This Day in History
December 27

What happened in history on this day: December 27? On December 27 in ... 537 - Saint Sofia, church in Constantinople, initiated. 975 - Balderik bishop of Utrecht (918-75), dies. 1065 - Ferdinand I the Great, king of Castile, dies. 1437 - Albrecht II von Habsburg becomes king of Bohemia. 1503 - Battle at Garigliano - Spanish army under G Córdoba beats France. 1521 - "Zwickauer profeten" appear in Wittenberg. 1555 - Birth of Johann Arndt German Lutherian theologist. 1571 - Birth of Johann Kepler in Weil der Stradt Germany; mathematician/astronomer (discovers planets have elliptical orbits). 1590 - Emmanuel-Philibert of Lalaing marquis of Renty, dies at age 33. 1595 - Pietro Pontio composer, dies at age 63. 1603 - Thomas Cartwright English Presbyterian publicist, dies at about age 68. 1631 - John Pijnas Dutch painter, buried at about age 47. 1641 - François van d'Aerssen ruler of Sommelsdijk/diplomat, dies at age 69. 1645 - Birth of Giovanni Adb Viscardi Swiss architect, baptized. 1654 - Birth of Jean/Jacobus Bernoulli Swiss mathematician. 1679 - Dutch troops capture Madurees prince Trunudjojo in Java. 1703 - England and Portugal sign Methuen-Asiento-trade agreement. 1709 - Birth of Pieter de Swart Dutch architect (Royal Palace, Hague). 1721 - Birth of Franciscus "French" Hemsterhuis Frisian philosopher. 1741 - Prussian forces took Olmutz, Czechoslovakia. 1748 - Birth of William Marshall composer. 1752 - Birth of Johann Georg Anton Mederitsch-Gallus composer. 1755 - Birth of Antons Klemens Theodor king of Saksen (1827-36). 1761 - Birth of Michael A Barclay de Tolly Scottish/Russian minister of War. 1773 - Birth of George Cayley England, found science of aerodynamics. 1800 - Birth of John Goss composer. 1801 - Birth of Guillaume L Baud Dutch minister of Colonies (1848-49). 1802 - Birth of Thomas Fearnley Norway, landscape painter. 1803 - Birth of John ACA van Nispen Sevenaer Member of Dutch second parliament (1848-75). 1805 - Belle van Zuylen Netherlands/Swiss writer (Trois Femmes), dies at age 65. 1814 - Birth of James Henry Carleton Brevet Major General (Union Army), died in 1873. 1816 - Birth of Eliakim Parker Scammon Brigadier-General (Union volunteers), died in 1894. 1822 - Birth of John Roberts composer. 1822 - Birth of Louis Pasteur Dole France, bacteriologist (pasteurization). 1825 - First public railroad using steam locomotive completed in England. 1825 - Birth of Reinhold Finsterbusch composer. 1829 - Birth of James Clay Rice Brigadier-General (Union volunteers), died in 1864. 1831 - Birth of Lucius Fairchild Brigadier-General (Union volunteers), died in 1896. 1831 - Darwin begins his voyage to South America on board the HMS Beagle. 1836 - Birth of Henricus Oort Dutch theologist (Leidse translation). 1836 - Stephen Fuller Austin founder of state of Texas, dies at age 43. 1836 - Worst English avalanche kills eight of 15 buried (Lewes Sussex). 1845 - Birth of Augusto de Oliviera Machado composer. 1845 - Ether first used in childbirth in US, Jefferson Georgia. 1850 - Hawaiian Fire Department established. 1852 - Birth of Dom Joâo G da Câmara Portuguese journalist/songwriter. 1855 - Birth of Paul Ehrenreich German etnologist/mythologist. 1856 - Birth of Andre Gedalge composer. 1858 - Alexandre Pierre François Boely composer, dies at age 73. 1859 - Birth of William Henry Hadow composer. 1862 - Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs, Mississippi (Chickasaw Bayou). 1862 - Battle of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. 1867 - Ontario and Québec legislatures hold first meeting. 1869 - Birth of Aurélien FM Lugné-Poe French actor/stage manager (La Parade). 1871 - World's first cat show (Crystal Palace, London). 1877 - Nikolai A Nekrasov Russian poet (Metshty into Zvuki), dies at age 56. 1879 - Birth of Robert Greig Australia; actor (Horse Feathers). 1879 - Birth of Sydney Greenstreet Sandwich England; actor (Maltese Falcon). 1880 - Alessandro Nini composer, dies at age 75. 1884 - Birth of Bernard van Dieren composer. 1884 - Netherlands recognizes king Leopold II's Congo Free State. 1890 - Birth of Maurice Schoemaker composer. 1892 - Birth of Feliks Roderyk Labunski composer. 1892 - Foundation Stone of the Cathedral of Saint John laid (New York City, New York). 1895 - Birth of Sig Arno Hamburg, Germany; actor (Holiday in Havana). 1896 - Birth of Arch Ward sportswriter (proposed baseball's all-star game). 1896 - Birth of Carl Zuckmayer German/Swiss/US playwright. 1896 - Birth of Ewan Calague economist/statistician (Social Security Board). 1896 - Birth of Louis Bromfield Mansfield Ohio, writer (Early Autumn, Pulitzer-1926). 1897 - Birth of Iwan S Konew Russian marshal/supreme commander pact of Warsaw. 1897 - Stanley Cup: Montréal Victorias beat Ottawa Capitals, 15-2. 1899 - Birth of Paul Costello US, double sculls (Olympics-gold-1920, 1924, 1928). 1900 - Carrie Nation's first public smashing of a bar (Hotel Carry Annex Bar, Wichita Kansas). 1901 - Birth of Irene Handl London England, actress (Riding High, Morgan). 1901 - Birth of Marlene Dietrich Berlin Germany, singer/actress (Blue Angel). 1902 - Birth of Ferenc Szabo composer. 1903 - "Sweet Adeline", a barbershop quartet favorite, is first sung. 1904 - Duke of York Theatre opens in London (first musical Peter Pan). 1904 - W B Yeats/Lady Gregory's "On Baile's Strand" premieres in Dublin. 1905 - M A Noble scores 281 (369 minutes, 21 fours) New South Wales versus Victoria. 1906 - First annual meeting of American Sociological Society, Providence Rhode Island. 1906 - Birth of Ivan Brkanovic composer. 1906 - Birth of Ivan Mark Waller mountaineer. 1906 - Birth of Oscar Levant Pittsburgh Pennsylvania; actor (American in Paris, Dance of Life). 1907 - Birth of Emile de Strijker Belgian philosopher. 1907 - Birth of Jan Willem Van Otterloo Winterwijk Holland, conductor (Melbourne 1967-71). 1907 - Birth of Nils-Eric Ringbom composer. 1908 - Birth of Louis de Bourbon Dutch writer/poet (Black Banners). 1909 - Birth of Johan[nes B] Schmitz Dutch actor/reciter (Lucifer, MacBeth). 1910 - Birth of Jack Massey groundsman. 1910 - Birth of Neville Crump racehorse trainer. 1911 - Birth of Endre Szervanszky composer [or January 1]. 1914 - Birth of Giuseppe Berto Italian writer (Heaven Sees Red). 1914 - Birth of Ivan Sutton British concert promoter. 1915 - Birth of Mary Kornman Idaho Falls Idaho, actress (Queen of the Jungle). 1915 - Birth of William Howell Masters sex author/physician. 1916 - Nikolay Feopemptovich Solov'yov composer, dies at age 70. 1917 - Birth of Earl of Inchcape English large landowner/industrialist (P&O). 1919 - Achilles Alferaki composer, dies at age 73. 1919 - Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee announces they will deal any player except Harry Hooper, Hooper is sent to the Chicago White Sox after 1920 season. 1919 - Theodoor H de Meester Dutch liberal premier (1905-08), dies at age 68. 1922 - Birth of Larry Osborne navigator air traffic controller/supply specialist. 1923 - Unsuccessful attempt on prince-regent Hirohito of Japan. 1924 - Birth of James A McClure (Senator-Republican-Idaho). 1924 - Birth of Mokta Ould Daddah President of Mauritania (1961-78). 1924 - Birth of Wouter Eijkelemboom Dutch architect (Holy-hospital, Vlaardingen). 1924 - William Archer Scottish critic/playwright (Green Goddess), dies at age 68. 1925 - Birth of Allan Blank composer. 1925 - Birth of Michel Piccoli Paris France; actor (Topaz, Peril, May Fools). 1925 - Louis Dosfel Flemish lawyer/literary (Assault!), dies at age 44. 1926 - Birth of Jerome Courtland Knoxville Tennessee; actor (Tonka, Tharus). 1926 - Depot Square in the Bronx renamed Botanical Square. 1926 - Latkin Square in Bronx named for first US Jewish soldier to die in WWI. 1927 - Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II's "Show Boat" premieres at the Ziegfeld Theater (New York City, New York). 1927 - Philip Barry's "Paris Bound" premieres in New York City, New York. 1927 - Stalin's faction wins All-Union Congress in USSR, Trotsky expelled. 1930 - Birth of Jacqueline Fontijn Flemish composer. 1930 - Birth of Meg Greenfield US politician(?). 1930 - Birth of Wilfrid Sheed England, writer (Boys of Winter, The Hack). 1930 - William Courtleigh actor (Madame X, Eyes of Youth), dies at age 63. 1931 - Birth of Scotty Moore guitarist (for Elvis). 1931 - Peter Christian Lutkin composer, dies at age 73. 1931 - Walter Courvoisier composer, dies at age 56. 1932 - Radio City Music Hall theater opens in New York City, New York. 1934 - First youth hostel in US opens (Northfield Massachusetts). 1934 - Birth of Larisssa Latynina Ukraine, gymnast (Olympics-gold-1956, 60, 64). 1934 - Shah of Persia declares Persia now Iran. 1935 - Birth of Norma Rae Beatty Ashby broadcaster/TV producer. 1936 - Birth of Lee Salk doctor (CBS TV). 1936 - Birth of Phil Sharpe cricketer (England middle order batsman during 1960s). 1936 - Hans von Seeckt German general/advisor of Chiang Kai-shek, dies at age 70. 1937 - Bradman scores 246 South Africa versus Queensland, 364 minutes, 20 fours. 1937 - German immigration officials with no explanation bar Juan Carlos Zabala (Argentina), 1932 Olympic marathon champion, from entering Germany. 1937 - Mae West performs Adam and Eve skit that gets her banned from NBC radio. 1938 - Emile Vandervelde Belgian Secretary of State (BWP), dies at age 72. 1938 - O Mandelstam writer, dies. 1939 - First American skimobiles (North Conway New Hampshire). 1939 - 8.0 Earthquake in Erzincam Turkey, about 50,000 die. 1939 - Finns are victorious at Suomosalmi, scattering the Russian 163rd Division. 1939 - Birth of John Amos Newark New Jersey; actor (Good Times, Coming to America). 1940 - Birth of Jerry Lambert jockey (rode Native Diver). 1940 - Birth of Pete Brown rocker. 1941 - Birth of Leslie Maguire rocker (Gerry and Pacemakers-Ferry Cross the Mersey). 1941 - Birth of Michael Pinder rocker (Moody Blues-Nights in White Satin). 1941 - Japan bombs Manila even though it was declared an "open city". 1941 - Siberia: Dmitri Shostakovich completes his 7th Symphony. 1942 - First Japanese women camp (Ambarawa) goes into use. 1942 - NFL Pro Bowl: NFL All-Stars beats Washington 17-14. 1943 - Birth of Cokie Roberts newscaster (ABC-TV). 1943 - Birth of Dave Rowberry Newcastle, rocker (Animals). 1943 - France transfers most of her powers in Lebanon to Lebanese government. 1943 - German warship "Scharnhorst" sinks in Barents Sea. 1943 - Montgomery discusses Overlord with Eisenhower and Bedell Smith. 1944 - Amy Marcy Cheney Beach, composer, dies at age 77. 1944 - Birth of Mick Jones; rock guitarist (Foreigner - "I Want to Know What Love Is"). 1944 - Birth of Tracy Nelson in Madison, Wisconsin, USA; singer ("In The Here And Now"). 1945 - International Monetary Fund established - World Bank founded. 1946 - Birth of Janet Street-Porter; British TV personality (Youth). 1947 - First Howdy Doody Show (Puppet Playhouse), telecast on NBC. 1947 - Birth of Peter Criss; rocker (Kiss - "Beth"). 1948 - Birth of Gérard Depardieu in France; actor (Get Out Your Handkerchiefs, Danton). 1948 - Birth of Larry Byrom; rocker (Steppenwolf - "Hour of the World"). 1948 - Birth of Tovah Feldshuh in New York City, New York, USA; actress (Idolmaker, Terror out of the Sky). 1949 - Queen Juliana (Netherlands) grants sovereignty to Indonesia. 1950 - Birth of Jack van Gelder; Dutch TV host. 1950 - Birth of Terry Bozzio; rock drummer (Missing Persons - "Hello I Love You"). 1950 - Max Beckmann, German painter/graphic artist, dies at age 66. 1951 - 40th Davis Cup: Australia beats USA in Sydney (3-2). 1951 - Birth of William Waldorf; 4th viscount Astor/English large landowner. 1952 - Birth of Karla Bonoff; rock singer (New World, Restless Nights). 1952 - Birth of Tovah Feldshuh in New York City, New York; actress (Idolmaker, Terror out of the Sky). 1952 - Henri G Winkelman, Dutch supreme commander army/navy 1940, dies at age 76. 1953 - Birth of Arthur Kent; newscaster [Scud Stud], NBC-Gulf War coverage. 1953 - Birth of Kevin Wright; cricketer (Australian wicket-keeper 1979). 1953 - Detroit Lions beat Cleveland Browns 17-16 in NFL championship game. 1956 - 45th Davis Cup: Australia beats USA in Adelaide (5-0). 1956 - Bill Sharman (Boston) ends NBA free throw streak of 55 games. 1956 - Birth of Doina Melinte; Romanian running star (world record 1500 m/mile indoor). 1957 - Alan Bridge, actor (Hail the Conquering Hero), dies at age 66. 1957 - Birth of Connie Chillemi at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, USA; golfer (1994 Standard Register-13th). 1957 - Birth of James Sanford; US runner (world record 50-metre indoor). 1958 - Birth of Steffen Mensching; writer. 1958 - Birth of Steven Glen Jones in Artesia, New Mexico, USA; PGA golfer (1988 AT&T Pebble Beach). 1959 - Alfonso Reyes, Mexican poet/historian/diplomat, dies at age 70. 1959 - Baltimore Colts beat New York Giants 31-16 in NFL championship game. 1959 - Birth of Andre Tippett; NFL linebacker (New England Patriots). 1959 - Birth of Mary Holland in San Diego, California, USA; WPVA volleyballer. 1960 - Birth of Maryam D'Abo in London, England; actress (The Living Daylights, Xtro, Until September). 1960 - Birth of Terry Price in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia; Australasia golfer. 1960 - France performs nuclear test. 1961 - Belgium and Congo resume diplomatic relations. 1961 - Birth of Caroline Gowan in Greenville, South Carolina, USA; LPGA golfer (South Carolina Women's Amateur-1981, 1983). 1962 - 28th Heisman Trophy Award: Terry Baker, Oregon State (quarterback). 1962 - Birth of Barbara Crampton in Levittown, New York, USA; actress (Body Double, The Young and the Restless). 1962 - Birth of Sherri Steinhauer in Madison, Wisconsin, USA; LPGA golfer (1992 du Maurier Ltd). 1962 - Birth of Timothy Hacker in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; 10k runner. 1963 - Birth of Dana Chladek in Decin, Czechoslovakia; US slalom Kayak (Olympics-bronze/silver-1992, 1996). 1963 - Birth of Jim Leyritz in Lakewood, Ohio, USA; catcher (New York Yankees). 1963 - Birth of Mark Pike; NFL defensive end (Buffalo Bills). 1964 - Birth of David Tikolo; Kenyan cricket batsman (1996 World Cup). 1964 - Birth of Randy Kirk; NFL outside linebacker (Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers). 1964 - Birth of Steve Wallace; NFL tackle (San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs). 1964 - Cleveland Browns beat Baltimore Colts 27-0 in NFL championship game. 1965 - Birth of Gamini Wickremasinghe in Colombo, Sri Lanka; cricketer (Sri Lanka wicket-keeper). 1967 - Birth of Niels Meijer; Dutch rock keyboardist (Bob Color). 1968 - Apollo 8 returns to Earth. 1968 - Birth of Dean Palmer in Tallahassee, Florida, USA; infielder (Texas Rangers). 1968 - People's Republic of China performs nuclear test at Lop Nor. 1969 - Birth of Chris Humbert in Modesto, California, USA; water polo two metre offense (Olympics-1996). 1969 - Birth of Suzanne Paxton in Baltimore, Maryland, USA; fencer-foil (Olympics-1996). 1970 - Hello, Dolly! closes at Saint James Theater in New York City after 2,844 performances. 1970 - Birth of Frank Messmer; WLAF defensive end (Frankfurt Galaxy). 1970 - Birth of Lorenzo Neal; NFL fullback (New Orleans Saints, New York Jets). 1970 - Birth of Mike Salmon; NFL/WLAF safety (Houston Oilers, Rhein Fire, San Francisco 49ers). 1970 - Birth of Steve Hoyem; WLAF offensive tackle (Rhein Fire). 1971 - Birth of Bryan Smolinski in Toledo, Ohio, USA; NHL forward (Team USA, Pittsburgh Penguins). 1971 - Birth of James Stewart; NFL running back (Jacksonville Jaguars). 1972 - Belgium recognizes German Democratic Republic. 1972 - Birth of Charles Way; NFL fullback (New York Giants). 1972 - Birth of Dewayne Washington in Durham, North Carolina, USA; NFL cornerback (Minnesota Vikings). 1972 - Birth of Thomas Wilson Brown; actor (Jason - Knots Landing). 1972 - Lester B Pearson (Liberal), 14th Canadian Prime Minister (Nobel Prize 1957), dies at age 75. 1972 - New North Korean constitution comes into effect. 1973 - Birth of Bill Clay in Yokosuka, Japan; US sprint cyclist (Olympics-1996). 1973 - Birth of Wilson Cruz; actor (My So Called Life, Ally McBeal). 1973 - Los Angeles Dodgers announce night games will start at 7:30 instead of 8. 1974 - 40th Heisman Trophy Award: Archie Griffin, Ohio State (RB). 1974 - Amy Vanderbilt, US author (Complete book of etiquette), dies at age 66. 1974 - Dear Abby show ends run on CBS radio after 11 years. 1974 - FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional/Sandinista National Liberation Front) seizes government hostages at a private Managua party. 1974 - Raymond Glenn, actor (Raisin in the Sun, Carmen Jones), dies at age 76. 1974 - USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk. 1975 - Birth of Heather O'Rourke in San Diego, California; actress (Happy Days, Poltergeist). 1975 - Birth of Patrick Paauwe; Dutch soccer player (PSV, Graafschap). 1975 - Explosion at Chasnala Colliery collapses, drowning 350 (Dhanbad, India). 1976 - Albania constitution goes into effect. 1977 - Birth of Kate Nelson in Evanston, Illinois; rhythmic gymnast (Olympics-1996). 1978 - Bob de Lange, Dutch actor/director (Daniel), dies at age 62. 1978 - Chris Bell, rock guitarist (Big Star), dies at age 27 in car crash. 1978 - Houari Boumédiene, Algerian President, dies after 40 days in a coma at age 53. 1978 - King Juan Carlos ratifies Spain's first democratic constitution. 1979 - Knots Landing premieres on CBS-TV. 1979 - Red Army beats New York Rangers 5-2 at Madison Square Garden. 1979 - Hafizullah Amin, President of Afghanistan, is murdered. 1979 - Babrak Karmal, leader of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, is installed as Afghanistan's new head of government. 1981 - Death of Hoagy Carmichael, American jazz composer (born 1899). 1981 - Birth of Yuvraj Singh; Indian cricketer. 1981 - Birth of Emilie de Ravin; Australian actress. 1981 - Edmonton Oilers' Wayne Gretzky becomes fastest NHL player to get 100 points (38th game). 1981 - Hoagy Carmichael, US actor/songwriter (Stardust), dies at age 82. 1981 - Lillee becomes the leading wicket-taker in Test Crickets with 310. 1981 - USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk. 1982 - Birth of Terji Skibenæs; Faroese guitarist (Týr). 1982 - Imran Khan 8-60 to bring innings victory versus India at Karachi. 1982 - John Leonard Swigert Jr, American astronaut (Apollo 13), dies of cancer at age 51 (born 1931). 1983 - A propane explosion in Buffalo, New York kills five firefighters and two civilians, and devastates 16 square blocks. 1983 - Birth of Cole Hamels; American baseball player. 1983 - Pope John Paul II pardons man who shot him (Mehmet Ali Agca). 1983 - Walter Scott, rocker, dies. 1984 - Birth of Tye'sha Fluker; American basketball player. 1984 - Birth of Rocio Guirao Diaz; Argentinian model. 1984 - San Diego Padres' free agent pitcher Ed Whitson signs with New York Yankees. 1985 - Dian Fossey, US naturalist (Gorillas in the Mist), found dead in Rwanda, murdered at age 53 (born 1932). 1985 - Terrorists kill 18 and wound 120 attacking El Al at Rome and Vienna airports. 1986 - Les Miserables opens at Kennedy Center, Washington DC. 1986 - 10th Soap Opera Digest Poll Awards - The Young and the Restless wins. 1986 - Cliff Burton, bass player (Metallica), dies in a bus crash at age 24. 1986 - Lars-Eric Vilner Larsson, composer, dies at age 78. 1987 - Priscilla Dean, actress (Outside the Law), dies of injuries at age 91. 1987 - Rewi Alley, New Zealand author, pro-Chinese communist, dies at age 90 in Beijing. 1987 - Steve Largent sets all-time NFL record for career catches when he catches his 752nd pass. 1987 - USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk. 1988 - Birth of Hayley Williams; American singer (Paramore). 1988 - Bulgaria stops jamming Radio Free Europe after more than three decades. 1988 - Fox Harris, actor (Alienator, Warlords, Sid and Nancy), dies. 1988 - Hal Ashby, academy-award winning director (Shampoo, 8 Million Ways to Die), dies of cancer at age 59. 1989 - Oregon begins taking bids on NBA games. 1989 - Birth of Kateryna Lahno, Ukrainian chess player. 1991 - Carol Burnett Show last airs on CBS-TV. 1991 - Cincinnati Bengals hire Dave Shula as youngest NFL coach (32). 1991 - Chuck Knox retires as Seattle Seahawks coach. 1991 - Edward M Love, choreographer/dancer, dies of AIDS at age 43. 1991 - The CBS TV network airs the last episode of The Carol Burnett Show. 1991 - John Morgan Evans, actor, dies after lengthy illness at age 49. 1991 - Near Arlanda in Sweden, SAS flight SK751 crashes and breaks into three pieces. Miraculously, there is no explosion, no fire, and no fatalities among the 129 aboard. 1991 - W Hudson, "strongest man to the world" (540 kg), dies. 1992 - "3 From Brooklyn" closes at Helen Hayes Theater New York City after 45 performances. 1992 - "Les Miserables" opens at Ostregaswerks, Copenhagen. 1992 - "Tommy Tune Tonite! Song and Dance Act" opens at Gershwin New York City for ten performances. 1992 - 13th United Negro College Fund raises $11,000,000. 1992 - Cardew "the Cad" [Douglas] Robinson, English comedian (Alfie), dies at age 75. 1992 - Jan Peeters, Dutch watercolorist/monument artist, dies. 1992 - Nancy Sheehan wins LPGA Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge Golf Tournament. 1993 - Candles, Snow, and Mistletoe opens at Palace Theater in New York City for 7 performances. 1993 - Actress Teri Garr (44) weds John O'Neil (42). 1993 - Blandine Ebinger [Loeser], actress (Mädchen in Uniform), dies at age 94. 1993 - Youssef Sebti, Algerian scholar/poet, murdered at age 50. 1994 - Hans Berghuis, author/poet (Kleitabletten), dies at age 70. 1994 - Karl AF Schiller, West German economist/SPD-minister, dies at age 83. 1994 - Peter Barker Howard May, cricket (4537 runs-England 1951-61), dies at age 64. 1994 - Sadi de Gorter, Dutch author/diplomat (Abscess), dies at age 82. 1994 - Death of Fanny Craddock, British TV chef and restaurant critic (born 1909). 1995 - Boon completes his 21st Test Cricket century (110 versus SL, Melbourne Cricket Ground). 1995 - Jeremy John Beadle, writer/broadcaster, dies at age 39. 1995 - Peter Refn, Danish journalist/director (Violets are Blue), dies at age 54. 1995 - Shura Cherkassky, pianist, dies at age 86. 1996 - Carquest Bowl 7: Miami beats Virginia, 31-21. 1996 - Taliban forces retake the strategic Bagram air base, which solidifies their buffer zone around Kabul. 1997 - 54-car pileup on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA, due to dense fog. One death, 30 injuries. 1997 - Brendan Gill, journalist, dies at age 83. 1997 - Dorothy Stroud, garden historian, dies at age 87. 1997 - Ewart G Abner Jr, president of Motown Records, dies at age 74. 1997 - Tom Hudson, artist/teacher, dies at age 75. 1997 - Loyalist paramilitary leader Billy Wright is assassinated in Northern Ireland, inside Long Kesh prison. 1999 - Death of Leonard Goldenson, American television network executive (born 1905). 2001 - The People's Republic of China is granted permanent normal trade status with the United States. 2001 - Typhoon Vamei forms within 1.5 degrees of the equator. No other tropical cyclone in recorded history has come as close to the equator. 2002 - A suicide truck-bomb attack destroys the headquarters of Chechnya's Moscow-backed government, killing 72 people. 2002 - In Kenya, Mwai Kibaki wins election with 60 percent of votes, defeating 24-year ruler Daniel Arap Moi. 2003 - Death of Alan Bates, English actor (born 1934). 2003 - Death of Ivan Calderon, Puerto Rican baseball player (murdered) (born 1962). 2004 - Death of Hank Garland, American guitarist (born 1930). 2006 - The San Francisco Giants reach a preliminary agreement with pitcher Barry Zito on the largest deal ever given to a pitcher in the history of the game: US$126 million for seven years. 2007 - Death of Jaan Kross, Estonian writer (born 1920). 2007 - Death of Jerzy Kawalerowicz, Polish film director (born 1922). 2007 - Death of Prince Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza?, a claimant to the Brazilian throne (born 1913). 2007 - At an election rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, former President Benazir Bhutto, leader of opposition Pakistan People's Party, is assassinated. At least 20 others are killed by a bomb blast. Ensuing violence leaves about 60 dead. 2007 - Presidential and parliamentary elections take place in Kenya. Mwai Kibaki re-elected President. Accusations of wide-spread rigging on both sides leads to hundreds of deaths. 2008 - Israel launches air strikes on dozens of Hamas security compounds in the Gaza Strip, killing 230, wounding over 400. The strikes were in response to over 300 rocket attacks in a week. Militants in Gaza respond by sending at least 180 rockets and mortar shells into Israeli border communities. You can pick a particular day to view that day's events in history. Bookmark this URL:   http://thisdayinhistoryinfo.info/   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 Chronology of World War II Chronology of Personal Coins