This Day in History
January 13

What happened in history on this day: January 13? On January 13 in ... 533 - Remigius van Reims, first bishop of Reims (459-533)/saint, dies about 96. 858 - Aethelwolf, king of Wessex (Battle at Aclea), dies. 888 - Charles III, the Fat One, King of Franconia/Roman emperor, dies. 888 - Duke Odo becomes king of West-France. 1049 - Derrick IV Count of Holland (1039-49), dies in battle. 1099 - Crusaders set fire to Mara Syria. 1177 - Hendrik Jasomirgott Babenberg Duke of Austria, dies. 1307 - Arnoud van Foreest Dom deacon of Utrecht, dies. 1330 - Frederick (III) the Handsome, duke of Austrian/German anti-king, dies. 1381 - Birth of Saint Colette abbess/reformer (Poor Clares). 1406 - Birth of Matteo Palmieri Italian writer (Della vita civile). 1488 - Hermann Vischer "the Old", buried. 1505 - Birth of Joachim II Hektor in Cologne; Elector of Brandenburg. 1547 - Earl Henry Howard of Surrey sentenced to death. 1559 - Elizabeth I crowned queen of England in Westminster Abbey. 1596 - Birth of Jan J Goyen Dutch landscape painter. 1599 - Edmund Spenser poet (Faerie Queene), dies at about age 46. 1610 - Galileo Galilei discovers Callisto, fourth satellite of Jupiter. 1616 - Birth of Antoinette Bourignon Flemish mystic/French religious fanatic. 1621 - Jan Pieterszoon Coen's fleet sets sail to Moluccas (from Jacarta). 1625 - Pieter Bruegel "the Older" (Bloemenbruegel), Flemish painter, dies. 1628 - Birth of Charles Perrault France, lawyer/writer (Mother Goose). 1630 - Patent to Plymouth Colony issued. 1631 - Sweden and France sign the Treaty of Bärwalde, for Sweden to lead an army in Europe for six years. France will pay 400,000 riksdaler per year for Sweden to maintain an army of 36,000 men to fight for German liberties and the freedom of Baltic trade. 1635 - Birth of Philip Jakob Spener; founded German pietism. 1651 - Abraham C Bloemaert painter/cartoonist/engraver, dies at age 86. 1673 - Jean Racine's "Mithridate" premieres in Paris. 1674 - Birth of Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon French poet (Atrée et Thyeste). 1682 - Simon van Leeuwen Dutch lawyer/historian, dies at age 55. 1683 - Birth of Christoph Graupner in Kirchberg, Germany; composer. 1690 - Birth of Gottfried Heinrich Stolzel composer. 1691 - George Fox founder of Quakers, dies at age 66. 1695 - Jonathan Swift ordained an Anglican priest in Ireland. 1702 - Peter Rabus Dutch poet/translator (Great Name Book), dies at age 41. 1727 - Birth of Johann Christoph Schmugel composer. 1733 - James Oglethorpe and 130 English colonists arrive at Charleston, South Carolina. 1734 - Birth of Luca Sorkocevic composer. 1737 - Birth of Joseph Hilarius Eckhel in Enzersfeld, Austria; developed a system of classification of coins for numismatics. 1749 - Birth of Friedrich Müller in Kreuznach, Germany; painter, poet and dramatist. 1762 - Leonhard Trautsch composer, dies at age 68. 1770 - De Beaumarchais' "Les Deux Amis" premieres in Paris. 1778 - Birth of Anton Fischer composer. 1785 - John Walter publishes first issue of London Times. 1788 - Birth of Carl Ludwig Cornelius Westenholz composer. 1794 - US Congress changes US flag to 15 stars and 15 stripes. 1795 - François-Joseph Krafft composer, dies at age 73. 1797 - Elisabeth C von Brunswick-Bevern wife of Frederick II, dies at age 81. 1802 - Birth of Eduard von Bauernfeld in Vienna, Austria; comedic playwright. 1807 - Birth of Napoleon Bonaparte Buford Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1883. 1808 - Birth of Salmon P Chase (Senator-R) cabinet member, 6th chief justice (1864-73). 1809 - Birth of Friedrich Graf von Beust in Dresden, Germany; foreign minister of the Austrian Empire from 1867-1871. 1812 - Birth of Humphrey Marshall Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1872. 1815 - Birth of William Henry French Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1881. 1824 - Birth of Ignacy Marceli Komorowski composer. 1828 - Alexandre-Auguste Robineau composer, dies at age 80. 1830 - Great fire in New Orleans thought to be set by rebel slaves. 1834 - Birth of Horatio Alger Jr Revere Massachusetts, author (Lost at Sea, Work and Win). 1835 - Birth of Gustaaf Rolin-Jaequemyns Belgian jurist/minister of the Interior. 1838 - Ferdinand Reis composer, dies at age 53. 1849 - Vancouver Island granted to Hudson's Bay Co. 1850 - Birth of Leon Francis Victor Caron composer. 1854 - Anthony Foss patents the accordion. 1859 - Birth of Karl Bleibtreu German author (Revolution of Literature). 1859 - Birth of Kostís Palamás Greek poet/scholar (Flogera tou Basília). 1863 - Chenille manufacturing machine patented by William Canter, New York City, New York. 1863 - Thomas Crapper pioneers one-piece pedestal flushing toilet. 1864 - Birth of Wilhelm Wien in Gaffken, Germany; physicist, won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1911. 1864 - Stephen Foster composer (My Old Kentucky Home), dies in a New York hospital at age 37. 1865 - Federals attack Fort Fisher, North Carolina. 1866 - Birth of Vasily Sergeyevich Kalinnikov composer. 1869 - Birth of Emanuele F duke of Aosta, Italian General (WWI)/fascist. 1869 - Colored National Labor Union, first Black labor convention. 1869 - National convention of black leaders meets in Washington DC. 1870 - Birth of Henryk Opienski Polish composer/conductor (Saint Moniuszko). 1873 - PBS Pinchback relinquishes office at Louisiana Governor. 1874 - Battle between jobless and police in New York City, New York, 100s injured. 1874 - Birth of Jozef E van Roey Flemish cardinal/archbishop of Mechlin. 1874 - US troops land in Honolulu to protect the king. 1879 - In St. Augustine, Florida, a large magnitude earthquake occurs. Felt from Daytona Beach to Savannah, Georgia. 1879 - WF Hendrik the Navigator prince of Netherlands/viceroy of Luxembourg, dies at age 58. 1882 - Richard Wagner completes his opera "Parsifal". 1883 - Fire in circus Ferroni in Berditschoft Poland kills 430. 1883 - Henrik Ibsen's "En Folkefiende" premieres in Oslo. 1884 - Birth of Johannes Elsensohn Dutch actor/writer (Arie, novel from the Jordan). 1884 - Birth of Sophie Tucker [Kalish], Russia, singer/last of red hot mammas. 1885 - Birth of Alfred Fuller CEO (Fuller Brush Man). 1888 - National Geographic Society founded (Washington DC). 1892 - Birth of Paul Smart US, yachtsman (Olympics-gold-1948). 1892 - Charles Albert White composer, dies at age 62. 1893 - Birth of Clarke Ashton Smith US, sci-fi author (Lost Worlds, Genius Loci). 1893 - Birth of Jan Evangelista Zelinka composer. 1893 - British Independent Labor Party forms (Keir Hardie as its leader). 1894 - Revolution in Sicily crushed by government troops. 1895 - Birth of Anton Betzner writer. 1895 - Birth of Fortunio Bonanova Palma de Mallorca Spain, opera singer. 1895 - Oscar Wilde's "Ideal Husband" premieres in London. 1898 - Birth of Pedro de Teixeira de Mattos Dutch diplomat. 1898 - Emile Zola publishes his open letter (J'accuse) in defense of Captain Alfred Dreyfus in Paris. 1900 - Birth of Yasuji Kiyose composer. 1901 - Carlo Angeloni composer, dies at age 66. 1902 - Textile workers strike in Enschede Netherlands till June 1. 1903 - Birth of Kay Francis [Katherine E Gibbs], Oklahoma City Oklahoma, actress (False Madonna). 1904 - Birth of Richard Addinsell London England, composer (Taming of Shrew). 1905 - Birth of Percy Humphrey musician. 1905 - Team Ottawa Silver Seven plays team Dawson City (Yukon) for the Stanley Cup in the National Hockey Association. Ottawa wins 23-2, with Frank McGee scoring 14 goals. 1906 - First radio set advertised (Telimco for $7.50 in Scientific American) claimed to receive signals up to one mile. 1906 - Birth of Maxime Jacob composer. 1907 - Birth of Sabine Zlatin nurse. 1908 - French pilot Henry Farman is first European to fly roundtrip. 1908 - Montréal Wanderers sweep Ottawa Victorias in two for the Stanley Cup. 1908 - Rhoads Opera House burns in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, USA, killing 170. 1909 - Birth of Danny Barker jazz guitarist. 1909 - Birth of Marinus van der Lubbe Dutch communist. 1910 - JM Synge's "Deirdre of the Sorrows" premieres in Dublin. 1911 - Birth of Johannes Bjelke-Petersen premier (Queensland Australia). 1911 - Gerhart Hauptmann's "Die Ratten" premieres in Berlin. 1911 - Roald Amundsens anchors at Walvis Bay. 1911 - South Africa's first win over Australia, at Adelaide. 1912 - -40 degrees F (-40 degrees C), Oakland Maryland (state record). 1913 - Birth of Jeff Morrow New York City, New York; actor (Bart-Union Pacific, Temperatures Rising). 1913 - Birth of Ralph Edwards Merino Colorado, TV host (This is Your Life). 1913 - Thomas P Krag Norwegian author/novelist (Jon Graeff, Ulf Ran), dies at age 44. 1914 - Bernardus H Heldt Dutch Member of Parliament, dies at age 72. 1914 - IWW-leader/songwriter Joe Hill arrested "Girl from Utah" East-Prussia. 1914 - Valentin de Zubiaurre y Unionbarrenechea composer, dies 76. 1915 - Birth of Edward Frederick Weston Goodman property developer. 1915 - Earthquake in Avezzano Italy kills 30,000. 1915 - W Churchill presents plan for assault on Dardanelles. 1916 - Birth of Bella Lewitsky choreographer. 1916 - Birth of Osa Massen Copenhagen Denmark, actress (Jack London, Rocketship XM). 1917 - Birth of Felix Guerro Diaz composer. 1918 - Birth of Lester Sill pioneer music publisher/record producer. 1918 - Birth of Steve Dunne Northampton Massachusetts; actor (Professional Father). 1918 - Birth of Ted Willis prolific English screenwriter (It's Great to be Young). 1919 - Birth of Army Archerd Hollywood columnist/TV host (Movie Game). 1919 - Birth of Robert Stack Los Angeles California; actor (Eliot Ness-Untouchables, Airplane, Unsolved Mysteries). 1919 - Dutch Soccer team OSV forms. 1920 - New York Times editorial (falsely) reports rockets can never fly. 1922 - Buck Weaver, a Black Sox, applies unsuccessfully for reinstatement. 1922 - Conference of Cannes concerning German retribution payments ended. 1922 - WHA-AM in Madison WI begins radio transmissions. 1923 - Birth of Danil Shafran cellist. 1923 - Birth of Jack Watling London; actor (Nanny, Adventure for 2, Naked Heart). 1924 - Birth of Philip Rawson artist/teacher. 1924 - Georg H Quincke German physicist (Test of Quincke), dies at age 89. 1924 - Nationalist Wafd-party wins Egyptian parliament elections. 1925 - Birth of Gwen Verdon Louisiana, actress/singer/dancer (Cotton Club, Sweet Charity). 1925 - Birth of Rosemary Murphy Munich Germany, actress (Margaret-Lucas Tanner). 1926 - Birth of Carolyn Heilbrun [Amanda Cross], author (Lady Ottoline's Album). 1926 - Birth of Pamela M Cunnington English architect/author (Change of Use). 1927 - US and Mexico battle over oil interests. 1928 - Birth of David Sheiner New York City, New York; actor (Paul-Mr Novak, Norman-Diana). 1928 - Birth of Gregory Walcott Wilson North Carolina; actor (87th Precinct). 1928 - Johan Peter Koch Danish officer/explorer, dies at age 57. 1929 - Birth of Joseph Anthony Pass guitarist. 1929 - Birth of Wim Bary Dutch actor/theater director (Nice Boys). 1929 - Humanist Society established, Hollywood California. 1929 - Wyatt Earp US marshall (OK Corral), dies at age 80. 1930 - The first Mickey Mouse comic strip is published, in the New York Mirror newspaper in the USA. The strip is initially written by Walt Disney, and drawn by Ub Iwerks. 1930 - Birth of Frances Sternhagen Washington DC, actress (Outland, Starting Over). 1930 - Birth of Liz Anderson rocker. 1930 - Birth of Roman Ciesiewicz artist/graphic designer. 1930 - C-E Auguste Rateau French inventor (R-steam turbine), dies at age 66. 1931 - Birth of Charles Nelson Reilly New York City, New York; actor (Match Game, Ghost and Mrs Muir). 1933 - Birth of Nurdin Jivraj Tanzanian/British hotel magnate (Buckingham International). 1933 - Birth of Ron[ald Joseph] Goulart US, sci-fi author (Deadwalk, Plunder, Cheap Thrills). 1933 - Birth of Tom B Gola NBA Hall-of-Famer. 1934 - Birth of Rip Taylor comedian (Gong Show, $1.98 Beauty Show). 1934 - Jean-Baptiste Marchand soldier/explorer (Sudan), dies at age 70. 1935 - Plebiscite in Saar, indicates a desire (90.3%) to join Germany. 1936 - Birth of Ami Maayani composer. 1936 - Birth of Edward R Madigan (Representative-Republican-Illinois, 1973-). 1937 - Birth of Hajé J Schartman Dutch Member of Parliament (CDA). 1937 - Walter Brearley cricketer (17 wickets in four Tests for England 1905-12), dies. 1938 - The Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has its New York premiere, at Radio City Music Hall. 1938 - Birth of Billy Gray Los Angeles California; actor (Bud-Father Knows Best). 1938 - Birth of Paavo Johannes Heininen composer. 1939 - Belgian premier signs Burgos-treaty for trade relations with Franco. 1939 - Jacob Ruppert CEO (New York Yankees, 1915-39), dies. 1941 - Birth of Meinhard Nehmer German Democratic Republic, two man bobsledder (Olympics-gold-1976). 1941 - James Joyce novelist (Ulysses), dies in Zürich Switzerland, at age 58. 1942 - Allied Conference for war trials. 1942 - German submarines begin harassing shipping on US east coast. 1942 - Henry Ford patents a method of constructing plastic auto bodies. 1942 - Interallied war trial conference publishes Saint James Declaration. 1942 - The Dutch garrison surrenders Borneo to the Japanese. 1943 - Birth of Richard Moll California; actor (Night Court, House, Dungeonmaster, Survivor). 1943 - Birth of William Duckworth composer. 1943 - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrives in Casablanca. 1943 - Hitler declares "Total War". 1943 - Russian offensive at Don under General Golikov. 1943 - Sophie Taeuber/Täuber-Arp Swiss sculptor, dies at age 53. 1943 - US infantry captures Galloping Horse-ridge Guadalcanal. 1945 - Birth of [Eileen] Joy[ce] Chant [Rutter] United Kingdom, sci-fi author (High Kings). 1945 - Prokofchev's 5th Symphony premieres in Moscow. 1946 - India announces its total expenditure during the war: US$12 billion, with US$1.1 billion directly against Germany. Total casualties: 180,000. 1947 - Birth of John Lees England, rock guitarist/vocalist (Medicine Man). 1947 - Birth of Peter Sundelin Sweden, yachtsman (Olympics-gold-1968). 1947 - Veit Valentin German/US historian (German People), dies at age 61. 1948 - First country music TV show, Midwestern Hayride, premieres on WLW Cincinnati Ohio. 1948 - Birth of Kenia Jayantilal cricketer (5 at Kingston 71 his only innings for India). 1948 - Birth of T Bone' Burnett rocker. 1949 - "Along 5th Avenue" opens at Broadhurst Theater New York City, New York for 180 performances. 1949 - Birth of Brandon Tartikoff TV exec (NBC). 1949 - Birth of Rakesh Sharma India, cosmonaut (Soyuz T-11). 1951 - Nine Jewish Kremlin physicians "exposed" as British/US agents; known as the Doctors' Plot. 1951 - German General F Christian freed early from Dutch prison. 1952 - Birth of Cornelius Bumpus keyboardist (Doobie Brothers-Minute by Minute). 1952 - Birth of Sharon Gabet Fort Wayne Indiana, actress (Raven-Edge of Night, Brittany-Another World, Melinda-One Life to Live). 1953 - Gas explosion in Belgium coal mine kills 14. 1953 - Marshal Josip Tito chosen president of Yugoslavia. 1954 - Military rule in Egypt; 318 Mohammedan Brotherhood arrested. 1954 - Roland Diggle composer, dies at age 69. 1955 - Birth of Fred White rocker (Earth Wind and Fire-Shining Star, Easy Lover). 1955 - Birth of Jay McInerney author (Bright Lights, Big City). 1955 - Birth of Titus M Mafolo South Africa journalist/African National Congress-leader. 1955 - Birth of Trevor Rabin rocker (Yes). 1956 - Birth of Janet Hubert-Whitten actress (Vivian Banks-Fresh Prince of Bel Air). 1956 - Birth of Jay McInerney writer (Bright Lights, Big City). 1956 - Birth of Malcolm Foster rock bassist (Pretenders-Mystery Achievement). 1957 - Birth of Christina Seufert Sacramento California, diver (Olympics-bronze-1984). 1957 - Birth of Don Snow rocker (Squeeze). 1957 - Birth of Mark Francis O'Meara Goldsboro North Carolina, PGA golfer (1984 Greater Milwaukee). 1957 - Bollingen Prize for poetry awarded to Allen Tate. 1957 - Mickey Wright wins Sea Island Golf Open. 1957 - NFL Pro Bowl: West beats East 19-10. 1957 - Wham-O Company produces the first Frisbee. 1958 - 9,000 scientists of 43 nations petition United Nations for nuclear test ban. 1958 - Birth of Ricardo Acuna in Chile; tennis star. 1958 - Edna Purviance, actress (Charlie Chaplin, Sunnyside), dies at age 61. 1958 - John Lindeboom; Dutch vicar/church historian, dies at age 75. 1958 - US newspaper Daily Worker ceases publication. 1959 - Birth of Kevin Anderson in Illinois, USA; actor (Hoffa, Sleeping with the Enemy). 1959 - French president Charles de Gaulle grants amnesty to 130 Algerian death row convicts. 1959 - King Boudouin promises Belgian Congo independence. 1960 - Sibilla Aleramo [Rina Faccio], Italian poet (Una Donna), dies at age 83. 1961 - Birth of Graham "Suggs" McPherson in Sussex, England; rock vocalist (Madness - "Our House"). 1961 - Birth of Julia Louis-Dreyfus in New York City, New York, USA; comedienne (Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld, Day by Day, Soul Man, Troll). 1961 - Birth of Kelly Hrudey in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; NHL goalie (Los Angeles Kings). 1961 - Birth of Kent Hull; NFL center (Buffalo Bills). 1962 - Birth of Brett Maxie; NFL safety (Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers). 1962 - Birth of Kevin Mitchell; US baseball outfielder (New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds). 1962 - Ernie Kovacs, comedian, dies in a car crash in West Los Angeles, at age 42. 1962 - Wilt Chamberlain of Philadelphia Warriors scores NBA-record 73 points vs Chicago Bulls. 1963 - AFL Pro Bowl: West beats East 21-14. 1963 - Birth of Dirk Tazelaar; cricketer (Queensland and Surrey left-arm pace bowler). 1963 - Birth of Felita Carr in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; dance skater (and Komarov-1995 Pacific Champion). 1963 - Birth of Tim Patrick Kelly in Trenton, New Jersey, USA; guitarist (Slaughter - "Stick it Live"). 1963 - Leonardus G Kortenhorst, Dutch Member of Parliament (KVP), dies at age 76. 1963 - NFL Pro Bowl: East beats West 30-20. 1964 - Birth of Penelope Ann Miller in Los Angeles, California, USA; actress (Kindergarden Cop, Gwen - Popcorn Kids). 1964 - Karol Wojtyla becomes archbishop of Krakow, Poland. 1966 - Birth of Joseph Harper in Ventura, California, USA; canoe (alternate-Olympics-1996). 1966 - Birth of Marcus Turner; NFL cornerback/safety (New York Jets). 1966 - Birth of Patrick Dempsey in Lewiston, Maine, USA; actor (Mike - Fast Times, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Can't Buy Me Love, Face The Music). 1966 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1967 - Coup in Togo. 1967 - The Rolling Stones rock group appear on The Ed Sullivan Show. 1968 - Birth of Kelly Boucher in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; basketball forward (Olympics-1996). 1968 - Minnesota North Stars' center Bill Masterton fatally injured (dies on 15th). 1969 - Birth of Andre Cason; US runner (world record 50 indoor). 1969 - Birth of Dan Footman; NFL defensive end (Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts). 1969 - Birth of John Flannery; guard/corner (Dallas Cowboys). 1969 - Birth of Katarzyna Nowak in Lodz, Poland; tennis star (1994 Futures France). 1969 - Birth of Kevin Foster; US baseball pitcher (Chicago Cubs). 1969 - Birth of Orlando Miller in Changionola, Panamá; infielder (Houston Astros). 1969 - Birth of Robert Wilson; NFL running back (Miami Dolphins). 1969 - Birth of Stephen Hendry; British snooker player. 1969 - Fred Price, cricket wicket-keep (England, vs Australia Headingley 1938), dies. 1969 - Wilton Graff, actor (Bloodlust, Just Before Dawn), dies at age 65. 1970 - Birth of Frank Kooiman; soccer player (Sparta). 1970 - Birth of Keith Coogan in Palm Springs, California, USA; actor (Adventures in Babysitting, Hiding Out). 1970 - Birth of Keith Mitchell in Palm Springs, California, USA; actor (Jeffrey - The Waltons, Gun Shy). 1970 - Birth of Nachi Abe; WLAF tight end (Scotland Claymores). 1971 - Bernard "Heinz" Lammerding, German SS-General/contractor (Tulle), dies at age 65. 1971 - Birth of Elmer Dessens in Hermosillo, Mexico; pitcher (Pittsburgh Pirates). 1971 - Henri Tomasi, French composer (Don Juan de Mañara), dies at age 69. 1971 - Robert Still, composer, dies at age 60. 1972 - Birth of Byron "Bam" Morris; NFL running back (Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers). 1972 - Birth of Nicole Eggert in Glendale, California, USA; actress (Charles in Charge, Chrissie - TJ Hooker, Summer - Baywatch). 1972 - Birth of Richard Woodley; NFL cornerback (Detroit Lions). 1972 - Former umpire, now housewife Bernice Gera wins her suit against baseball, initiated on March 15, 1971 to be allowed to umpire. 1973 - Birth of Nikolai Khabibulin in Sverdlovsk, Russia; NHL goalie (Winnipeg Jets). 1973 - Efskind skates world record 1000m (1:17.6). 1974 - Birth of Matt Lepsis; NFL tackle (Denver Broncos-Super Bowl XXXII). 1974 - Birth of Sergei Brylin in Moscow, Russia; NHL center (New Jersey Devils). 1974 - Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins beat Minnesota Vikings, 24-7 in Houston, Texas; Most Valuable Player: Larry Csonka, running back. 1975 - Birth of Angela Holbeck; Australian rower (Olympics-1996). 1976 - Birth of Gary Brent; cricketer (Zimbabwe ODI pace bowler 1996). 1976 - Birth of Vaclav Batlik in Costa Mesa, California; canoe (alternate-Olympics-1996). 1976 - Margaret Leighton, British actress (Much ado about nothing), dies at age 53. 1976 - Sarah Caldwell is first woman to conduct at New York's Metropolitan Opera House as she leads orchestra in a performance of "La Traviata". 1978 - Hubert Humphrey (Senator-Democrat-Minnesota, Vice President), dies at age 66 in Waverly, Minnesota. 1978 - Joseph V McCarthy, baseball manager (New York Yankees), dies at age 96. 1979 - Charlie Daniels hosts the Volunteer Jam. 1979 - Donny Hathaway, of Chicago, Illinois, rocker (Ghetto), commits suicide at age 33. 1979 - YMCA files libel suit against Village People's "YMCA" song. 1980 - Togo's constitution becomes effective. 1980 - André Kostelanetz, Russian conductor, dies at age 78. 1980 - Head of narcotic brigade arrested for drug smuggling in Belgium. 1981 - Bollingen Prize for poetry awarded to May Swenson and Howard Nemerov. 1981 - Emiel van Hemeldonck, Belgian writer (Mary, My Child), dies at age 83. 1981 - New York Islanders' Mike Bossy's 15th career hat trick-4 goals. 1981 - Donna Griffiths, a schoolgirl in Pershore, Worcestershire, United Kingdom, begins an uncontrollable series of sneezes that end September 16, 1983 - after 978 days. 1981 - Barbara Sonntag, Colorado, crochets record 147 stitches/minutes for 30 minutes. 1982 - Marcel Camus, French director (Orfeu Negro), dies at age 69. 1982 - Birth of Ruth Wilson; English actress. 1982 - Both Henry Aaron and Frank Robinson are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. 1982 - Shortly after takeoff, Air Florida Flight 90 crashes into Washington, D.C.'s 14th Street Bridge and falls into the Potomac River, killing 78. 1982 - Birth of Guillermo Coria; Argentine tennis player. 1983 - Doodles Weaver, comedian (Spike Jones and City Slickers), dies at age 71. 1983 - John McHugh, actor (Unspeakable), dies of a heart attack at age 69. 1983 - Quebec Nordiques play 251st NHL game without being shut out. 1983 - Birth of Ronny Turiaf; French basketball player. 1983 - Birth of William Hung; Chinese-American musician. 1983 - American Medical Association urges ban on boxing, cites Muhammad Ali's deteriorating condition. 1983 - Arthur Space, actor (Doc Weaver - Lassie), dies of cancer at age 74. 1983 - D Mack Reynolds, US writer (Amazon Planet, Once Departed), dies. 1984 - Birth of Eleni Ioannou, Greek martial artist (dies 2004). 1984 - Jack Tramiel, founder of Commodore International, resigns as president and CEO. Tramiel founded the company in 1954 as a typewriter repair service. 1985 - 23rd Tennis Federation Cup: Czechoslovakia beats USA in Nagoya, Japan (2-1). 1985 - 99-year-old Otto Bucher scores a hole-in-one at Spanish golf course. 1985 - Chicago Blackhawks' Doug Wilson fails on 12th penalty shot against New York Islanders. 1985 - Carol Wayne, Johnny Carson's teatime movie hostess, dies at age 42. 1985 - Cerebral Palsy telethon raises US$17,1000,000. 1985 - Express train derails in Ethiopia, kills at least 428. 1986 - Abdel Fattah Ismail, President of South-Yemen (1969-80), murdered. 1986 - Bloody coup overthrows government of South Yemen. 1986 - NCCA institutes eligibility requirements based on college exams. 1987 - Birth of Marc Staal; Canadian ice hockey player. 1987 - Seven top New York Mafia bosses including Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno and Carmine Peruccia are sentenced to 100 years in prison each. 1987 - E van Ruller, Dutch journalist/co-founder (Trouw, Loyal), dies. 1987 - W German police arrest Mohammed Ali Hamadi, suspect in 1985 hijacking. 1988 - Chiang Ching-kuo, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (1978-88), dies at age 81 (born 1910). Vice-President Lee Teng-hui becomes president. 1988 - Los Angeles Dodgers'/San Diego Padres' Steve Garvey retires. 1988 - US Supreme Court rules (5-3) public school officials have broad powers to censor school newspapers, plays and other expressive activities. 1988 - Birth of Tatev Abrahamyan, American chess player. 1989 - "Friday the 13th" virus strikes hundreds of personal computers in Britain. 1989 - Jerry Parks, Oklahoma defensive back, charged with shooting a teammate. 1989 - Joe Spinell, actor (Maniac, Star Crash, Strike Force), dies at age 51. 1989 - Ruins of Mashkan-shapir (occupied 2050-1720 BC) found in Iraq. 1989 - TV soap opera Ryan's Hope final episode after 13.5 year run. 1989 - New York subway gunman Bernhard Goetz begins one-year jail sentence. 1990 - The Walt Disney World Swan Hotel opens in Walt Disney World. 1990 - First elected US black governor inaugurated (Douglas Wilder-Virginia). 1990 - In Maryland, a magnitude 2.6 earthquake occurs, the largest historical earthquake in Maryland. 1991 - 12th ACE Cable Awards: HBO wins 25 awards. 1991 - Phil Mickelson wins PGA Northern Telecom Golf Open. 1991 - President Mario Soares of Portugal re-elected. 1991 - A fight and stampede at a pre-season exhibition match between South African football teams Chiefs and Pirates in the town of Orkney near Johannesburg, South Africa leaves 42 dead. 1991 - United Nations Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar meets with Saddam Hussein in Baghdad, Iraq. 1991 - Soviet troops assault the Vilnius TV tower in Lithuania and kill 14 unarmed civilians; many more are injured. 1992 - Excavation of new ballpark at Gateway (Jacobs Field) begins. 1992 - Josef Neckermann, German founder mail-order firm/travel bureau, dies. 1992 - US serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer pleads guilty but insane to the murders of 15 young men and boys. 1992 - Yvonne Bryceland, actress (Road to Mecca), dies of cancer at age 66. 1992 - Japan apologizes for forcing Korean women into sexual slavery during World War II. 1993 - Rene Pleven, Prime Minister of France (1950-51, 1951-52), dies. 1993 - STS-54 (Endeavour) launches into orbit. 1993 - Death of Hugh Walters, British juvenile science fiction author (born 1910). 1994 - Frederick William Sternfield, musicologist, dies at age 79. 1994 - Italian government of Ciampi resigns. 1994 - Johan J Holst, Norwegian minister of defense/foreign affairs, dies at age 56. 1994 - Tonya Harding's bodyguard, Shawn Eric Eckardt and Derrick Brian Smith arrested and charged with conspiracy in attack of skater Nancy Kerrigan. 1994 - Erich Honecker leaves Germany for Chile. Honecker had been the leader of East Germany. After the reunification there was the possibility of trying him for crimes against humanity, but due to his cancer he was allowed to leave Germany. 1995 - 26 NHL teams unanimously ratify agreement to end NHL strike. 1995 - America3 becomes first all-female crew to win an America's Cup race. 1995 - Arnold Smith, painter (Vigelius Prize 1935), dies at age 89. 1995 - Arthur Mervyn Stockwood, bishop, dies at age 81. 1995 - Maxwell Henley Harris, Austrian poet/publisher (Critics), dies at age 73. 1995 - Ruby Starr, vocalist (Grey Ghost), dies of brain tumor at age 44. 1996 - Denise Grey [Edouardine Verthuy], actress (Julietta), dies at age 99. 1996 - Willian Myuon Bany, guerrilla leader dies. 1997 - William Mills, painter, dies at age 74. 1997 - Birth of Marius Borg Høiby, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. 1998 - "Patti LaBelle On Broadway" opens at Saint James Theater in New York City, New York. 1998 - CBS pays US$4 billion to televise AFC games for eight years. 1999 - After 13 years of playing NBA basketball, superstar Michael Jordan announces his second retirement from basketball. 2001 - The TV series Disney's House of Mouse premieres, part of Disney's One Saturday Morning. 2001 - In El Salvador, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurs, felt from Mexico City to Colombia. At least 844 people killed, 4,723 injured, 108,226 houses destroyed and more than 150,000 buildings damaged in El Salvador. 2002 - Death of Frank Shuster of the Canadian comic duo Wayne and Shuster (born 1916). 2002 - Death of Ted Demme, American film and television director (born 1963). 2002 - In the AFC Divisional Playoffs the New England Patriots defeat the Oakland Raiders 16-13 in overtime at their home finale Foxboro Stadium. 2003 - At auction in New York City, a Canadian 1911 silver dollar pattern sells for US$1 million. A 1936 dot 1-cent sells for $353,000, a new record for any North American small cent. 2004 - In England, serial killer Harold Shipman is found hanged in his cell at Wakefield Prison, four years after being convicted of murdering 15 patients in Cheshire. Shipman was blamed for the deaths of a further 200 patients at an inquest 18 months ago and some reports claimed that he may have murdered as many as 400 or 500 people. 2005 - Armed militants enter Israel from Gaza and open fire near the border, killing six people and wounding five others. Hamas and Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claim joint responsibility for the attack. 2005 - American major league baseball and the players association agree in principle on a stricter steroid-testing policy. The new program will randomly test players year-round. 2005 - Milwaukee Brewers owners unanimously approve the US$223 million sale of the baseball franchise to Los Angeles investor Mark Attanasio. 2006 - Johnny Estrada agrees to a US$2 million, one-year contract to catch for the Arizona Diamondbacks. 2006 - Disney releases the film Glory Road to theaters in the USA. 2007 - The Greek ship Server breaks in half off the Norwegian coast, releasing over 200 tons of crude oil. 2007 - Death of Michael Brecker, American jazz musician (born 1949). 2007 - Death of Henri-Jean Martin, French expert on book history (born 1924). 2008 - Cunard Line's Queen Victoria cruise ship (90,000 gross tons, 2000 passengers) makes its maiden voyage from New York for a 23-country, 36-port world tour. 2008 - In Beverly Hills, California, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announces winners of the Golden Globe Awards at a press conference. The usual three-hour broadcast was scrapped due to threats of strikers and a boycott. Best Film Drama and Best Original Score: Atonement, Best Film Musical: Sweeny Todd, Best Actor: Johnny Depp in Sweeny Todd. 2008 - Toshiba America Consumer Products cuts prices of its HD DVD players by between 40 and 50 percent, putting its range of prices at US$149 to US$399. 2008 - In the USA, Fox airs the debut of the TV show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. You can pick a particular day to view that day's events in history. Bookmark this URL:   http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/thisday/   and revisit each day. (this URL will automatically re-direct to the file containing the current day's events) Or, visit my Timelines of History page. Other web pages of interest: Chronology of World History