This Day in History
January 23

What happened in history on this day: January 23? On January 23 in ... 638 - Start of Islamic calendar. 1002 - Death of Otto III, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire at age 21 in Viterbo, Italy (born in Germany in 980). King of the Germans 983+, crowned Holy Roman Emperor 996. 1265 - First English Parliament formally convened (some authorities). 1356 - Margaretha of Bavaria Empress of Germany, dies. 1490 - First printing of Ramban's Sha'ar ha-Gemul. 1492 - "Pentateuch" (Jewish holy book) first printed. 1516 - Ferdinand II king of Aragon/Sicily, dies at age 63. 1548 - Bernardo Pisano composer, dies at age 57. 1552 - Second version of Book of Common Prayer becomes mandatory in England. 1556 - In Shensi Province, China, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake occurs. Worst death toll in history: 830,000 deaths. 1570 - Earl of Moray, regent of Scotland, assassinated; civil war breaks out. 1571 - Queen Elizabeth I opens Royal Exchange in London. 1574 - Birth of Lucas I Franchoys Belgian painter. 1579 - Union of Utrecht signed, forming protestant Dutch Republic. 1582 - Birth of John Barclay Scottish satirist/Latin poet (Argenis). 1622 - William Baffin British explorer, dies at about age 38. 1637 - Dutch Governor Johan Mauritius lands in Pernambuco Brazil. 1639 - Francisco Maldonado da Silva Solis Peruvian poet, burned at stake. 1643 - Sir Thomas Fairfax takes Leeds for the Parliamentarians. 1647 - Scottish Presbyterians sell captured Charles I to English parliament. 1648 - Francisco de Rojas Zorrilla Spanish poet (Del Rey Abajo), dies at age 40. 1663 - King Louis XIV affirms covenant with Rÿnstaten. 1668 - England, Netherlands and Sweden signs Triple Alliance against French. 1708 - Thomas Bullis composer, dies at age 80. 1719 - Principality of Liechtenstein created within Holy Roman Empire. 1723 - Georg Friedrich Händel's opera "Ottone" premieres in London. 1730 - Birth of Joseph Hewes US merchant (Declaration of Independence signer). 1752 - Birth of Muzio Clementi Italian composer. 1761 - Birth of Friedrich von Matthison German poet (Adelaide). 1762 - Birth of Christian A Vulpius Germany, writer (Rinaldo Rinaldini). 1779 - Charles Messier catalogs M56 (globular cluster in Lyra). 1783 - Birth of Stendahl [Marie Henri Beyle], France, writer (Le Rouge et Le Noir). 1785 - Birth of Carl A Agardh Sweden, botanist/bishop of Karlstad. 1789 - Georgetown, first US Catholic college, founded. 1793 - Second partition of Poland, between Prussia and Russia. 1793 - Humane Society of Philadelphia (first aid society) organized. 1796 - Armand-Gaston Camus becomes chairman of Council of 500. 1800 - Edward Rutledge US attorney (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at age 50. 1805 - Vaclav Pichl composer, dies at age 63. 1806 - William Pitt the Younger, Prime Minister Great Britain (1783-1806), dies at age 46. 1812 - In New Madrid Area, Missouri, a magnitude 7.0 - 7.8 earthquake occurs, one of the largest earthquakes in the United States. 1813 - Birth of Franz Commer composer. 1813 - George Clymer US merchant (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at age 73. 1814 - Georg Friedrich Theodor Wolf composer, dies at age 52. 1816 - Birth of Carl Herrmann near Hanover Germany, stage magician. 1820 - Birth of Alexander Nikoleyevich Serov composer. 1828 - Birth of Calvin Edward Pratt Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1896. 1830 - Birth of Gaston AA Marquis de Gallifet French General /minister of War (1899-1900). 1832 - Birth of Édouard Manet France, Impressionist painter (Déjeuner sur L'Herbe). 1833 - Birth of John Randolph Chambliss Jr Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1864. 1833 - Joseph Pease, a Quaker, admitted to Parliament on his affirmation. 1837 - John Field composer, dies at age 54. 1838 - Arnold A Buyskes Dutch Vice-Admiral/colonial director, dies at age 67. 1840 - Birth of Ernst Abbe Germany, physicist (Carl Zeiss Optics Company). 1843 - Birth of Hans Heinrich XIV Hochberg composer. 1845 - Francesco Ruggi composer, dies at age 77. 1845 - Uniform US election day for President and Vice President authorized. 1849 - Mrs Elizabeth Blackwell becomes first woman physician in US. 1849 - Patent granted for an envelope-making machine. 1855 - In Wellington, New Zealand, a magnitude 8.0 - 8.2 earthquake occurs. Four people died, one in Wellington and three in Wairarapa. 1856 - Steamer Pacific lost. 1857 - In Volosko, Croatia, Andrija Mohorovicic born; meteorologist and geophysicist, discovered the boundary between the Earth's crust and mantle. 1861 - Agoston Haraszthy, first vintner in Sonoma Valley, imports 100,000 cuttings of 350 varieties from Europe. 1862 - Birth of David Hilbert Konigsberg East Prussia, mathematician. 1864 - Michele Puccini composer, dies at age 50. 1865 - Birth of Benjamin Delmonte theater director/actor (Black Haired Whore). 1865 - Battle of City Point, Virginia (James River, Trent's Reach). 1865 - General Robert E Lee named Commander-in-Chief of Confederate Armies. 1867 - Birth of Herbert Bedford composer. 1868 - Birth of Juventino Rosas composer. 1869 - Birth of Carlo Felice Boghen composer. 1869 - Birth of Herbert David Croly US author (Promise of American Life). 1870 - 173 Blackfoot Indians (140 women and children) killed in Montana by US Army. 1875 - Charles Kingsley English vicar/writer (Westward Ho!), dies at age 55. 1878 - Birth of Oton Zupancic Slovenian poet (Zimzelen pod Snegom). 1878 - Birth of Rutland Boughton composer. 1879 - Adolf Jensen composer, dies at age 42. 1879 - National Archery Association formed, Crawfordsville Indiana. 1883 - Gustave Doré French illustrator, dies at age 51. 1885 - Birth of Boleslaw Wallek-Walewski composer. 1887 - Birth of Miklós Kállay premier Hungary (1942-44). 1888 - Birth of Gilbert Ledward British sculptor. 1889 - Birth of Franklin Pangborn Newark; actor (My Best Gal, Hats Off, Easy Living). 1889 - Birth of Prosper Arents Flemish bibliographer (Rubens-bibliography). 1889 - Dr Daniel Hale Williams forms Provident Hospital in Chicago. 1891 - Birth of Antonio Gramsci Italian philosopher/marxist theorist. 1891 - Boudouin prince of Belgium/count of Flanders, dies at age 21. 1893 - Birth of Frank Carlson (Governor/Republican/Senator-Republican-Kansas). 1893 - José Zorrilla y Moral Spanish poet (Granada), dies at age 75. 1894 - Birth of Remy Angenot Flemish actor (Patriot/Idiot). 1894 - G W Bunbury of Dublin sets shorthand record of 250 wpm for 10 minutes. 1896 - Birth of Charlotte grand duchess of Luxembourg (1919-64). 1896 - Edward Macdowell's second Suite in E, premieres. 1897 - Birth of Amanda Berry Smith famous African. 1897 - Birth of Subhas Chandra Bose Indian politician. 1898 - Birth of Randolph Scott actor (Last of the Mohicans, Western Union). 1898 - Birth of Sergei Eisenstein Russia, film maker (Battleship Potemkin). 1898 - W A Remy composer, dies at age 66. 1899 - Birth of Humphrey Bogart actor (Casablanca, Caine Mutiny, African Queen). 1899 - Birth of Joseph Nathan Kane historian (Famous Firsts). 1900 - Birth of Mary Philips Connecticut, actress (Farewell to Arms, Incendiary Blonde). 1900 - Birth of Ralph Graves Cleveland Ohio; actor (Dirigible, Flight, Dream Street). 1901 - Birth of Benno Stokvis Dutch attorney/politician. 1902 - Birth of Benny Waters saxophonist. 1902 - Winnipeg Victorias sweep Toronto Wellingtons in two for the Stanley Cup. 1904 - Birth of Theodor Schaefer composer. 1905 - Birth of David Newell Missouri; actor (Runaway Bride, White Heat, Dangerous Curves). 1905 - Birth of Konstanty I Galczynski Polish poet (Zielona Ges). 1906 - Birth of Bob Steele Pendleton Oregon; actor (Duffy-F Troop, Big Sleep). 1907 - Birth of Dan Duryea White Plains New York; actor (Pride of the Yankees). 1907 - Birth of Hediki Yukawa Japan, physicist (Nobel Prize 1949). 1907 - Charles Curtis of Kansas becomes first Native American US senator. 1908 - Birth of Hubert Nicholson poet/novelist. 1908 - Birth of Pak Saleman Siswowitono Javan/Surinamese writer. 1908 - Edward Alexander MacDowell US composer (Indian Suite), dies at age 47. 1908 - US and Great Britain demand end of abuses in Congo. 1909 - First radio rescue at sea. 1909 - Birth of Norman Fulton composer. 1910 - Birth of Django Reinhardt Belgium, Gypsy jazz guitarist. 1911 - Birth of Dan Smith harmonica player/gospel singer. 1912 - Birth of Ank van der Moer actress (Verkade, Dutch Comedy). 1913 - Nazim Pasha Turkey's Prime Minister assassinated. 1914 - Birth of Napoleon L Bonaparte French pretender to the throne. 1915 - Birth of Herma Bauma Austria, javelin thrower (Olympics-gold-1948). 1915 - Birth of Potter Stewart Michigan, 94th Supreme Court justice (1958-81). 1916 - Temp falls from 44 degrees F (7 degrees C) to -56 degrees F (49 degrees C) night of 23-24, Browning MT. 1918 - Birth of Gertrude Belle Elion New York City, New York, biochemist/drug researcher (Nobel Prize 1988). 1919 - Birth of Bob Paisley English soccer player/trainer/manager of FC Liverpool. 1919 - Birth of Ernie Kovacs Trenton New Jersey, comedian (Ernie Kovacs' Show). 1919 - Birth of Nina Dumbadze USSR, Discus thrower (Olympics-bronze-1952). 1920 - Birth of Erbet Pawel biographer (Kafka). 1920 - Dutch government refuses to turn over ex-Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany to the allies. 1921 - Wlasyslaw Zelenski composer, dies at age 83. 1923 - Birth of Florence Halop Queens, actress (Florence-Night Court, Saint Elsewhere). 1923 - Birth of Horace Ashenfelter US, 3000m steeplechase (Olympics-gold-1952). 1923 - Birth of Walter M[ichael] Miller Jr US, sci-fi author (Hugo, View from Stars). 1923 - Taxi strike in Amsterdam begins (through March 9th). 1924 - Birth of Frank R Lautenberg (Senator-Democrat-New Jersey, 1983-). 1924 - Ramsey MacDonald forms first Labour government in Britain. 1925 - Birth of Marty Paich Oakland California, orchestra leader (Sonny and Cher, Glenn Campbell). 1926 - Désiré J Mercier Belgian philosopher/cardinal, dies at age 74. 1926 - Eugene O'Neill's "Great God Brown" premieres in New York City, New York. 1926 - Joseph Carl Breil composer, dies at age 55. 1928 - "Abenteuer of brave Soldier Schwejk" premieres in Berlin. 1928 - Birth of Eugene Monti Italy, bobsledder (Olympics-2 golds-1968). 1928 - Birth of Jeanne Moreau Paris France, actress (Going Places, Jules and Jim). 1928 - Birth of Kees [Cornelis] Broekman Dutch speed skater (Olympics-silver-1952). 1929 - Birth of Ian Thomson cricketer (England seam bowler vs South Africa 1964-65). 1929 - Birth of John Polanyi Berlin, Canadian chemist (Nobel Prize 1986). 1930 - Birth of Derek Walcott Saint Lucia, poet/writer (Omeros, Nobel Prize 1992). 1930 - Birth of Ken Errair singer (Four Freshmen). 1930 - Birth of William Reid Pogue Okemah Oklahoma, Colonel USAF/astronaut (Skylab 4). 1930 - Clyde Tombaugh photographs planet Pluto. 1930 - George Washington Birthplace National Monument Virginia established. 1931 - Anna Pavlova Russian ballerina (Diaghilew, Dying Swan), dies. 1932 - Birth of Bud Shuster (Representative-Republican-Pennsylvania, 1973-). 1932 - El Salvador army kills 4,000 protesting farmers. 1933 - 20th amendment changes date of Presidential Inaugurations to 1/20. 1933 - Birth of Arlene Golonka Chicago Illinois, actress (Millie-Mayberry RFD). 1933 - Birth of Chita Rivera Washington DC, actress (West Side Story, Sweet Charity). 1933 - Birth of Joel Spiegelman composer. 1934 - Birth of Lou Antonio Oklahoma City Oklahoma; actor (Barney-Snoop Sisters, Makin' It). 1936 - Birth of Jerry Kramer Green Bay Packer, author (Instant Replay). 1936 - Catholic People's Party (KVP) of Curaçao forms. 1936 - Dame Clara Butt alto singer (Country of Hope and Glory), dies at age 62. 1937 - Karl Radek and 16 others go on trial in Stalin's great purge. 1938 - Birth of Anatoly Marchenko Siberia, Soviet dissident. 1939 - Birth of Arlene Golonka Chicago Illinois, actress (Millie-Mayberry RFD). 1939 - Matthias Sindelar Austria soccer star, commits suicide. 1940 - Birth of Johnny Russell country singer. 1940 - Pianist Ignaz Paderewski becomes premier of Polish government in exile. 1941 - Dobri Khristov composer, dies at age 65. 1941 - Ground breaking for NACA (now NASA) Lewis Research Center. 1941 - WOR-AM in Newark New Jersey moves to New York City. 1942 - Birth of Ivan Ivanovich Bachurin cosmonaut. 1942 - Birth of Laurie Mayne cricketer (Australian pace bowler in six Tests 1965-70). 1942 - Birth of Willy Bogner Jr Munich Germany, director (On Her Majesty's Secret Service). 1942 - Japanese troops occupy Rabaul New Britain. 1942 - Tank battle at Adzjedabia, African corps vs British army. 1943 - 66.34 cm (26.12"), Hoegees Camp California (state precipitation record). 1943 - Alexander Woollcott critic, dies of a heart attack on radio, at age 56. 1943 - Birth of Gil Gerard Little Rock Arkansas; actor (Buck Rogers in 25th Century). 1943 - Birth of William E "Bill" Gibb Scottish fashion designer. 1943 - In North Africa, British 8th Army forces capture Tripoli. 1943 - Detroit Red Wings scores NHL record 8 goals in one period. 1943 - Japanese Mount Austen on Guadalcanal captured. 1944 - Arnold Schoenberg's "Ode to Napoleon" premieres in New York City, New York. 1944 - Birth of Jerry Lawson US singer (Persuasions-Under the Boardwalk). 1944 - Birth of Marty Russo (Representative-Democrat-Illinois, 1975-). 1944 - Birth of Rutger Hauer Dutch actor (Blade Runner, Ladyhawke, Osterman Weekend). 1944 - Birth of Sergey Belov USSR, basketball player (Olympics-gold-1972). 1944 - Detroit Red Wings score 15 goals against New York Rangers and NHL record 37 points, also most consecutive goals and most lopsided game 15-0. 1944 - Edvard Munch Norwegian painter (The Scream), dies at age 80. 1945 - Dutch Premier Gerbrandy, exiled in London, offers his resignation. 1945 - Helmuth J Moltke German politician ("July 20th Plot"), executed at age 37. 1946 - Birth of Asif Masood cricketer (Pakistani quick with long and erratic run-up). 1946 - In Paris, France, the Court of Justice condemns Jean Luchaire to death for collaborating with Germans for personal gain. 1946 - Feliks Nowowiejski composer, dies at age 68. 1946 - Matteo Giulio Bartoli linguist, dies at age 72. 1946 - Rear Admiral Sidney W Souers, USNR, becomes first director of US Central Intelligence Agency. 1947 - Birth of Thomas R Carper (Representative-Democrat-Delaware, 1983-). 1947 - Pierre Bonnard French painter/illustrator, dies at age 79. 1947 - Roy Park cricketer (prolific Victorian bat and official), dies. 1948 - Birth of Anita Pointer Oakland, rock vocalist (Pointer Sisters-She's So Shy). 1948 - Bradman scores 201 in 272 minutes vs India, 21 fours 1 six. 1948 - Huston's "Treasure of Sierra Madre" starring Humphrey Bogart opens. 1948 - Test debut of Neil Harvey, vs India at Adelaide. 1949 - Birth of Robert D Cabana in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Major USMC/astronaut (STS 41, 53, 68, 88). 1950 - Third edition of Joseph Kane's Famous first Facts published. 1950 - AP picks "Miracle Braves" of 1914 as greatest sports upset. 1950 - Birth of Danny Federici rocker (E Street Band). 1950 - Birth of Patrick Simmons guitarist/vocal (Doobie Brothers-Minute by Minute). 1950 - Birth of Richard Dean Anderson Minneapolis Minnesota; actor (MacGyver, Emerald Point NAS). 1950 - Birth of Richard Gilliland Fort Worth Texas; actor (Jonesy-Waltons, Tom-Heartland). 1950 - Birth of William Cunningham rock bassist/pianist (Box Tops-Letter). 1950 - Israeli Knesset resolves that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. 1950 - NFL rule changes open way for two-platoon system (offense and defense). 1950 - Rebel army of cap Raymond Westerner occupies Bandung. 1951 - In Los Angeles, California, the 3rd Annual Emmy Awards are presented. Best Actor: Alan Young Best Actress: Gertrude Berg Best Children's Show: Time for Beany Best Dramatic Show: Pulitzer Prize Playhouse Best Games and Audience Participation Show: Truth or Consequences Best Sports Program: Los Angeles Rams Football Best Variety Show: The Alan Young Show Most Outstanding Personality: Groucho Marx. 1951 - Birth of Margaret Johnson Bailes Bronx New York, 4X100 runner (Olympics-gold-1968). 1951 - Birth of Michael Matz equestrian show jumper (Olympics-silver-1996). 1952 - Birth of Omar Henry cricketer (first colored player for South Africa 1992). 1952 - Birth of Robin Zander rocker vocalist/guitarist (Cheap Trick-Dream Police). 1953 - Birth of Pat Haden Westbury New York, NFL quarterback (Los Angeles Rams). 1953 - Bobby Simpson makes first-class debut for New South Wales 16 years 357 days. 1953 - NFL Dallas Texans become Baltimore Colts (now Indianapolis Colts). 1953 - NFL's National and American conferences become Eastern and Western conferences. 1954 - Birth of Edward Ka-spel English singer/songwriter (Legendary Pink Dots). 1954 - Birth of Franco De Vita Caracas Venezuela, Spanish singer (Extranjero). 1954 - Birth of Rick Finch rocker (KC and Sunshine Band-Give It). 1954 - Birth of Trevor Hohns cricketer (Australian leg-spinner 1989). 1954 - Harry van Thorn chosen chairman of Dutch KVP. 1954 - Longest undefeated streak in Toronto Maple Leaf history (18 games). 1955 - Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Tampa Golf Open. 1955 - Birth of Alexander O'Neal R&B singer. 1955 - Birth of Reginald Calloway trumpet player (Midnight Star-No Parking). 1956 - Alexander Korda English movie producer (Henry VIII), dies at age 62. 1957 - Birth of Princess Caroline [Louise Marguerite Grimaldi] of Monaco. 1957 - Willie Edwards US black, murdered by KKK at age 25. 1958 - Dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez flees Venezuela; Larrazábal takes power. 1958 - Hanif Mohammad completes 337 in 970 minutes vs West Indies. 1959 - Birth of Earl Falconer; British reggae bassist (UB40 - "Red Red Wine"). 1959 - Birth of Tyrone Power Jr in Los Angeles, California, USA; actor (Shag). 1960 - Birth of Greg Ritchie; cricketer (Queensland and Australian batsman Fat Cat Mahatma Cote). 1960 - Birth of Misha Mck in East Orange, New Jersey, USA; actress (Gerri - Me and Mrs C). 1960 - Piccard and Walsh in bathyscaph "Trieste" reach 10,900 metres underwater in Mariana Trench. 1961 - Birth of Trey Junkin; tight end (Arizona Cardinals). 1961 - US Supreme Court rules cities and states have right to censor films. 1961 - Venezuela adopts constitution. 1962 - Bob Feller and Jackie Robinson elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1962 - British spy Kim Philby defects to USSR. 1962 - Libya, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia plan to form United Arab Maghreb. 1963 - Birth of Gail O'Grady in Detroit, Michigan, USA; actress (Hitman, Nobody's Perfect, NYPD Blue). 1963 - Birth of Hakeem Olajuwon; NBA center (Houston Rockets). 1963 - Birth of Rocco Romano; Canadian Football League guard (Calgary Stampeders). 1964 - Birth of Frank Winters; NFL center (Green Bay Packers-Super Bowl XXXI). 1964 - Birth of Mariska Hargitay in Los Angeles, California, USA; actress (Jesse Smith - Downtown). 1964 - Louis Horst, composer, dies at age 80. 1965 - The King Family Show (musical variety) premieres on ABC TV. 1965 - BPAA All-Star Tournament won by Dick Weber. 1965 - Birth of Tim Berrett in Tunbridge Wells, England; Canadian 20k walker (Olympics-14-1992, 1996). 1965 - Boston Celtics' center Bill Russell misses all 14 shots in loss to Philadelphia Warriors led by Wilt Chamberlain. 1966 - Birth of Haywoode Workman; NBA guard (Indiana Pacers). 1966 - Birth of Mike Brim; NFL cornerback (Cincinnati Bengals). 1966 - Birth of Scott Fortune in Newport Beach, California, USA; volleyballer (Olympics-Gold-1988, Bronze-1992, 1996). 1966 - Jo van Ammers-Küller, Dutch playwright (Opstandigen), dies at age 81. 1967 - Birth of Christine Parris-Washington in Truro, Nova Scotia, USA; softball (Olympics-1996). 1967 - Birth of Naim Suleymanoglu in Bulgaria; Turkish weight lifter (Olympics-gold-1988). 1967 - Stan Musial is named general manager of Saint Louis Cardinals. 1968 - Birth of Eric Metcalf; NFL receiver/running back (Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers). 1968 - Birth of Lubomir Kolnik in Skalica, Czechoslovakia; hockey forward (Team Slovakia, Espoo). 1968 - Birth of Petr Korda in Prague, Czechoslovakia; tennis star (1993 Doubles-Cincinnati Ohio). 1968 - Birth of Todd Scott; NFL safety (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). 1968 - Joe Medwick elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1968 - Spy ship USS Pueblo and 83-man crew seized in Sea of Japan by North Korea. 1969 - Birth of Brendan Shanahan in Mimico, Ontario, Canada; NHL left wing (Hartford Whalers, Detroit Red Wings). 1969 - Birth of Eric Carter; Canadian Football League cornerback (Hamilton Tiger Cats). 1969 - Jaroslav Kricka, composer, dies at age 86. 1970 - Birth of Alan Embree in Vancouver, Washington, USA; pitcher (Cleveland Indians). 1970 - Birth of Jim Schwantz; NFL linebacker (Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers). 1970 - Birth of Mark Wohlers in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA; pitcher (Atlanta Braves). 1970 - Birth of Marquel Fleetwood; WLAF quarterback (Frankfurt Galaxy). 1970 - Birth of Richard Smehlik in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia; NHL defenseman (Buffalo Sabres, Olympics-Gold-1998). 1970 - Birth of Sherman Obando in Changuinola, Panamá; outfielder (Montreal Expos). 1970 - US launches second generation weather satellite, ITOS 1. 1970 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1971 - Prospect Creek Camp, Alaska, (north of Fairbanks) reaches a record low temperature of -80 degrees F. 1971 - 4th ABA All-Star Game: East 126 beats West 122 at Carolina. 1971 - Birth of Adam Parore; cricket wicket-keeper (New Zealand, first Maori Test centurion). 1971 - Birth of James Logan; WLAF linebacker (Scotland Claymores). 1971 - Birth of Julie Foudy in San Diego, California, USA; soccer midfielder (Olympics-1996). 1971 - Birth of Kevin Mawae; NFL center/guard (Seattle Seahawks). 1971 - Birth of Mark Grimmette in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; doubles luger (Olympics-1994). 1972 - Ard Schenk becomes European all-round skating champ. 1972 - Birth of Anthony Peterson; NFL linebacker (Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers). 1972 - Birth of Gary Harrell; NFL/WLAF receiver (New York Giants, Frankfurt Galaxy). 1972 - Birth of Kez McCorvey; NFL wide receiver (Detroit Lions). 1972 - Birth of Tanya Harding; Australian softball pitcher (Olympics-bronze-1996). 1972 - Bootlegger sells wood alcohol to wedding party-100 die-New Delhi, India. 1972 - Entire population of Istanbul under 24 hour house arrest. 1972 - Second NFL Pro Bowl: AFC beats NFC 26-13. 1973 - 23rd NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 104-84 at Chicago, Illinois. 1973 - Birth of Mark Kolesar in Minnesota, USA; NHL right wing (Toronto Maple Leafs). 1973 - Helgafell, island of Heimaey Iceland erupts for first time in 7,000 years. 1973 - Jordan Air crash at Kano, Nigeria kills 176 Muslim pilgrims. 1973 - US President Richard Nixon announces an accord has been reach to end the Vietnam War. 1974 - First edition of women's magazine Story. 1974 - Birth of Glen Chapple; cricketer (Lancashire and England A pace bowler). 1974 - Birth of Tiffani-Amber Thiessen in Long Beach, California, USA; actress (Saved by the Bell, Beverly Hills 90210). 1975 - Barney Miller premieres on ABC TV. 1975 - Birth of Kevin Alexander; NFL wide receiver (New York Giants). 1975 - Karel Paul van der Mandele, director (Rotterdam Bank), dies at age 94. 1975 - Ralph Kiner elected to baseball's Hall of Fame. 1976 - Aleksey Vasilyevich Sorokin, Russian cosmonaut, dies at age 44. 1976 - Birth of Byron Hanspard; NFL running back (Atlanta Falcons). 1976 - Birth of Phil Boudreault in Copper Cliff, Ontario, Canada; boxer (Olympics-1996). 1976 - Ian Redpath hits his only two sixes in Cricket Tests, vs West Indies Adelaide. 1976 - Paul Robeson, athlete/lawyer/singer, dies in Philadelphia at age 77. 1976 - Washington Capitals end 25-game winless streak (0-22-3) beating New York Rangers 7-5. 1977 - $1.5-million Serge Lepage dress exhibited in Paris, France. 1977 - Bernard "Toots" Shor, barkeeper, dies at age 73. 1978 - 8th NFL Pro Bowl: NFC beats AFC 14-13. 1978 - Belgian industrialist Haron Empain kidnapped in Paris, France. 1978 - Jack Oakie, actor (Great Dictator, Gang Buster), dies at age 74. 1978 - Terry Kath, rock guitarist (Chicago), accidently shot in head at age 32. 1979 - Willie Mays elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1980 - Birth of Theresa Kulikowski in Tacoma, Washington; gymnast (World-bronze-1995, Olympics-1996). 1981 - First Richard Nixon museum opens (San Clemente, California). 1981 - Bobby Sherwood, orchestra leader (Milton Berle Show), dies at age 66. 1981 - Jochem Bird elected mayor of West Berlin. 1981 - Mike Bossy becomes first in NHL to score 50 goals in 50 games. 1981 - Boston Red Sox trade Fred Lynn to California Angels for Frank Tanana and Joe Rudi. 1981 - Samuel Barber, US composer (School for Scandal), dies at age 70. 1981 - In Sichuan Province, China, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. One hundred fifty people killed, 300 injured and extensive damage in the Dawu area. 1981 - Death of Samuel Barber, American composer (born 1910). 1982 - World Airways DC-10 skids at Boston Logan Airport killing two. 1982 - Hope Hampton, actress (Star Dust, Lawful Larcency), dies at age 83. 1982 - Urbe Blanca (cow) produces record 110 kg of milk, Cuba. 1983 - Cerebral Palsy telethon raises US$14,700,000. 1983 - Houston Rockets is first NBA team to be held scoreless in an overtime Portland Trail Blazers out-score them 17-0 and win 113-96. 1983 - Russian radioactive satellite falls into Indian Ocean. 1983 - Schöne skates ladies world record 5 km (7:40.97). 1983 - Death of Fred Bakewell, English cricketer (born 1908). 1983 - Birth of David Firth; British flash animator. 1983 - A-Team with Mr T premieres on NBC. 1984 - Greatest unpaced one-hour bicycle distance, F Moser (Italy), 51.15 km. 1984 - Hulk Hogan defeats Iron Sheik to become World Wrestling Federation champ. 1984 - Samuel Gardner, composer, dies at age 92. 1984 - Birth of Arjen Robben, Dutch footballer. 1984 - The Peace and Friendship Treaty is signed between Argentina and Chile in Vatican City. 1984 - Buffalo Sabres win NHL record 10th straight road game. 1985 - Birth of Doutzen Kroes; Dutch supermodel. 1985 - Britains' House of Lords debate first televised. 1986 - Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood opens at Ritz Theater in New York City, New York for 13 performances. 1986 - First induction of Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame (Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Domino, Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley). 1986 - Columbia returns to Kennedy Space Center via Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. 1986 - Death of Joseph Beuys, West German avant-garde artist/politician, in Düsseldorf, Germany, at age 64. 1987 - Japan first exceeds military spending cap of one percent of gross national product (US$23 billion). 1988 - 45th Golden Globes: The Last Emperor, Sally Kirkland, Michael Douglas. 1988 - 62nd Australian Women's Tennis: Steffi Graf beats Chris Evert (6-1, 7-6). 1988 - Bob Benoit bowls first 300-point game in a televised title match. 1988 - Experimental airplane Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, completes first nonstop, round-the-world flight without refueling. 1989 - Challenge to "who is a Jew" law filed in Israeli Supreme Court. 1989 - NBA New Jersey Nets begin a 32+ game road losing streak. 1989 - Salvador Dalí, Spanish Surrealist painter, dies in Spain at age 84 (born 1904). 1990 - Allen Larkin Collins, guitarist, dies of pneumonia at age 37. Collins was one of the founding members and guitarists of Southern US rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. His unique guitar playing and songwriting skills were vital to the success of the band during his time with them. 1990 - Dean Jones scores twin Test tons vs Pakistan at Adelaide Oval. 1990 - Mariano Rumor, Italy's Prime Minister (1968-70, 1973-74), dies. 1991 - Seinfeld debuts on NBC-TV. 1991 - High-denomination banknotes withdrawn in USSR. 1991 - World's largest oil spill, caused by embattled Iraqi forces in Kuwait. 1992 - "Visit" opens at Criterion Theater New York City, New York for 45 performances. 1992 - Freddie Bartholomew, Irish child actor (Kidnapped), dies of emphysema at 67 (born 1924). 1992 - Ian Wolfe, actor (Houdini, THX-1138, Homebodies), dies at age 95. 1992 - Simon Brand, South African banker/adviser to President De Klerk, dies. 1993 - 50th Golden Globes: Scent of a Woman, wins. 1993 - Dudley Stevens, entertainer, dies of AIDS at age 57. 1993 - Graham Gooch scores his 100th 100, on tour at Cuttack. 1993 - Indian Airlines B737 crashes art Aurangabad, 61 die. 1993 - Thomas A Dorsey, jazz pianist (Take My Hand, Precious Lord), dies. 1993 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Nancy Kerrigan. 1994 - Bernie Kosar is second quarterback to throw touchdown passes in AFC and NFC Championship games. 1994 - Nikolai Ogarkov, Russian marshal (Flight KAL 007), dies at age 76. 1994 - Oliver Smith, US set designer (Guys and Dolls - seven Tony Awards), dies at age 75. 1994 - Sherry Mathis, actress (Search for Tomorrow), dies of cancer at age 44. 1994 - Suzanne M Blum, French lawyer (Charlie Chaplin), dies at age 95. 1994 - Death of Brian Redhead, British journalist and broadcaster (born 1929). 1995 - Harold Collett Dent, journalist/educationist, dies at age 100. 1995 - Ken Hill, playwright/director, dies at age 57. 1995 - Michael Whalley Wickham, artist, dies at age 91. 1995 - Peter Ambrose Cyprian Luke, playwright, dies at age 75. 1996 - Chris Cairns scores 120, 96 balls, 10x4, 9x6 in Test New Zealand vs Zimbabwe. 1996 - John Mackin, programmer, dies at age 36. 1996 - Norman MacCaig, poet, dies at age 85. 1996 - Shirley Carter Burden, patrician, dies at age 54. 1996 - The first version of the Java programming language is released. 1997 - Charles Craig, opera singer, dies at age 77. 1997 - David Waller, actor (Lady Jane, Perfect Friday, Hannay), dies at age 76. 1997 - Jeremy Stephen Maas, writer/art dealer, dies at age 68. 1997 - Laura "Dinky" Patterson dies during bungee jump at Super Bowl rehearsal at age 43. 1997 - Randy Greenawalt, convicted killer, executed by injection at age 47. 1997 - Richard Berry, lyricist ("Louie Louie"), dies at age 61. 1997 - Roger John Tayler, astrophysicist, dies at age 67. 1997 - Mir Aimal Kasi receives the death sentence for a 1993 assault rifle attack outside US Central Intelligence Agency headquarters that killed two and wounded three others. 1998 - Hilla Limann, President of Ghana in (1979-81), dies. 1998 - Pope John Paul II condemns US embargo against Cuba. 1999 - Sony Computer Entertainment introduces the PocketStation handheld video game system in Japan. 2002 - Death of Pierre Bourdieu, French sociologist (born 1930). 2002 - Death of Robert Nozick, American philosopher (born 1938). 2002 - Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl is kidnapped in Pakistan, accused of being a US Central Intelligence Agency agent by his captors. 2003 - Death of Nell Carter, American singer and actress (born 1948). 2005 - Death of Johnny Carson, American television host (born 1925). 2006 - Stephen Harper wins the federal election in Canada, forming a minority government. 2007 - Death of David Aaron Shayman aka Disco D, American music producer and composer (born 1980). 2007 - Death of Ryszard Kapuscinski, Polish journalist and author (born 1932). 2008 - At the American Museum of Natural History, Virgin Galactic unveils the design of its next generation of space vehicles, named White Knight Two, and SpaceShipTwo. 2008 - At the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, New York, Richard Branson unveils a model of the Virgin Galactic spaceship SpaceShipTwo, intending to take paying passengers into space on a regular basis next year. 2008 - Palestinians blast holes in the metal wall along Gaza-Egypt border. Tens or hundreds of thousands of Palestinians pour through to buy supplies in Egypt. 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