|
February 28th
0870 - The Fourth Constantinople Council closed, under Pope Adrian II in the West and Emperor Basil I in the East. The council had condemned iconoclasm, and became the last ecumenical council held in the Eastern Mediterranean area. 1066 - Edward the Confessor's great church, Westminster Abbey, opened its doors for worship for the first time. 1261 - Died this day, Hendrik, duke of Brabant (1248-61). 1533 - Born this day, In 1533 Michel de Montaigne, France, essayist/philosopher 1552 - Born this day, Jobst Burgi, [Justus Byrgius], Swiss-German mathematician, clockmaker. 1573 - Born this day, Elias Hill, German architect, city builder (Augsburg). 1573 - Flemish engraver and publisher John 'Hans' Liefrinck (about 54) was buried. 1609 - Died this day, Paul Sartorius, composer, aged 39. 1610 - Thomas West, Baron de La Mar, was appointed governor of Virginia. 1616 - Born this day, Kaspar Forster, composer. 1618 - Died this day, Philip Willem, Prince of Orange. 1626 - Died this day, Cyril Tourneur, English poet, dramatist, aged about 51. 1638 - Died this day, Claude G. Bachet de Meziriac, French mathematician, poet, aged 56. 1638 - Died this day, Henri duc de Rohan, French soldier, Huguenot leader. 1638 - Scottish Presbyterians signed a National Convent, at Greyfriars, Edinburgh. 1653 - In the Driedaagse Sea battle the English beat the Dutch. 1665 - Died this day, Lodewok van Nassau, Bavarian diplomat. 1667 - The English colony of Suriname fell into Dutch hands. 1683 - Born this day, Rene-Antoine de Reaumur, in France, biologist, engineer. 1690 - Born this day, Aleksei P. Romanov, in Russia, son of Peter the Great. 1692 - The Salem witch hunt began. 1704 - Elias Neau, a Frenchman, opened a school for blacks in New York City. 1704 - Indians attacked Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 40, and kidnapping 100. 1708 - During a slave revolt, in Newton, Long Island, New York, 11 died. 1712 - Born this day, Louis Joseph de Montcalm de Saint-Veran, in France, general. 1737 - Died this day, Hercule Brehy, composer, aged 63. 1742 - Died this day, Willem J. Once-Gravesande, physicist, aged 53. 1747 - Born this day, Justin Morgan, composer. 1749 - The first edition of Henry Fielding's novel Tom Jones was published. 1750 - Born this day, Ignacy Potocki, Polish foreign minister. 1759 - Pope Clement XIII granted permission for the Bible to be translated into the languages of the Roman Catholic states. 1771 - Born this day, French Jozef Kinsoen, Flemish portrait painter. 1778 - The Rhode Island General Assembly authorised the enlistment of slaves. 1781 - Died this day, Richard Stockton, US attorney (signed Declaration of Independence), aged 50. 1784 - Died this day, Phillis Wheatly, poetess. 1784 - English churchman John Wesley, aged 80, formally chartered the movement within Anglicanism which afterward came to be known as Wesleyan Methodism. 1786 - Born this day, D. Francois J. Arago, French astronomer, physicist, politician. 1792 - Born this day, Henriette ALF countess d'oultremont de Wegimont, wife of King Willem I. 1794 - The US Senate voided Pennsylvania's election of Abraham Gallatin. 1796 - Died this day, Freiedrich Wilhelm Rust, composer, aged 56. 1797 - Born this day, Mary Lyon, US educator (Mt Holyoke) (Hall of Fame). 1797 - Born this day, W. Frederik K, prince of Netherlands, general, admiral (10 day campaign). 1799 - Born this day, Johann Joseph Ignaz von Döllinger, German Old Catholic theologian, historian, born at Bamberg, Bavaria. Died at Munich 10 January 1890. 1810 - The first US fire insurance/stock company was organised in Philadelphia. 1810 - Born this day, Reinier C. Bakhuizen van de Brink, Dutch historian. 1817 - Born this day, James Craig, Brigadier General (Union volunteers). Died in 1888. 1818 - Died this day, Adrian Loosjes Pzn, publisher, writer, aged 56. 1819 - The first public performance of a Schubert song, Schufers Klageleid. 1820 - Born this day, John Tenniel, in England, cartoonist, illustrator (Alice in Wonderland). 1822 - Born this day, Matthew Duncan Ector, Brigadier General (Confederate Army). Died in 1879. 1823 - Born this day, Ernest Renan, French philosopher, historian, scholar of religion. 1824 - Born this day, Charles Blondin, in France, acrobat, aerialist. 1824 - Born this day, John Creed Moore, Brigadier General (Confederate Army). Died in 1910. 1825 - Born this day, Quincy Adams Gillmore, Major General (Union volunteers). Died in 1888. 1826 - M. Biela, an Austrian officer, discovered Biela's Comet. 1827 - The first commercial railroad in the US, the Baltimore & Ohio (B&O), was chartered. 1833 - Born this day, Alfred von Schlieffen, Count, Prussian general, field marshal. 1835 - Dr. Elias Lunnrot publishes Finnish poem Kalevala. 1844 - Died this day, Abel P. Upshur, US Secretary of State, in an explosion on USS Princeton. 1844 - Died this day, Thommas W. Gilmer, US Navy Secretary, in an explosion on USS Princeton. 1847 - The US defeated Mexico in the battle of Sacramento. 1849 - The first boat load of gold rush prospectors arrived in San Francisco from the east coast. 1850 - Born this day, Hermann Schell, German theologist, philosopher (Gott und Geist). 1854 - Born this day, Juliusz Zarebski, composer. 1854 - The American Republican Party formed at Ripon, Wisconsin. 1857 - Born this day, Gustave Adolph Kerker, composer. 1858 - Born this day, Jacob P. Fish, industrialist (founder NV Royal Salt Industries). 1859 - Arkansas legislature required free blacks to choose exile or slavery. 1861 - The Territory of Colorado was created. 1862 - The opera La Reine de Saba was produced, in Paris. 1863 - The Confederate raider Nashville sank near Fort McAllister, Georgia. 1864 - A skermish started in Albemarle County, Virginia, at Burton's Ford. It lasted until 3 March. 1864 - There was a raid at Kilpatrick's, Richmond. 1865 - Born this day, Wilfred Grenfell, in England, medical missionary. 1866 - Born this day, Vyacheslav Ivanov, in Russia, Symbolist poet (Pilot Stars). 1871 - The Second Enforcement Act gave federal control of congressional elections. 1873 - The Society of Mary, founded in 1816, was officially recognised by Pope Pius IX. This religious order seeks to combine the work of education with foreign missions. 1875 - Born this day, Viliam Figus, composer. 1876 - Born this day, John Alden Carpenter, in Chicago, Illinois, composer (Sea Drift). 1876 - Died this day, Charles Edward Horsley, composer, aged 53. 1878 - J. Palisa discovered asteroid #184 Dejopeja. 1878 - US congress authorised a large-size silver certificate. 1879 - Exodus of 1879 - Southern blacks fled political and economic exploitation. 1879 - J. Coggia discovered asteroid #193 Ambrosia. 1882 - Born this day, Geraldine Farrar, US soprano, actress (Story of American Singer). 1882 - Born this day, Jose Vasconcelos, in Oaxaca, Mexico, politician, essayist, philosopher. 1882 - Born this day, Richard Heinrich Stein, composer. 1882 - The first US college co-operative store opened, at Harvard. 1883 - The first vaudeville theatre opened, in Boston, Massachusetts. 1887 - Born this day, William Zorach, in Lithuania, US sculptor (Spirit of the Dance). 1889 - Born this day, Victor Sutherland, actor (Captive City). 1888 - A ferry in San Pablo Bay exploded. 1890 - Born this day, Vaslav Nijinsky, in Kiev, Ukraine, ballet dancer (3/12 NS). 1891 - Oscar Grunden skated a world record 500 metres in 50.8 seconds. 1893 - Edward Acheson on Pennsylvania, patented an abrasive he named 'carborundum'. 1893 - Born this day, Ben Hecht, in New York City, novelist, playwright, screenwriter (Front Page). 1895 - Born this day, Guiomar Novaes, in Brazil, pianist (Brazilian Order of Merit). 1895 - Born this day, Marcel Pagnol, French playwright. 1896 - Born this day, Philip Showalter Hench, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, physician (cortisone-Nobel). 1898 - Born this day, Molly Picon, Yiddish actress (Milk & Honey). 1900 - The relief of Ladysmith took place during the Boer War. General Buller relieved Ladysmith, in Natal, besieged by Boer forces for 118 days. 1901 - Boer War - Lord Kitchener and General Louis Botha met at Middelburg to discuss peace. 1901 - Born this day, Linus Pauling, chemist, peace worker (Nobel 1954, 1962). 1901 - Born this day, Rudolf W. Nilsen, Norwegian poet (Hverdagen). 1905 - Died this day, Joseph C. Juglar, French physician, economist, aged 85. 1906 - Ottawa Silver 7 beat Queen's Univiversity (Kingston, Ontario) for the Stanley Cup. 1907 - Born this day, Milton Caniff, in Hillsboro, Ohio, cartoonist (Terry & Pirates). 1908 - An assassination attempt on Shah Mohammed Ali in Teheran failed. 1909 - Born this day, Olan Soule, in La Harpe, Illinois, actor (My 3 Sons, Arnie). 1909 - Born this day, Stephen Spender, in England, poet, critic (Vienna, Edge of Darkness). 1910 - Born this day, Roman Maciejewski, composer. 1910 - Born this day, Vincente Minnelli, movie director (American in Paris, Gigi). 1911 - J. Palisa discovered asteroid #710 Gertrud. 1912 - The world's first ever parachute jump from an aeroplane was made over Missouri, USA by Albert Berry. 1913 - A 6.8 metre, 4000kg elephant seal was killed in South Georgia (South Atlantic). 1914 - Construction began on the Tower of Jewels for the San Francisco Exposition. 1914 - Born this day, Jim Boles, in Lubbock, Texas, actor (Joe-One Man's Family). 1915 - Born this day, Peter Medawar, in England, zoologist, immunologist (Nobel 1953). 1915 - Born this day, Zero Mostel, actor (Fiddler on the Roof). 1916 - Died this day, Henry James, US-British novelist, whose work includes The Wings of a Dove, in London aged 72. 1917 - AP reported Mexico and Japan would allie with Germany if the US entered World War I (WWI). 1917 - Born this day, Hans Deutgen, in Sweden, world champion archer. 1917 - Born this day, John B. Connally, (Governor/Senator-D/R-Texas), took a bullet with President John F. Kennedy. 1918 - Born this day, Alfred Burke, actor (Backfire). 1920 - Born this day, Jim Olin, (Representative-D-Virginia, 1983- ). 1921 - Born this day, Vladimir Sommer, composer. 1922 - Princess Mary, daughter of George V, married Viscount Lascalles. 1922 - Egypt regained independence from Britain, but British troops remained. 1922 - KHQ-AM in Spokane, Washington began radio transmissions. 1922 - Died this day, Vicente Lleo, composer, aged 51. 1923 - Swedish king Gustaaf V began a state visit to the Netherlands. 1923 - Born this day, Charles Durning, in Highland Falls, New York, actor (Fury, Sting, Tootsie). 1924 - Born this day, Robert A Roe, (Representative-D-New Jersey, 1969- ). 1924 - The US began intervention in Honduras. 1925 - Died this day, Friedrich Ebert, social-democrat president Germany. 1925 - US Congress authorised a special handling stamp. 1925 - The longest win streak in Toronto Maple Leaf history (9 games in a row). 1925 - The Theater Museum of Amsterdam was established. 1925 - Born this day, Harry H. Corbett, British actor (Steptoe and Son, Jabberwacky). 1926 - Born this day, Seymour Shifrin, composer. 1926 - Born this day, Stanley Glasser, composer. 1926 - Born this day, Svetlana Alliluyeva [Svetlana Josifovna Stalina], writer (My Life) and youngest child and only daughter of former Russian leader Joseph Stalin, caused an international furor by defecting to the United States in 1967. Became a naturalised citizen of the United States, and afterward married William Wesley Peters, a noted architect, in 1970. She has ever since used the name Lana Peters. The couple had a daughter, Olga, but the marriage dissolved soon afterward. In 1982, moved with her daughter to Cambridge, UK, and in 1984 returned to the Soviet Union, where they were granted citizenship, and settled in Tbilisi. In 1986 she returned to the US, and later moved back to the UK in the 1990s, where she now lives in a retirement home. 1928 - Born this day, Bettye Ackerman, in Cottageville, South Carolina, actress (Maggie Graham-Ben Casey). 1928 - Born this day, Tom Aldredge, actor (What About Bob, Nurse, Mind Snatchers). 1929 - Chicago Black Hawks lost an NHL record 15th straight game at home. 1929 - Died this day, Clemens Freiherr von Pirquet, Austrian artist (Reaction of P). 1929 - Died this day, John Ebenezer West, composer, aged 65. 1929 - Born this day, Frank O. Gehry, architect (Galleria-Oklahoma City). 1930 - Born this day, Leon Cooper, US physicist (Nobel 1972). 1930 - Born this day, Gavin MacLeod, in Mt Kisco, New York, actor (Love Boat, Murray-Mary Tyler Moore Show). 1931 - Sir Oswald Mosely formed The New Party, the British Facist Party. 1931 - Born this day, Peter Alliss, golf commentator. 1931 - The Canadian Rugby Union adopted the forward pass. 1931 - Born this day, Gustav Thoni, in Italy, skiier (World Cup-1971, 1972, 1973, 1975). 1932 - Born this day, Don Francks, in Vancouver, actor (Terminal Choice, Finian's Rainbow). 1932 - Born this day, Brian Moore, former soccer commentator. 1932 - On this date in 1932, the last Ford Model A was produced, ending an era for the Ford Motor Company. The successor to the Model T, the Model A was an attempt to escape the image of bare bones transportation that had driven both the Model T's success and its ultimate failure in the market. The vastly improved Model A boasted elegant Lincoln-like styling, a peppy 40 horsepower four-cylinder engine, and, of course, a self-starting mechanism. The Model A was as affordable as its predecessor, however, and with a base price at $460, five million Model A's would roll onto American highways between 1927 and 1932. 1932 - A. Schwassmann discovered asteroid #1310 Villigera. 1932 - E. Delporte discovered asteroid #1724 Vladimir. 1933 - Hitler disallowed the German communist party (KPD). 1934 - Born this day, Willie Bobo, in New York City, jazz drummer (Cos). 1935 - Died this day, Alexander W.F. Idenburg, governor-general of Netherlands Indies (1909-16), aged 73. 1938 - Born this day, Martin Olav Sabo, (Representative-D-Minnesota, 1979- ). 1939 - Born this day, Charles Brown, in Cincinatti, Ohio, featherweight boxer (Olympic-bronze-1964). 1939 - Born this day, John Fahey, singer (Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death) 1939 - Born this day, Tommy Tune, in Wichita Falls, Texas, dancer, choreographer (Boyfriend). 1939 - Great Britain recognised the Franco-regime in Spain. 1940 - The first televised basketball game, was a college game at New York City's MSG. 1940 - Richard Wright's Native Son was published. 1940 - The US population was put at 131,669,275, with 12,865,518 blacks making up 9.8% of the population. 1940 - Born this day, Mario Andretti, race-car driver (1969 Indianapolis 500). 1940 - British-Italian planes were involved in a dogfight above Albania. 1940 - Died this day, Johan C. Braakensiek, political cartoonist. 1941 - Died this day, Alfonso XIII, corrupt King of Spain (1902-31), aged 54. 1942 - The first weapons were dropped on Netherlands. 1942 - The Japanese landed in Java, the last Allied bastion in Dutch East Indies. 1942 - A race riot took place, in Sojourner Truth Homes, in Detroit, Michigan. 1942 - Born this day, Joe South, in Atlanta, US guitarist, singer, songwriter, 1969 US No.12 and UK No.6 single Games People Play. Worked with Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin. 1942 - Born this day, Brian Jones [Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones], in Cheltenham, England, ex-Rolling Stones guitarist (co-founder), who quit the group in 1969. Died 3 July 1969, drowned in his swimming pool under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The Rolling Stones did 1966 UK and US No.1 single Paint It Black, Get Off My Cloud and others. 1942 - Born this day, Frank Bonner, actor (WKRP, Hoax, You Can't Hurry Love). 1943 - Born this day, Barbara Acklin [Allen], in Chicago, Illinois, R&B singer (Love Makes a Woman). 1943 - Born this day, Hans F. D'kstal, Dutch 2nd Chamber member (VVD) 1943 - Porgy & Bess opened on Broadway with Anne Brown and Todd Duncan. 1944 - Born this day, Kelly Bishop, actress (Unmarried Woman, Advice to Lovelorn). 1945 - Born this day, Charles 'Bubba' Smith, in Texas, NFLer (Baltimore Colts), actor (Police Academy). 1945 - Born this day, Mimsy Farmer, in Chicago, Illinois, actress (Devil's Angel, Road to Salina). 1945 - Born this day, Ronnie Rosman, Tommy James & The Shondells, 1966 US No.1 single Hanky Panky, 1968 UK No.1 single Mony Mony. 1946 - Born this day, Robin Cook, Labour MP and former Foreign Secretary, leader of the House of Commons. Resigned over a dispute about Iraq. 1947 - US Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall prayed: 'Let not the past ever be so dear to us as to set a limit to the future. Give us the courage to change our minds when that is needed.' 1947 - There was an Anti Kuomintang demonstration in Taiwan. 1948 - Born this day, Frank Bonner, in Little Rock, Arkansas, actor (Herb-WKRP, Sidekicks). 1948 - Born this day, Bernadette Peters [Lazzaro], in Queens, New York, actress, Tony winner (Jerk, Song & Dance). 1948 - Born this day, Mercedes Ruehl, actress. 1949 - Died this day, Stanley Robert Marchant, composer, aged 65. 1949 - Born this day, Stephanie Beecham, actress, in Casablanca, (Devil's Widow, Schizo, Dallas, Colbys). 1950 - Born this day, Ilene Graff, in Brooklyn, New York, actress (Marsha-Mr Belvedere). 1950 - Born this day, Stephen Chatman, composer. 1951 - Born this day, Gustavo Thoeni, in Italy, giant slalom (Olympic-gold-1972). 1951 - Born this day, Peter Stothard, former Times editor. 1951 - THe French goverment of Pleven dissolved. 1951 - The US Senate committee reported of at least two major US crime syndicates. 1952 - L. Boyer discovered asteroids #1629 Pecker and #1630 Milet. 1952 - Born this day, Eddie Manion, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, 1978 album Hearts Of Stone. 1952 - Born this day, Cristina Raines [Tina Herazo], in Manila, Phillipines, actress (Sentinel). 1952 - Born this day, Jennie Lynn, in San Diego, California, actress (Love & Marriage). 1952 - Born this day, Melissa Babish, in South Carolina, swimmer (Olympic). 1953 - Born this day, Ricky 'Dragon' Steamboat [Richard Blood], wrestler (NWA/WWF/WCW/AWA). 1953 - Joseph Stalin met with Beria, Bulganin, Chroestsjov and Malenkov. 1955 - In a lightning raid believed to be a reprisal for last month's hanging by Egypt of two alleged Jewish spies, Israeli forces claimed to have killed 36 soldiers and six civilians in the Egyptian-held Gaza strip territory today. 1955 - Born this day, Adrian Dantley, in Washington DC, basketball player (Olympic-gold-1976). 1955 - Born this day, Randy Jackson, rock musician (Zebra-Tell Me What You Want). 1956 - Born this day, Adrian Dantley, NBA forward (Utah Jazz, 1981, 84 top scorer). 1956 - Forrester was issued a patent for computer core memory. 1956 - 13 died in a train crash in Swampscott, Massachusetts. 1957 - Jockey Johnny Longdens scored his 5,000th career victory. 1957 - Born this day, Cindy Wilson, singer, percussion, The B-52's, 1990 UK No.2 and US No.3 single Love Shack. 1957 - Born this day, Ian Stanley, keyboards, Tears For Fears, 1985 US No.1 and UK No.2 single Everybody Wants To Rule The World. 1957 - Born this day, Phil Gould, drums, Level 42, 1986 UK No.3 single Lessons In Love, plus 19 other UK top 40 singles. 1957 - Born this day, John Turturro, actor (Brain Donor, Color of Money, Jungle Fever). 1958 - Born this day, Christine Lathan-Brehmer, in German Democratic Republic, 400 metres runner (Olympic-gold-1976). 1958 - Born this day, Sydney P. Mufamadi, South African SACP-leader. 1959 - Launch of Discoverer 1 (WTR) - first polar orbit. 1959 - The Chicago Cardinals traded Ollie Matson to the LA Rams for 9 players. 1959 - Died this day, Maxwell Anderson, US dramatist (Key Largo, Bath Seed). 1960 - Died this day, Jonathan Hale, actor (Blondie), aged 68. 1960 - Born this day, Dorothy Stratten, in Vancouver, British Columbia, playmate for August 1979. 1960 - The US won the Olympic hockey gold medal by defeating Czechoslovakia 9-4. 1960 - The eighth Winter Olympic Games closed at Squaw Valley, California. 1960 - Percy Faith's Theme from A Summer Place reached No.1 on the US pop charts, replacing Teen Angel by Mark Dinning at the top. 1961 - Born this day, Barry McGuigan, World Boxing Association featherwight champion. 1961 - President John F. Kennedy named Henry Kissinger as special advisor. 1961 - Died this day, Joris Vriamont, Flemish writer, music publisher. 1962 - Died this day, Harold Ogden 'Chic' Johnson, comedian (Olsen & Johnson), aged 70. 1962 - WMGM-AM in New York City changed call letters to WHN. 1962 - The Beatles I Want To Hold You Hand held the No.1 position on the US singles chart. 1962 - Born this day, Angela Bailey, in England, Canadian 4X100 metre relayer (Olympic-silver-1984). 1962 - Born this day, Rae Dawn Chong, in Edmonton, Alberta, actress (Quest for Fire). 1963 - Died this day, Theodore Newton, actor (Voltaire, Ace of Aces), aged 58. 1964 - Died this day, Dirk H.W. Filarski, painter, lithographer (Bergense School), aged 78. 1964 - The Yardbirds played at the Rhythm and Blues Festival, at The Town Hall, Birmingham, England. 1965 - Born this day, Julia Carling, TV presenter. 1965 - Born this day, Mikko Makela, in Tampere, Finland, NHL right wing (New York Islanders). 1965 - Died this day, Adolf Scharf, president of Austria (1957-65), aged 74. 1966 - Died this day, Charles A. Bassett II, astronaut, aged 34, in a T-38 jet crash. 1966 - Died this day, Elliot M. See Jr, astronaut, aged 38, in a T-38 jet crash. 1966 - Liverpool's legendary Cavern Club, where the Beatles made their name, went into liquidation. 1966 - Born this day, Ian Brown, vocals, The Stone Roses, 1989 UK No.8 single Fool's Gold, 1989 album The Stone Roses, solo, 1998 UK No.5 single My Star. 1967 - Born this day, Marcus Lillington, Breath, 1988 UK No.4 single Hands To Heaven. 1967 - Wilt Chamberlain sank an NBA record 35th consecutive field goal. 1968 - Pirate Radio Hauraki, off New Zealand, returned to the air. 1968 - Died this day, Doretta Morrow, actress (Because You're Mine), aged 41. 1968 - T. Smirnova discovered asteroid #1793 Zoya. 1968 - Died this day, Frankie Lymon, singer, was found dead at his grandmothers house in New York of a suspected heroin overdose. He was born on 30 September 1942 in Washington Heights, New York, US. He was the singer for The Premiers who later became The Teenagers. Some songs they did were Why Do Fools Fall In Love and I'm Not A Juvenile Deliquent. A Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee. 1968 - Husband and wife team Esther and Abi Ofarim went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Cinderella Rockefella. 1968 - Died this day, Juanita Hall, actress (Capt Billy), aged 66. 1968 - The Cavern Club, the Liverpool nightclub where the Beatles first got famous, closed its doors. 1969 - Born this day, Elisa Fiorillo, singer (Forgive Me For Dreaming). 1969 - Robert Kennedy's assassin Sirhan Sirhan was refused a request to be executed. 1969 - Born this day, Robert Sean Leonard, actor (Dead Poets Society, Mr & Mrs Bridge). 1970 - In an interview in The New Musical Express, Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green talked about his plans to give all his money away. He was committed to a mental hospital three years later. Green re-launched his career in the 1990s. 1970 - Simon and Garfunkel started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Bridge Over Troubled Water. It was also a No.1 in the UK. 1970 - Led Zeppelin played a gig in Copenhagen as 'The Nobs' after Eva Von Zeppelin a relative of the airship designer threatened to sue if the family name was used in Denmark. 1970 - Bicycles were permitted to cross Golden Gate Bridge. 1970 - KIIN (now KUN) TV channel 12 in Iowa City, Iowa (PBS) first broadcast. 1970 - WUTR TV channel 20 in Utica-Rome, New York (ABC) began broadcasting. 1971 - Jack Nicklaus won his second golf grand slam. 1971 - WDRB TV channel 41 in Louisville, Kentucky (IND) begins broadcasting. 1972 - Born this day, Danny McCormack, bass, vocals, The Wildhearts, 1996 UK No.14 single Sick Of Drugs. 1972 - George and Patti Harrison were injured in a car crash, Patti was unconscious for several days. 1972 - Died this day, Victor Barna, table tennis champion. 1973 - Died this day, Cecil Kellaway, actor (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner), aged 82. 1973 - Died this day, Hope Landin, actress (I Remember Mama, Sugarfoot), aged 79. 1973 - L. Kohoutek discovered asteroids #3407 and #3627. 1973 - The Suriname goverment of Sedney arrested 13 union leaders. 1974 - Died this day, Bobby Bloom, from self inflicted gunshot wounds aged 28 (shot himself in the head). 1970 US No.8 and UK No.3 single Montego Bay. 1974 - Died this day, Mees Toxopeus, captain KNZHRM ship, aged 89. 1974 - The Ethiopian government of Makonnen formed. 1974 - The Labour Party won the British parliamentary elections. 1974 - Taiwan police shot into a crowd of people. 1974 - The US and Egypt re-established diplomatic relations after 7 years. 1975 - Died this day, Istvan Kardos, composer, aged 84. 1975 - A tube train crashed into the buffers in a dead-end tunnel at Moorgate station killing the driver and 34 passengers. An investigation into the accident asked the question - 'Why was the train accelerating into the tunnel when it should have been braking?' 1976 - Rhythm Heritage went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Theme From SWAT. It wasn't a hit in the UK. 1976 - Spain withdrew from the Western Sahara, Ceuta and Melilla (Spanish Morocco) were the last European African possession. 1977 - Died this day, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, comedian (Jack Benny Show), aged 71. 1977 - A harbour strike in Rotterdam, Amsterdam came to an end. 1977 - Whilst playing live on stage Ray Charles was attacked by a member of the audience who tried to strangle him with a rope. 1977 - The first killer whale born in captivity, was born in California. 1978 - Died this day, Eric Frank Russell, sci-fi author (Hugo, Deep Space), aged 73. 1978 - Died this day, Philip Ahn, in Los Angeles, California, actor (Master Kan-Kung Fu), aged 66. 1979 - Died this day, Jane Hylton, actress (Adventures of Sir Lancelot), aged 52. 1979 - Died this day, Mr Ed, talking horse. 1979 - N.G. Thomas discovered asteroid #2612 Kathryn. 1979 - P. Wild discovered asteroid #2521. 1980 - The Well-Tuned Piano by La Monte Young premiered (4 hours 12 minutes duration). 1981 - Eddie Rabbitt started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with I Love A Rainy Night, it was his only No.1. It made No.53 in the UK. 1981 - Calvin Murphy (Houston), set an NBA record with 78 consecutive free throws. 1981 - The China Poeple's Republic threw out Netherlands ambassador due to agreements with Taiwan. 1981 - H. Debehogne discovered asteroid #2958. 1981 - S.J. Bus discovered asteroids #2780 Monnig, #3287, #3307 and #3602. 1981 - AT & T lost a record $7 BILLION for fiscal year ending on this day. 1982 - FALN (PR Nationalist Group) bombed Wall Street. 1982 - H-E Schuster discovered asteroid #3288 Seleucus. 1982 - Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham collapsed during the bands European tour suffering from heroin withdrawal. 1983 - The special (final) episode of M*A*S*H, which aired this day, was the best-watched show in the history of American television. The show was watched by more than 60% of the viewing audience. 1984 - Michael Jackson won a record seven Grammy awards including: Album of the year for Thriller, Record of the year and best rock vocal performance for Beat It, Best Pop vocal performance, Best R&B performance and Best R&B song for Billie Jean. 1985 - Died this day, David Byron from Uriah Heep, from a heart attack. 1985 - Died this day, Charita Bauer, actress (Mary-Aldrich Family), aged 62 in New York City. 1986 - George Michael announced that Wham! would officially split during the summer. 1986 - Died this day, Swedish Prime Minister Olave Palme was shot dead by an unknown assassin in Stockholm, as he walked home from the cinema. Swedish PM (1969-76, 82-86), he was 59. 1986 - The European Economic Community signed a 'Special Act' for Europe free trade. 1986 - Peter Uberroth suspended 7 baseball players for 1 year, after they admitted in Curtis Strong's trial in September, that they used drugs. 1986 - Appearing at The Town And Country, in London, were The Colour Field plus special guests Primal Scream, tickets were £4.50. 1987 - Died this day, Anny Ondra, actress (Blackmail), aged 83. 1987 - Died this day, Nora Kaye, US ballet dancer, aged 67. 1988 - k.d. Lang performed at the closing ceremony of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. 1988 - The 15th Winter Olympic games closed at Calgary, Canada. 1988 - During an Anti-Armeense pogrom in Azerbaijan, 30 were killed. 1988 - Pat Verbeek became the first New Jersey Devil to score 4 goals in an NHL game. 1988 - Yvonne van Gennip skated a world record 5 km ladies in 7 minutes 14.13 seconds. 1989 - A memo by Brian Gumbel criticiding Today Show co-workers became public. 1990 - Dutch police seized 3,000 kg of cocaine. 1990 - Died this day, Fabia Drake, actress (Nice Girl Like Me). 1990 - The 65th US manned space mission STS 36 (Atlantis 6) launched into orbit. 1991 - Don Mattingly was named 10th New York Yankee Captain. 1991 - Noureddine Morceli ran a world record 1500 metres indoor in 3 minutes 34.16 seconds. 1991 - US and allied forces granted Iraq a cease fire. 1992 - Died this day, Angelique Pettyjohn, actress (Body Talk, Star Trek), aged 49. 1992 - Died this day, Emilla Sherman, choreographer, rock musician. 1992 - Died this day, La Lupe, Cuban singer, of a heart attack aged 53 in the Bronx. 1993 - Iolanda Chen jumped a world indoor record hop step of 14.46 metres. 1993 - Died this day, Fer A. Olthoff, resistance fighter (Slogan). 1993 - Died this day, Franco Brusati, director, writer (Bread & Chocolate). 1993 - Died this day, Ishiro Honda, Japanese director, producer (Godzilla), aged 81. 1993 - Died this day, Joyce Carey [Lawrence], English actress (Number 27). 1993 - Died this day, Ruby Keeler, actress (42nd Street), of cancer aged 83. 1993 - Four FBI agents and two cult members died when the FBI stormed the Branch Davidian cult headquarters in Waco, Texas. 1994 - Eric Clapton played his 100th performance at London's Royal Albert Hall, in aid of the Children In Crisis charity. 1994 - Died this day, Pu Jie, b.v. the last Chinese emperor, Pu Yi, aged 87. 1996 - Grammy award winners included Alanis Morissette, album of the year for Jagged Little Pill, best female rock vocal and best song, You Oughta Know. Nirvana's Unplugged won best alternative album and Coolio best rap performance with Gangsta's Paradise. 1997 - Death Row Records boss Marion 'Suge' Knight was sentenced to nine years in prison for violating his probation for a 1995 assault conviction. Under US law, Knight would not be allowed to run Death Row Records while in prison. 1998 - Celine Dion started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with My Heart Will Go On. 1998 - Cornershop went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Brimful Of Asher. 1999 - Oliver Driscoll paid £6,200 for a first edition of the Beano comic at auction. It was the highest ever paid for a comic in Britain. 2001 - A fire damaged Coventry Cathedral, several religious artefacts were damaged including the world's largest tapestry. 2001 - A 6.8 earthquake hit Seattle, USA. It was the largest to hit the region in 50 years. Fortunately there was only one death which was related to a heart attack and many of the injuries reported were minor. 2001 - A GNER train from York to London King's Cross crashed at Great Heck between Goole and Selby, north Yorkshire, on the East Coast main line. Gary Hart fell asleep at the wheel of his Land Rover and plunged 40ft down the railway embankment from the M62 into the path of an express train. The 4.45am Great North Eastern Intercity service from Newcastle to London King's Cross ploughed into the Land Rover at 125mph before colliding with a coal train travelling north. 10 people died. More than 70 were injured. 2002 - The number of asylum applications in the UK fell 11% in 2001 compared with 2000, the Home Office said. 2003 - Figures revealed the number of asylum seekers arriving in Britain rocketed 20% to nearly 111,000. |
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.