This Day in History
January 24

What happened in history on this day: January 24? On January 24 in ... 41 - Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Caligula), Roman emperor (37-41), assassinated at age 28. 76 - Birth of Publius A Hadrianus, 14th Roman Emperor (117-138). 661 - Ali ibn Abu Talib, kalief of Islam (656-61), murdered. 772 - Stephen III dies, ending his reign as Catholic Pope. 817 - Stefanus IV [V/Colonna] dies, ending his reign as Catholic Pope (816-17). 817 - Saint Paschal I begins his reign as Catholic Pope, succeeding Stephen IV. 1076 - The Holy Roman Emperor writes a letter to Pope Gregory VII condemning him as a usurper of the papacy. 1118 - Giovanni Caetani elected Pope Gelasius II. 1328 - King Edward III of England marries Philippa of Henegouwen. 1336 - Alfonso IV the Benignant, king of Aragon (1327-36), dies at age 36. 1458 - Matthias I Corvinus chosen king of Hungary. 1473 - Conrad Paumann German blind organist/composer, dies. 1534 - François I signs classified treaty with evangelical German monarchy. 1547 - Henry Howard Earl of Surrey, executed for treason. 1568 - Abdij Church in Middelburg destroyed by fire. 1568 - In the Netherlands, Duke of Alva declares William of Orange an outlaw. 1613 - Amsterdam merchant Hans Bontemantel baptized. 1616 - Jacques Le Maire discovers Street Lemaire/Cape Receiver. 1634 - Emperor Ferdinand II declares Albrecht von Wallenstein a traitor. 1639 - Connecticut colony organizes under Fundamental Orders. 1639 - George Jenatsch Grisons leader, assassinated. 1644 - Battle at Nantwich Cheshire Parliamentary armies win. 1652 - Duke of Orléans joins Fronde rebels. 1656 - First Jewish doctor in US, Jacob Lumbrozo, arrives in Maryland. 1659 - Pierre Corneille's "Oedipe" premieres in Paris. 1664 - Birth of Sir John Vanbrugh London, dramatist/architect (baptized). 1666 - Johann Andreas Herbst composer, dies at age 77. 1678 - Joan Maetsuyker Governor-General of Netherlands East-Indies, dies at age 72. 1679 - Birth of Christian von Wolff German philosopher. 1679 - King Charles II disbands English parliament. 1705 - Birth of Farinelli "Carlo Broschi" Andria Italy, castrato. 1712 - Birth of Frederick II (the Great), king of Prussia (1740-86). 1712 - Birth of Georg F Schmidt German engraver/etcher. 1722 - Czar Peter the Great begins civil system. 1722 - Edward Wigglesworth appointed first US divinity professor (Harvard). 1732 - Birth of Pierre de Beaumarchais France, playwright (Barber of Seville). 1742 - German leaders elect Charles VII Albert Emperor. 1746 - Birth of Gustav III king during Swedish Enlightenment (1771-92). 1750 - Birth of Wybo Fijnje Dutch politician/patriot/journalist. 1758 - Birth of Johann Chrysostomus Drexel composer. 1764 - Governor Winthrop Telescope, is destroyed in a Harvard fire. 1767 - Birth of Antony CW Staring Dutch lawyer/poet (Jaromir). 1774 - Birth of Karl Moser composer. 1776 - Birth of Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann German writer/judge/composer (Undine). 1778 - Birth of Charles F duke of Berry/son of French king Charles X. 1798 - Birth of Karl von Holtei Silesian actor/playwright (Die Vagabunden). 1798 - Birth of Karl von Staudt German math professor (projective geometrician). 1800 - Birth of Sir Edwin Chadwick British social reformer. 1805 - Giacomo Conti composer, dies at age 50. 1812 - Eligio Celestino composer, dies at age 72. 1814 - Birth of Abraham van Stolk Dutch resources/art collector. 1820 - Birth of John Milton Thayer Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1906. 1828 - Birth of Adam Jacoby Slemmer Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1868. 1828 - Birth of Ferdinand J Cohn German botanist/publicist. 1828 - Birth of Karol Studzinski composer. 1829 - Birth of William Mason composer. 1832 - Birth of John Pegram Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1865. 1833 - Birth of Bernhard Erdmannsdörffer German, historian (Deutsche Geschichte). 1839 - Charles Darwin elected member of Royal Society. 1847 - 1,500 New Mexican Indians and Mexicans defeated by US Colonel Price. 1848 - Carpenter James Wilson Marshall and Peter L. Wimmer discover gold at Captain John Sutter's lumber mill under construction at Coloma on American River in California. 1851 - Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini Italian composer, dies at age 76. 1859 - Birth of Alexander Alexandrovich Il'yinsky composer. 1861 - Arsenal at Augusta, Georgia, seized by Confederacy. 1861 - Federal troops from Fort Monroe are sent to Fort Pikens. 1862 - Birth of Edith Wharton[-Jones] US, novelist (Ethan Frome, Age of Innocence, House of Mirth). 1862 - James McIntosh US confederate Brigadier General, dies in battle at about age 33. 1862 - Romania principality arises under King Alexander Cuza. 1864 - Otto Jonas Lindblad composer, dies at age 54. 1864 - Stephen Gardner Champlin Brigadier General (Union), dies at about age 36. 1874 - General J van Swieten conquers Kraton Atjeh, after 1000's die. 1874 - Mussorgsky's opera "Boris Godunov" premieres in Saint Petersburg Russia. 1875 - Camille Saint-Saëns' "Danse Macabre" premieres. 1880 - Birth of Elisabeth Achelis creator (World Calendar). 1883 - Birth of Estelle Winwood [Goodwin], England, actress (Miracle on 34th Street). 1883 - Friedrich von Flotow German baron/composer, dies at age 70. 1884 - Johann Christian Gebauer composer, dies at age 75. 1885 - Martin R Delany politician and black nationalist, dies at age 72. 1888 - Birth of Ernst Heinrich Heinkel German inventor (first rocket-powered aircraft). 1888 - Birth of Hedwig "Vicki" Baum Austrian/US author (Men Never Know). 1891 - Birth of Walter Model German field marshal. 1892 - Battle at Mengo, Uganda French missionaries attack British missionaries. 1895 - Birth of Albin Zollinger Swiss poet/author (Der Halbe Mensch). 1895 - Birth of Eugen Roth writer. 1895 - Birth of Hans Fischböck Austria, Finance minister (Nazi-occupied Holland). 1899 - Belgium government of Vandenpeereboom forms. 1900 - Battle at Tugela-Spionkop, South Africa (Boers versus British army). 1900 - Newcastle Badminton Club, world's oldest, forms in England. 1901 - First games played in US baseball's American League. 1901 - Emily Hobhouse views Lord Kitchener's concentration camp at Bloemfontein. 1902 - Birth of Walter Keirnan in New Haven, Connecticut, USA; TV panelist (I've Got a Secret). 1903 - Birth of Robert Gwathmey; artist (Arts and Letters). 1907 - Birth of Alfonse Vranckx; Belgian lawyer/politician. 1907 - Birth of Maurice Couve de Murville; France premier (1968-69). 1908 - General Baden-Powell starts Boy Scouts. 1909 - Birth of Ann Todd in Hartford, England; actress (Paradine Case, 7th Veil). 1911 - Birth of C[atherine] L[ucille] Moore; US sci-fi author (Judgment Night). 1912 - Birth of Ken Weekes; cricket player (West Indies batsman versus England 1939, 137 at The Oval). 1913 - Birth of Mark Goodson; TV game-show producer (Goodson-Toddman). 1915 - Birth of Ernest Borgnine in Hamden, Connecticut, USA; actor (Ice Station Zebra, McHale's Navy, Marty). 1915 - Birth of Robert B Motherwell; US painter (Elegies to the Spanish Republic). 1915 - German-British sea battle at Doggersbank and Helgoland. 1916 - Birth of Vic Stollmeyer; cricket player (brother of Jeff Scored 96 in only Test innings). 1918 - Birth of Gottfried von Einem in Bern, Switzerland; Austrian composer (Dantons Tod). 1918 - Birth of John McLiam in Alberta, Canada; actor (Parker - Men From Shiloh). 1918 - Birth of Oral Roberts; Televangelist (Oral Roberts College). 1919 - Birth of Leon Kirchner in Brooklyn, New York, USA; opera composer (Lily). 1920 - Birth of Don Saddler in Van Nuys, California, USA; dancer (Holiday Hotel). 1920 - Birth of Jerry Maren; actor (munchkin - Wizard of Oz, Mayor McCheese). 1921 - Birth of Bernard J Dwyer; American politician (Representative-Democrat-New Jersey, 1981-). 1922 - -54 degrees F (-48 degrees C), Danbury, Wisconsin (state record). 1922 - Lehman Caves National Monument established in Nevada. 1923 - Aztec Ruins National Monument, in New Mexico, USA, is established. 1924 - Birth of 8th Earl Spencer in England; large landowner/father of Diane, Princess of Wales. 1924 - Birth of Marvin Kaplan in Brooklyn, New York, USA; actor (Top Cat, Henry - Alice). 1924 - Birth of Robert W Kastenmeier; American politician (Representative-Democrat-Wisconsin, 1959-). 1924 - Itali's Benito Mussolini disallows non-fascists work union. 1924 - Russian city of Saint Petersburg is renamed Leningrad. 1925 - Birth of William Hudson in California, USA; actor (I Led Three Lives). 1925 - Moving picture of a solar eclipse taken from dirigible over Long Island, New York, USA. 1925 - Rickard Sandler follows Hjalmar Branting as premier of Sweden. 1927 - Birth of Paula Hawkins; American politician (Senator-Republican-Florida, 1981-86). 1928 - Birth of Desmond Morris; English zoologist (Human Ape, Body Language). 1929 - Willem Royaards, theater director (Adam in Ballingschap), dies. 1930 - Birth of Bernard Matthews; English turkey farmer/multi-millionaire. 1930 - J E Mills scores 117 on Test Cricket debut, New Zealand versus England, Wellington. 1930 - Stewie Dempster scores New Zealand's first cricket Test century. 1931 - Birth of Kees Z˙lstra; Dutch Member of Parliament (PvdA). 1933 - Birth of Zeke Carey; American R&B-singer (Flamingos - "I Only Have Eyes For You"). 1935 - Canned beer makes its debut; the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company delivers 2,000 cans of Krueger's Finest Beer and Krueger's Cream Ale to drinkers in Richmond, Virginia. 1936 - Birth of Jack Scott in Canada; rocker ("My True Love"). 1939 - 30,000 killed by earthquake in Concepcion Chile. 1939 - Birth of Ray Stevens in Clarksdale, Georgia, USA; singer ("Ahab the Arab", "The Streak"). 1939 - Eddie Collins, Willie Keeler and George Sisler elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1939 - Spanish government moves to Figueras. 1940 - Birth of Flip Buurmeijer; Dutch Member of Parliament (PvdA). 1940 - Emile van Bosch, revue/operetta-artist, dies at age 52. 1941 - Birth of Aaron Neville; American singer/keyboardist (Neville Brothers). 1941 - Birth of Michael Chapman in Leeds, England; rocker ("Looking for 11"). 1941 - Birth of Neil Diamond in Brooklyn, New York, USA; singer/actor (Jazz Singer, "Coming to America"). 1941 - British troops march into Abyssinia. 1943 - Birth of Julie Bennett in Beverly Hills, California, USA; actress (Hey There It's Yogi Bear). 1943 - Birth of Sharon Tate in Dallas, Texas, USA; actress (Valley of the Dolls). 1943 - Adolf Hitler orders German troops at Stalingrad to fight to death. 1943 - Jewish patients/nurses/doctors incinerated at Auschwitz-Birkenau. 1943 - John Burns, English minister of Local Government (1905-14), dies. 1943 - The Casablanca Conference ends. The British persuaded the Americans to postpone the cross-Channel invasion. US President Franklin Roosevelt announces to the press the Allied policy of requiring the unconditional surrender of Germany, Italy, and Japan. 1944 - Allied troops occupy Nettuno, Italy. 1944 - Birth of David Gerrold [Jerrold David Friedman]; author (World of Star Trek). 1945 - Scottish 52nd Lowland division occupies Heinsberg. 1946 - Birth of John Harrison; South African correspondent (BBC). 1946 - Birth of Michael Ontkean in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; actor (Rookies, Slap Shot, Twin Peaks). 1947 - Birth of Giorgio Chinaglia; soccer star (Lazio of Italy, New York Cosmos). 1947 - Birth of Warren Zevon in Chicago, Illinois, USA; rocker ("Excitable Boy"). 1947 - Felix Timmermans, writer/painter (Gift from Saint Nicholas), dies at age 60. 1947 - NFL adds fifth official (back judge) and allows sudden death in playoffs. 1948 - Australia all out 674 versus India (Donald Bradman 201, Hassett 198*). 1948 - Birth of Elliott Abrams; assistant US secretary of state/supplied arms to the Contras. 1948 - Dutch Liberal Party forms - People's party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). 1949 - Birth of Bart Gordon; American politician (Representative-Democrat-Tennessee, 1985-). 1949 - Birth of John Belushi in Chicago, Illinois, USA; comedian/actor (Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers). 1950 - Birth of Daniel Auteuil in Algeria; actor (Elegant Criminal, Manon of Spring). 1950 - Bull Montana, actor (Son of Sheik), dies at age 62. 1950 - Jackie Robinson signs highest contract (US$35,000) in Brooklyn Dodgers' history. 1951 - Birth of Yakov Smirnoff in Russia; comedian (It's a wonderful country). 1951 - Dutch government Drees-van Schaik resigns. 1952 - First NFL team in Texas, Dallas Texans, formerly New York Yankees. 1952 - Birth of William F Readdy in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, USA; astronaut (STS 42, 51, 79). 1952 - Fire in main building of French Port Martin Antarctic base. 1953 - Birth of Brian Matthews in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; actor (The Burning). 1954 - BPAA All-Star Tournament won by Don Carter. 1954 - Betsy Rawls wins LPGA Tampa Women's Golf Open. 1955 - Birth of James Montgomery; American 100m swimmer (Olympics-3 gold-1976). 1955 - Birth of Julian Holland; rocker (Squeeze). 1957 - Daniel Taylor, cricket player (brother of Herbie, two Tests for South Africa 1914), dies. 1958 - After warming to 100,000,000 degrees, two light atoms are bashed together to create a heavier atom, resulting in first man-made nuclear fusion. 1958 - Birth of Frank Ullrich in East Germany; world biathlon champion. 1960 - Algeria rises against French President Charles de Gaulle. 1960 - Birth of Nastassja Kinski in Berlin, Germany; actress (Tess, Cat People). 1960 - John Miljan, actor (Charlie Chan in Paris, Yankee Clipper), dies at age 66. 1961 - Birth of Krasimir Mikhailov Stoyanov in Bulgaria; cosmonaut. 1961 - Lazard Brothers Ltd draw a check for US$334,867,807.68. 1961 - Willem J M van Eysinga, people rights scholar, dies at age 82. 1962 - 28 refugees escape from East to West Germany. 1962 - Birth of Sultan Zarawani; cricket player (United Arab Emirates captain 1996 World Cup). 1962 - Mickey Wright/Marilynn Smith wins LPGA Naples Pro-Am Golf Tournament. 1962 - Tom Shirley, actor/TV announcer (They're Off), dies at age 62. 1963 - Buddy Rogers and Lou Thesz wrestle in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Rogers becomes WWF wrestling champion and Thesz becomes NWA champ. 1964 - 24th Amendment to US Constitution goes into effect; it states that voting rights can not be denied due to failure to pay taxes. 1964 - Birth of Rob Dibble in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA; pitcher (Cincinnati Reds). 1964 - Birth of Ronnie McCann in Evander, South Africa; Nike golfer (1993 Hawkeye-37th). 1964 - CBS purchases 1964 and 1965 NFL TV rights for US$28.2 million. 1964 - Joseph Schildkraut, actor (Cleopatra, Diary of Anne Frank, Joseph Schildkraut Presents), dies at age 68. 1965 - Birth of Ross MacDonald in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; star yachter (Olympics-1996). 1965 - Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Britain (Conservative) (1940-45, 1951-55), dies at age 90. 1966 - Birth of Kim Saiki in Inglewood, California, USA; golfer (1994 Standard Register PING-13th). 1966 - Birth of Mike Forgeron in Main-A-Dieu, Nova Scotia, Canada; rower (Olympics-1996). 1967 - Birth of Åsa Maria Sandell; Swedish journalist and professional super middleweight boxer. 1967 - Birth of Chris Warren; NFL running back (Seattle Seahawks). 1967 - Birth of Shannon Butler in South Lake Tahoe, California, USA; 10km runner. 1968 - Birth of Mark Burmester; cricket player (Zimbabwe Test all-rounder in three Tests 1992). 1968 - Birth of Mary Lou Retton in Fairmont, West Virginia, USA; gymnast (Olympics-gold/2 silver/2 bronze-1984). 1968 - Birth of Ross Powell; US baseball pitcher (Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros). 1968 - Birth of Scott Mercier in Harbor City, California, USA; cyclist (Olympics-1996). 1969 - Birth of Louise McPaul; Australian javelin thrower (Olympics-silver-1992, 1996). 1969 - Birth of Stephanie Romanov; actress (Teri Spencer - Models Inc)/model (Elite). 1969 - Queen Juliana is appointed honorary citizen of Addis Ababa. 1969 - Spanish General Franco announces state of emergency. 1969 - Tom Zachary, baseball pitcher (Washington Senators), dies at age 72. 1970 - Third ABA All-Star Game: West 128 beats East 98 at Indiana. 1970 - Birth of Chris Bartolone; hockey defenseman (Team Italy 1998). 1970 - Birth of Matthew Lillard; actor (Scream). 1970 - James "Shep" Shepherd, rocker (Shep and Limelites), beaten to death. 1970 - Valeri Muratov skates world record 500m (38.99 seconds). 1971 - Birth of Cory Bailey; US baseball pitcher (Boston Red Sox). 1971 - Birth of Joe Panos; NFL guard/center (Philadelphia Eagles). 1971 - Birth of John Reece; WLAF/NFL cornerback (Amsterdam Admirals, Dallas Cowboys). 1971 - Birth of Saalman Raelyn in Fostoria, Ohio, USA; actress (Attack of 60-foot Centerfold). 1971 - Birth of Tonya Crowe in Long Beach, California, USA; actress (Olivia - Knots Landing). 1971 - NFL Pro Bowl: NFC beats AFC 27-6 (first Pro Bowl after NFL-AFL merger). 1972 - Birth of Jay Walker; quarterback (Minnesota Vikings). 1972 - Birth of Joe Garten; WLAF center (Frankfurt Galaxy). 1972 - Birth of Raphael Graetz; WLAF linebacker (Frankfurt Galaxy). 1972 - Birth of Salima Davidson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; volleyball setter (Olympics-1996). 1972 - Birth of Shannon Garrett; Canadian Football League defensive back (Winnipeg Blue Bombers). 1972 - Jerome Cowan, actor (Mr Dithers - Blondie), dies at age 74. 1973 - Alan Lisette, cricket player (took three wickets in two Tests for New Zealand 1956), dies. 1973 - Birth of Erik Gervais in Valleyfield, Québec, Canada; kayaker (Olympics-1996). 1973 - Birth of Chris Ferraro in Port Jefferson, New York, USA; NHL right wing (Olympics-1994, New York Rangers). 1973 - Birth of Peter Ferraro in Port Jefferson, New York, USA; NHL right wing (Olympics-1994, New York Rangers). 1973 - Birth of Richard Aimonetto; hockey forward (Team France 1998). 1973 - J Carrol Naish, actor (Charlie Chan - Adventures of Charlie Chan), dies at age 72. 1973 - Warren Spahn is elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1974 - Birth of Kristy Sargeant in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; ice pairs (1994 Skate Canada). 1974 - Birth of Layla Linn; Miss New Mexico-USA (1996). 1974 - Birth of Tim Biakabutuka; running back (Carolina Panthers). 1975 - Hot l Baltimore situation comedy premieres on ABC TV. 1975 - Birth of Danielle Connors; Miss Virginia-USA (1996). 1975 - Fastest Earth-bound object, 7200 kph, in vacuum centrifuge, England. 1975 - Larry Fine, actor (The Three Stooges), dies at age 72. 1976 - Birth of Laure Belleville; Miss France-Universe (1996). 1976 - Birth of Shae-Lynn Bourne in Chatham, Ontario, Canada; ice dancer (Bourne and Kraatz - 1995 World Champions-4th). 1976 - Cleveland Cavaliers' biggest margin victory-43 points (beat Milwaukee Bucks 132-89). 1976 - George Foreman knocks out Ron Lyle in 5th round of a real slugfest. 1977 - Five lawyers murdered by fascist in Madrid, Spain. 1977 - Birth of Lenka Cenkova in Trinec, Czechoslovakia; tennis star (1995 Futures-Vaihingen-Germany). 1978 - 31st NHL All-Star Game: Wales beat Campbell 3-2 (overtime) at Buffalo, New York. 1978 - US President Jimmy Carter signs Executive Order on Intelligence (number 12036). 1979 - Birth of Tatyana M Ali in New York City, New York; actress (Sesame Street, Fresh Prince of Bel Air). 1979 - Jerry Damon, comedian (That Was The Week That Was), dies at age 51. 1979 - Mabel Taliaferro, actress (My Love Come Back), dies at age 91. 1979 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1980 - The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad is ordered to be liquidated due to bankruptcy. 1980 - Birth of Nyncke Beekhuyzen; Dutch actress. 1980 - Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon purchase the New York Mets for an estimated US$21.1 million. The price tag is the highest amount ever paid for a baseball franchise. 1980 - North of Livermore Valley, California, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurs. 1981 - New York Islanders score five power play goals against Quebec Nordiques. 1981 - Kim Hughes scores 213 versus India at Adelaide. 1981 - The British Labour Party special conference at Wembley decides that leadership elections should be by electoral college. 1981 - Birth of Brandon Henschel; American actor and dancer. 1982 - Super Bowl XVI at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan: San Francisco 49ers beat Cincinnati Bengals, 26-21; Most Valuable Player: Joe Montana, Quarterback. 1983 - George Cukor, American film director, dies of stroke and heart attack at age 83 (born 1899). 1983 - Hulk Hogan pins the Iron Sheik for World Wrestling Federation title. 1983 - In Oaxaca, Mexico, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs. 1983 - Birth of Scott Speed; American Formula One driver. 1983 - Twenty-five members of the Red Brigades are sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Aldo Moro. 1984 - Birth of Witold Kieltyka, Polish musician (dies 2007). 1984 - Apple Computer introduces the Apple Macintosh computer. It features 7.83 MHz 32-bit Motorola 68000 processor, built-in 9-inch 512x342 graphics monochrome monitor, 3.5-inch diskette drive, and 128 kB RAM. Price is $2500, well above the original $1000 target. 1985 - 15th Space Shuttle (51-C) Mission-Discovery 3 is launched. 1986 - Birth of Mischa Barton; British-born American actress. 1986 - Birth of Raviv Ullman; Israeli-born American actor. 1986 - 43rd Golden Globes: Whoopi Goldberg, Color Purple win. 1986 - Gordon MacRae, American actor/singer (Oklahoma, Carousel), dies at age 64 (born 1921). 1986 - L[aFayette] Ron[ald] Hubbard, American author (Dianetics, Death Quest) and founder of Scientology, dies at age 74 (born 1911). 1986 - New York Islanders' Mike Bossy scores his 1,000th point. 1986 - South Yemen Premier Haydar Bakr al-Attas becomes interim-president. 1986 - Voyager 2 space probe makes first fly-by of Uranus (81,593 km), finds new moons. 1987 - 61st Australian Women's Tennis: H Mandlikova beat M Navratilova (7-5, 7-6). 1987 - In Lebanon, gunmen kidnap Alann Steen, Jesse Turner, Robert Polhill and Mitheleshwar Singh. 1988 - First WWF Royal Rumble - Jim Duggan wins. 1988 - 76th Australian Men's Tennis: M Wilander beats P Cash (6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 6-1, 8-6). 1988 - Australia beats New Zealand 2-0 to win the World Series Cup. 1988 - Charles Glenn King, biochemist (discovered vitamin C), dies at age 91. 1989 - Serial killer (100 women) Ted Bundy is executed in Florida's electric chair. 1989 - Birth of Calvin Goldspink, British singer. 1990 - Japanese MUSES-A (Hiten) launched towards moon. 1990 - Madge Bellamy, actress (White Zombie), dies at age 87. 1991 - Eight-man British SAS squad enters Iraq behind enemy lines to destroy Scud missiles. The mission fails and many are captured and tortured and some killed. Eight SAS troopers manage to kill 200 Iraqi soldiers. 1991 - Lawrence Lott, actor (Real Men, Philadelphia Experiment), dies of AIDS at age 40. 1992 - Charles Moulin, French actor (French Tarzan), dies. 1992 - John Bleifer, actor (Highway to Heaven), dies at age 90. 1992 - Tina Chow, model, dies of AIDS at age 41. 1993 - Soyuz TM-16 launches. 1993 - Thurgood Marshall, US supreme court justice (1967-91), dies 84. 1993 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Scott Davis. 1993 - Ugur Mumcu, Turkish journalist (Cumhuriyet Murder), dies. 1994 - Dow Jones closes above 3,900 for first time (3,914.48). 1994 - Michalis Vranopoulos, head of Greek state bank, murdered at age 48. 1994 - Chris Boyd of England makes a single bet of 147,000 pounds on one spin of the roulette wheel on red at Binions Horseshoe Casino. He wins, and returns home. 1995 - Ian Prestt, English ornithologist, dies at age 65. 1995 - Victor Reinganum, artist, dies at age 87. 1995 - Wim H Sinnige, Amsterdam PvdA alderman of Finance, dies at age 60. 1996 - Sandor Iharos, athlete, dies at age 65. 1996 - Ursula Heathcote Nicholls, campaigner, dies at age 75. 1996 - Polish Premier Jozef Oleksy resigns amid charges that he spied for Moscow. 1997 - PepsiCo announces it is making a "total disengagement" from Burma. 1997 - Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Prefontaine to theaters in the US. 1997 - Birth of Jonah Bobo, American actor. 2000 - God's Army, a Karen militia group led by twins Johnny and Luther Htoo, take 700 hostages at a Thai hospital near the Burmese border. 2000 - The Honduran-flagged cargo vessel Al Jazya 1 sinks in bad weather 4 miles east of Abu Dhabi's coast, leaking up to 1.1 million litres of fuel oil, 2000 - The Singapore-owned vessel MV Nol Schedar runs aground on the coast of Sual town in Lingayan Gulf, Philippines. 2001 - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Mandelson resigns from the British cabinet for the second time. 2003 - In Spain, 200 anti-terrorist policemen raid a dozen apartments in Catalonia, arresting 16 Arabs, with bomb-making devices, false passports, and chemicals. 2003 - For the first time in the history of bank lending, rates of the Japanese Yen from a European bank to other banks is negative, paying 0.01 percent to borrowers. 2003 - Death of Gianni Agnelli, Italian auto executive (Fiat), of prostate cancer at age 81 (born 1921). 2003 - The new United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation. 2004 - At 05:05 UTC, NASA's MER-B (Opportunity) rover lands on Mars. 2006 - Outfielder Jay Gibbons and the Baltimore Orioles agree to a US$21.1 million, four-year deal. 2006 - Mario Lemieux announces his retirement from the National Hockey League. 2006 - Death of Chris Penn, American actor (born 1965). 2006 - Death of Marija Skalovska, Macedonian opera singer (born 1929). 2007 - In Giles County, Virginian, USA a meteor sighting if followed by a thundering tremor. 2008 - Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigns after losing a no-confidence vote in the Senate. 2008 - The Board of Control for Cricket in India announces it has sold eight ten-year franchises in the Indian Premier League for a total of US$723 million. 2008 - A peace deal ends the Kivu war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2009 - At Mecum's auction in Kissimmee, Florida, a 1963 Corvette Z06 Sting Ray Gulf Oil race car sells for US$1,050,000.         Your Ad Here         You can pick a particular day to view that day's events in history. 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