This Day in History
December 1

What happened in history on this day: December 1? On December 1 in ... 660 - Eligius/Eloy, French bishop of Tournay-Noyon/saint, dies. 1018 - Death of Dietmar in Merseburg, Germany; chronicler of information. 1135 - Henry I Beauclerc king of England (first king that could read), dies. 1167 - Northern Italian towns form Lombardi League. 1374 - Magnus Eriksson king of Norway/Sweden, dies. 1417 - Walraven I van Brederode viceroy of Holland, dies. 1455 - Lorenzo Ghiberti Italian sculptor, dies at age 77. 1515 - Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba [el Gran Capitán] Spanish general, dies at age 62. 1521 - Leo X [Giovanni de' Medici] Italian Pope (1513-21), dies at age 45. 1530 - Margaretha of Austria governess of the Netherlands, dies at age 51. 1549 - Birth of Johan van der Veeken merchant/co-founder (VOC). 1566 - Birth of Philip earl of Nassau-Dillenburg, Governor of Fort Gorinchem/Nijmegen. 1566 - Spanish king Philip II names Fernando Alvarez, duke of Alva. 1573 - Birth of Philippus Rovenius [Rouveen] apostile vicar. 1580 - Edmund Campion English jesuit, hanged at age 42. 1580 - Giovanni Morone Italian theologian/diplomat/cardinal, dies at age 71. 1605 - Birth of Juan de Padilla composer. 1623 - Thomas Weelkes composer, dies at age 47. 1626 - Pasha Muhammad ibn Farukh tyrannical Governor of Jerusalem, driven out. 1633 - Isabella of Austria infante of Spain/governess in Holland, dies at age 67. 1634 - Birth of John-Erasmus Quellinus [Quellien] Flemish painter. 1635 - Melchior Teschner composer, dies at age 51. 1640 - Portugal regains independence after 60 years of Spanish rule. 1641 - Massachusetts becomes first colony to give statutory recognition to slavery. 1651 - Cristobal de Isla Diego composer, dies at age 65. 1653 - An athlete from Croydon is reported to have run 20 miles from Saint Albans to London in less than 90 minutes. 1656 - Germany promises Poland aid against Sweden. 1671 - Birth of Francesco Stradivari Italian violin maker/son of Antonius. 1671 - Birth of John Keill mathematician. 1700 - Willem ten Rhijne Dutch physician in Batavia, dies at about age 53. 1707 - Jeremiah Clarke composer, dies. 1708 - Great Alliance occupies Brussels. 1709 - Abraham a Santa Clara [Johann Megerle] German court vicar, dies at age 65. 1709 - Birth of Franz Xaver Richter composer. 1712 - Birth of Bernhard Christian Weber composer. 1722 - Birth of A L Karschin writer. 1724 - Birth of Charles Theodoor elector (Palts and Bayern). 1724 - Birth of Dismas Hatas composer. 1726 - Birth of Eggert Olafsson Icelandic writer. 1726 - Birth of Oliver Wolcott US judge/signer (Declaration of Independence). 1727 - Johann Heinrich Buttstett composer, dies at age 61. 1729 - Birth of Giuseppe Sarti composer. 1729 - Christian Ludwig Boxberg composer, dies at age 59. 1736 - Simon van Slingelandt Dutch grand pensionary (1727-36), dies at age 72. 1742 - Empress Elisabeth orders expulsion of all Jews from Russia. 1743 - Birth of Martin H Klaproth German chemist (uranium). 1750 - First American school to offer manual training courses opens, Maryland. 1750 - Doppelmayr mathematician. 1755 - Maurice Greene composer, dies at age 59. 1779 - Birth of Pyotr Ivanovich Turchaninov composer. 1781 - Birth of Charles Philippe Lafont composer. 1783 - Charles and M N Roberts ascend 2,000' in a hydrogen balloon. 1783 - J van North launches unmanned balloon. 1784 - Birth of François Henri Joseph Castil-Blaze composer. 1787 - Birth of Pavel Ivanovich Dulgorukov composer. 1792 - Birth of Nikolay Lobachevsky mathematician. 1797 - Oliver Wolcott US judge/signer (Declaration of Independence), dies at age 71. 1800 - Birth of Mihály Vörösmarty Hungary, poet/dramatist ("To a Day-Dreamer"). 1804 - Emperor Napoleon marries Joséphine of Martinique. 1808 - Anton Fischer composer, dies at age 30. 1810 - Birth of Joseph Gungl composer. 1813 - Ferdinando Bertoni composer, dies at age 88. 1814 - Birth of August Rockel composer. 1817 - Justin Heinrich Knechtl composer, dies at age 65. 1821 - Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) proclaims independence from Spain. 1822 - Dom Pedro crowned emperor of Brazil. 1822 - Franz Liszts (11) debut as pianist Isabella Colbran. 1823 - Birth of Ernest Reyer composer. 1824 - House of Representatives begins to end election deadlock between John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Harris Crawford and Henry Clay - Adams eventually declared president. 1825 - Aleksandr I P Romanov czar of Russia (1801-25), dies at age 47. 1826 - Birth of William Mahone Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1895. 1831 - Erie Canal closes for entire month due to cold weather. 1832 - Birth of Archibald Gracie Jr Brigadier-General (Confederate Army), died in 1864. 1835 - Birth of Micah Jenkins Brigadier-General (Led Hoods Division at Chickamauga), died in 1864. 1835 - Hans Christian Andersen published his first book of fairy tales. 1842 - Philip Spencer first US naval officer condemned for mutiny, hanged. 1843 - First chartered mutual life insurance company opens. 1844 - Birth of Alexandra Danish princess/Queen of Great Britain/Ireland. 1844 - Birth of Alfred Cellier composer. 1847 - Birth of Agathe Grondahl composer. 1850 - Birth of Peter Erasmus Lange-Muller composer. 1852 - Telegraph company opens throughout Netherlands. 1864 - Raid at Stoneman: Knoxville, Tennessee, to Saltville, Virginia. 1864 - Skirmish at Millen Brutal, Georgia. 1865 - Constant van Crombrugghe Flemish monastery founder, dies at age 76. 1868 - John D Rockefeller begins anti oil war. 1871 - Birth of Archie MacLaren cricketer (424 Lancashire versus Somerset 1895). 1873 - Birth of Charles JM Ruys de Beerenbrouck premier of Netherlands (1918-25, 29-33). 1874 - Birth of Dominicus Johner composer. 1876 - Birth of Johanna W "Mina" Bakker Dutch actress (Boefje). 1878 - First White House telephone installed. 1878 - Birth of Arthur B Spingarn US NAACP-chairman (1940-65). 1883 - Birth of Romanos Hovakimi Melik'yan composer. 1884 - Birth of Karl Schmidt[-Rottluff] German painter/sculptor (Brücke). 1884 - Birth of Torben Myer Copenhagen Denmark; actor (Girl Who Came Back). 1885 - Birth of Guy de Lioncourt composer. 1886 - Birth of Jack Crawford cricketer (England all-rounder in 12 Tests 1905-08). 1886 - Birth of Pierre Kemp Dutch poet (Fugitives and Constants). 1886 - Birth of Rex Stout mystery writer (Nero Wolf). 1886 - Birth of Willem E Crown Antillian writer. 1887 - Albertus J Duymaer van Twist Governor-General of Dutch-Indies, dies at age 78. 1887 - Sherlock Holmes first appears in print: "A Study In Scarlet". 1887 - Sino-Portuguese treaty recognizes Portugal's control of Macao. 1888 - Birth of Benjamin Crémieux French author (Le premier the la Classe). 1891 - Birth of Foppe G Scheltema Dutch lawyer (wreck laws). 1891 - James Naismith creates the game of basketball. 1892 - ? de Bruyne Belgian sergeant in Congo, murdered. 1892 - Joseph Lippens Belgian lieutenant in Congo, murdered. 1893 - Birth of Ernst Toller writer. 1893 - Birth of Herman Griffith cricketer (pioneering West Indies pace bowler). 1893 - Eduard Franck composer, dies at age 76. 1896 - First certified public accountants receive certificates (New York). 1896 - Birth of Petko Staynov composer. 1897 - Birth of Manuel A Neat Curaçao author (Nobleza di Coerazon). 1898 - Birth of Cyril Ritchard Sydney Australia; actor (Peter Pan, Hans Brinker). 1899 - Birth of Robert Welch found John Birch Society. 1900 - South African President Paul Kruger visits Flanders. 1901 - Birth of Dorothy James composer. 1901 - George Lohmann cricketer (in South Africa 18 Tests, 112 wickets), dies. 1902 - Birth of Morris "Red" Badgro Washington, NFL hall of famer (New York Yankees, Giants, Brooklyn Dodgers). 1903 - "The Great Train Robbery", the first Western film, released. 1904 - Birth of W A "Tony" Boyle United Mine Workers president. 1905 - Birth of Charles Finney US, author (Circus of Dr Lao). 1905 - Birth of Ida Carroll musician. 1906 - Birth of Jean Cartan composer. 1906 - Cinema Omnia Pathe, world's first cinema, opens (Paris). 1906 - Shoemaker Wilhelm Voigt (Captain of Köpenick) sentenced to four years. 1909 - First Christmas Club payment made, to Carlisle Trust Company, Pennsylvania. 1909 - First Israeli kibbutz founded, Deganya Alef. 1909 - Birth of Jan Koplowitz writer. 1910 - Birth of Dame Markova [Alicia Lilian Alice Marks] London, ballerina. 1910 - Birth of Joel Fluellen Louisiana; actor (Burning Cross, Learning Tree). 1911 - Birth of Walter Alston baseball manager (Brooklyn Dodgers). 1911 - Birth of Wim van Nuland [Willem C Möhlmann] Dutch priest/writer (Doorstep). 1912 - Birth of Minoru Yamasaki architect (World Trade Center, New York). 1912 - Birth of Terence Beckles pianist/teacher. 1913 - First drive-up gasoline station opens (Pittsburgh). 1913 - Birth of Mary Martin Weatherford Texas, actress (Peter Pan) Larry Hagman's mom. 1913 - Continuous moving assembly line introduced by Ford (car every 2 38). 1914 - Birth of Dame Alicia Markova ballerina (Diaghilev Ballet Russe 1925-32). 1914 - Birth of Johnny Johnston Saint Louis Missouri, singer (Make that Spare). 1916 - Charles E Vicomte de Foucauld French explorer, dies at age 58. 1917 - Birth of Marty Marion baseball player (National League Most Valuable Player 1944). 1917 - Birth of William Tracy Pittsburgh Pennsylvania; actor (To the Shores of Tripoli). 1917 - Boys Town founded by Father Edward Flanagan, west of Omaha Nebraska. 1918 - Birth of Kirby Laing English contractor/multi-millionaire. 1918 - The US Weather Bureau issues its first official aviation weather forecast. 1918 - Danish parliament passes an act to grant Iceland independence. 1918 - Serbian-Croatian-Slovic kingdom proclaimed in Belgrade. 1919 - AA Milne's "Mr Pim Passes By" premieres in Manchester. 1919 - Birth of Anne Cox Chambers Dayton Ohio, US ambassador to Belgium (1977-81). 1919 - Birth of Ike Isaacs guitarist. 1919 - Lady Nancy Astor sworn-in as first female member of British Parliament. 1921 - First US helium-filled dirigible makes first flight. 1921 - Birth of Ralph Manza San Francisco California; actor (Banacek, Mama Malone, Newhart). 1921 - US Post Office establishes philatelic agency. 1922 - First skywriting over US-"Hello USA"-by Captain Turner, RAF. 1922 - Birth of Geraldine McCulloug Maywood Illinois, painter/sculptor (Phoenix). 1922 - Birth of Paul Picerni New York City, New York; actor (Agent Lee Hobson-Untouchables). 1922 - Polish state chief marshal Jozef Pilsudski, resigns. 1923 - Birth of Stansfield Turner US Central Intelligence Agency director. 1923 - Canadian Football League Grey Cup: Queen's University beats Regina, 54-0 at Toronto. 1924 - Calles becomes President of México. 1924 - George/Ira Gershwin's musical "Lady Be Good" premieres in New York City, New York. 1925 - Birth of David Doyle Omaha Nebraska; actor (John Bosley-Charlie's Angels). 1925 - Birth of Jaime Mendoza-Nava composer. 1925 - Birth of Jordan Klein Miami Florida, cameraman/director (Thunderball). 1925 - Treaty of Locarno signed. 1925 - Vicente Arregui Garay composer, dies at age 54. 1926 - Birth of Allyn Ann McLerie Québec, actress (Tony Randall Show, Thorn Birds). 1926 - Birth of Keith Michell Adelaide Australia; actor (6 Wives of Henry VIII). 1926 - Birth of Robert Symonds Bristow Oklahoma; actor (Robert E Lee-Blue and Gray). 1926 - Hans Heinrich XIV Hochberg composer, dies at age 83. 1927 - Birth of Grant Beglarian composer. 1928 - Canadian Football League Grey Cup: Hamilton Tigers beats Regina, 30-0 at Hamilton. 1928 - Railroad museum opens in Utrecht Netherlands. 1929 - Birth of Alan Mouncer film director/producer. 1929 - Birth of David Doyle actor (Charlie's Angels, Pursuit of Happiness). 1929 - Birth of Dick Shawn Buffalo New York; actor (Producers, Maid to Order, Angel). 1929 - Birth of Emily McLaughlin White Plains New York, actress (Jessie-General Hospital). 1929 - Birth of Leon Biriotti composer. 1929 - Game of BINGO invented by Edwin S Lowe. 1930 - NHL drops 20 minute slashing-about-the-head penalty. 1930 - Ruth Nichols becomes first woman pilot to cross the continent. 1931 - In Canada, the Ottawa branch of the British Royal Mint begins operation as the Royal Canadian Mint, under the control of the Canadian Finance Department. 1932 - Amadeo Vives composer, dies at age 61. 1932 - Birth of Robert T Herres Denver Colorado, US Air Force/astronaut. 1933 - Rudolf Hess and Earnest Röhm become a minister in Hitler government. 1934 - Birth of Billy Paul Philadelphia Pennsylvania, singer (Me and Mrs Jones). 1934 - Birth of Hilly Axwijk Suriname social worker. 1934 - Sergei M Kirov Josef Stalin's collaborator, assassinated in Leningrad. 1935 - Austria has world's first Day of Postage Stamp. 1935 - Bernard Schmidt inventor (Schmidt camera), dies. 1935 - Birth of Lou Rawls Chicago Illinois, vocalist (Dean Martin's Golddigers, Natural Man). 1935 - Birth of Roger Christian US, ice hockey player (Olympics-gold-1960). 1935 - Birth of Woody Allen [Allen Stuart Konigsberg] Brooklyn (Zelig Annie Hall). 1936 - Second Heisman Trophy Award: Larry Kelley, Yale (E). 1936 - Bell Labs tests coaxial cable for TV use. 1936 - Birth of Lou Rawls Chicago Illinois, singer (Dean Martin's Gold-diggers, Natural Man). 1936 - EW Brundin and FF Lyon obtain patent on soilless culture of plants. 1937 - Birth of Gordon Crosse Bury Lancashire England, composer (Grace of Todd). 1937 - Japan recognizes Franco government. 1938 - Birth of Bill Playle cricketer (New Zealand batsman in 8 Tests without distinction). 1938 - Birth of Sandy Nelson in Santa Monica California, 1950s rocker (Teen Beat, All Night Long). 1938 - School bus and train collide in Salt Lake City UT. 1939 - Birth of Dianne Lennon Los Angeles California, singer (Lennon Sisters). 1939 - Birth of Lee [Buck] Trevino Dallas Texas, PGA golfer (US Open 1968, 71). 1939 - Max Fiedler composer, dies at age 79. 1939 - SS-Führer Himmler begins deportation of Polish Jews. 1940 - Birth of Matthias Habich actor (Straight to the Heart, A Corps Perdu). 1940 - Birth of Mike Denness cricketer (England batsman and captain mid-70s). 1940 - Birth of Richard Pryor Illinois, comedian/actor (Lady Sings the Blues, Stir Crazy). 1940 - Birth of Ron Finn Toronto Ontario, NHL linesman. 1941 - British cruiser Devonshire sinks German submarine Python. 1941 - Horace Chapman cricketer (two Tests for South Africa, 39 runs, one wicket), dies. 1941 - Japanese emperor Hirohito signs declaration of war. 1941 - Last day of first-class cricket in Australia for four years. 1941 - US Civil Air Patrol (CAP) organizes. 1942 - Birth of John Crowley US, sci-fi author (Deep, Beasts, Novelty). 1942 - Birth of Peter Kalikow Queens New York, real estate developer/publisher (New York Post). 1942 - Gasoline rationed in US. 1943 - Birth of Nicholas Peter Negroponte New York City, New York, founder/director (Media Lab at MIT). 1943 - Birth of Orton Enderlein German Federal Republic, luge (Olympics-gold-1964). 1943 - Franklin Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin agree to Operation Overlord (D-Day). 1944 - Birth of John Densmore in Los Angeles, California, USA; drummer (Doors - "Light My Fire"). 1944 - Mail routing resumes in free South Netherlands. 1945 - Birth of Bette Midler in Aiea, Hawaii; singer ("Wind Beneath My Wings", "Do You Want to Dance?"), actress (Beaches, First Wives Club). 1945 - Birth of Ross Edwards; cricketer (Aussie middle-order bat of the 1970s). 1945 - Canadian Football League Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts beats Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 35-0 at Toronto, Ontario. 1945 - Harvey Bartlett Gaul, composer, dies at age 64. 1946 - Australia compiles 645 versus India at the Gabba (Bradman 187). 1946 - Birth of Gilbert O'Sullivan in Ireland; singer ("Alone Again Naturally"). 1946 - Birth of Ho-Jun Li in Korea People's Republic; rifle (Olympics-gold-1972). 1947 - Aleister Edward S Crowley, British occultist, dies at age 72. 1947 - Bradman scores 185 in the first Cricket Test versus India at the Gabba. 1947 - Hardy, mathematician, dies. 1947 - India cricket all out for 58 versus Australia at the Gabba, Toshack 5-2. 1948 - Arabic Congress names Abdullah of Trans Jordan, King of Palestine. 1948 - Birth of Sarfraz Nawaz; cricketer (successful Pakistani pace bowler 1969-84). 1948 - Piet Roozenburg becomes world champion checker player. 1949 - Birth of Pablo Escobar Gaviria; Colombian drug baron. 1950 - Birth of Richard Keith in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA; actor (Little Ricky - I Love Lucy). 1950 - Ernest John Moeran, British composer, dies at age 55. 1951 - 17th Heisman Trophy Award: Dick Kazmaier, Princeton (HB). 1951 - Birth of Alexander Panayotov Aleksandrov in Bulgaria; cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-5). 1951 - Birth of Eric Bloom; rock vocalist/guitarist (Blue Oyster Cult). 1951 - Birth of Jaco Pastorius; Ameican jazz guitarist (Weather Report - "Word of Mouth"). 1951 - Birth of Treat Williams in Rowayton, Connecticut, USA; actor (Flashpoint, Hair). 1951 - Felix Petyrek, composer, dies at age 59. 1952 - Victor E Orlando, Italian premier (1917-19), dies at age 92. 1953 - Boston Red Sox trade M McDermott and Tom Umphlett for Washington Redskins' Jackie Jensen. 1953 - Walter Alston is named Brooklyn Dodgers' manager. 1954 - Birth of Bob Goen; TV host (Wheel of Fortune, Entertainment Tonight). 1954 - Nationalist China and US sign dike agreement. 1954 - New York Yankees send Miller, Segrist, Leppert and two minors to Baltimore Orioles for Blayzka, Kryhoski, Johnson, Fridley and Del Guercio (completing 18-player deal). 1955 - Birth of Uwe Benter in the German Federal Republic; coxsman (Olympics-gold-1972). 1955 - In Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks (black) is arrested for refusing to move to the back of the bus. 1956 - Alain Mimoun wins 13th Olympic marathon (2:25:00.0). 1956 - Birth of Stuart Kimball; rock guitarist (Face To Face). 1956 - Frank Robinson (National League) and Luis Aparicio (American League) are both voted Rookie of the Year. 1956 - Indonesian Vice-President Mohammed Hatta resigns. 1957 - Sam Cooke, Buddy Holly, and Crickets debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. 1958 - Flower Drum Song opens at Saint James Theater in New York City for 602 performances. 1958 - Birth of Charlene Tilton in San Diego, California, USA; actress (Lucy Ewing - Dallas). 1958 - In Chicago, Illinois, Our Lady of Angels School burns, killing 92 students and three nuns. 1958 - Harley Earl retires from General Motors Styling department, replaced by Bill Mitchell. 1959 - Twelve nations sign a treaty for scientific peaceful use of Antarctica. 1959 - 25th Heisman Trophy Award: Billy Cannon, LSU (HB). 1959 - The first color photograph of Earth is received from outer space. 1960 - Birth of Carol Alt[man] in Queens, New York, USA; model/actress (Private Parts). 1960 - Ion Vasilescu, composer, dies at age 57. 1961 - Birth of Barb Mucha in Parma, Ohio, USA; LPGA golfer (1992 Oldsmobile Classic). 1962 - Birth of Pamela McGee; WNBA center/forward (Sacramento Monarchs). 1962 - Birth of Stan Albers in Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, USA; actor (Curtis - Loving). 1963 - Birth of Arjuna Ranatunga; cricketer (Sri Lankan Test batsman since 1982). 1963 - Nagaland becomes a state of the Indian union. 1963 - New York Jets' first shutout, beat Kansas City Chiefs 17-0. 1964 - Birth of Soren Henriksen in Denmark; cricket all-rounder (1986-94 ICC, Lancs 1985-86). 1964 - Houston Colt .45s change name to Houston Astros. 1964 - Martin Luther King speaks to J Edgar Hoover about his slander campaign. 1965 - Airlift of refugees from Cuba to US began. 1965 - South Africa government says children of white fathers are white. 1966 - Birth of Craig David Parry in Sunshine, Victoria, Australia; PGA golfer (1994 Honda-second). 1966 - Birth of Greg McMichael in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; pitcher (Atlanta Braves). 1966 - Birth of Matthew Laborteaux; actor (Killing Stone, Deadly Friend). 1966 - Birth of Mike Flores; NFL defensive end (Washington Redskins). 1966 - Birth of Steve Walsh; NFL quarterback (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints). 1966 - Georg Kiesinger elected West German chancellor. 1967 - Birth of Nestor Carbonell in New York City, New York, USA; actor (Luis - Suddenly Susan). 1967 - Birth of Reggie Sanders in Florence, South Carolina, USA; outfielder (Cincinnati Reds). 1967 - Pacific Northwest Sports is awarded one of two American League expansion franchise teams (Seattle). 1967 - Queen Elizabeth II inaugurates 98-inch (249-cm) Isaac Newton telescope. 1967 - Wilt Chamberlain set NBA record of 22 free throws misses. 1968 - Birth of Anders Holmertz; Swedish free style swimmer (world record 400 metre). 1968 - Birth of Eddie Britton; wide receiver (Baltimore Ravens). 1968 - Burt Bacharach's and Hal David's musical Promises Promises opens at Shubert Theater in New York City for 1281 performances. 1968 - Gonzalo Barrios elected President of Venezuela. 1968 - Hugo Haas, actor/director (Bait, Pick Up), dies of asthma at age 66. 1968 - Peggy Wilson wins LPGA Hollywood Lakes Golf Open. 1969 - US government holds its first draft lottery since WWII. 1970 - Birth of Kirk Rueter in Centralia, Illinois, USA; pitcher (Montreal Expos). 1970 - Birth of Takahiro Ikenoue; WLAF linebacker (Rhein Fire). 1970 - Birth of Todd Steussie; NFL guard/tackle (Minnesota Vikings). 1970 - Frank Smailes, cricketer (England pace bowler Test versus India 1946), dies. 1970 - Independent People's Republic of South Yemen becomes the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. 1970 - Luis Echeverria Alvarez sworn in as President of México. 1970 - NHL takes control of the Pittsburgh Penguins. 1971 - Arthur B Springarn, US NAACP chairman (1940-65), dies at age 93. 1971 - Birth of Oscar Sturgis; WLAF defensive end (Frankfurt Galaxy). 1971 - Birth of Rob Zatechka; NFL guard (New York Giants). 1971 - Birth of Tom Robsock; NFL/WLAF guard (Oakland Raiders, Barcelona Dragons). 1971 - Chicago Cubs release Ernie Banks and sign him as a coach. 1971 - People's Republic of South Yemen renames itself People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. 1972 - Antonio Segni, Italian Prime Minister/President (1955-57, 1959-60, 1962-64), dies at age 81. 1972 - Birth of Andre Royal; linebacker (Carolina Panthers). 1972 - Birth of Charlie Jones; wide receiver (San Diego Chargers). 1973 - Australia grants self-government to Papua New Guinea. 1973 - Birth of Eric Thomas in Chartage, Texas; 400-metre hurdler. 1973 - Birth of Mia Farrance in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; canoeist (Olympics-1996). 1973 - David Ben-Gurion, founding father of Israel, dies in Tel Aviv at age 87. 1973 - Jack Nicklaus becomes first golfer to earn $2 million in a year. 1973 - Jan Ferraris wins LPGA-Japan Golf Classic. 1973 - Stan Stasiak beats Pedro Morales in Philadelphia, to become WWF champion. 1974 - Birth of Richard Jordan; linebacker (Detroit Lions). 1974 - Boeing 727 crashes in Upperville, Virginia, 92 die. 1974 - Jacqueline Hansen runs female world record marathon (2:43:54.5). 1974 - Lajos Zilahy, Hungarian/US author (Angry Angel), dies at age 83. 1974 - Los Angeles Skid Row slasher kills first of eight. 1974 - Stephen Gill Spottswood, US bishop/chairman (NAACP), dies at age 77. 1975 - Birth of Alya Rohali; Miss Universe-Indonesia (1996). 1975 - Birth of Sandra Maidana; Miss Universe-Uruguay (1996). 1975 - Nick Kenny, US columnist/songwriter (Nick Kenny Show), dies at age 80. 1975 - US President Gerald Ford visits People's Republic of China. 1976 - Angola admitted to United Nations. 1976 - Bangladesh General Ziaur Rahman declares himself president. 1976 - Sex Pistols using profanity on TV, gets them branded as "rotten punks". 1977 - Paul Hardy, Belgian designer (Italian Country), dies at age 69. 1978 - US President Jimmy Carter more than doubles national park system size. 1978 - Test Cricket debut of Rodney Hogg, versus England at the Gabba. 1978 - The last episode of the new Mickey Mouse Club TV show airs. 1978 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1980 - 46th Heisman Trophy Award: George Rogers, South Carolina (RB). 1980 - Sam Levene, actor (Purple Heart, Designing Women), dies at age 75. 1981 - A Yugoslavian DC-9 crashes into a mountain while approaching Ajaccio Airport in Corsica, killing 178. 1982 - Dorothy James, composer, dies on 81st birthday. 1982 - Miguel de la Madrid inaugurated as President of México. 1982 - Michael Jackson's #1 album Thriller is released, to become the biggest selling album of all time in entertainment history. 1983 - Mirsky, mathematician, dies. 1983 - Rita Lavelle, former head of EPA, convicted of perjury. 1984 - Controlled Impact Demonstration: NASA crashes remote controlled Boeing 720. 1984 - 50th Heisman Trophy Award: Doug Flutie, Boston College (quarterback). 1984 - France performs nuclear test. 1984 - Greg Page knocks out Gerrie Coetzee in 8 rounds for WBA heavyweight boxing title. 1985 - The Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable car models are released for sale to the public. 1985 - US space shuttle STS 61-C vehicle moves to launch pad. 1985 - South Africa's Cosatu union centre forms. 1986 - Horace Heidt, orchestra leader (Swift Show Wagon), dies at age 85. 1986 - Musée d'orsay opens in Paris, France. 1986 - Robert L "Bobby" Layne, football player (Detroit Lions), dies at age 59. 1986 - [Irving] Lee Dorsey [Kid Chocolate], US boxer/singer, dies at age 59. 1987 - Digging begins to link England and France under the English Channel. 1987 - NASA announces the names of four companies who were awarded contracts to help build Space Station Freedom: Boeing Aerospace, General Electric's Astro-Space Division, McDonnell Douglas, and the Rocketdyne Division of Rockwell. 1987 - Joh Bjelke-Petersen resigns as Premier of Queensland. He is replaced by Mike Ahern, the only premier never to contest an election as premier. 1987 - Donn Fulton Eisele, Colonel US Air Force/astronaut, dies of a heart attack at age 57. 1987 - Death of Punch Imlach, Canadian NHL coach (born 1918). 1988 - 596 dead after cyclone hits Bangladesh, half a million homeless. 1988 - Benazir Bhutto named first female Prime Minister of a Muslim country (Pakistan). 1988 - Birth of Zoe Kravitz, daughter of Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz. 1988 - Chinese minister of Foreign affairs Qian Qichen visits Moscow, Russia. 1988 - NBC bids record US$401 million to capture rights to 1992 Barcelona Olympics. 1988 - New York Islanders greatest shutout loss (8-0) versus Saint Louis Blues. 1989 - "Day Without Art" - Artists demonstrate against AIDS. 1989 - Alvin Ailey, American choreographer (Blues Suite, Revelations), dies at age 58 (born 1931). 1989 - East Germany's parliament abolishes the constitutional provision granting the Communist-dominated SED its monopoly on power. 1989 - Mark Langston signs record US$3.2 million per year California Angels contract. 1989 - USSR President Mikhail S Gorbachev meets Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. 1990 - 56th Heisman Trophy Award: Ty Detmer, Brigham Young (quarterback). 1990 - 132 feet below the English Channel, workers drill an opening through a wall of rock, connecting the two ends of an underwater tunnel linking Great Britain with the European mainland for the first time in more than 8,000 years. 1990 - Hissene Habré of Chad flees to Cameroon. 1990 - Iraq accepts US President Bush's offer for talks. 1990 - Jan H de Groot, Dutch co-founder (Vrij Nederland), dies. 1990 - Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia hold their first joint session. 1990 - New York Knicks' Patrick Ewing scores 50 points beating Charlotte Hornets 113-96. 1991 - Once on this Island closes at Booth Theater in New York City after 469 performances. 1991 - 80th Davis Cup: France beats USA in Lyon (3-1); this is France's first Davis Cup since 1932. 1991 - AIDS awareness day. 1991 - Byron Webster, actor (That Man Bolt), dies of AIDS at age 58. 1991 - Colorado party wins Paraguay parliamentary election. 1991 - George Joseph Stigler, American economist (Nobel Prize 1982), dies at age 80 (born 1911). 1991 - Nursultan Nazarbayev sworn in as President of Kazakhstan. 1991 - US 75th manned space mission STS 44 Atlantis 10 lands. 1991 - Ukrainians vote overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet Union in a referendum. 1992 - Two C-141B Starlifters collide in Montana and crash, 13 die. 1993 - Death of Ray Gillen, American singer (born 1959). 1993 - Northwest Airlink plane crashes in Minnesota, killing 18. 1994 - Three Seattle Seahawks players injured in a car accident. 1994 - Ernesto Zedillo innaugrated as President of México. 1994 - Hugh Chilvers, cricketer (151 wickets leg-spin for New South Wales 1928-37), dies. 1994 - Lionel Stander, actor (Max-Hart to Hart), dies at age 86. 1994 - Rober Schumann's second Symphony premieres in London. 1995 - First recorded educational Virtual field trip. The audioconference live from Antarctica involved interaction between two teachers and two schools in Canterbury, New Zealand (LEARNZ '95). Schools from all over New Zealand listen in on the audioconference. 1995 - Strikes paralyze France's public sector. 1996 - 85th Davis Cup: France beats Sweden in Malmo (3-2). 1996 - Colin Montgomerie of Scotland wins Million Dollar Challenge, the richest first prize in golf - $1 million. 1996 - Irving Gordon, songwriter, dies at age 81. 1996 - Lance Klusener takes 8-64 in debut Test Cricket to trounce India. 1997 - Michael Carneal fires at his classmates at Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky, leaving three dead and five wounded. 1997 - Denis Gerald Barrington, artist, dies at age 67. 1997 - Golden State Warriors' guard Latrell Sprewell attacks his coach P J Carlesimo. 1997 - Howard Stern Radio Show premieres in Davenport Iowa on KORB 93.5 FM. 1997 - Stephane Grappelli, French jazz violinist, dies at age 89. 1997 - Westinghouse formally changes its name to CBS. 1998 - Exxon announces a US$73.7 billion deal to buy Mobil, thus creating Exxon-Mobil, the second-largest company on the planet by revenue. 1998 - Rafael Palmeiro signs a five-year US$45 million contract with the Texas Rangers. 1999 - Exxon changes its company name to Exxon Mobil Company. 2000 - Vicente Fox takes office as President of Mexico. 2001 - Birth of Aiko, Princess Toshi of Japan. 2003 - The use of hand-held cell phones while driving is made illegal in the United Kingdom. 2003 - Boeing chairman and CEO Phil Condit resigns unexpectedly. He is replaced by Lewis Platt as non-executive chairman and Harry Stonecipher as president and CEO. 2003 - The Xbox Music Mixer is released for the Xbox. 2004 - Death of Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands (born 1911). 2005 - South Africa becomes the fifth country in the world where same-sex marriages are recognized. 2006 - Felipe Calderón is sworn in as the President of Mexico by the Congress in Mexico. 2006 - The 15th Asian Games start in Doha, Qatar; the closing ceremony takes place on December 15. 2007 - Death of Ken McGregor, Australian tennis player (born 1929). 2008 - Canada's TSX stock market index drops a record 864.41 points, to 8,406.21. 2008 - The largest U.S. chicken company, Pilgrim's Pride Corp, files for voluntary bankruptcy protection. 2008 - The price of a barrel of light crude oil falls US$5.15 to US$49.28. 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