This Day in History
January 26

What happened in history on this day: January 26? On January 26 in ... 66 - Fifth recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. 1109 - Albericus of Cîteaux French saint, dies. 1340 - English king Edward III proclaimed king of France. 1531 - In Lisbon, Portugal, an Intensity X earthquake occurs, claiming 30,000 deaths. 1613 - Birth of Johann Jakob Wolleb composer. 1654 - Portuguese troops conquer last Dutch base on Recife. 1666 - France declares war on England and Münster. 1667 - Birth of Henricus Zwaardecroon Governor-General of Netherland-Indies. 1689 - Jean Racine's "Esther" premieres in Saint-Cyr. 1697 - Isaac Newton receives Jean Bernoulli's six month time-limit problem, solves problem before going to bed that same night. 1699 - Venice, Poland and Austria sign peace treaty with Turkey. 1700 - In the Cascadia Subduction Zone of western North America, a magnitude 9 earthquake occurs, rocking a region 600 miles long that includes modern northern California, Oregon, Washington, and southern British Columbia. The earthquake set off a tsunami that not only struck Cascadia's Pacific coast, but also crossed the Pacific Ocean to Japan, where it damaged coastal villages. 1706 - Guillaume Poitevin composer, dies at age 59. 1708 - Birth of William Hayes composer. 1714 - Birth of Jean B Pigalle French sculptor (Child with Bird Cage). 1715 - Birth of Claude Helvetius Paris France, philosopher. 1716 - Birth of George Sackville Germain first Viscount Sackville. 1722 - Birth of Prestonpans. 1736 - Stanislaw Lesczynski flees Polish throne. 1742 - Birth of Johann Friedrich Ludwig Sievers composer. 1748 - Birth of Emmanuel Aloys Forster composer. 1748 - England, Netherlands, Austria and Sardinia sign anti-French treaty. 1763 - Birth of Charles XIV French marshall, king of Sweden and Norway (1818-44). 1770 - Birth of Alexander Carlyle Moderator of General Assembly. 1771 - Birth of Jacob Andries van Braam colonial director (Suriname). 1778 - Birth of Ugo Foscolo Italian poet (Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis). 1781 - Birth of Ludwig Joachim "Achim" von Arnim German poet (Des Knaben Wunderhorn). 1784 - Ben Franklin expresses unhappiness over the eagle as America's symbol. 1786 - Birth of Benjamin Robert Haydon Plymouth, painter (Waiting for The Times). 1788 - Captain Arthur Phillip forms English colony at Sydney, Botany Bay New South Wales as a penal colony. 1789 - John Odell signs contract for £336 to build Saint Peter's church (Bronx). 1790 - Mozart's opera "Cosi Fan Tutte" premieres in Vienna. 1795 - Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach composer, dies at age 62. 1797 - Russia, Prussia and Austria sign treaty. 1798 - Christian Gottlob Neefe German organist/composer, dies at age 49. 1802 - US Congress passes an act calling for a US Capitol library. 1803 - Georg von Pasterwiz composer, dies at age 72. 1804 - Birth of Eugane "Marie Joseph" Sue France, novelist (Wandering Jew). 1814 - Birth of Rufus King Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1876. 1816 - Birth of Lloyd Tilghman Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1863. 1824 - Edward Jenner discoverer (vaccination), dies. 1824 - Théodore Géricault French painter (Grand Derby d'Epsom), dies. 1826 - Birth of Julia Dent Grant first lady (1869-77). 1828 - Birth of Johan T Buys Dutch lawyer. 1831 - Birth of Mary Mapes Dodge New York City, New York, writer (Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates). 1833 - Gaetano Donizetti's opera "Lucrezia Borgia" premieres in Milan. 1837 - Michigan admitted as 26th US state. 1838 - Tennessee becomes first state to prohibit alcohol. 1841 - Hong Kong proclaimed a sovereign territory of Britain. 1849 - Thomas Lovell Beddoes English poet (Death's Jest-Book), suicide at age 45. 1850 - First German-language daily newspaper in US published, New York City, New York. 1850 - Francis Jeffrey Baron Jeffrey, judge/literary critic, dies. 1852 - Birth of Frederick Corder composer. 1852 - Birth of Pierre Brazza explorer/colonial administrator (French Africa). 1855 - Birth of Arthur Hervey composer. 1855 - Gérard de Nerval [Labrunie], French poet/writer, dies at age 46. 1861 - Louisiana becomes sixth state to secede. 1862 - Lincoln issues General War Order #1, calling for a Union offensive; McClellan ignores order. 1863 - 54th Regiment (Black) infantry forms. 1863 - War Department authorizes Massachusetts Governor to recruit black troops. 1870 - Cesare Pugni composer, dies at age 67. 1871 - Birth of Warner Fabian [Samuel H Adams], US journalist/writer (Average Jones). 1871 - British Rugby Union forms. 1871 - US income tax repealed. 1875 - Electric dental drill (battery-operated) is patented by George F Green of Michigan, USA. 1877 - Birth of Kees van Dongen Netherlands, French painter. 1878 - Birth of A W "Dave" Nourse cricketer ("Grand Old Man" of South African cricket). 1878 - Birth of R A Schröcker writer. 1879 - Birth of Ludovicus H [Lode] Baekelmans Flemish (stage)author (Tille). 1880 - Birth of Douglas MacArthur Little Rock Arkansas, General of the Army (WWII), he did return!. 1881 - Union of Baptists Communities forms in Foxholl. 1882 - France government of Gambetta falls. 1884 - First Dutch Wagner version of Elizabeth aria. 1884 - Birth of Edward Sapir Germany, linguist/anthropologist (Indians). 1884 - Birth of Roy Chapman Andrews US, scientist/explorer. 1885 - Charles George Gordon British Governor-General, executed (slain with troops by Sudanese in Khartoum) at age 51. 1885 - Muhammad Ahmed ("Mahdi") rebels conquer Khartoum. 1886 - Birth of Joannes A Veraart Dutch economist/Member of Parliament (Jews of the Netherlands). 1886 - Karl Benz patents first auto with burning motor. 1887 - Battle of Dogali Abyssinian Emperor John IV defeats Italians. 1887 - Birth of Enrique E Ecker Curaçao, bacteriologist. 1887 - Birth of Marc A "Pete" Mitscher US Lieutenant-Admiral (WWII-Task Force 58). 1891 - Birth of Ilya G Ehrenburg Kiev Ukraine, writer (Fall of Paris, The Thaw). 1891 - Nicholaus Otto auto pioneer (internal combustion engine), dies. 1891 - Oscar Wilde's "Duchess of Padua" premieres in New York City, New York. 1892 - Birth of Zara Cully Worcester Massachusetts, actress (Mother Jefferson-The Jeffersons). 1893 - Abner Doubleday credited with inventing baseball, dies on 74th birthday. 1893 - Birth of Bessie Coleman first black airplane pilot. 1895 - Arthur Cayley mathematician, dies. 1897 - Battle at Bida Gold Coast British troops beat Nupe's army. 1899 - Birth of Wyllis Cooper Pekin Illinois, TV narrator (Volume One). 1900 - Henrik Ibsen's "Naar vi Dode Vaaguer" premieres in Stuttgart. 1901 - Birth of Ervin Major composer. 1902 - Birth of Laurence "Bill" Craigie jet pioneer. 1902 - Birth of Menno ter Braak Dutch writer/essayist (Carnaval of the Citizens). 1902 - Birth of Romney Brent Saltillo Mexico; actor/writer (Dinner at the Ritz). 1904 - Birth of Douglas Evans actor (South Pacific Trail). 1904 - Birth of Sean MacBride Dublin Ireland, statesman/Amnesty International co-founder (Nobel '74). 1904 - John P R Tak Dutch liberal politician, dies at age 64. 1905 - Arnold Schönberg's "Pelleas und Melissande" premieres in Vienna. 1905 - Birth of Charles Lane San Francisco California; actor (Homer-Petticoat Junction, Lucy Show). 1905 - Birth of John Carmel Heenan Essex, cardinal archbishop of Westminster (1963-75). 1905 - Birth of Maria Augusta von Trapp Austria, singer, inspired The Sound of Music. 1905 - Birth of Marquess of Bath English large landowner/multi-millionaire. 1905 - Han Yong-woon [Bongwan, Manhae] (1879-1944) ordained a monk in Korea. 1905 - World's largest diamond, the 3,106-carat Cullinan, is found in South Africa. 1907 - First federal corrupt election practices law passed. 1907 - Birth of Eddie Ballantine Chicago Illinois, orchestra leader (Don McNeill TV Club). 1907 - Birth of Henry Cotton English golfer (British Open 1934, 1937, 1948). 1907 - J M Synge's "Playboy of the Western World" opens; police are called. 1908 - Birth of Stephane Grappelli French jazz violinist. 1910 - Birth of Elmar Klos Czechoslovakian director (Adrift). 1910 - Birth of Marijan Lipovsek composer. 1910 - Heavy rains cause floods in Paris. 1911 - Birth of Norbert Schultze composer. 1911 - Birth of Polykarp Kusch US, nuclear physicist Nobel Prize 1955. 1911 - Charles Wentworth Dilke English undersecretary of State, dies at age 67. 1911 - Glenn Curtiss pilots first successful hydroplane, San Diego California. 1911 - Richard Strauss's opera "Die Rosenkavalier" premieres, Dresden. 1912 - Birth of Cora Baird New York City, New York, puppeteer (Kukla, Fran and Ollie). 1913 - Birth of Jimmy Van Heusen songwriter (Love and Marriage). 1913 - Birth of William Prince Nichols New York; actor (City in Fear, Cyrano de Bergerac). 1913 - Jim Thorpe relinquishes his 1912 Olympic medals for being a pro. 1914 - 600 Dutch textile workers go on strike. 1914 - Birth of Kaye Webb English writer/publisher (Puffin Club). 1914 - Vatican puts Belgian Nobel winner Maeterlinck's works in their index. 1915 - Birth of William Hopper New York City, New York; actor (Paul Drake-Perry Mason). 1915 - Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado established. 1916 - Birth of Lothar Jensch composer. 1918 - Birth of Nicolae Ceausescu Romanian President (1967-90). 1918 - US food administrator Hoover calls for "wheatless" and "meatless" days for war effort. 1919 - Birth of K C Ibrahim cricketer (batted in four Tests India vs West Indies 1948-49). 1920 - Amadeo Modigliani's mistress jumps out of a window. 1920 - Birth of Derek Bond Glasgow Scotland; actor (Nicholas Nickleby). 1920 - Birth of John Logan Gorlay journalist. 1920 - Matthias Enzberger German minister of finance, murdered. 1921 - Birth of Akio Morita Kasugaya Japan, CEO (Sony). 1921 - Birth of Frantisek Chaun composer. 1921 - Birth of Johannes Driessler composer. 1921 - Soccer team GVAV of Groningen Netherlands forms. 1921 - Toronto Saint Pat Corb Denneny scores six goals vs Hamilton Tigers. 1922 - Birth of Michael Bentine England, author/comedian (Reluctant Jester). 1922 - Luigi Denza composer, dies at age 75. 1922 - Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Pastoral Symphony" premieres in London. 1923 - Birth of Anne Jeffreys North Carolina, actress (Dick Tracy, Topper, General Hospital). 1924 - Birth of Warren Frank Benson composer. 1924 - Charles Jewtraw, US 500m skater, takes first Winter Olympics gold medal. 1925 - Birth of David Jenkins Bishop (Durham). 1925 - Birth of Desmond Cassidi British admiral. 1925 - Birth of Joan Leslie Detroit Michigan, actress (Sergeant York, High Sierra, Yankee Doodle Dandy). 1925 - Birth of Paul Newman Cleveland Ohio, racer/popcorn mogul/actor (Hud, Hombre, Hustler). 1926 - Birth of Charles Tidbury former chairman (Whitbread and Company). 1926 - Birth of Jose Maria Valverde philosopher poet/translator. 1926 - Birth of Ronnie Hilton singer (Moonraker). 1926 - Television first demonstrated (John L Baird, London). 1927 - Birth of José Simón Azcona Hoyo President of Honduras (1986-90). 1927 - Birth of William Redfield New York City, New York; actor (Jimmy Hughes Rookie Cop, Marriage). 1927 - Maxwell Anderson's "Saturday's Children" premieres in New York City, New York. 1928 - Birth of Eartha Kitt South Carolina, singer/actress (Catwoman-Batman). 1928 - Birth of Gene Snyder (Representative-Republican-Kentucky, 1963-65, 67-). 1928 - Birth of Philip José Farmer Indiana, science fiction novelist (Riverworld). 1928 - Birth of Roger Vadim France, director (And God Created Women, Barbarella). 1929 - Birth of Jules Feiffer New York City, New York, cartoonist (Passionella) author (Little Murders). 1929 - Birth of M R Turner publisher. 1929 - Indian National Congress proclaims goal for India's independence. 1930 - Birth of A N Solomons chairman (Singer and Friedlander). 1930 - Birth of Anne Macfarlane Master (Court of Protection). 1930 - Birth of Harry "Buddy" Melges Jr Wisconsin, yachter (Olympics-gold/bronze-1964, 72). 1930 - Cleveland's Terminal Tower opens (52 stories). 1931 - Birth of Mary Murphy Washington DC, actress (A Man Alone, Maggie-Investigators). 1931 - Hungary-Austria sign peace treaty. 1931 - Lynn Riggs' "Green Grow the Lilacs" premieres in New York City, New York. 1932 - Birth of Christopher Price Director (Leeds Metropolitan U). 1932 - Birth of George H Clements famous African. 1932 - Birth of Ronald Allison British author/broadcaster. 1932 - British submarine M-2 sinks in Channel (60 dead). 1932 - William K Wrigley owner (Wrigley Gum, Chicago Cubs), dies. 1934 - Birth of Huey "Piano" Smith pianist (Having a Good Time). 1934 - Bradman scores 128 New South Wales vs Victoria, 96 minutes, 17 fours 4 sixes. 1934 - Germany and Poland sign a ten-year Declaration of Non-Aggression. 1935 - Birth of Bob Uecker Milwaukee Wisconsin, catcher/actor (Mr Belvedere). 1935 - Birth of Henry Jordan Emporia Virginia, NFL defensive tackle (Cleveland, Green Bay). 1935 - Birth of Peter Ronnefeld composer. 1935 - Birth of Zbigniew Penherski composer. 1936 - Birth of Noel Harrison London, singer/actor (Mark-Girl from UNCLE). 1937 - Birth of Gerrit Gerritse Dutch Member of Parliament (CDA). 1937 - Birth of Joseph Saidu Momoh General/President (Sierra Leone). 1937 - Birth of S J B Langdale Headmaster (Shrewsbury School). 1938 - Birth of Margaret Daly British MEP. 1939 - Birth of Marshall Lieb rocker (Teddy Chicago Bears). 1939 - Federal Hall National Monument established. 1939 - Filming begins on Gone With the Wind. 1939 - Franco conquers Barcelona. 1939 - Professor Cristescu Romania's iron guard leader, murdered. 1940 - Nazis forbid Polish Jews to travel on trains. 1941 - Birth of Henry Jaglom London England; actor (Eating, Lucky Ducks, Always). 1942 - First US force in Europe during WWII goes ashore in Northern Ireland. 1942 - Birth of Nigel Walmsley chairman (Carlton United Kingdom Television). 1942 - Birth of Scott Glenn Pittsburgh Pennsylvania; actor (Right Stuff, Personal Best, Backdraft). 1942 - Birth of William McLennan CEO (Central Statistical Office). 1942 - Gerard L F Philips Dutch manufacturer (Philips), dies at age 83. 1942 - Italian supreme command demands dismissal of German marshal Rommel. 1943 - Birth of Jean Knight vocalist (Mr Big Stuff). 1943 - Birth of Peter Kenton Winkler composer. 1943 - Birth of Sherian Grace Cadoria Brigadier General. 1943 - Nikolai Vavilov geneticist, Saratovv labour camp, dies. 1944 - Birth of Angela Yvonne Davis black activist/professor. 1945 - Birth of Jacqueline du Pré Oxford England, cellist. 1945 - Birth of Mick Hill cricketer (New South Wales all-rounder 1964-75). 1946 - Birth of Christopher Hampton Azores, playwright (Oviri, Hotel du Lac). 1946 - Birth of Gene Siskel movie critic (Siskel and Ebert). 1946 - Birth of Timothy Clifford director (National Galleries of Scotland). 1947 - Birth of Patrick Dewaere [Bordeaux], France; actor (Les Valseuses). 1947 - Grace Moore US soprano/actress (One Night of Love), dies at age 45. 1947 - Swedish Prince Gustaf Adolf dies in an airplane crash at Kastrup, Sweden. 1947 - KLM Dakota crashes near Copenhagen, 22 die. 1948 - Birth of Corky Laing rocker (Mountain). 1948 - Executive Order 9981, end segregation in US Armed Forces signed. 1948 - Ignaz Friedman composer, dies at age 65. 1949 - Birth of Derek Holt rocker (Climax Blues Band). 1949 - Birth of Paul Nurse doctor/director-General elect (Imperial Cancer Research Fund). 1949 - Victor Fleming director (Wizard of Oz, Gone With Wind), dies at age 65. 1950 - Betsy van den Arend Dutch [Betje], actress (Miss Hobbs), dies at age 78. 1950 - Birth of David Strathairn actor (LA Confidential, Eight Men Out). 1950 - Birth of Jorg Haider Austrian political leader (Austrian Freedom Pary). 1950 - India becomes a republic ceasing to be a British dominion. 1951 - Birth of Andy Hummell Memphis Tennessee, rock bassist (Big Star). 1951 - Birth of David Briggs rock guitarist (Little River Band-Help is on its Way). 1951 - Birth of Jarmila Kratochvilova Czechoslovakia, 400m/800m runner (women's world record holder, Olympics-silver-1980). 1951 - Birth of Walt Willey Ottawa Illinois; actor (Joe Novak-Ryan's Hope, Jackson Montgomery-All My Children). 1951 - Mel Ott and Jimmie Foxx elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1952 - Birth of Mario Runco Jr Bronx New York, Lieutenant-Commander USN/astronaut (STS 44, 54, 77). 1952 - Birth of Thomas Edward Henderson South Carolina, basketballer (Olympics-silver-1972). 1952 - Louis van Deyssel Dutch writer (Diary of Franc Rozelaar), dies at age 87. 1953 - Birth of Andrée C van Es Dutch Member of Parliament (PSP). 1953 - Birth of Bert Heerink Amsterdam, rock vocalist. 1953 - Birth of Lucinda Williams singer. 1953 - Martinus Nijhoff Dutch poet/translator (spelling), dies at age 58. 1954 - Birth of Kim Hughes cricketer (brilliant Australian batsman 1977-84). 1954 - Birth of Martin Dunn British editor (Today). 1954 - Carl J Eldh Swedish sculptor, dies at age 80. 1954 - Ground breaking begins on Disneyland. 1955 - Birth of Lucia Mendez Mexico, Spanish singer (Lucia es Luna Moreno). 1956 - (to February 5) The 7th Olympic Winter Games are held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. 1956 - Birth of Lisa Boray [Schulte Nordholt], Dutch singer (Lovers Until the End). 1956 - Birth of Simon Howard English large landowner (Castle Howard). 1956 - Buddy Holly's first formal recording session. 1956 - Hank Greenberg and Joe Cronin are elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1956 - Porkkala military base returned to Finland by USSR. 1957 - Bernanos and Poulenc's opera "Dialogue des Carmelites" premieres. 1957 - Birth of Ashok Malhotra cricketer (Indian batsman in 7 Tests 1982-84). 1957 - Birth of Eddie Van Halen Nijmegan Netherlands, rock guitarist (Van Halen-Jump, 1984). 1957 - Birth of Shivlal Yadav cricketer (Indian off-spinner 102 Test wickets 1979-87). 1957 - Dutch PSP, Pacifist Socialistic Party, forms. 1957 - India annexes Kashmir. 1957 - Joseph F Cairnes succeeds Lou Perini as president of Milwaukee Braves. 1958 - Birth of Anita Baker in Toledo, Ohio, USA; singer ("Giving You the Best That I Got"). 1958 - Birth of B James Lowry; rocker (Boys Band). 1958 - Birth of Dave Rummells in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA; Nike golfer (1993 Buick-second). 1958 - Birth of Ellen DeGeneres in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; comedienne (Ellen Morgan - Ellen). 1958 - Birth of Norman Lamont Hassan; British reggae musician (UB40 - "Red Red Wine"). 1958 - H Laskow replaces Moshe Dayan as Israeli minister of Defense. 1958 - Jack Smith takes over for Art Baker as TV host of You Asked for It. 1958 - Marlene Hagge wins LPGA Lake Worth Open Golf Invitational. 1959 - Italy government of Fanfani resigns. 1960 - Birth of Gary Plummer; NFL linebacker (San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers). 1960 - Birth of Jeanette Bolden in Los Angeles, California, USA; 4x100m runner (Olympics-gold-1984). 1960 - Danny Heater scores 135 points in basketball game (Boys' High School). 1960 - Oakland enters the AFL. 1960 - Pete Rozelle elected NFL commissioner on the 23rd ballot. 1961 - "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" by Elvis Presley peaks to #1. 1961 - First woman "personal physician to President" - JG Travell. 1961 - Birth of Wayne Gretzky in Brantford, Ontario, Canada; Edmonton Oilers/Los Angeles Kings/New York Rangers (NHL Most Valuable Player 1980-1987), The Great One. 1961 - Morris Nichols, cricketer (41 wickets in 14 Tests for England 1930-39), dies. 1962 - Birth of Roshan Guneratne; cricketer (wicketless in only Test SL vs Australia 1983). 1962 - Birth of Tim May; cricketer (Australian off-spinner 1987-95). 1962 - Birth of Tom Keifer; rock guitarist/vocalist (Cinderella - "Heartbreak Station"). 1962 - Bishop Burke of Buffalo Catholic dioceses declares Chubby Checker's "Twist" is impure and bans it from all Catholic schools. 1962 - Canadian Marine Service renamed Coast Guard. 1962 - Charles "Lucky" Luciano, New York City, New York Mafia gangster, dies at age 65. 1962 - David Diamond's 7th Symphony premieres in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1962 - Fran Lhotka, composer, dies at age 78. 1962 - US launches Ranger 3; misses Moon by 22,000 miles (37,000km). 1963 - Birth of Andrew Ridgeley in England; rock guitarist (Wham - "Wake Me Up"). 1963 - Birth of Claudia Lonow in New York City, New York, USA; actress (Diana - Knots Landing). 1963 - Birth of Jazzie B [Beresford Romeo]; English rapper (Soul II Soul - "Feel Free"). 1963 - Birth of Simon O'Donnell, cricketer (Deniliquin New South Wales ODI all-rounder 1985-90). 1963 - John Sigvard Olsen, comedian (Olsen and Johnson), dies at age 70. 1963 - Major League Rules Committee votes to expand strike zone. 1965 - Ali Mansoer, premier of Persia, murdered. 1965 - Birth of Allison Hossack in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada; actress (Olivia - Another World). 1965 - Birth of Lou Frazier; US baseball outfielder (Montreal Expos). 1965 - Birth of Tim McDonald; safety (San Francisco 49ers). 1965 - South Vietnam military coup under General Nguyen Khanh. 1966 - Ard Schenk skates world record 1500m (2:06.2). 1967 - Albert Remy, actor (Blows), dies at age 55. 1967 - Birth of Jeff Branson; US baseball infielder (Cincinnati Reds). 1967 - Birth of Katie Peterson-Parker in Bethesda, Maryland, USA; LPGA golfer (1995 Oldsmobile-5th). 1967 - Birth of Tim Pugh in Lake Tahoe, California, USA; pitcher (Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals). 1967 - Kenneth Thomson, actor (White Gold), dies of emphysema at age 68. 1967 - USSR performs nuclear test at Sary Shagan. 1968 - Birth of Eric Davis; NFL cornerback (San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers). 1968 - Birth of Reggie Jordan; NBA guard (Minnesota Timberwolves). 1968 - Israeli submarine Dakar crashes in Mediterranean Sea, 69 die. 1970 - Birth of Tracy Middendorf in Miami Beach, Florida, USA; actress (Beverly Hills 90210, Carrie - Days of Our Lives). 1970 - Birth of Dan Carlson; US baseball pitcher (San Francisco Giants). 1970 - Birth of Dean Malkoc in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; NHL defenseman (Vancouver Canucks). 1970 - Birth of Ronald Moore; NFL running back (New York Jets, Saint Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals). 1971 - Birth of Jon Heidenreich; WLAF guard (Frankfurt Galaxy). 1971 - Birth of Lamar Mills; WLAF defensive end (Amsterdam Admirals). 1971 - Birth of Lee Naylor; Australian 400m runner (Olympics-1996). 1971 - Birth of Min Tang in Hunan, China; tennis star (1995 Futures-Canberra Australia). 1971 - Dutch second Chamber accepts law against limitation of war crimes. 1972 - Birth of Harrison Houston; NFL wide receiver (Chicago Bears). 1972 - The TV series The Mouse Factory debuts. 1972 - Stewardess Vesna Vulovic survives 10,160m fall without parachute. 1973 - Belgium government of Leburton forms. 1973 - Birth of Mark Brook; WLAF linebacker (Rhein Fire). 1973 - Birth of Tatsuki Katayama; hockey defenseman (Team Japan 1998). 1973 - Birth of Tony Ramirez; tackle (Detroit Lions). 1973 - Edward G Robinson [Goldenberg], actor (Little Caesar), dies at age 79. 1973 - Meijer Sluyser, Dutch journalist/commentator (VARA), dies at about age 71. 1974 - S v Vegesack, writer, dies at age 85. 1974 - Wiktor Labunski, composer, dies at age 78. 1975 - Lubov Orlova, actress (Moscow Laughs, Man of Music, Tanya), dies at age 72. 1976 - 6th NFL Pro Bowl: NFC beats AFC 23-20. 1976 - Belgium catholic elite start amnesty campaign for war criminals. 1976 - Birth of Paul Byrne; Australian 800m runner (Olympics-1996). 1976 - Israel opens "Good Fence" to Lebanon. 1977 - Birth of Cindy Cesar; Miss Mauritius-Universe (1997). 1977 - Birth of Justin Gimelstob in New Jersey; tennis star (1994 doubles USTA Bakersfield). 1977 - Margaret Hayes, actress (Robert Montgomery Presents), dies at age 61. 1977 - Soviet figure skaters Sergei Shakrai and Marine Tcherkasova are first to perform a quadruple twist lift, in Helsinki, Finland. 1978 - Birth of Reesa Starr Jr. 1978 - Frank Herbert completes his novel Destination: Void. 1978 - International Ultraviolet Explorer placed in Earth orbit. 1978 - Leo Genn, actor (Lady Chatterley's Lover, Henry V), dies at age 72. 1978 - Mario Soares forms Portuguese government. 1978 - Strikers riot in Tunisia, killing about 40. 1979 - The Dukes of Hazzard premieres on CBS-TV. 1979 - Music Center Vredenburg opens in Utrecht, Netherlands. 1979 - Nelson Rockefeller, former Vice President and four time Governor of New York, dies at age 70. 1980 - Israel and Egypt establish diplomatic relations. 1980 - Mary Decker becomes first woman to run a mile in under 4.5 minutes. 1980 - 175,000 pay to hear Frank Sinatra sing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 1980 - New York Islanders and Hartford Whalers play a NHL penalty-free game. 1981 - Sandeep Patil scores memorable 174 vs Australia at Adelaide Oval. 1982 - New York Islanders score four goals within 1:38, five within 2:37 versus Pittsburgh Penguins. 1982 - Mauno Koivisto is elected President of Finland. 1982 - Unemployment in the United Kingdom increases by 129,918 to 3,070,621, a post-war record. 1983 - Red rain falls in the United Kingdom, caused by sand from the Sahara Desert in the droplets. 1983 - Death of Paul "Bear" Bryant, American college football coach, at age 69 in Alabama (born 1913). 1983 - Lotus 1-2-3 is released for IBM-PC-compatible computers. 1983 - Dutch/British infrared satellite IRAS launched from California. 1984 - US navy exhibits Piasecki helistat-4 helicopters and a blimp able to lift 26 tons in Lakehurst, New Jersey. 1984 - Birth of Rebecca Ritters, Australian actress. 1984 - Birth of Luo Xuejuan, Chinese swimmer. 1984 - Quebec Nordiques' Michel Goulet scores on 9th penalty shot against New York Islanders. 1985 - 42th Golden Globes: Amadeus wins. 1985 - Edmonton Oilers' Wayne Gretzky scores 50th goal in 49th game of season. 1985 - James Cameron, journalist, dies. 1985 - In Mendoza Province, Argentina, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurs. Six people killed, at least 238 injured and about 12,500 homes destroyed or damaged. 1986 - Birth of Matt Heafy; American lead vocalist (Trivium). 1986 - Hein Vergeer becomes European skating champ. 1986 - Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears beat New England Patriots, 46-10 in New Orleans, Louisiana; Most Valuable Player: Richard Dent, Defensive End. 1986 - Val Skinner wins LPGA Mazda Golf Classic. 1986 - Yoweri Museveni's rebel army conquerors Kampala, Uganda. 1987 - 14th American Music Awards: Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie and Alabama. 1987 - In Japan, Enix releases the Dragon Quest II video game for the Famicom. 1987 - Hart Foundation beats British Bulldogs for WWF tag team title. 1987 - In Algeria, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurs. 1988 - Phantom of the Opera opens at Majestic Theater in New York City, New York for 4,000+ performances. 1988 - Australia's 200th anniversary-parade of tall ships in Sydney Harbor. 1989 - Black and Blue opens at Minskoff Theater in New York City, New York for 829 performances. 1989 - AT&T reports first loss in 103 years; US$1.67 billion in 1988. 1989 - Allan Border takes 7-46 against the West Indies at the SCG. 1989 - Madison Square Gardens sports arena in New York announces two-year US$100 million renovation plan. 1989 - Paul Daels, Flemish chairman (IJzerbedevaart committee), dies. 1989 - Stéphane Steinier, Belgian journalist, kidnapped and murdered. 1989 - Test debut of Mark Taylor, Australia vs West Indies, Sydney. 1989 - Birth of Emily Hughes, American figure skater. 1990 - Annular eclipse visible over Antarctica and South Atlantic. 1990 - Boston Red Sox hires Elaine Weddington as assistant general manager (highest-ranking black female in a major-league front office). 1990 - FHP "Boy" Trip, Dutch minister, dies. 1990 - Birth of Christopher Massey, American actor. 1990 - Death of Lewis Mumford, American historian of science (born 1895). 1991 - Few Good Men closes at Music Box Theater in New York City, New York after 497 performances. 1991 - 65th Australian Womens Tennis: Monica Seles beats J Novotna (5-7, 6-3, 6-1). 1991 - Alfaro Vive guerrilla group of Ecuador gives arms to Catholic church. 1991 - Houston Rockets' guard Vernon Maxwell is fourth NBA player to score 30 points in a quarter. 1991 - Jan Stenerud becomes first pure placekicker to make NFL Hall of Fame. 1991 - Johnny van Doorn, Dutch writer/poet, dies at age 46. 1991 - New York Lotto pays US$90 million to nine winner (numbers are 5-15-30-35-46-50). 1991 - Somalia President Siad Barre flees his compound in Mogadishu. 1992 - "Little Hotel on the Side" opens at Belasco Theater New York City, New York for 41 performances. 1992 - 80th Australian Mens Tennis: Jim Courier beats Stefan Edberg (6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2). 1992 - Americans with Disabilities Act goes into effect. 1992 - José Ferrer of Puerto Rico, actor/director (Cyrano de Bergerac), dies at age 80 (born 1912). 1992 - Okke Jager, Dutch theologist/writer/poet, dies at age 63. 1992 - The Washington Redskins defeat the Buffalo Bills 37-24 in Super Bowl XXVI football at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1992 - Boris Yeltsin announces that Russia will stop targeting United States cities with nuclear weapons. 1993 - Axel Von Dem Bussche, German aristocrat, dies. 1993 - Jan Gies, Dutch resistance fighter (helped Anne Frank), dies at age 87. 1993 - Robert Jacobsen, Danish sculptor (large iron sculptures), dies at age 80. 1993 - West Indies defeats Australia by one run in fourth Test at Adelaide. 1993 - Birth of Cameron Bright, Canadian actor. 1993 - In Yunnan, China, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurs. At least 66 people injured, 6,972 houses destroyed and 21,444 seriously damaged in southwestern Yunnan Province. 1993 - Václav Havel is elected President of the Czech Republic. 1994 - A man fires two blank shots at Charles, Prince of Wales in Sydney, Australia. 1995 - Bernardo Leighton, Chilean politician (1964-70), dies. 1995 - Geoffrey Penwill Parsons, Australian/British piano accompanist, dies at age 65. 1995 - Louis Heren, journalist, dies at age 65. 1995 - New Jersey Governor Christine Whitman dedicates a rest stop to Howard Stern. 1995 - Vic Buckingham, English soccer player/trainer (Ajax), dies at age 79. 1996 - Les Miserables opens at Musichall Theatre, Duisburg. 1996 - David Schultz, wrestler (Olympics-Gold-1984), killed by John Du Pont. 1996 - Harold Brodkey, writer, dies at age 65. 1996 - Henry Jay Lewis, conductor, dies at age 63. 1996 - U.S. millionaire John Dupont shoots wrestler David Schultz. 1997 - Ideal Husband closes at Barrymore Theater in New York City, New York after 308 performances. 1997 - 85th Australian Mens Tennis: Pete Sampras beats Carlos Moya (6-2, 6-3, 6-3). 1997 - Birth of Pasaye Twins in Palatine, Illinois, twin born 92 days after his brother (October 26). 1997 - Brunswick World Bowling Tournament of Champions won by John Gant. 1997 - Margaret Hesse, princess of Hesse/the Rhine, dies at age 83. 1997 - Sarah Lucas, theatre administrator, dies at age 53. 1997 - The Green Bay Packers win the NFL Championship for the first time since 1967, defeating the New England Patriots 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. 1998 - 25th American Music Awards: Spice Girls and Babyface win. 1998 - Intel launches 333 MHz Pentium II chip. 1998 - On American television, President Bill Clinton denies he had "sexual relations" with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. 1998 - S P Leary, Texan Blues drummer (Muddy Waters), dies at age 67. 1998 - Shinichi Suzuki, music teacher (Suzuki Method), dies at age 99. 1998 - Walter Edmonds, writer (Drums Along the Mohawk), dies at age 93. 2000 - Death of Don Ralke, American music arranger (born 1920). 2001 - In India, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurs. At least 20,085 people killed, 166,836 injured, approximately 339,000 buildings destroyed and 783,000 damaged in the Bhuj-Ahmadabad-Rajkot area and other parts of Gujarat. Felt throughout northern India, much of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and western Nepal. 2003 - The first authorized flight by a Taiwanese aircraft to mainland China since 1949 takes place, though via Hong Kong or Macau. 2003 - Super Bowl XXXVII: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat the Oakland Raiders 48-21. 2003 - Death of Valeriy Brumel, Russian athlete (born 1942). 2003 - Death of Hugh Trevor-Roper, Baron Dacre of Glanton, English historian (born 1917). 2004 - A whale explodes in Tainan City, Taiwan. 2005 - Two trains derail, killing 11 and injuring 200, in Glendale, California near Los Angeles. 2007 - Death of Gump Worsley, Canadian hockey player (born 1929). 2008 - In South Carolina, USA, the Democratic caucuses choose Barack Obama as candidate for the presidential election on November. The Republican caucuses choose John McCain. 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