any of these attacks. 1942 - In World War II (WWII), a Master Mutual Aid Agreement was signed between the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. 1943 - Born this day, Fred Biletnikoff, American football. 1943 - Born this day, Bobby Mitchell, golf. 1944 - American bombers struck the Marianas Islands bases, only 1,300 miles from Tokyo. 1944 - Born this day, Johnny Winter [John Dawson III], guitar, vocals, worked with Rick Derringer and brother Edgar Winter, 1969 US top 30 album Johnny Winter. 1944 - Born this day, Mike Maxfield, musician, guitarist, Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, 1964 UK No.1 and US No.7 single Little Children. 1944 - Joseph Stalin forced 1 million Chechens into exile and dissolved the republic accusing them of collaboration with Nazi Germany. 1945 - Eisenhower opened a large offensive in the Rhineland. 1945 - Died this day, Alexei Tolstoy, regarded as one of the greatest contemporary Russian novelists, at the age of 62 in Moscow. 1945 - US Marines planted an American flag on top of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima. 1945 - The US flag was raised on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima on this day, but it took another three weeks of fighting to secure the island. 1946 - Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita was hanged in Manila, the Philippines, for war crimes. 1946 - Born this day, Rusty Young, pedal steel, Poco, 1979 US No.17 single Crazy Love. 1946 - Born this day, Ken Boswell, baseball. 1947 - Several hundred Nazi organisers were arrested in Frankfurt by US and British forces. 1950 - New York's Metropolitan Museum exhibited a collection of Hapsburg art. The first showing of this collection in the US. 1950 - Born this day, Steve Priest, guitar, bass, Sweet, 1973 UK No.1 single Blockbuster, plus 14 other UK top 40 singles. 1950 - Election results were televised for the first time. 1950 - Born this day, Jim Youngblood, American football. 1951 - Born this day, Eddie Dibbs, tennis. 1951 - Born this day, Edward Lee 'Too Tall' Jones, American football. 1951 - Born this day, Ray Oldham, American football. 1951 - Born this day, Nicholas Kenyon, controller of Radio 3. 1951 - Born this day, Patricia Richardson, actress. 1952 - Born this day, Lorne Henning, hockey. 1952 - Born this day, Brad Whitford, guitar, Aerosmith, 1989 UK No.13 single Love In An Elevator, 1998 US No.1 single I Don't Want To Miss A Thing. 1953 - An amnesty for World War II (WWII) deserters brought in applications from nearly 3000 servicemen. 1954 - Mass innoculation began as Salk's polio vaccine was given to children for the first time. 1955 - Eight nations met in Bangkok for the first SEATO council. 1955 - Died this day, Paul Louis Charles Claudel, French poet, playwright and diplomat. 1955 - French Prime Minister Pierre Mendes-France was turfed out of office today, victim of the growing tensions in Algeria. Attempting to win a vote of confidence for his chosen course, Mendes-France was defeated in the National Assembly. France's new premier is Edgar Faure. 1955 - Born this day, Howard Jones, keyboards, singer, songwriter, 1983 UK No.2 single What Is Love, plus 9 other UK top 40 singles. 1955 - Born this day, Zeke Manyika, Orange Juice, 1983 UK No.8 single Rip It Up. 1955 - The West German Army dropped the use of the goose-step. 1955 - Born this day, Rodney Slater, US Secretary of Transportation. 1957 - The United States Supreme Court ruled that professional football operations of the NFL did fall within coverage of existing antitrust laws. 1958 - Born this day, David Sylvian [Batt], musician, guitarist, singer, Japan, 1982 UK No.5 single Ghosts. 1959 - Born this day, Linda Nolan, singer (Nolans). 1960 - Whites joined Negro students in a sit-in at a Winston-Salem, North Carolina Woolworth store. 1960 - Wrecking crews began to demolish the venerable home of the Brooklyn Dodgers: Ebbets Field in New York City. 1961 - Petula Clark had her first UK No.1 single with Sailor. During her career she achieved a total of 20 UK top 40 hits and 2 US No.1 singles. 1963 - Born this day, Rob Collins, keyboards, The Charlatans, 1990 UK No.9 single The Only One I Know. Died in a car crash 23 July 1996. 1963 - The Chiffons released He's So Fine was released in the US. It later rose to the No.1 position (March 30th) for a four-week stay. The song later became the centre of one of the most publicised lawsuits in music history when the estate of songwriter Ronnie Marks won a suit against former Beatle, George Harrison, saying that the song, My Sweet Lord, was a note-for-note copy of He's So Fine. The Chiffons also scored big with One Fine Day, Sweet Talkin' Guy and others. 1963 - Born this day, Bobby [Roberto Martin Antonio] Bonilla, baseball. 1964 - The US and Britain recognised the new Zanzibar government. 1964 - The Beatles appear for the third time on The Ed Sullivan Show, this time with a taped performance of three songs. 1965 - Died this day, Stan Laurel, the thin, wistful half of the Laurel and Hardy comedy duo, aged 74. Born in Lancashire, he sailed to America where Charlie Chaplin got him into films. He was cast in a two-reeler with Hardy, the rest is comedy history. 1965 - Born this day, Helena Sukova, tennis player. 1965 - The Righteous Brothers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with You Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. 1966 - Harper with Janet Leigh was released. 1966 - In Syria, the military seized power in a coup and Dr. Nureddin el-Atassi was named head of state. 1967 - Jim Ryun set a record in the half-mile run at Lawrence, Kansas. Ryun ran the distance in 1 minute 48.3 seconds. 1967 - American troops began the largest offensive of the Vietnam war, near the Cambodian border. 1967 - Julie Newmar made her last appearance as Catwoman on Batman. 1968 - Wilt Chamberlain, of the Philadelphia 76ers, wowed the home crowd at the old Philadelphia Arena by becoming the first pro basketball player to score more than 25,000 career points. 1968 - Peggy Fleming made the cover of Life magazine. 1969 - Born this day, Brian Laudrup, footballer. 1969 - Ex-test cricketer the Reverend David Sheppard was appointed Bishop of Woolwich. 1969 - Sly & The Family Stone were at No.1 on the US singles chart with Everyday Day People the groups first of three US No.1's. 1970 - The Holy Eucharist was distributed by women for the first time in a Roman Catholic service. 1970 - Guyana became a republic. 1971 - James Franciscus starred in Longstreet, a made-for-TV movie that became a series in the autumn of 1971. 1971 - Born this day, Melinda Messenger, a what? 1971 - George Harrison was fined and banned from driving for a year. 1972 - Elvis Presley and his wife Priscilla were legally separated. 1972 - Black activist Angela Davis was released from jail where she had been held for kidnapping, conspiracy and murder. 1973 - Born this day, Olaf - Lasse Johansson, keyboards, The Cardigans, 1997 UK No.2 single Lovefool. 1974 - Suzi Quatro had her second UK No.1 single with Devil Gate Drive. 1974 - The Symbionese Liberation Army demanded $4 million more for the release of Patty Hearst. Hearst had been kidnapped on 4 February and her father, publisher Randolph Hearst, had already coughed up $2 million hoping for her freedom. Randolph said he would consider this request too. 1978 - Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen were arrested in New York for possession of drugs. 1978 - David Coverdale's Whitesnake made their debut at the Sky Bird Club, Nottingham. 1979 - Dire Straits played their first American show when they appeared in Boston, Massachusetts. 1980 - Queen's Crazy Little Thing Called Love jumped to the No.1 spot on Billboard's hit record charts, remaining there for 4 weeks. 1981 - Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero and a group of civil guards burst into the Spanish parliament firing shots in a failed coup attempt. 1981 - Prince Charles announced his engagement to 19-year-old Lady Diana Spencer, declaring that he was 'in love - whatever that is'. 1983 - The rock group, Toto, won Grammy Awards for the hit single, Rosanna, and the album, Toto IV, at the 25th annual ceremonies in Los Angeles. The group received four other awards to tie the 1965 record of six Grammies won by Roger Miller. 1985 - Breaking with tradition the TV show, Gimme a Break, was broadcast live before a studio audience. It was the first TV sitcom to be seen live since television's Golden Age in the 1950s. 1985 - It was reported that Stevie Wonder had been arrested during an antiapartheid demonstration outside the South African Embassy in Washington, he was released after being questioned by police. 1985 - The Smiths scored their first UK No.1 album with Meat Is Murder. 1988 - The 15th Winter Olympics games opened in Calgary, Alberta. 1989 - Isaak Hayes was jailed by an Atlanta judge for owing $346,300 in child support and alimony. 1991 - Whitney Houston achieved her ninth US No.1 single in just over five years with her version of the Sister Sledge song All The Man I Need. 1991 - French forces unofficially started the Persian Gulf ground war by crossing the Saudi-Iraqi border. 1991 - The US insisted Iraq publicly announce it was leaving Kuwait by 12pm EST. 1991 - Greg Haugen scored a split decision over Hector 'Macho' Camacho. (Doing what?) 1991 - During a military coup in Thailand, Premier Choonhaven was arrested. 1991 - North Carolina became the first NCAA basketball team to win 1,500 games. 1991 - Patty Sheehan won the LPGA Orix Hawaiian Ladies Golf Open. 1991 - After a month long air campaign, Allied forces launched the ground offensive against Iraqi forces. The world was surprised at the ease with which Allied forces were able to subdue Iraq forces in 100 hours. 1991 - Thailand's armed forces seized power in a bloodless coup and arrested Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhaven. 1992 - The 16th Winter Olympics games closed in Albertville, France. 1992 - Andy Flower scored 115 on ODI debut, Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka. 1993 - Gary Coleman won a $1,280,000 lawsuit against his parents for high fees. 1993 - India completed a 3-0 series drubbing of England. 1993 - Sacramento Gold Miners were admitted as CFL's 9th franchise (The first US team). 1994 - Indians owner Richard Jacobs announced he would pay $10 million to name the baseball field (Jacobs Field) at Gateway (It became official 23 March.) 1994 - Bosnia's government and separatist Bosnian Croat forces agreed a comprehensive cease-fire under United Nations (UN) auspices. 1994 - The Russian parliament voted to pardon participants in an armed rebellion against President Boris Yeltsin in October 1993 and a Soviet coup attempt in 1991. 1995 - Uncle Vanya opened at Circle in Square Theatre in New Year City for 29 performances. 1995 - Died this day, Mevin Franklin of The Temptations. 1995 - Antoine Nduwayo was appointed Premier of Burundi. 1995 - The Dow Jones closed above 4,000 for first time (4,003.33). 1996 - Mark Waugh scored 130 in the World Cup vs Kenya, 207 w/brother Steve. 1996 - Kamel Hassan and his brother Saddam Kamel, both married to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's daughters, were murdered by relatives in a gun-battle only days after returning from Jordan. 1996 - Pope John Paul II issued an updated code for electing popes, introducing modern comforts for cardinals in conclave and reaffirming rules against electronic bugging to safeguard their secrecy. 1996 - Rajindra Dhanraj took 9-97 for Trinidad against the Leeward Islands. 1997 - Ali Abu Kamal opened fire in the Empire State Building and killed 1 person. 1997 - The American Express Senior Golf Invitational was held. 1997 - NBC TV showed Schindler's List, completely uncensored, 65 million watched. 
1997 - Scientists in Scotland announced they had succeeded in cloning an adult mammal, producing a lamb named Dolly. 1997 - The Tucson Chrysler Golf Classic was held. Jeff Sluman won. 1998 - The Howard Stern Radio Show premiered in Charleston, South Carolina on WAVF 96.1 FM. 1998 - The US Supreme Court let Megan's Law stand. 1998 - Tornadoes in Florida killed at least 31 people. 1999 - In London, actor Nigel Hawthorne, age 70, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. 1999 - In Britain, the debut episode of a gay drama series, Queer as Folk, in which a 29-year-old man seduced a 15-year-old boy, aired. It was reported that a third of the viewers who tuned in to the beginning of the program switched off before it was over. A British homosexual-rights groups joined a protest over the show, as saying that it went too far. Brenda Oakes, a spokesperson for the Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, told London Times: 'We are always pleased to see gay issues being tackled on television but are disappointed that Channel 4 have gone for sensationalism and stereotypes. ...I don't think that the program will help the fight for equality for our sons and daughters'. But Gub Neal Channel 4's head of drama, told the Times that the drama intended to show gay life in ways that other channels 'won't or 4can't'. 2000 - Savage Garden were at No.1 on the US singles chart with I Knew I Loved You. 2000 - Britian should join a successful European single currency provided the economic conditions are met, the Prime Minister Tony Blair, told the House of Commons. 2001 - Former Tory Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath today notched up 51 years continuous service in the House of Commons. He is 84 years old. 2001 - Tony Blair branded Saddam Hussein a 'serial sinner' whose threat to the world had to be stopped. 2002 - Stranded motorists were rescued from their vehicles after snow drifts up to 20ft deep paralysed the far north of Britain. 2004 - Died this day, Don Cornell, aged84, Big Band singer who scored a string of hits during the 1950s and early 1960s including It Isn't Fair. He died in Aventura, Florida, of advanced emphysema and diabetes, said Zora Pergl-Cary, his personal assistant. Cornell got his start with trumpeter Red Nichols and big band leader Sammy Kaye before launching a successful solo career. Between 1950 and 1962, Cornell chalked up hits such as It Isn't Fair, I'm Yours, The Bible Tells Me So, Most of All, I'll Walk Alone and Hold My Hand. Cornell was honoured in 1963 as one of the first stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Big Band Hall of Fame in 1993. |
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.