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March 17th
45BC - Julius Caesar defeated the Pompeians at the battle of Munda in Spain. The Pompeians, led by two sons of Pompey the Great, lost over 30,000 men. c389 - St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. 0180 - Died this day, Antonius Marcus Aurelius [Marcus Verus], Emperor of Rome, aged 58. 0432 - St. Patrick, a bishop, was carried off to Ireland as a slave. 0455 - Roman senator Petronius Maximus became Emperor. 0461 - Died this day, St Patrick, patron Saint of Ireland, died in Saul (according to legend). 0659 - Died this day, Gertrudis van Nijvel, saint, patron of travellers, died aged about 32. 1040 - Died this day, Harold, British King (1035-40). 1337 - Edward III created the Duchy of Cornwall for his eldest son, Edward, who was later made Prince of Wales. 1473 - Born this day, James IV, king of Scotland (1488-1513). 1516 - Died this day, Giuliano de' Medici, monarch of Florence, at the age of 37. 1521 - Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines. 1521 - Magelhaes landed on Homohon. 1526 - French king François I was freed from Spain. 1537 - French troops invaded Flanders. 1565 - Died this day, Alexander Alesius [Aless/Alane], theologist, physician, aged 64. 1578 - Born this day, Francesco Albana, Italian painter (Mary's Ascension). 1580 - Prince Willem of Orange was welcomed in Amsterdam. 1588 - Died this day, Petrus Dathenus, Flemish minister, physician (Psalms of David). 1605 - Died this day, Pieter Bast [Bastius], Dutch engraver, cartographer, died aged about 34. 1628 - Born this day, Daniel van Papenbroeck [Papebrochius], Flemish historian. 1640 - Died this day, Philip Massinger, dramatist. 1649 - Oliver Cromwell abolished the office of King and declared England a Commonwealth. 1649 - Died this day, Gerardus Johannis Vossius [Gerrit Vos], Dutch regent, aged 71. 1653 - Died this day, Johan van Galen, Admiral (battle of Livorno), died in battle aged 48. 1658 - A Pro-Charles II plot in England was discovered. 1664 - Born this day, Georg Osterreich, composer. 1672 - England declared war on the Netherlands. 1675 - Born this day, Petrus Laurentius Wockenfuss, composer. 1680 - Died this day, François Duc de La Rochefoucauld, writer. 1685 - Born this day, Jean-Marc Nattier, French portrait painter. 1704 - Died this day, Menno baron van Coehoorn, fort builder, Coevorden, howitzer, aged 63. 1722 - Willem K. H. Friso was appointed mayor of Drente. 1734 - Forty-two families of German Protestant refugees landed in the American colonies. Sponsored by the British Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK), the 78 religious pilgrims soon founded the town of Ebenezer, 30 miles from Savannah, Georgia. 1740 - Author and JP Henry Fielding, using the pen name Captain Hercules Vinegar, summoned poet laureate Colley Cibber to court on this day for 'murder of the English language'. 1746 - Born this day, Jan David Holland, composer. 1753 - First official St Patrick's Day was marked. 1755 - Transylvania Land Company bought Kentucky for $50,000 from a Cherokee chief. 1756 - St Patrick's Day first celebrated in New York City at the Crown and Thistle Tavern. 1757 - Prince Mas Saïd of Mataram surrendered to Mangkubumi in Java. 1762 - New York City staged the first parade honouring the Catholic feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It was led by Irish soldiers serving in the British army. 1763 - The first St. Patrick's Day Parade was held in New York City. 1764 - Died this day, George Parker, English astronomer. 1766 - Britain repealed the Stamp Act. 1776 - Having seized Dorchester Heights, George Washington forced the British under William Howe to evacuate Boston. They fled to Nova Scotia. 1777 - Born this day, Roger Brooke Taney, in Calvert, Maryland, 5th Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. (Dred Scott decision) Died in 1864. 1780 - Born this day, Thomas Chalmers, first moderator (Free Church of Scotland 1843-47). 1781 - Born this day, Dominique J. de Eerens, Governor-General of Netherland Indies. 1787 - Born this day, George Simon Ohm, physicist (discovered Ohm's Law). 1789 - Born this day, Edmund Kean, in London, England, tragic actor (Shylock). 1789 - Born this day, Charlotte Elliott, English devotional writer. An illness at the age of 33 left her an invalid for her remaining 50 years, during which she devoted herself to religious writing. Of her 150 hymns, Just As I Am remains popular today. 1796 - Died this day, Pieter Paulus, lawyer, Dutch CEO (National Convention), aged 41. 1799 - Napoleon Bonaparte and his army reached the Mediterranean seaport of St. Jean d'Acra, only to find British warships ready to break his siege of the town. 1800 - English warship Queen Charlotte caught fire. 700 died. 1801 - Died this day, Juan de Sesse y Balaguer, composer, died aged 64. 1803 - Died this day, Candido Jose Ruano, composer, aged 42. 1804 - Born this day, James Bridger, scout, fur trader, frontiersman. Died in 1881. 1804 - Johann von Schiller's Wilhelm Tell premiered. 1806 - Died this day, David Dale, industrialist, philanthropist. 1820 - Born this day, Patrick Edward Connor, Bvt Major General (Union volunteers). 1824 - England and the Netherlands signed a trade agreement. 1825 - Born this day, Rodolphe Bresdin, French cartoonist, lithographer (Le Bon Samaritain). 1826 - Born this day, Oskar Peschel, German journalist, geographist (Völkerkunder). 1828 - Born this day, Patrick Ronayne Cleburne, the 'Stonewall' of the West (Major General-Confederate Army). 1832 - Born this day, Daniel Conway Moncure, US clergyman, author, abolitionist (Life of Thomas Paine). 1832 - Born this day, Walter Quintin Gresham, Bvt Major General (Union volunteers). 1833 - The Phoenix Society was formed in New York. 1834 - Born this day, Gottlieb Daimler, in Germany, engineer, inventor, auto pioneer-designed first motorcycle. 1836 - Texas abolished slavery. 1839 - Born this day, Josef Rheinberger, in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, opera composer (Munich Conser). 1841 - Born this day, James R. Murray, American sacred music editor. A veteran of the American Civil War, Murray is better remembered today as composer of the hymn tune MUELLER, to which we sing the Christmas carol, Away in a Manger. 1842 - Indians landed in Ohio, a 12 square-mile area in Upper Sandusky. 1845 - Bristol man, Henry Jones, patented self-raising flour. 1845 - The rubber band was first patented by Stephen Perry of the London Rubber Company. 1846 - Born this day, Kate Greenway, in England, artist, painter, book illustrator (Mother Goose, Under the Window). 1846 - Died this day, Friedrich W. Bessel, German astronomer (Bessel Functions), aged 61. 1847 - Dmitri Shostakovich's opera Macbeth was produced in Florence. 1848 - Born this day, Horace Wadham Nicholl, composer. 1849 - Died this day, Willem II Frederik GL, King of Netherlands (1840-49), aged 56. 1853 - Died this day, Christian Doppler, physicist. 1854 - The first park land purchased by a US city, in Worcester, Massachusetts. 1855 - Died this day, Ramon Carnicer y Batlle, composer, at the age of 65. 1857 - Died this day, Adolph Trube, composer, aged 42. 1860 - In New Zealand, the second Maori war broke out. 1861 - A new united kingdom of Italy was proclaimed by parliament with Victor Emmanuel II as king. 1861 - Died this day, Petter Conrad Boman, composer, aged 56. 1862 - Died this day, Fromental Halevy [Elie Levy], French opera composer, aged 62. 1863 - The Battle of Kelly's Ford, in Virginia took place, there were 211 casualities. 1863 - Died this day, John Pelham, US Confederate artillery major, died in battle aged 24. 1864 - Died this day, Alexandre Calamo, Swiss painter, etcher, lithographer, aged 53. 1868 - The first postage stamp canceling machine patent was issued. 1870 - Massachusetts legislature authorised the incorporation of the Wellesley Female Seminary. 1871 - The National Association of Professional Base-Ball players was organised. 1872 - Born this day, Billy Quaife, cricketer (England batsman 1899-1902). 1873 - Born this day, Margaret Bondfield, in Chard, Somerset, British Labour leader, first woman Cabinet minister (1929-31). 1874 - Born this day, Kincsem, a horse that never lost a race. 1874 - Born this day, Stephen Samuel Wise, US president of the Zionist Organisation of America. 1876 - Born this day, Frederic Ayers, composer. 1876 - The first record high jump over 6 feet was made by Marshall Jones Brooks. 1876 - General Crook destroyed Cheyennes and Oglala-Sioux Indian camps. 1877 - Bill Midwinter completed Test Crickets' first 5-wkt haul, 5-78 vs England. 1877 - Born this day, Albert P. Hahn, Dutch political cartoonist (People/Nutcracker). 1880 - Born this day, Guillermo Uribe Holguin, composer. 1881 - Born this day, Kristian Elster, Norwegian author (Less bror Harris). 1884 - John Joseph Montgomery became the first man to fly a glider when he traveled approximately 600 feet across a California valley at Otay. 1886 - Twenty African Americans were killed in the Carrollton Massacre in Mississippi. 1887 - Born this day, Ben Sajet, Dutch physician, politician. 1888 - Born this day, Frank Buck, actor (Africa Screams, Tiger Queen, Tiger Fangs). 1889 - Died this day, Joseph A. Alberdingk Thijm [Pauwels Foreestier], poet, aged 68. 1890 - Born this day, Harold Morris, composer. 1891 - The British steamer Utopia sinks off the coast of Gibraltar. Over 570 died. 1891 - Died this day, Napoleon JKP Bonaparte, French prince, member National Convention, aged 68. 1890 - Born this day, Julius R. Mantey, co-author (with H. E. Dana) of a popular intermediate biblical language grammar. Originally published in 1927, the Dana & Mantey New Testament Greek Grammar is still popular, and still in print. 1892 - Born this day, Sayed Darwish, composer. 1894 - Born this day, Paul Green, US novelist, playwright (In Abraham's Bosom). 1894 - Born this day, Paul Eliot Green, Pulitzer prize-winning playwright. Died in 1981. 1894 - The US and China signed a treaty preventing Chinese laborers from entering the US. 1895 - Born this day, Shemp Howard [Samuel Horwitz], in Brooklyn, New York, comedian, actor (3 Stooges, Bank Dick). 1897 - Emilie Grace Briggs became the first woman in America to graduate from a Presbyterian theological school, when she received her Bachelor of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary, in New York City. 1897 - Motion pictures of a championship prize fight were taken for the first time as 'Sunny' Bob Fitzsimmons knocked out 'Gentleman' Jim Corbett for the world heavyweight title. 1898 - Died this day, Blanche Kelso Bruce, (Senator-Mississippi, 1875-1881), died in Washington DC aged 57. 1898 - The first practical submarine made by John P. Holland was submerged off Staten Island, New York and remained underwater for a little longer than an hour. 1899 - The Windsor luxury hotel in New York City caught fire, 92 died. 1900 - In the Stanley Cup, Montréal Shamrocks swept Halifax Crescents in 2. 1901 - The Free thinking-Democratic Union formed in the Netherlands. 1901 - Born this day, Alfred Newman, in New Haven, composer, conductor (Love is a Many Splendored Thing). 1901 - Born this day, Eisaku Sato, premier of Japan (Nobel 1974). 1901 - 71 paintings by the late Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh were shown at the Bernheim-Jeune gallery in Paris and caused a sensation across the art world. 1901 - Died this day, Franz Melde, German physicist (Melde Test), aged 69. 1902 - In the Stanley Cup, Montréal AAA beat Winnipeg Victorias, 2 games to 1. 1902 - Died this day, George William Warren, composer, aged 73. 1902 - Born this day, Bobby [Robert Tyre] Jones Jr., in Atlanta, Georgia, PGA golf Hall of Famer. Died in 1971. (Grand Slam 1930). 1903 - Born this day, Marquis Childs, journalist, author. 1905 - Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, niece of President Theodore Roosevelt, married Franklin D. Roosevelt in New York. 1906 - Died this day, Carlos Calvo, Argentina diplomat (Calvo Clause), aged 82. 1906 - In the Stanley Cup, Montréal Wanderers beat Ottawa Silver 7, although both winning a game, Montréal outscored Ottawa 12-10. 1906 - President Theodore Roosevelt coined the word 'muckrake' in a speech that he delivered to the Gridiron Club in Washington, DC. 1906 - Born this day, Brigitte Helm [Gisele Eve von Kuenheim], in Berlin, actress (Gloria, Gold). 1906 - Born this day, Michael O'Shea, in Hartford, Connecticut, actor (Denny-It's a Great Life). 1906 - Born this day, Tamara Geva, dancer. 1907 - Born this day, Jan M. J. van Houtte, premier Belgium (1952-54). 1907 - Born this day, John Pastore, politician, governor of Rhode Island, US Senator. 1908 - In the quickest world heavyweight title fight, Tommy Burns knocked out Jem Roche in 88 seconds. 1908 - Born this day, Boris N. Poveloi [Kampov], Russian journalist, writer. 1908 - Born this day, Radie Britain, composer. 1909 - Born this day, Patrick Reilly, British diplomat. 1910 - Born this day, Bayard Rustin, pacifist, activist, civil rights leader. Died in 1987. 1910 - DHC soccer team formed in Delft, Netherlands. 1910 - The Camp Fire Girls organisation was founded, at Lake Sebago, Maine, by Luther and Charlotte Gulick. The watch word of the group is Wohelo, an acronym of the words: WOrk, HEalth and LOve. It continues today even though the name has been changed to Camp Fire Boys and Girls. The name change occurred because boys are now accepted into the organisation. 1910 - Died this day, Joaquin Valverde, composer, aged 64. 1911 - Born this day, Raffaele d' Alessandro, composer. 1912 - The first cherry tree is planted in Washington DC, by Mrs. William Howard Taft. 1912 - On this day, Captain Oates left Captain Scott's Antarctic tent with the famous words, 'I may be some time'. He never returned. 1913 - Born this day, Frederick Brisson, producer. Died in 1984. 1914 - Born this day, Sammy Baugh, in Temple, Texas, NFL hall of famer, QB (Washington Redskins). 1914 - Russia increased the number of active duty military from 460,000 to 1,700,000. 1915 - Died this day, Walter Crane, English painter, cartoonist, illustrator, aged 69. 1915 - Born this day, Hans Namuth, German/US photographer (Todos Santos, Guatemala). 1915 - Born this day, William Roycroft, in Austria, equestrian 3 day (Olympics bronze 1976). 1917 - Born this day, Arthur Basil Cotle, medievalist. 1917 - Born this day, Brian Boydell, composer. 1917 - Tsar Nicolas II of Russia abdicated the throne. 1917 - America's first bowling tournament for ladies began in St. Louis, Missouri. Almost 100 women participated in the event. 1918 - Born this day, Mercedes McCambridge, in Joliet, Illinois, Academy Award-winning actress (Exorcist, All the King's Men). 1918 - The US Ladies Figure Skating Championship was won by Rosemary Beresford. 1918 - The US Men's Figure Skating Championship was won by Nathaniel Niles. 1918 - Born this day, D. Arendo [Arend Honhoff], Dutch pianist, composer (Eleonora). 1918 - Born this day, Wilhelmus M. J. Russell, Dutch attorney, member of first chamber (KVP/CDA). 1919 - Born this day, Hank Sauer baseball player (National League MVP 1952) 1919 - Dutch steel workers went on strike for an 8 hour day and minimum wages. 1919 - Born this day, Nat 'King' Cole [Nathaniel Adams Coles], in Montgomery, Alabama, jazz pianist, bandleader, singer, songwriter, 1955 US No.2 single A Blossom Fell, 1957 UK No.2 single When I Fall In Love, 1965 UK No.2 EP Unforgettable, Mona Lisa never charted in the UK, plus over 20 other US and UK top 40 singles. Died 15 February 1965. Father of singer Natalie. 1919 - Born this day, Hank [Henry] Sauer, baseball. 1920 - Born this day, John La Montaine, in Oak Park, Illinois, composer (Pulitzer 1959). 1921 - Born this day, Mick Harvey, cricketer (in Newcastle Brother of Neil Test umpire). 1921 - The first birth control clinic was set up in London by Dr Marie Stopes. 1921 - Lenin proclaimed New Economic Politics. 1921 - Sailors revolted in Kronstadt, thousands died. 1922 - Born this day, Megan Bull, British head mistress (Holloway Jail). 1923 - Born this day, Margaret Bondfield, first woman chairman (Trades Union Congress). 1924 - Four Douglas army aircraft left Los Angeles for an around the world flight. 1924 - Eugene O'Neill's Welded premiered in New York, NY. 1924 - Born this day, Stephen Dodgson, composer. 1924 - The Netherlands and USSR began talks over USSR recognition. 1924 - Sweden and USSR exchanged diplomats. 1925 - Born this day, G. M. Hughes, British zoologist. 1925 - Born this day, Jerome Lejeune, physiologist. 1926 - Richard Rodgers and L. Hart's musical The Girl Friend opened in New York City. The musical continued for a run of 409 performances. 1926 - Dutch Calvinists ousted the Reverend J. G. Geelkerken over Genesis 3. 1926 - Born this day, Siegfried Lenz, German writer (Ein Kriegsende). 1926 - Spain and Brazil prevented Germany from joining League of Nations. 1927 - The US government didn't sign the League of Nations disarmament treaty. 1927 - Born this day, Kenneth S. Goldstein, folklorist, enthomusicologist. 1927 - Born this day, Maurice Ingvar Karkoff, composer. 1927 - Born this day, Nancy Sheehan, writer. 1927 - Born this day, Patrick Allen, in Malawi, actor (Roman Holiday, Dial "M" for Murder). 1927 - Born this day, Sulkhan Ivanovich Nasidze, composer. 1927 - Died this day, James Scott Skinner, composer, aged 83. 1928 - Born this day, Edino Krieger, composer. 1929 - General Motors acquired German auto manufacturer Adam Opel. 1929 - Spanish dictator Primo de Rivera closed the University of Madrid after student protests and rioting. 1930 - Born this day, Paul Horn, composer, jazz musician, reed instrumentalist. 1930 - Born this day, James Benson Irwin, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Colonel USAF, astronaut (Apollo 15). 1930 - Mob boss Al Capone was released from jail. 1931 - Joseph Stalin threw Krupskaya Lenin out of the Central Committee. 1931 - Born this day, Eunice Gayson, in London, England, actress (Dr No, From Russia With Love). 1932 - Born this day, Dick Curless, singer, songwriter. 1932 - German police raided Hitler's Nazi-headquarter. 1933 - Born this day, Penelope Lively, writer. 1933 - Comedian Phil Baker was heard on network radio for the first time when The Armour Jester was heard on the old NBC Blue network. Baker rapidly rose to the top of the radio ratings. 1933 - Died this day, Ferdinand Von Alten actor (Champagne), aged 48. 1934 - Dollfuss, Mussolini and Gömbös signed the Donau Pact (protocols of Rome). 1934 - Born this day, Erhard Grosskopf, composer. 1934 - Born this day, Q. T. Macon, blues singer, guitar. 1935 - Born this day, H. Wollschläger, writer. 1935 - Born this day, Renee Taylor, actress, comedian (Last of the Red Hot Lovers). 1935 - Call sign KSO-AM in Des Moines, Iowa, was given to KWCR. 1936 - Born this day, Ladislaw Kupkovic, composer. 1936 - Born this day, Thomas K. Mattingly II, in Chicago, Illinois, Captain USN, astronaut (Apollo 16, STS-4, 51C). 1937 - Born this day, Adam Wade, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, singer, actor, drummer, brief TV career as a game show host, worked as a lab assistant for the fame Dr. Jonas Salk who invented the vaccine for polio. Moved to New York in 1960. Signed with CoEd Records. Scored a modicum of success in 1960 with Ruby and I Can't Help It. Did better in 1961 with three Top 10 singles Take Good Care of Her, The Writing on the Wall and As If I Didn't Know. After two albums in 1960-61 CoEd he left, to replace Johnny Mathis at Epic Records who was leaving. Only charted once at Epic with Crying in the Chapel, which reached a lowly No.88. Did voice overs, including Sweet Lou Dunbar and Gismo Man on the Harlem Globetrotters Show. Had acting roles in Wanderlove (1970) and Shaft (1971). Played the role of Benjy in Comeback Charleston Blues (1972), and in Gordon's War (1973) played character Hustler. Played Crazy Joe in Phantom of the Paradise and Claudine (both 1974). 1976 saw him become the first African-American to host a national American television talk show Musical Chairs. Resurrected his recording career a little with Kirshner Records in 1978. On Kirshner he recorded Alexander's Soul Time Band, and other tracks. Also in 1978 he played in an all Black cast of Guys and Dolls in Las Vegas for six months and returned to acting in 1982 via Kiss Me Goodbye where he played the character Roscoe. 1937 - Born this day, Galina Samsova, ballerina. 1938 - Born this day, Rudolf Nureyev, Russian ballet dancer, choreographer (Kirov). (defected to the West). 1939 - British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain accused Adolf Hitler of breaking his word, after German troops crossed the Czech frontier. 1939 - Born this day, Shahid Mahmoud, cricketer (opener scored 16 & 9 in only Pakistan Test). 1939 - Artie Shaw featured sidemen Tony Pastor and Buddy Rich on two classics. One Night Stand and One Foot in the Groove were recorded for Bluebird Records. 1940 - Born this day, Vito Picone, rock musician (Elegants). 1941 - Born this day, Clarence Collins, US singer, Little Anthony and The Imperials, 1958 US No.4 single Tears On My Pillow, the song gave Kylie Minogue a UK No.1 in 1990. 1941 - Born this day, Edward Harper, composer. 1941 - Born this day, Gene Pitney, in Hartford, Connecticut, singer (Town without Pity). 1941 - The National Gallery of Art was officially opened by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Washington, DC. 1941 - Born this day, Clarence Clemons, E Street Band, 1984 US No.2 and 1985 UK No.4 single Dancing In The Dark. 1941 - Died this day, Isaak Emmanuilovich Babel, Russian writer (Crvena Konjica), executed aged 46. 1941 - Died this day, Joachim Schepke, German commandant (U-100), died in battle. 1942 - Born this day, Jeff Banks, fashion designer. 1942 - The Nazis began deporting Jews to the Belsen camp. 1942 - Born this day, John Wayne Gacy Jr., in Chicago, Illinois, serial killer (32 boys). 1942 - Born this day, Paul Kantner, rock guitarist (Jefferson Starship-White Rabbit). 1942 - Born this day, Sidney K. Barthelmy, US politician(?). 1942 - Born this day, Don Mitchell, in Houston, Texas, actor (Mark-Ironside). 1942 - General Douglas MacArthur arrived in Australia to become supreme commander . 1943 - F. Hugh Herbert's Kiss & Tell premiered in New York, NY. 1944 - Born this day, Bob Johnson, guitar, vocals, Steeleye Span, 1975 UK No.5 single All Around My Hat. 1944 - Allied bombing of Austria began with a raid by over 200 planes on targets in Vienna. 1944 - Born this day, [Clarence Edwin] Cito Gaston, baseball, MLB manager (Toronto Blue Jays). 1944 - Born this day, Patrick McCauley [Pat], musician, drummer, Them, 1965 UK No.2 and US No.24 single Here Comes The Night. 1944 - Born this day, John Sebastian, in Greenwich Village, New York, NY, singer, musician, songwriter, The Lovin' Spoonful, 1966 UK No.2 single Daydream, and 1966 US No.1 single Summer in The City, solo, 1976 US No.1 single Welcome Back. 1944 - Born this day, Danny DeVito, in Neptune, New Jersey, actor (Louie-Taxi, Twins). 1944 - Born this day, Patti Boyd, in Somerset, England, (former Mrs George Harrison and Mrs Eric Clapton, the one he wrote Layla for). 1944 - Actor Charlton Heston married Lydia Clarke. 1945 - Allied ships bombed North Sumatra. 1945 - Born this day, Paco Gonzalez, race horse trainer. 1945 - The battle against Japanese forces for the Pacific island of Iwo Jima ended in victory for the United States. 1946 - Born this day, Harold Brown, in Long Beach, California, musician, drummer, War, 1976 UK No.12 and US No.12 single Low Rider. 1946 - Born this day, Michael Peter Finnissey, composer. 1947 - Born this day, Ian Gomm, rock guitarist. 1948 - Born this day, Fran Byrne, rock musician. 1948 - Born this day, William [Ford] Gibson, in Canada, sci-fi author (Neuromancer, Count Zero). 1948 - The Brussels Treaty, a 50-year alliance between Britain, France and the Benelux countries, was signed to provide for military co-operation in the event of an attack. 1948 - Born this day, Pat Lloyd, The Equals, 1968 UK No.1 and US No.32 single Baby Come Back. 1949 - Born this day, Patrick Duffy, in Townsend, Montana, US actor, (Bobby-Dallas, Man from Atlantis). 1949 - Died this day, Felix Bressart, actor (Escape, Ninotchka, Iceland), aged 54. 1950 - The heaviest element, Californium, was discovered by researchers at the University of California at Berkeley. 1950 - The Belgian government of Eyskens resigned. 1951 - The Government of Drees took power. 1951 - Brian Statham had his Test Cricket debut, England vs New Zealand Christchurch. 1951 - Born this day, Kurt Russell [Vogel], in Springfield, Massachusetts, actor (Thing, Overboard, Mean Seasons, Vanilla Sky). 1951 - Born this day, Scott Gorham, musician, guitarist, Thin Lizzy, 1973 UK No.6 single Whisky In The Jar, 1976 US No.12 single The Boys Are Back In Town. 1951 - Born this day, Craig Ramsey, hockey. 1952 - Born this day, Susie Allanson, singer. 1952 - Born this day, Stan Weir, hockey. 1953 - Bill Veeck said he would sell his 80% of the St Louis Browns for $2,475 million. 1953 - The US performed a nuclear test at the Nevada Test site. 1953 - WBAY TV channel 2 in Green Bay, Wisconsin (CBS) began broadcasting. 1953 - WWLP TV channel 22 in Springfield, Massachusetts (NBC) began broadcasting. 1953 - Died this day, Conrado del Campo y Zabaleta, composer, aged 73. 1954 - Died this day, Victor Rousseau, Belgian sculptor, aged 88. 1954 - Born this day, Lesley-Ann Down, in London, actress (A Little Night Music, Moonraker). 1954 - Born this day, Rena Jones, rock vocalist. 1954 - Born this day, Wally Stocker, in London, England, rock vocalist, guitarist, The Babys, 1977 US No.13 and UK No.45 single Isn't It Time. 1955 - Born this day, Gary Sinise, actor (Apollo 13, Forrest Gump). 1955 - Born this day, Bill Beyers, actor (Wally McCandless-Capitol). 1955 - Born this day, Cynthia McKinney, (Representative-Democrat-Georgia). 1955 - Born this day, Paul Overstreet, in Van Cleave, Mississippi, country singer (Daddy's Come Around). 1955 - Maurice 'Rocket' Richard was suspended, it sparked a 7 hour riot in Montréal. 1956 - At the 8th Emmy Awards, Ed Sullivan Show, Phil Silvers Show and Lucille Ball were winners. 1956 - Born this day, Will Rigby, rock percussionist (Amy Rigby Diary of a Mad Housewife). 1956 - Died this day, Fred Allen, comedian (Colgate Comedy Hour, Fred Allen Radio Show), aged 61. 1956 - Carl Perkins mades his first TV appearance, on the Ozark Jamboureee. 1957 - Died this day, Ramon Magsaysay, President of Philippines, in a plane crash. 1957 - The Dutch ban on Sunday driving was lifted. 1957 - Born this day, Robin Cousins, in Bristol, England, figure skater (Olympics gold 1980). 1958 - The Coasters recorded Yakety Yak. 1958 - The second US satellite to orbit the Earth, Vanguard I, was launched from Cape Canaveral. It measured Earth's shape. The US Navy launched it. 1959 - Born this day, Mike Lindup, musician, keyboardist, singer, Level 42, 1986 UK No.3 single Lessons In Love plus 19 other top 40 singles. 1959 - Australia and the USSR restored diplomatic relations. 1959 - The Dalai Lama fled Tibet and went to India. 1959 - Born this day, [Daniel Ray] Danny Ainge, NBA basketball coach, basketball and baseball player. (Phoenix Suns). 1959 - Born this day, Brian Douglas Jones, in Auckland, New Zealand, tornado class yachter (Olympics 1996). 1959 - Born this day, Terry Hall, singer, Specials, Fun Boy 3. 1959 - Died this day, Raffaele d' Alessandro, composer, on his 48th birthday. 1960 - The second United Nations (UN) conference on the Law of the Sea opened in Geneva, attended by 88 states. It ended on 26 April without agreement. 1960 - New £1 notes were issued by the Bank of England. 1960 - Born this day, Lee Ann Michelle, in Surrey, England, playmate for February 1979. 1960 - Eisenhower formed an anti-Castro-exile army under the CIA. 1960 - WSLA (now WAKA) TV channel 8 in Selma, Alabama (CBS) began broadcasting. 1960 - Born this day, Michael Whitaker, showjumper. 1961 - The New York District Attorney arrested professional gamblers who implicated Seton Hall players. 1961 - South Africa left the British Commonwealth. 1961 - Born this day, Casey Siemaszko, in Chicago, Illinois, actor (Biloxi Blues, 3 O'Clock High). 1961 - The United States increased military aid and technicians to Laos. 1961 - Died this day, Suzanna Salter, first US female mayor, temperance leader, aged 101. 1962 - Died this day, Frank Orth, actor (Boston Blackie, The Brothers), aged 82. 1962 - The Soviet Union asked the United States to pull out of South Vietnam. 1962 - Born this day, Clare Grogan, singer, rock musician, Altered Images, 1981 UK No.2 single Happy Birthday, 1981 UK No.7 single I Could Be Happy, 1982 UK No.11 single See Those Eyes, 1983 UK No.7 single Don't Talk To Me About Love. 1982 UK No.12 album Pinky Blue, 1983 UK No.16 album Bite. Also actress, Gregory's Girl and a VH1 presenter. 1962 - Born this day, Janet Patricia Gardner, in Juneau, Alaska, rock musician (Vixen-Rev It Up). 1962 - Born this day, Patrick Thomas Burke, in Hollywood, Florida, PGA golfer (1992 BellSouth-6th). 1962 - Born this day, Roxy Dora Petrucci, in Rochester, Minnesota, rock drummer (Vixen-Rev It Up). 1962 - The Shadows started an eight week run at No.1 in the UK with the single Wonderful Land. The band's third No.1. 1963 - Born this day, Rebeca Arthur, actress (Mary Anne-Perfect Strangers, Opposites Attract). 1963 - Born this day, Roger Harper, cricketer (Guyana & West Indies off-spinner Extraordinary field). 1963 - Died this day, William Henry Squire, composer, aged 91. 1963 - On Bali, the volcano Mount Agung erupted, killing at least 11,000 people. 1963 - The second American to be beatified by the Pope was Mother Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton. She was canonized in 1975. 1963 - Bob Cousey, of the Boston Celtics, played his last regular season basketball game after 13 years in the National Basketball Association. 1964 - Born this day, Alex Shoumidoub, NHL goaltender (Belarus, Olympics 1998). 1964 - Born this day, Don Griffin, NFL cornerback (Cleveland Browns). 1964 - Born this day, Rob Lowe, in Charlottesville, Virginia, actor (St Elmo's Fire, West Wing, Wayne's World, Class). 1964 - Born this day, Lee Dixon, footballer. 1964 - Born this day, Ron Warren Jr., jockey (Bay Meadows). 1965 - Born this day, Caitlin Bilodeaux, in Boston, Massachusetts, US fencer (Olympics 1992). 1965 - Died this day, Almos Alonzo Stagg, football coach (University of Chicago), in California aged 102. 1965 - Died this day, Quentin Reynolds, newscaster (Its News to Me), author (FBI), aged 62. 1965 - Born this day, John Smiley, in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, pitcher (Cincinnati Reds). 1965 - The Beatles announced their latest film is named 8 Arms to Hold on to You (Help). 1966 - The South Africa government banned the Defense & Aid Fund. 1966 - A US submarine located a missing H-bomb in the Mediterranean. 1966 - Born this day, Andrew Hudson, cricketer (South Africa, 163 on debut vs West Indies 1992). 1966 - The Walker Brothers had their second UK No.1 single with The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore. It was originally recorded by Frankie Valli. 1966 - Died this day, Walter Lang, composer, at the age of 69. 1966 - Julie Newmar debuted as Catwoman in Batman. 1966 - Born this day, Vicki Lewis, actress (NewsRadio). 1967 - Bobby Vee recorded Come Back When You Grow Up. 1967 - Died this day, Frank Wisbar, director (Fireside Theater), aged 67. 1967 - Died this day, Richard Reeves, actor (Murph-Date With an Angel), aged 54. 1967 - The first night of a 17 date UK tour featuring Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd, Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave and Booker T And The MG's kicked off at London's Finsbury Park Astoria. 1967 - Born this day, Chris Luongo, in Detroit, Michigan, NHL defenseman (New York Islanders). 1967 - Born this day, Billy Corgan, vocals, guitar, Smashing Pumpkins, 1995 US No.1 album Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, 1996 UK No.7 and US No.36 single Tonight Tonight. 1967 - Born this day, Kim Cathrein, in Salinas, California, LPGA golfer (1994 Rochester International-24th). 1967 - Snoopy and Charlie Brown, of the comic strip Peanuts, made the cover of LIFE magazine. 1967 - Born this day, Melissa Allen, in Portland, Oregon, WPVA volleyballer (Reebok National-13th 1994). 1967 - Born this day, Van Conner, rock musician (Screaming Trees). 1968 - Violent demonstrations against the Vietnam war erupted outside the American embassy in Grosvenor Square, London. Over 300 arrests were made and 90 policemen injured. 1968 - Born this day, Judy Mosley McAfee, WNBA forward (Sacramento Monarchs). 1968 - A 2-tiered gold price was negotiated in Washington DC by the US and 6 European nations. 1968 - Kathie Whitworth won the LPGA St Petersburg Orange Blossom Golf Open. 1968 - Born this day, Tyrone Hill, NBA forward (Cleveland Cavaliers). 1968 - The Bee Gees made their US television debut when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. 1969 - Born this day, Andrew McMarlin, in Vienna, Virginia, rower (Olympics 1996). 1969 - Born this day, Domenic 'Filane' Figliomeni, in Terrace Bay, Ontario, boxer (Olympics 1996). 1969 - Born this day, Gilbert Schaller, in Bruck, Austria, tennis player. 1969 - Golda Meir was sworn in as the fourth premier of Israel. 1969 - Kathy Whitworth won the LPGA Orange Blossom Golf Open. 1970 - Peter O'Malley became CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers. 1970 - Died this day, Fernand Crommelynck, Belgian playwright (Chaud et Frois), aged 83. 1970 - The US cast their first United Nations (UN) Security Council veto in support of England. 1970 - The US Army charged 14 officers with suppression of facts in the My Lai massacre case. 1970 - Eddie Holman received a gold record for the single, Hey There Lonely Girl. This song was originally a hit for Ruby and the Romantics under the title, Hey There Lonely Boy in the 1960s. Holman died on stage in a New Jersey performance in the mid-1970s, while singing this song which he had dedicated to his daughter. 1970 - Born this day, Shannan Mitchem, in Decatur, Georgia, female infielder (Colorado Silver Bullets). 1971 - Born this day, Katrina Colleton, WNBA guard, forward (Los Angeles Sparks). 1971 - Born this day, Tommy Thigpen, WLAF linebacker (Barcelona Dragons). 1971 - Peter Gabriel married his girlfriend Jill. They were together on and off for 17 years. 1971 - Died this day, Ernst Bachmeister, writer. 1972 - Died this day, Manny Martindale, cricketer (10 Tests for West Indies, 34 wickets). 1972 - Born this day, Mia Hamm, in Selma, Alabama, soccer forward (Olympics 1996, US Women's World Cup 1999). 1972 - Born this day, Melissa Auf Der Maur, Hole, 1995 UK No.16 and US No.58 single Doll Parts. 1972 - President Nixon asked Congress to halt busing in order to achieve desegregation. 1972 - Ringo Starr released Back off Bugaloo in the UK. 1973 - Queen Elizabeth II opened the new London Bridge. 1973 - St Patrick's Day marchers carried 14 coffins commemorating Bloody Sunday. 1973 - Twenty were killed in Cambodia when a bomb went off that was meant for the Cambodian President Lon Nol. 1973 - The first Prisoners of War (POWs) were released from the 'Hanoi Hilton' in Hanoi, North Vietnam. 1973 - Born this day, Caroline Georgina Corr, drummer with the Corrs, the family outfit that has conquered pop charts the world over. She was born on St Patrick's day in Dundalk, County Louth. The four siblings enjoyed their first brush with fame on the 1991 movie, The Commitments - Andrea had a speaking role and Caroline, Sharon and Jim were used as extras. 1998 UK No.3 single What Can I Do, Talk On Corners, best selling UK album of 1998. 1973 - Born this day, Amelia Weatherly, actress (Stephanie Brewster-Loving/The City). 1973 - Born this day, Jerome Woods, safety (Kansas City Chiefs). 1973 - David Cassidy played two sold out shows at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London. 1973 - Died this day, Geertruida M. W. 'Truus' Bakker, Dutch actress (2 Orphans), aged 81. 1973 - Eric Weissberg started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Dueling Banjos. 1974 - Died this day, Carroll Nye, actress (Lawless Woman), at the age of 72. 1974 - Died this day, Louis I. Kahn, Estonia/US architect, died aged about 73. 1974 - Born this day, Eric Lane, running back (New York Giants). 1974 - Born this day, John Hall, kicker (New York Jets). 1974 - Jane Blalock won the LPGA Bing Crosby Golf Classic International. 1975 - Valeri Muratov skated a world record 1000 metres in 1 minute 16.92 seconds. 1976 - Malikov skated a world record 1000 metres in 1 minutes 15.76 seconds. 1976 - Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter was retried. 1976 - The US performed a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site. 1976 - Born this day, Stephen Gately, in Dublin, Ireland, Irish singer, Boyzone, 1996 UK No.1 single Words, plus 5 other UK No.1 singles, solo 2000 UK No.3 single New Beginning / Bright Eyes. 1976 - Died this day, Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Italian director (Terra Diaeresis), aged 69. 1976 - Appearing at CBGB'S, New York, were Johnny Thunders And The Heartbreakers. 1977 - Australia won the cricket Centenary Test by 45 runs, the same result as in 1877. 1977 - Born this day, Hadeel Abol-Naga, Miss Egypt-Universe 1996. 1977 - Born this day, Iveta Jankularova, Miss Slovak Republic-Universe 1996.  
1978 - The oil tanker Amoco Cadiz ran aground off the coast of Brittany, France, broke in two, and spilled 220,000 tons (68.7 million gallons) of crude oil into the sea. It is currently number 6 in a list of the worst spills of all time. 1978 - American Hot Wax, a film based on the story of Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who introduced rock'n'roll to teenage American radio audiences in the 1950's, opened in US theatres. The film featured a young Fran Drescher as Sheryl and Jay Leno as Mookie in one of their early film roles. 1978 - Ligeti's opera Le Grand Macabre premiered in Stockholm. 1978 - The Reds donned green uniforms for St Patricks Day. 1978 - Died this day, George Dickinson, cricketer (8 wickets in 3 Tests for New Zealand). 1979 - Died this day, Merv Inverarity, cricketer (father of John WA player 1925-40). 1979 - The World Ice Dance Championship at Vienna was won by N. Linichuk and G. Karponosov (USSR). 1979 - The World Ice Pairs Figure Skating Championship at Vienna was won by Tai Babilonia and R. Gardner (USA). 1979 - Died this day, Zenon de Fleur Heirowski, guitarist with UK band Count Bishops, of a heart attack aged 28. 1979 - The World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Vienna was won by Linda Fratianne (USA). 1979 - The World Men's Figure Skating Championship in Vienna was won by Vladimir Kovalev (USSR). 1979 - Gloria Gaynor started a four week run at No.1 in the UK with the single I Will Survive. 1979 - The Bee Gees went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Spirits Having Flown 1980 - Died this day, Rudolf G. Escher, Dutch composer (Vrai Visage de la Paix), aged 68. 1981 - FC Lisse, a Dutch soccer team formed. 1982 - The lead singer of US group The Capitols was killed aged 39 after being stabbed during a family argument. Had the 1966 US No.7 single Cool Jerk. 1982 - Four Dutch TV crew members were shot dead in El Salvador. 1982 - Zimbabwean Prime Minister Robert Mugabe ordered the writing of a new constitution to replace that drawn up at the Lancaster House conference in London. 1982 - Died this day, Hans ter Laag, Dutch sound technician, murdered in El Salvador. 1982 - Died this day, Jan Kuiper, Dutch news editor (IKON), murdered in El Salvador. 1982 - Died this day, Joop Willemsen, Dutch cameraman, murdered in El Salvador. 1982 - Died this day, Koos Koster, Dutch newscaster (IKON), murdered in El Salvador. 1983 - Mike Bossy scored the 70th hat trick in Islander history. 1983 - The 9th People's Choice Awards were held. 1984 - Howard Jones scored his first UK No.1 album with his debut release Human's Lib. 1985 - William Schroeder set a record for heart transplant patients as he reached his 113th day of life with the artificial organ. 1985 - President Ronald Reagan agreed to a joint study with Canada on acid rain. 1985 - Patrick Ewing accepted the Naismith Award during half-time of the DePaul-Syracuse basketball game. The award is annually given to basketball's top collegiate player. 1985 - Elizabeth Taylor arrived in Charleston, South Carolina to be greeted by large crowds as she stepped off a private jet to begin filming of the Civil War-era movie, North and South. Liz played the part of a voluptuous, bordello madam. 1985 - Jane Blalock won the LPGA Women's Kemper Golf Open. 1985 - Matti Nykanen of Finland set a world ski jump record of 623 feet. 1985 - Died this day, Dattu Phadkar, cricketer (Indian all-rounder, 31 Tests 1947-58). 1986 - Died this day, Hal Buckley, actor (John Quincy-OK Crackerby), aged 49. 1986 - The Haemers gang robbed a gold transport in Belgium of 35 million Belgian Francs. 1987 - IBM released PC-DOS version 3.3. 1987 - Sunil Gavaskar ended his Test career with an inning of 96 vs Pakistan. 1988 - Les Miserables opened at Det Norske Teatret, in Oslo, Norway. 1988 - The highest scoring NCAA basketball game was played, Loyola-Marymnt 119, Wyoming 115. 1988 - Died this day, Reg Sinfield, cricketer (one Test for England vs Australia 1938) 1988 - Iran said Iraq used poison gas. 1989 - Transport Secretary Paul Channon pushed the button which began the machine to bore the Channel Tunnel through chalk beneath the sea at Dover. 1989 - Chu Chem opened at the Ritz Theatre in New York City for 44 performances. 1989 - Dorothy Cudahy became the first female grand marshal of the St Patrick Day Parade. 1989 - Died this day, Merritt Butrick, actor (Shy People, Wired to Kill), of AIDS aged 29. 1990 - Died this day, Capucine [Germaine Lefebvre], actress (Rendez-Vous de Juillet, Curse of the Pink Panther), committed suicide in Lausanne, Switzerland aged 57. She did so by leaping from her eighth-floor window. 1990 - Died this day, Marí Mejía, Guatemalian feminist, murdered. 1990 - The PBA National Championship was won by Jim Pencak. 1990 - Died this day, Rick Grech, bass player with Family, Blind Faith and Traffic, of kidney and liver failure. He was aged 44. 1991 - Irish Lesbians and Gays marched in the St Patrick Day parade in New York. 1991 - John Robin Baitz' Substance of Fire premiered in New York, NY. 1991 - New Jersey raised turnpike tolls 70%. 1991 - Penny Hammel won the Desert Inn LPGA Golf International. 1991 - The USSR held a referendum to determine if they should stay together; 9 of 15 Soviet representatives officially approved a new union treaty. 1991 - Iran and Saudi Arabia resumed diplomatic relations broken in 1988. 1992 - It was announced that exploitative talk-show host Geraldo Rivera declared that he was 'sorry' he ever wrote Exposing Myself, the autobiography in which he graphically detailed his alleged sexual conquests. His sorrow for writing the exposé, he claimed, made him agree to play a talk-show host in NBC's upcoming made-for-TV Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo, in which Rivera's character is murdered for naming names. Not only was the 'sorrow angle' thin, but it appeared to many people that Rivera was grand-standing in order to maximize publicity for one of his first acting jobs. 1992 - Death & the Maiden opened at the Brooks Atkinson in New York City for 159 performances. 1992 - At the 18th People's Choice Awards, Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire won awards. 1992 - F. W. De Klerk won a white only referendum in South Africa. South African whites voted to end minority rule and approved constitutional reforms giving legal equality to blacks. 1992 - The Islamic Jihad truck-bombed the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina killing 29 people and at least 126 were injured in the bomb blast that destroyed the Israeli Embassy. 1992 - The Russian manned space craft TM-14, was launched into orbit. 1992 - Died this day, Charles Rea, British actor (Ipcress File), aged 69. 1992 - Died this day, George Lovi, US columnist (Sky & Telescope's 'Ramblings'). 1992 - Died this day, Grace Stafford Lantz, cartoon voice (Woody Woodpecker), aged 87. 1992 - Died this day, Jack Arnold, actor, director (Sid Caeser Special, Emmy 1967), aged 75. 1993 - Died this day, Helen Hayes, actress (Airport), died of congestive heart failure aged 92. 1993 - Died this day, Laadi Flici, Algerian MP, murdered. 1993 - Died this day, Skip Young, actor (Smokey & Hotwire Gang), aged 62. 1993 - 86 people were killed by a bomb attack in Calcutta. 1993 - An Amtrak passenger train hit a gasoline tanker in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, killing the tanker driver and five other people. 1994 - Former President Reagan said Oliver North, who was running for a US Senate seat from Virginia, lied when he said Reagan 'knew everything' about the Iran-Contra operation. 1994 - Little More Magic opened at the Belasco Theatre in New York City for 30 performances. 1994 - An Iran transport aircraft crashed in Azerbaijan, 32 were killed. 1994 - Died this day, Arthur C. Jacobs, poet, aged 57. 1994 - Died this day, Harold Myers, film journalist, at the age of 81. 1994 - It was announced there would be no smoking in the Cleveland Indians new ballpark. 1994 - Died this day, Mai Zetterling, actress (Night is My Future), of cancer aged 68. 1994 - Died this day, Walter Janka, German writer (Troubles with Truth), aged 79. 1995 - Died this day, Ahmad Khomeini, youngest son of Iran ayatollah Khomeini, aged 48. 1995 - Died this day, Donald Baverstock, television producer, aged 71. 1995 - Died this day, Marcus Jan Adriani, biologist, director (Weevers' Duin), at the age of 56. 1995 - President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan survived a coup attempt when troops crushed a revolt by an elite police unit led by Deputy Interior Minister Rovshan Javadov. 1995 - The British Pound hit 2.4545 to the Dutch guilder. A record at the time. 1995 - President Clinton met with Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Fein, the political arm of the Irish Republican Army, at the White House. 1995 - Died this day, Rick Aviles, US comic, actor (Ghost), died of AIDS. 1995 - Died this day, Ronnie Kray, English gangster, aged 61. 1995 - Died this day, Sunnyland Smart, jazz, blues singer, pianist (Delta Blues), aged 87. 1995 - The US approved the first chicken pox vaccine, Varivax by Merck & Co. 1996 - Bus Stop closed at the Circle in Square Theatre in New York City after 29 performances. 1996 - Getting Away With Murder opened at the Broadhurst in New York City for 17 performances. 1996 - Aravinda De Silva got 107 and 3-42 in the cricket World Cup victory. 1996 - Died this day, Rene Clement, film director, aged 83. 1996 - Died this day, Thomas Enders, diplomat, aged 64. 1996 - Liselotte Neumann won the LPGA Ping/Welch's Golf Championship. 1996 - Mike Tyson beat Frank Bruno in the third round to gain the Heavyweight Boxing title. (Where at?). 1996 - The Montréal Canadien's played a first game in their new arena. 1996 - Died this day, Terry Stafford, singer (Suspicion). 1996 - Sri Lanka beat Australia by 7 wickets to win the World Cup. 1996 - Died this day, Bela Szigeti, theoretical physicist, aged 83. 1996 - Died this day, Kenneth Jameson, art educationalist, aged 83. 1997 - CNN began Spanish broadcasts. 1997 - Died this day, Jermaine Stewart, US singer, of cancer. 1986 UK No.2 single We Don’t Have To...Take Our Clothes Off. Also worked with Shalamar, The Temptations and Boy George. 1997 - Anthony Lake, President Clinton's nominee as director of the CIA, withdrew his name from consideration following questions about his management ability while head of the National Security Council. 1997 - Died this day, Gail Davis, actress (Annie Oakley), aged 71. 1997 - A high court judge ruled that Elvis Presley Enterprises did not have the sole rights to the name, allowing UK fan Sid Shaw to carry on calling himself Elvis Presley at his memorabilia shop in London. 1998 - The USA Women's Hockey Team beat Canada for the first Olympics Gold medal. 1999 - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to expel six members in connection with the bribery scandal related to the effort by Salt Lake City, Utah, to win the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Five other IOC members had already resigned. 2000 - Leeds United footballers, Lee Bowyer and Johnathon Woodgate appeared in court charged in connection with a street attack on an Asian student. 2000 - Smith & Wesson, the America's oldest and largest maker of handguns, agreed to a wide array of restrictions in exchange for ending some lawsuits that threatened to bankrupt the company. 2001 - The horror film The Exorcist got its UK television premier on this date. The movie was originally banned in the 1970's and later years. It cost £8.3 miilion to make and grossed over £278 million at the box office and more than £61 million in video sales and hires. 2001 - Comic Relief's fundraising frenzy continued to grow as counting showed the event had raised more than £23m. 2002 - Home Secretary David Blunkett promised to 'reclaim the streets' with a blitz on muggers, carjackers and snatch thieves in 10 crime blackspots. 2002 - Nickelback started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with Silver Side Up. 2003 - Robin Cook resigned from Tony Blair's Cabinet, saying he could not back war with Iraq without a second United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution. |
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.