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January 23rd
1516 - Died this day, Ferdinand II of Aragon died and was succeeded as King of Spain by his grandson Charles V. 1556 - An earthquake in Shanxi province, China, is thought to have killed some 830,000 people. 1570 - Died this day, James Stewart, the Earl of Moray, who was appointed Regent of Scotland on the abdication of Mary Queen of Scots, was assassinated by the Hamiltons at Linlithgow. 1668 - Holland, Britain and Sweden signed the Alliance of the Hague, known as the Triple Alliance, under which they agreed to aid one another if attacked. 1719 - The Principality of Liechtenstein was formed by the amalgamation of Vaduz and Schellenberg. 1737 - Born this day, John Hancock, US statesman and patriot, President of Continental Congress [1775-1777], first to put his signature on the Declaration of Independence [“I’ll sign it in letters bold enough so the King of England can see it without his spectacles on!”. Died 8 October 1793. 1783 - Born this day, Stendhal, French novelist. Pen name of Marie Henry Beyle. His two major novels Le Rouge et le noir/The Red and the Black 1830 and La Chartreuse de Parme/The Charterhouse of Parma 1839 were pioneering works in their treatment of disguise and hypocracy; a review of the latter by Balzac in 1840 furthered his reputation. Born in Grenoble, he served in Napoleon's armies, taking part in the ill-fated Russian campaign, and, failing in his hopes of becoming a prefect, lived in Italy from 1814 until suspicion of espionage drove him back to Paris in 1821, where he lived by literary hackwork. From 1830 he was member of the consular service, spending his leaves in Paris. He died in 1842. 1789 - Georgetown College was established as the first Catholic college in the United States. The school is in Washington, DC. 1793 - Russia and Prussia agreed to a second partition of Poland. 1806 - Died this day, William Pitt the Younger, twice British prime minister. He was aged 47. At the age of 24, he became Britain's youngest prime minister. 1832 - Born this day, Edouard Manet, French artist and painter, leader of the impressionist movement. Active in Paris. Rebelling against the academic tradition, he developed a clear and unaffected Realist style. His work was an inspiration to the young Impressionists. His subjects were chiefly modern, such as 'Un Bar aux Folies-Bergere/Bar at the Folies-Bergere' 1882 (Courtland Art Gallery, London). Manet, born in Paris, trained under a history painter and was inspired by Goya and Velazquez but also by his near-contemporary Courbet. His 'Dejeuner sur l'herbe/Picnic on the grass' 1863 and Olympia 1865 (both Musee d'Orsay, Paris) offended conservative tastes in their matter-of-fact treatment of the nude body. He never exhibited with the Impressionists, although he was associated with them from the 1870s. Died 30 April 1883. 1849 - On this date in 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell was granted a medical degree from Geneva College in New York, becoming the first female to be officially recognised as a physician in US history. Blackwell, born in Bristol, England, came to the United States in her youth and attended the medical faculty of Geneva College, now known as Hobart College. In 1849, she graduated with the highest grades in her class and was granted an M.D. In 1857, after several years of private practice, she founded the New York Infirmary for Women and Children with her sister, Emily Blackwell, also a doctor. In 1868, the institution was expanded to include a women's college for the training of nurses and doctors, the first of its kind in America. The next year, Blackwell returned to England, where in 1875 she became professor of gynecology at the London School of Medicine for Women, a medical discipline she had helped to establish. (Another source says it was 1848). 1898 - Born this day, Randolph Scott (Crane), actor, (Last of the Mohicans, The Nevadan, Ride the High Country, To the Shores of Tripoli, Man in the Saddle, Go West Young Man, Bombardier). Died 2 March 1987. 1899 - Born this day, Humphrey (DeForest) Bogart, Academy Award-winning actor, (The African Queen [1951], The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, The Caine Mutiny, The Barefoot Contessa, Tokyo Joe, Key Largo, Action in the North Atlantic, High Sierra [over 50 films]). Died 14 January 1957. 1900 - In the second British-Boer War, the British attempted to break through the Boer lines to relieve Ladysmith but were thwarted at the Battle of Spion Kop. 1903 - Born this day, Randolph Scott [Crane],actor. Died in 1987. 1907 - Born this day, Dan Duryea, actor, (The Flight of the Phoenix, Five Golden Dragons). Died 7 June 1968. 1907 - Charles Curtis of Kansas began serving in the United States Senate. He was the first American Indian to become a US Senator. He resigned in March of 1929 to become President Herbert Hoover’s Vice President. 1910 - Born this day, Django Reinhardt, jazz guitarist, worked with Stephane Grappelli, Duke Ellington. 1915 - Born this day, Potter Stewart, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court [1958-1981]. Died 7 December 1985. 1916 - Born this day, David Douglas Duncan (photojournalist; author: The World of Allah, Viva Picasso, This Is War! : A Photo Narrative of the Korean War, Picasso Paints a Portrait, Great treasures of the Kremlin) 1919 - Born this day, Ernie [Ernest] Kovacs, comedian, (The Ernie Kovacs Show; actor: Bell Book and Candle, North to Alaska). Died in a car crash 13 January 1962. 1920 - Born this day, Ray Abrams, jazz/be-bop tenor saxophonist. 1924 - Born this day, Frank R. Lautenberg, US Senator. 1925 - Born this day, Marty Paich, pianist, composer, arranger with/for Peggy Lee, Shorty Rogers’ Giants, Dorothy Dandridge, Shelley Manne, Art Pepper, Shorty Rogers, Dave Pell, Mel Torme, Ray Brown, Anita O’Day, Stan Kenton, Terry Gibbs, Ella Fitzgerald, and Buddy Rich. Died 12 August 1995. 1928 - Born this day, Ken Errair, singer, musician, (group: The Four Freshmen). 1928 - Born this day, Jeanne Moreau, actress, (The Summer House, La Femme Nikita, The Last Tycoon, The Bride Wore Black, Jules et Jim, Viva Maria, Dangerous Liaisons). 1931 - Died this day, Anna Pavlova, Russian ballerina, famous as the Dying Swan, died aged 49 at her home in Hampstead Heath. 1933 - Born this day, Chita Rivera (Conchita del Rivero), singer, dancer, actress, (Sweet Charity, Pippin, Mayflower Madam). 1934 - Born this day, Lou Antonio, actor, director, (Mayflower Madam, A Real American Hero, A Taste for Killing). 1937 - In an article published in Literary Digest, Edgar Bergen mentioned that he made his dummy pal, Charlie McCarthy, the beneficiary of a $10,000 trust fund to keep him in serviceable condition and repair. 1937 - The trial of 17 leading Communists began in Moscow after they were accused of involvement in a plot led by Leon Trotsky to overthrow the regime and assassinate its leaders. 1938 - Born this day, Eugene Church, singer, (How Long). 1941 - Lady in the Dark premiered. It was the first of 388 performances. The show’s star, Danny Kaye, gained popularity as a result of his appearance in the play. 1941 - Artie Shaw and his orchestra recorded Moonglow on Victor Records. In the band were such sidemen as Johnny Guarnieri, Jack Jenney, Billy Butterfield and Ray Conniff on trombone. 1942 - Educational television began when NBC started a training program for air raid wardens in the New York area. 1943 - Duke Ellington and the band played for a black-tie crowd at Carnegie Hall in New York City. It was the first of what was to become an annual series of concerts featuring the the Duke. 1943 - British forces under Field Marshal Montgomery captured Tripoli, Libya. 1943 - After nine days of talks in Casablanca, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill agreed to put an invasion of Italy ahead of opening a second front in northwestern Europe. 1943 - Born this day, Gil Gerard, actor, (Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Sidekicks, Hooch, Soldier’s Fortune). 1944 - Born this day, Rutger Hauer, actor, (Lady Hawke, Nighthawks, Blade Runner, Beyond Justice, Forbidden Choices). 1944 - Died this day, Edvard Munch, Norweigian artist (The Scream). 1944 - Born this day, Jerry Lawson, singer, The Persuasions, acappella group, worked with Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Don McLean. 1947 - Born this day, Tom Carper, Governor of Delaware. 1948 - Born this day, Anita Pointer, singer, (group: The Pointer Sisters: Fairy Tale, Fire, He’s So Shy, 1981 US No.2 single Slow Hand, Jump [For My Love], 1984 UK No.2 single Automatic, Neutron Dance, I’m So Excited, Dare Me). 1950 - Born this day, Richard Dean Anderson, actor, (Legend, MacGyver, Emerald Point N.A.S., Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, General Hospital). 1950 - Born this day, Bill Cunningham, musician, bass, piano, The Box Tops, 1967 US No.1 and UK No.5 single The Letter, Cry like a Baby, also with Soul Deep, Big Star. 1950 - Born this day, Patrick Simmons, singer, musician, guitar, The Doobie Brothers, Listen to the Music, Black Water, 1979 US No.1 single What A Fool Believes, Real Love, 1993 UK No.7 single Long Train Runnin, and solo, So Wrong. 1950 - Born this day, Danny Federici, E Street Band, 1984 US No.2 and 1985 UK No.4 single Dancing In The Dark. 1952 - Born this day, Robin Zander, singer, musician, guitar, Cheap Trick, 1979 UK No.29 and US No.17 single I Want You To Want Me, 1988 US No.1 single The Flame, Ain’t That a Shame, Voices, Dream Police. 1955 - In a crash of the York-Bristol express train at Sutton Coldfield, England, 17 people were killed and 43 injured. 1956 - Rock ‘n’ Roll fans in Cleveland, Ohio aged under 18, were banned from dancing in public, unless accompanied by an adult, after Ohio Police introduced a law dating back to 1931. 1957 - Born this day, Earl Falconer, musician, bass, UB40, 1983 UK No.1 and US 1988 US No.1 single Red Red Wine, Food for Thought, If It Happens Again, Don’t Break My Heart, Sing Our Own Song. 1957 - Born this day, Princess Caroline of Monaco, daughter of Prince Ranier and Princess Grace of Monaco. 1960 - The US navy bathyscaphe Trieste dived to a record depth of 35,810 feet (10,916 metres) in the Pacific Ocean. (Marianas Trench). Jacques Piccard and Donald Walsh were those on board. 1961 - Born this day, Paula Hamilton, model. 1962 - Tony Bennett recorded I Left My Heart In San Francisco. 1963 - Born this day, Gail O’Grady, actress, (N.Y.P.D. Blue). 1963 - Harold 'Kim' Philby, British journalist in Beirut, disappeared. Later in the year it was revealed that he was the third man in the Burgess-Maclean espionage affair and had been granted asylum in Moscow. 1965 - Downtown made Petula Clark the first UK female singer to have a No.1 on the US singles chart since Vera Lynn in 1952. It made No.2 in the UK. She replaced the Beatles' I Feel Fine atop the charts. 1968 - Born this day, Petr Korda, tennis player. 1968 - North Koreans seized the American ship USS Pueblo, claiming it was spying. The crew were held until December. 1969 - Born this day, Andrei Kanchelskis, footballer. 1969 - Elvis Presley recorded Suspicious Minds, his last song to hit number one on the US charts. 1969 - The UK government rejected proposals to legalise cannabis. 1970 - Judy Collins was refused permission to sing testimony at the infamous 'Chicago 7' trial. 1970 - The first Jumbo jet landed at London's Heathrow airport. 1971 - Steel Mill played their final show when they appeared at the Upstage Club, Ashbury Park, New Jersey. Singer Bruce Springsteen formed new bands during the rest of the year known under such names as the Bruce Springsteen Jam, Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom, and finally the Bruce Springsteen Band. 1971 - It was a cold day in Prospect Creek Camp, Alaska. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the US was reported as the mercury fell to a minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. 1971 - Dawn started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Knock Three Times, the groups first No.1. It was also a UK No.1. 1973 - George Foreman took the heavyweight boxing title away from ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica. 1974 - Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells opened the credits of the movie, The Exorcist, based on the book by William Peter Blatty. The song received a gold record this day. Mr. Oldfield was a bit surprised when he cracked open the wooden frame and removed the gold-plated disk. When he put it on his stereo, the record went around the OTHER way all by itself and the only sound he heard was that of Linda Blair throwing up pea soup. We heard that the flip side was Sympathy for the Devil, by the Rolling Stones. 1974 - Born this day, Tiffany-Amber Thiessen, actress, (Beverly Hills 90210, Saved by the Bell, Son in Law). 1975 - Barney Miller made his debut on ABC-TV. We saw life in the 12th Precinct as Hal Linden starred as Barney and Abe Vagoda played Fish. The talented cast made the show a hit for eight seasons. There are 170 episodes in the series; making it one of US television’s most durable comedies. 1976 - The Sex Pistols played at Watford College, Watford, England. 1977 - Pattie Smith broke her vertebra when she fell off the stage at a gig in Tampa, Florida. 1977 - Carole King’s landmark album, Tapestry, became the longest-running album to hit the charts, as it reached its 302nd week on the US album lists. 1978 - Died this day, Terry Kath, member of the rock group Chicago, in Los Angeles, while trying to prove a gun was not loaded. He pointed it at his head and pulled the trigger, killing himself instantly. The gruesome accident was witnessed by his horrified wife and a member of the band's sound crew. 1978 - Baron Edouard-Jean Empain, one of Europe's most powerful industrialists, was kidnapped in Paris; he was freed on March 26. 1978 - Adam And The Ants made their radio debut on Radio 1's John Peel Show. 1979 - Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys divorced his wife Marilyn. (She was a member of the Honeys and is mother of Wilson Phillips' Wendy and Carnie Wilson). 1980 - Appearing at the Liverpool Philharmonic, was Marvin Gaye, with Edwin Starr as support. 1983 - Soviet satellite Cosmos 1402 entered Earth's atmosphere and crashed into the Indian Ocean. 1983 - One of television’s most intellectual, sophisticated and classy shows came into American homes. It was full of action and drama and starred some guy named Mr. T, wearing a ton of gold jewellery. He played the not so mild-mannered Sgt. Bosco B.A. Baracus, and George Peppard took the lead role as John Hannibal Smith. Yes, The A-Team debuted. 1985 - O.J. Simpson became the first Heisman Trophy winner to be elected to pro football’s Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys, another Heisman winner, was also elected; but ‘the Juice’ went in first because his name comes before Staubach’s, alphabetically. 1985 - The original pilot showing of the Thundercats Episode One aired on this date. (TV channel?) 1985 - The House of Lords debate was broadcast live on television for the first time. 1986 - Buddy Holly was post-humously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at it's inagural ceremony. Other first inductees included Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Fats Domino. 1988 - Johnny Hates Jazz went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut LP Turn Back The Clock. 1988 - Michael Jackson went to No.1 on the US singles chart with The Way You Make Me Feel. It was a No.3 hit in the UK. 1988 - Tiffany started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Tiffany. 1989 - Died this day, Salvador Dali, Spanish surrealist painter and sculptor. He was buried in a crypt under a glass dome in the Dali museum in Figueras, in Catalonia. 1990 - Gales of up to 115mph caused great damage and at least 4 deaths in Britain. 1990 - Died this day, Allen Collins from Lynyrd Skynyrd, of pneumonia after being ill for several months. Collins had survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed two other band members. 1990 - David Bowie announced his forthcoming and final world tour, Sound And Vision 1990, during which he will invite each local audience to decide on a 'greatest hits' running order, organised through local radio stations. 1993 - Genesis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Live-The Way We Walk Volume II. 1994 - Take That went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Everything Changes. 1995 - Jacques Delors formally stepped down as European Commission president, handing over to Jacques Santer after 10 years of steering Europe towards closer union. 1996 - South Korean prosecutors formally charged ex-presidents Roh Tae-woo and Chun Doo Hwan with sedition over events surrounding the 1980 army massacre of pro-democracy activists in Kwangju. 1997 - The Swiss government, three banks and some businesses agreed to set up a private sector humanitarian fund for Nazi Holocaust victims and their heirs. Reportedly, the neutral Swiss profited from millions of dollars worth of gold deposited some fifty years earlier by victims of the Holocaust. It seems that the gold was also used to make deals with the Nazis. 1997 - Died this day, Billy MacKenzie, singer with The Associates, committed suicide, aged 39. 1997 - Died this day, Richard Berry, composer of Louie Louie, of an aneurism. 1998 - A Bakersfield, California judge ordered the eldest son of country crooner Merle Haggard to stay away from his father. The restraining order against Marty Haggard, who allegedly threatened to kill his famous father, stated that he must stay 100 yards away from the singer and his family. The singer contended he had received a 'continuous barrage of threats' over the phone from his son, all of which threatened his safety and health. Marty Haggard also reportedly told others that he would see his father 'dead within a year'. Merle Haggard was known for such country hits as Workin' Man Blues and Okie From Muskogee. 1998 - Died this day, Johnny Funches, US soul singer from The Dells, 1968 US No.10 single Stay In My Corner. 1999 - Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Maya Angelo were among the women named as 'Women of the Millennium' by the Guardian Newspaper. 2000 - Britney Spears went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Born To Make You Happy, the singers second UK No.1. 2001 - An English coroner criticised the rap singer Eminem's lyrics as depressing at an inquest into the death of a school boy who threw himself in front of a train. The 17 year old boy had printed out the lyrics to Rock Bottom before his death. 2001 - Mark Oliver was found guilty by a London court of stealing luggage belonging to Victoria Beckham from Heathrow Airport. Police issued a list of the £23,000 worth of clothes which included 14 pairs of shoes and a mini-skirt worth £2,000. 2001 - It was announced that entrance fees to all national galleries and museums were to be scrapped. 2002 - Downing Street released intimate medical details of three patients whose relatives complained about the treatment they received from the NHS. 2003 - R Kelly was arrested on new child pornography charges. The singer was detained in Miami after police said digital sex pictures were discovered at his home in Florida last June. The singer was already facing 21 charges relating to producing child pornography and appearing in a video having sex with an underage girl. He was charged with a further 12 counts of possession of child pornography. 2004 - Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kenndy asked Jenny Tonge MP to quit the front bench over her remarks on suicide bombers. 2004 - The European Space Agency claimed to have discovered evidence of water on the surface of the planet Mars. 2004 - The EC banned all imports of poultry from Thailand as a man's death raised fears of a global outbreak of bird flu. |
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.