This Day in History
January 31

What happened in history on this day: January 31? On January 31 in ... 314 - Saint Silvester I begins his reign as Catholic Pope. 876 - Charles becomes king of Italy. 1504 - By treaty of Lyons, French cede Naples to Ferdinand of Aragon. 1517 - Birth of Gioseffo Zarlino composer. 1531 - Kings Ferdinand of Austria/János Zápolyai of Hungary accept each other. 1560 - Spanish king Philip II marries Elisabeth van Valois. 1561 - Menno Simonsz Dutch priest/vicar (Foundation Book), dies. 1573 - Birth of Ambrosius Metzger composer. 1573 - Birth of Giulio Cesare Monteverdi composer. 1578 - Battle of Gembloers. 1580 - Hendrik Portuguese cardinal/epilepticus/regent (1578-80), dies. 1596 - Catholic League disjoins. 1601 - Birth of Pieter de Bloot Dutch landscape painter. 1605 - In Tokaido, Japan, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurs, claiming 5,000 deaths and creating a tsunami wave. 1606 - Guy Fawkes convicted in the "Gunpowder Plot", executed at age 35. 1607 - Birth of James Stanley 7th Earl of Derby. 1609 - Wisselbank of Amsterdam established. 1612 - Birth of Hendrik Casimir I count of Nassau-Dietz/mayor of Frisia. 1614 - Birth of Nicolas Saboly composer. 1620 - Birth of Georg F von Waldeck German commander-in-chief. 1623 - Birth of François-Xavier de Laval Montmorency, consecrated the first bishop of Québec Canada in 1674. 1627 - Spanish government goes bankrupt. 1633 - Birth of Nathaniel Crew English bishop (Durham). 1675 - Cornelia/Dina Olfaarts found not guilty of witchcraft. 1679 - Jean-Baptiste Lully's opera "Bellérophon" premieres in Paris. 1696 - Revolt of undertakers after funeral reforms (Amsterdam). 1734 - Birth of Julien-Amable Mathieu composer. 1734 - Birth of Robert Morris merchant (signed Declaration of Independence). 1741 - Birth of Theodor Gotlieb von Hippel East Prussian author/mayor of Köningsberg. 1750 - Birth of Gerrit J Pijman Dutch minister of War (1798-1800, 1803-06). 1759 - Birth of François Devienne composer. 1778 - Birth of Franz Anton graaf von Kolowrat Austrian premier of Bohemia (1848). 1779 - Charles Messier adds M57 (Ring Nebula in Lyra) to his catalog. 1784 - Birth of Carl Wilhelm Henning composer. 1787 - Birth of Louis Angely Germany, comedy writer (Sieben Mädchen in Uniform). 1788 - Charles E Stuart English pretender to the throne, dies at age 67. 1788 - Francesco Zannetti composer, dies at age 50. 1788 - [Bonnie Prince] Charles E Stuart English pretender, dies at age 67. 1797 - Birth of Franz Peter Schubert Lichtenthal Austria, composer (Unfinished Symphony). 1798 - Birth of Karl Gottlieb Reissiger composer. 1802 - Birth of Jan C J van Speijk Dutch naval hero. 1804 - Birth of József Bajza Hungarian author/poet/critic. 1804 - British Vice-Admiral William Bligh's fleet reaches Curaçao. 1810 - Birth of Daniel Ruggles Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1897. 1812 - Birth of John Randolph Tucker Captain (Confederate Navy), died in 1883. 1813 - Birth of Samuel Sarphati Amsterdam, physician/pharmacist/social activist. 1817 - Birth of Antony Winkler Prins Dutch writer (Groiler Encyclopaedia). 1817 - Franz Grillparzer's "Die Ahnfrau" premieres in Vienna. 1818 - Birth of William Raine Peck Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1871. 1828 - Alexandros Ypsilanti Greek resistance fighter, dies at age 35. 1830 - Birth of James Gillespie Blaine West Brownsville Pennsylvania, (Representative-Republican-Maine 1863-76/Senator-Republican-Maine 1876-81/Secretary of State 1889-92). 1836 - Birth of Henryk Szulc composer. 1842 - John Tyler's daughter Elizabeth marries in the White House. 1849 - Corn Laws abolished in Britain. 1851 - Gail Borden announces invention of evaporated milk. 1851 - San Francisco Orphan's Asylum, first in California founded. 1854 - Dutch KNMI established (Royal Meteorological Institute). 1855 - Western railroads blocked by snow. 1861 - Franciscus J van Vree Dutch Catholic foreman, dies at age 53. 1861 - Friedrich Hebbel's "Siegfrieds Tod" premieres in Weimar. 1861 - State of Louisiana takes over US Mint at New Orleans. 1862 - Telescope maker Alvin Clark discovers dwarf companion of Sirius. 1863 - Birth of F Henri Berz French existentialist philosopher (Revue the Synthesis). 1863 - First black Civil War regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, mustered into US army. 1864 - Hamilton Rowan Gamble US judge/Governor of Missouri (1861-64), dies. 1865 - US Congress passes 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in America. 1866 - Birth of Emil Strauss Germany, writer (Naked Man). 1866 - Birth of Henry Forster cricketer (Oxford blue 1887-89, later Australian Governor-General). 1868 - Birth of Theodore William Richards chemist (atomic weights, Nobel Prize-1914). 1869 - Birth of Henry graaf Carton de Wiart Belgian literary/premier (1920-21). 1871 - Millions of birds fly over western San Francisco, darken the sky. 1872 - Birth of Zane Grey American West novelist (Riders of the Purple Sage, Spirit of the Border). 1874 - Jesse James gang robs train at Gads Hill Missouri. 1877 - Birth of Max Ettlinger German philosopher. 1878 - Birth of Willem J M van Eysinga Dutch international law jurist. 1881 - Birth of Irving Langmuir physical chemist/colloid researcher/inventor (tungsten filament lamp/Nobel Prize 1932). 1881 - Birth of Joseph A Cushman US, palaentologist/foraminiferologist. 1882 - Birth of Anna Pavlova Saint Petersburg Russia, ballerina/choreographer. 1882 - Birth of Josephus RH van Schaik Dutch lawyer/vice-premier. 1884 - Birth of Nicholas Joy Paris France; actor (Boss Lady). 1886 - Birth of Alfonso Lopez Colombia, statesman (President United Nations security council-1948). 1889 - Birth of F R Foster cricketer (330 runs and 45 wickets for England). 1890 - Birth of Adolf Bach German language/sociologist (Deutsche Namenkunde). 1891 - Birth of Max Drischner composer. 1891 - Ernest Meissonier French painter/etcher/sculptor, dies at age 75. 1892 - Birth of Eddie Cantor New York City, New York, comedian (Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater). 1893 - "Westminster Gazette" begins publishing. 1893 - Birth of Freya Stark English explorist/author. 1894 - Birth of Percy Helton New York; actor (Jail Busters, Harbor of Missing Men). 1895 - José Martí and others leave New York City, New York for invasion of Spanish Cuba. 1901 - Birth of Blaz Arnic composer. 1901 - Birth of Marie Luise Kaschnitz writer. 1901 - Boer General John Smuts and De la Rey conqueror Mud river Transvaal. 1901 - Chekhov's "Three Sisters" opens at the Moscow Art Theater. 1901 - Winnipeg Victorias sweep Montréal Shamrocks in two for the Stanley Cup. 1902 - Birth of Alva Myrdal Uppsala Sweden, diplomat (Nobel Peace Prize-1982). 1902 - Birth of Jean C M Picart le Doux France, carpet designer. 1902 - Birth of Julian H Steward US anthropologist/professor. 1903 - Birth of Gardner Cowles Iowa, publisher/founder (Look Magazine). 1903 - Birth of Tallulah Bankhead Huntsville Alabama, actress (Lifeboat, Die Die Darling). 1904 - Birth of E van Ruller Dutch journalist/ARP-alderman/co-founder (Trouw). 1904 - Birth of Léon N H Jungschläger head of military intelligence (Netherlands-Indies). 1904 - Béla Bartók's symphony "Kossuth" premieres. 1905 - First auto to exceed 100 mph (161 kph), A G MacDonald, Daytona Beach. 1905 - Birth of Anna Blaman [Johanna P Vrugt], Dutch writer (Wife and Friend). 1905 - Birth of Charles de Trooz Belgian literary (Le Magister et Ses Maîtres). 1905 - Birth of John Henry O'Hara Pottsville Pennsylvania, novelist (Butterfield 8, Pal Joey, Appointment at Samarra). 1905 - Carroll Wright appointed first US Commissioner of Labor. 1906 - Birth of Benjamin Frankel composer. 1906 - Birth of R W Bonham founder (International Braille Chess Association). 1906 - Strongest instrumentally recorded earthquake, Colombia, 8.6 Richter. 1908 - Birth of René Simone Mathieu France, doubles tennis star (Wimbledon 1934). 1909 - Birth of Foley Newns British colonial administrator. 1909 - Birth of Miron Grindea literary editor. 1910 - Birth of Herbert Ashworth CEO (Nationwide Building Society). 1911 - Birth of A G Ogston president (Trinity College-Oxford). 1911 - Birth of Christina Foyle book seller. 1911 - US Congress names San Francisco as Panamá Canal opening celebration site. 1913 - Birth of Don Hutson NFL end (Green Bay Packers). 1913 - Birth of Hector Iglesias Villoud composer. 1913 - Birth of Wayne Millner NFL end (Boston/Washington Redskins). 1914 - Birth of Carey Lofton Blountsville Florida; actor (Skinner-Troubleshooters). 1914 - Birth of Jersey Joe Walcott heavyweight boxing champion (1951-52). 1914 - Birth of Louis Osman architect/artist/goldsmith. 1915 - First (German) poison gas attack, against Russians. 1915 - Birth of Bobby Hackett Providence Rhode Island, trumpeteer/orchestra leader (Air Time '57). 1915 - Birth of Garry Moore [Thomas Garrison Morfit], Baltimore Maryland, TV host (Garry Moore Show, I've Got a Secret). 1915 - Birth of John Profumo president (Toynbee Hall). 1915 - Birth of Thomas Merton France, Trappist monk/poet/essayist (7 Storey Mt). 1915 - Birth of William Crosbie artist. 1916 - Birth of Ciro D Crown premier of Dutch Antilles (1968-69). 1916 - Birth of Frank A Parker tennis champion (US Open-1944). 1916 - Birth of Violet Cane statistician. 1916 - Dutch Girl Guides form. 1917 - Birth of Erich Geiringer General practitioner campaigner. 1917 - Birth of Jose Maceda composer. 1917 - Germany notifies US that U-boats will attack neutral merchant ship. 1918 - Russia adopts Gregorian calendar, next day is February 14. 1919 - Birth of Jackie Robinson Georgia, first black major league baseball player (Brooklyn Dodgers). 1919 - Birth of Lord Lowry. 1919 - Paul Lindau German playwright/critic (Estimate), dies at age 79. 1920 - First Ukrainian daily newspaper in US (New York City New York) begins publication. 1920 - Birth of Patrick Heron painter. 1920 - Birth of Robert Hersant press baron. 1920 - Birth of Stewart L Udall Saint Johns Arizona, US Secretary of Interior (1961-69). 1920 - Joe Malone, Québec Bulldogs, sets NHL record with 7 goals in a game against Toronto. 1920 - Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, at Howard University, incorporates. 1921 - Birth of Carol Channing Seattle Washington, actress (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Hello Dolly). 1921 - Birth of John Agar Chicago Illinois; actor (Fort Apache, Sands of Iwo Jima). 1921 - Birth of Mario Lanza Philadelphia Pennsylvania; actor/singer (Great Caruso, Toast of New Orleans). 1922 - Birth of Michael Wilford diplomat. 1922 - Birth of William Sylvester Oakland California; actor (2001, Gorgo, Gemini Man). 1922 - Heinrich Reinhardt composer, dies at age 56. 1923 - Birth of Eddie Ryder New York City, New York; actor (Slick Jones-General Hospital). 1923 - Birth of Joanne Dru Logan West Virginia, actress (Guestward Ho, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon). 1923 - Birth of Norman Mailer New Jersey, New York City, New York mayoral candidate/novelist (Naked and the Dead). 1924 - Birth of Robert Gatehouse former High Court judge. 1924 - Birth of Tengiz Abuladze filmmaker. 1925 - Birth of Benjamin Hooks civil rights leader. 1925 - Birth of Charles Aidman Frankfort Indiana, narrator (New Twilight Zone). 1925 - Birth of Fred Catherwood Member of Parliament. 1925 - Premier Ahmed Zogu (Zogu I) becomes President of Albania. 1926 - Birth of Jean Simmons London England, actress (Thorn Birds, Guys and Dolls). 1926 - Birth of Prunella Briance founder (National Childbirth Trust). 1927 - International allies military command in Germany disbands. 1927 - National League President John Heydler rules Roger Hornsby can't hold stock in the Saint Louis Cardinals and play for the New York Giants. 1928 - Birth of Chuck Willis rock vocalist (C C Rider). 1928 - Birth of Eric Ash rector (Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine). 1928 - Birth of Richard Buckley royal equerry. 1928 - Birth of Robert Clatworthy sculptor. 1928 - Scotch tape first marketed by 3-M Company. 1929 - Birth of Rudolf Mossbauer Germany, physicist (Nobel Prize 1961). 1929 - Erich Maria Remarque publishes "Im West nieces Neues" in Berlin. 1929 - Leon Trotsky expelled from Russia to Turkey. 1930 - First US glider flight from a dirigible, Lakehurst New Jersey. 1930 - Birth of Lynn Carlin Los Angeles California, actress (Joan Hunter-James at age 15). 1931 - Birth of Bill Watson cricketer (New South Wales and Australian opening batsman mid-50s). 1931 - Birth of Christopher Chataway British Member of Parliament/athlete (world record 5k). 1931 - Birth of Ernie "Mr Cubs" Banks Chicago Cubs, Hall-of-Famer (first baseman). 1931 - Birth of Jean Burroughs educationalist. 1931 - Birth of Nicholas Gordon Lennox diplomat. 1931 - Philip Barry's "Tomorrow and Tomorrow" premieres in New York City, New York. 1932 - Birth of Pieter Brattinga Dutch graphic artist. 1932 - Birth of Rick Hall country/R&B singer. 1932 - US railway unions accept 10% wage reduction. 1933 - Birth of Joseph D Early (Representative-Democrat-Massachusetts, 1975-). 1933 - Birth of Walter Paulis mineworker/pilot/Dutch Member of Parliament (CDA). 1933 - French government of Daladier takes power. 1933 - Hitler promises parliamentary democracy. 1933 - John Galsworthy England, writer (Forsythe, Nobel Prize 1932), dies at age 65. 1934 - Birth of Brian Bolus cricketer (England opening batsman early 1960s). 1934 - Birth of James Franciscus Clayton Missouri; actor (Mr Novak, Longstreet, Hunter). 1934 - Birth of Ron Weatherburn jazz pianist. 1934 - Franklin Roosevelt devalues the dollar in relation to gold at $35 per ounce. 1935 - 30.5 cm (12.0") of rain falls, Quinault RS Washington (state record). 1935 - Birth of Bojidar Dimov composer. 1935 - Birth of Oe Kenzaburo Japanese novelist (The Catch, A Personal Matter). 1936 - "Green Hornet" radio show is first heard on WXYZ Radio in Detroit. 1936 - Birth of Marvin Junior singer (Dells-Oh What a Night). 1937 - Birth of Philip Glass Baltimore Maryland, composer (Einstein on the Beach). 1937 - Birth of Steve Karmen Bronx New York, jingle writer (I Love New York, This Bud's for You). 1937 - Birth of Suzanne Pleshette New York City, New York, actress (The Birds, Emily-Bob Newhart Show). 1938 - Birth of Ajip Rosidi Indonesian poet/writer (Madjalah Sunda, Pesta). 1938 - Birth of Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard queen of Netherlands (1980-). 1938 - Birth of James G Watt Colorado, US Secretary of Interior (1981-83). 1939 - George Thornton cricketer (one Test for South Africa 1902, 1* and 1-20), dies. 1940 - 40 U boats sunk this month (111,000 ton). 1940 - Birth of Jessica Walter Brooklyn New York, actress (Play Misty For Me, Amy Prentiss). 1940 - Birth of Stuart Margolin Davenport Iowa; actor (Love American Style). 1940 - C Turney and J Horwin's "My Dear Children" premieres in New York City, New York. 1940 - René "Sascha" Schickele German writer (Erbe am Rhein), dies at age 56. 1941 - 21 U boats sunk this month (127,000 ton). 1941 - Anti-German demonstration in Haarlem Netherlands. 1941 - Birth of George S Mickelson (Governor-South Dakota). 1941 - Birth of Richard A Gephardt (Representative-Democrat-Missouri, 1977-). 1941 - Birth of Sharon Miller LPGA golfer. 1941 - Joe Louis knocks out Red Burman in five for heavyweight boxing title. 1941 - A formal armistice is signed by Siam and Indochina. 1942 - 62 U boats sunk this month (327,000 ton). 1942 - Birth of Derek Jarman actor/director (Angelic Conversation, Edward II). 1942 - Birth of Gerald Chamberlain jazz musician. 1943 - 39 U boats sunk this month (203,100 ton). 1943 - Chile breaks contact with Germany and Japan. 1943 - German 6th Army commander Friedrich Paulus and almost 250,000 German troops surrender at Stalingrad. 1944 - Birth of Anton Korteweg Dutch poet (For the Good Order). 1944 - Birth of Charley Musselwhite blues musician (Stand Back, Louisiana Fog). 1944 - Birth of Eugene Terre Blanche South African leader of Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging. 1944 - Birth of John Inverarity cricketer (Australian batsman 1968-72). 1944 - Operation-Overlord (D-Day) postponed until June. 1944 - U-592 sunk off Ireland. 1944 - US forces invade Kwajalein Atoll. 1945 - Birth of Noah Creshevsky composer. 1945 - (1004 hours) American Private Edward Donald Slovik, age 25, is executed by firing squad for desertion, the first such execution since the US Civil War. 1945 - US 4th Infantry division occupies Elcherrath. 1946 - Birth of Glynn Turman New York City, New York; actor (Lew-Peyton Place, Manimal, Centennial). 1946 - Birth of Jonathan Banks Washington DC; actor (Armed and Dangerous, Cold Steel). 1946 - Birth of Subroto Guha cricketer (right arm swing bowler for India 1967-69). 1946 - Birth of Terry Kath rocker (Chicago-If You Leave Me Now). 1946 - Yugoslavia adopts new constitution, becomes a federal republic. 1947 - Birth of Jim Nollman composer. 1947 - Birth of Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. in Refugio, Texas, USA; baseball pitcher (New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros). 1948 - J D Salinger's "A Perfect Day for Banana Fish" appears in New York. 1948 - Magnetic tape recorder developed by Wireway. 1949 - First daytime soap on TV These Are My Children (NBC in Chicago). 1949 - Birth of Carol Hawkins actress (Dialing for Dingbats). 1949 - Henri de Vries [Hendricus Walterop]; actor (Cleopatra), dies at age 84. 1950 - President Truman reveals that he ordered the Atomic Energy Commission to develop the hydrogen bomb. 1951 - Birth of Harry Casey [KC], rock vocalist (KC and Sunshine Band-Give It). 1951 - Birth of Phil Collins England, singer/drummer (Genesis-Against All Odds). 1951 - Birth of Phil Manzanera rock guitarist (Roxy Music-Let's Stick Together). 1951 - Birth of Presiley Baxendale British QC. 1952 - Birth of Rosanne Musgrave headmistress (Blackheath HS). 1952 - Dutch Lutheran Church reunites after 1.5 centuries. 1952 - Harry Heilmann and Paul Waner elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1953 - "Princess Victoria" capsized off Stanraer Scotland; 133 die. 1953 - Birth of Aart Mol Dutch bassist (Catapult). 1953 - Hurricane-like winds flood Netherlands drowning nearly 2,000. 1953 - New York, Cleveland and Boston retaliate at Bill Veeck, forcing the Browns to play afternoon games to avoid sharing TV revenues. 1954 - Birth of Adrian Vandenberg Amsterdam Netherlands, rock guitarist (Whitesnake). 1954 - Birth of Sheik Faoud Ahamul Bacchus cricketer (West Indian bat late 1970s). 1954 - Edwin H Armstrong US radio inventor (FM), commits suicide at age 63. 1954 - Florence Bates actress (Kismet, I Remember Mama), dies at age 65. 1955 - Birth of Virginia Ruzici Romania, tennis star. 1955 - John R Mott US theologist/founder (YMCA, Nobel Prize 1946), dies at age 89. 1955 - RCA demonstrates first music synthesizer. 1956 - Birth of Johnny Rotten [John Lydon], rocker (Sex Pistols-God Save the Queen). 1956 - Birth of Lloyd Cole rocker. 1956 - Birth of Trevor A Manuel South African UDF/African National Congress-leader. 1956 - French government of Mollet forms. 1956 - Juscelino Kubitschek becomes President of Brazil. 1957 - Birth of Brett "the Hitman" Hart Alberta Canada, WWF champion. 1957 - Birth of Shirley F Babashoff California, swimmer (Olympics-6 silver/2 gold-1972, 1976). 1957 - Liz Taylor's second divorce (Michael Wilding). 1957 - Trans-Iranian oil pipe line finished. 1958 - Jackpot Bowling premieres on NBC with Leo Durocher as host. 1958 - Birth of Rafael Santana; shortstop (New York Mets, New York Yankees). 1958 - Birth of Tom Schuman; pianist (Spyro Gyra - "Morning Dance"). 1958 - James van Allen discovers radiation belt. 1958 - US launches their first artificial satellite, Explorer 1. 1959 - Birth of Anthony LaPaglia; actor (Murder One). 1959 - Birth of Kelly Lynch; actress (Drugstore Cowboy). 1959 - Joe Cronin signs seven-year pact to become head of American League. 1960 - Birth of Elaine Roque in Santa Monica, California, USA; beach volleyballer (Olympics-1996). 1960 - Lowell Gilmore, actor (Calcutta, Roadblock), dies at age 53. 1961 - Birth of Lloyd Cole; guitar/vocals (and the Commotions - "Rattlesnakes"). 1961 - David Ben-Gurion resigns as premier of Israel. 1961 - Ham is first primate in space (158 miles) aboard Mercury/Redstone 2. 1961 - Houston voters approve bond to finance luxury domed stadium. 1961 - Kanhai completes twin tons (117 and 115) vs Australia at Adelaide. 1961 - NATO secretary-General Paul-Henri Spaak says he'll resign. 1961 - USAF launches Samos spy satellite to replace U-2 flights. 1962 - General Charles P Cabell, USAF, ends term as deputy director of US Central Intelligence Agency. 1963 - Birth of John Dye in Amory, Massachusetts, USA; actor (Andrew - Touched by an Angel). 1963 - Birth of Scott Ian Rosenfeld in Bayside, New York, USA; rocker (Anthrax - "Protest and Survive"). 1964 - Birth of Oto Hascak; hockey forward (Team Slovakia 1998). 1964 - Birth of Remi Bouchard in Lasalle, Québec, Canada; Canadian Tour golfer (1989 India Open). 1964 - Birth of Sharon Cain in San Antonio, Texas, USA; team handball center back (Olympics-1996). 1964 - US report Smoking and Health connects smoking to lung cancer. 1965 - Birth of Adam Johnson in Portland, Oregon, USA; beach volleyballer (Olympics-1996). 1965 - Birth of Bianca Yasmin Salahshourian in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA; Miss Connecticut-America (1990). 1965 - Birth of Bobby Dollas in Montréal, Québec, Canada; NHL defenseman (Anaheim Mighty Ducks). 1965 - Birth of Kim Clarke in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; team handball back court (Olympics-1988, 1992, 1996). 1965 - Birth of René Trost; Dutch soccer player (Roda JC). 1965 - Pud Galvin elected to baseball Hall of Fame. 1966 - Belgian state police kills two striking mine workers. 1966 - Birth of Al Jaworsky [Alan Doughty]; pop bassist (Jesus Jones). 1966 - Birth of Charles Dimry; NFL cornerback (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles). 1966 - Birth of Jamie Taras; Canadian Football League guard (British Columbia Lions). 1966 - Elizabeth Patterson, actress (Tall Story), dies at age 90. 1966 - USSR launches Luna 9 toward the Moon. 1967 - Chief Thundercloud, actor (Ambush, Colt 45, Typhoon), dies at age 100. 1967 - Otto Dibelius, German theologian/bishop, dies at age 86. 1968 - Birth of Doug Pederson; NFL quarterback (Green Bay Packers-Super Bowl XXXI). 1968 - Birth of Michael Sinclair; NFL defensive end (Seattle Seahawks). 1968 - Birth of Steve Phoenix; US baseball pitcher (Oakland Athletics). 1968 - Bobby Simpson takes 5-59 vs India in his last Test for ten years. 1968 - Nauru (formerly Pleasant Island) declares independence from Australia. 1968 - Record high barometric pressure (1083.8 mb, 32 inches), at Agata, USSR. 1968 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1969 - Alexander Mikhaylovich Dzegelyonok, composer, dies at age 77. 1969 - Birth of Mathew Pallister in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; canoeist (Olympics-1996). 1969 - Vice Admiral Rufus L Taylor, USN, ends term as deputy director of US Central Intelligence Agency. 1970 - Birth of Greg Skrepenak; NFL tackle (Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers). 1970 - Birth of Travis Hannah; NFL/WLAF receiver (Houston Oilers, Frankfurt Galaxy). 1970 - Slim Harpo [James Moore], rocker, dies at age 28. 1971 - "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison hit #1 on United Kingdom pop chart. 1971 - Apollo 14 launched, first landing in lunar highlands. 1971 - Birth of Brandi Sherwood; Miss Idaho-USA (1997, second, succeeded Brook Lee). 1971 - Birth of Corey Holliday; NFL wide receiver (Pittsburgh Steelers). 1971 - Birth of Minnie Driver; actress (Good Will Hunting). 1971 - Jake Beckley, Joe Kelley, Harry Hooper, Rube Marquard, Chick Hafey and Dave Bancroft and George Weiss elected to baseball Hall of Fame. 1971 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Janet Lynn. 1971 - US male Figure Skating championship won by John Misha Petkevich. 1972 - Bir Bikram Shah Deva Mahendra, king of Nepal (1955-72), dies at age 51. 1972 - Birenda becomes leader of Nepal. 1972 - Birth of Ben Cavil; guard (Baltimore Ravens). 1972 - Birth of Fritz Fequiere; WLAF guard (Barcelona Dragons, London Monarchs). 1972 - Birth of Marvin Coleman; Canadian Football League defensive back (Calgary Stampeders). 1972 - Birth of Pulu Poumele; guard (San Diego Chargers). 1972 - Birth of Reinier Robbemond; Dutch soccer player (Dordrecht '90). 1972 - Howard Barlow, conductor (Voice of Firestone), dies at age 79. 1972 - Istvan Szelenyi, composer, dies at age 67. 1972 - Military coup ousts civilian government of Ghana. 1972 - US launches HEOS A-2 for interplanetary observations (396/244,998). 1973 - Birth of Latario Rachal; WLAF/NFL receiver (Amsterdam Admirals, San Diego Chargers). 1973 - Ragnar Frisch, Norwegian economist (Nobel Prize 1969), dies at age 77. 1974 - Birth of Bob Mulder; soccer player (Appingedam, FC Groningen). 1974 - Birth of Lorenzo Styles; NFL linebacker (Atlanta Falcons). 1974 - Birth of Othella Harrington; NBA forward (Houston Rockets). 1974 - Birth of Pavi Sald; ice hockey defenseman (Finland, Olympics-1998). 1974 - Birth of Tory Toogood; Australian rower (Olympics-1996). 1974 - Glenn Morris, olympian/actor (Tarzan's Revenge), dies at age 61. 1974 - Harry Baum, actor (Crime and Punishment), dies at age 58. 1974 - McDonald's founder Ray Kroc buys San Diego Padres for US$12 million. 1974 - Paul Haesaerts, Flemish architect/painter (Flandre), dies at age 72. 1974 - Roger Pryor, actor (Lady by Choice), dies at age 72. 1974 - Samuel Goldwyn, Polish/English/US film magnate (MGM), dies at age 91. 1975 - Barry Manilow's "Mandy" goes gold. 1975 - Birth of Kenard Lang; defensive end (Washington Redskins). 1975 - UCLA wins NCAA basketball championship. 1976 - "Love Rollercoaster" by Ohio Players hits #1. 1976 - Lance Gibbs becomes highest Test wicket-taker at 308. 1977 - Birth of Naomi Darrell; Miss Bermuda-Universe (1997). 1977 - Frenchman François Claustre freed, after 33 months as hostage in Chad. 1977 - Joe Sewell, Amos Rusie, and Al Lopez elected to baseball Hall of Fame. 1978 - Elvis: The Legend Lives! opens at Palace Theater in New York City, New York for 101 performances. 1978 - Israel turns three military outposts in West Bank into civilian settlements. 1980 - The Spanish Embassy in Guatemala is invaded and set on fire, killing 36 people. 1980 - J P Duminy, cricketer (30 runs at 5 and 1 wicket at age 39 in three Test South Africa), dies. 1980 - Police storm occupied Spanish embassy in Guatemala City, killing 41. 1981 - "The Tide Is High" song by Blondie hits #1. 1981 - 38th Golden Globes: Ordinary People, Coal Miner's Daughter. 1981 - Gaetan Boucher skates world record 1000m (1:13.39). 1981 - Death of Cozy Cole, American jazz drummer (born 1909). 1981 - Birth of Justin Timberlake; American musician. 1982 - 12th NFL Pro Bowl: AFC beats NFC 16-13. 1982 - 32nd NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 120-118 at New Jersey. 1982 - Gustafson skates world record 10 km (14:26.59). 1982 - Hollis Stacy wins LPGA Whirlpool Golf Championship of Deer Creek. 1982 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Scott Hamilton. 1982 - Birth of Elena Paparizou; Greek-Swedish singer. 1982 - Ten Arabian oryx (extinct except in zoos) released in Oman. 1983 - Birth of James Sutton; British actor. 1983 - Seatbelt use for drivers and front seat passengers becomes mandatory in the United Kingdom. 1984 - 36th NHL All-Star Game: Wales beat Campbell 7-6 at New Jersey. 1984 - Edwin Newman retires from NBC News after 35 years with the network. 1984 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1985 - Harrigan 'n Hart opens at Longacre Theater in New York City, New York for five performances. 1985 - Birth of Andrew Giuliani, son of Rudy (Mayor-Republican-New York City, 1994-2002). 1985 - South African President PW Botha offers to free Nelson Mandela if he denounces violence. 1986 - Birth of Yves Makabu-Makalambay; Belgian footballer. 1986 - In Ohio, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurs. 1986 - Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Down and Out in Beverly Hills to theaters. This is the first R-rated Disney Studios film. The film cost US$14 million to make. 1986 - Mary Lund of Minnesota is first female recipient of an artificial heart. 1987 - 44th Golden Globes: Platoon, Marlee Matlin win. 1987 - United Steelworkers union ratified a concessionary contract with USX Corp. 1987 - Yves Allégret, French director (Such a lovely tiny beach), dies at age 79. 1987 - The last Ohrbach's department store closes in New York City after 64 years of operation. 1988 - Barge sinks near Anacortes, Washington, USA, spills 70,000 gallons of oil. 1988 - Super Bowl XXII: Washington Redskins beat Denver Broncos, 42-10 in San Diego; Most Valuable Player: quarterback Doug Williams. 1989 - Jack Douglas, humorist (My Brother Was an Only Child), dies at age 80. 1989 - Yasushi Akutagawa, composer, dies at age 63. 1990 - First McDonald's fast-food restaurant in Russia opens in Moscow, world's biggest McDonald's. 1990 - Jushin "Thunder" Liger beats Naoki Sano to become New Japan IWGP champ. 1990 - The first ever all-sports daily The National begins publishing. 1991 - Battle for Khafji in Saudi Arabia ends after three days. 1991 - In Hindu Kush Region, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. Estimated 200-400 people killed, many injured and many homes destroyed or damaged in Afghanistan. At least 300 people killed, hundreds injured and several thousand houses damaged in Pakistan. 1991 - Denver Nugget's Michael Adams becomes shortest NBA player to get a triple-double. 1992 - Mel Hein, NFL player (New York Giants), dies at age 82. 1992 - Sportscaster Howard Cosell retires. 1992 - Wim van Heumen, field hockey coach (Netherlands), dies at age 63. 1992 - IBM reports a year-end loss, for the first time, of US$564 million, on revenues of US$64.8 billion. 1993 - "St Joan" opens at Lyceum Theater New York City, New York for 49 performances. 1993 - 81st Australian Men's Tennis: Jim Courier beats Stefan Edberg (6-2, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5). 1993 - In Pasadena, California, the NFL's Super Bowl XXVII is played. The Buffalo Bills become the first team to lose three consecutive Super Bowls as they are defeated by the Dallas Cowboys, 52-17. Most Valuable Player: Troy Aikman, quarterback of Dallas. Michael Jackson performs at the halftime show. 1994 - in Spain, the Barcelona opera theater Gran Teatro del Liceo burns down. 1994 - Dow Jones hits a record 3,978.36. 1994 - German luxury car manufacturer BMW announces the purchase of Rover from British Aerospace. 1995 - George Abbott, playwright/actor/producer (Damn Yankees), dies at age 107 (born 1887). 1995 - U.S. President Bill Clinton invokes emergency powers to extend a $20 billion loan to help Mexico avert financial collapse. 1995 - James Johnson, English Member of Parliament (Labour, 1950-83), dies at age 86. 1996 - Corel purchases WordPerfect, Quattro Pro, and the PerfectOffice application suite from Novell for US$180 million in cash, stock, and future licensing royalties. 1996 - Gustave Solomon, American mathematician and engineer, dies at age 65 (born 1930). 1996 - An explosives-filled truck rams into the gates of the Central Bank in Colombo, Sri Lanka, killing at least 86 and injuring 1,400. 1997 - Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Shadow Conspiracy to theaters in the US. 1997 - Square releases the Final Fantasy VII video game for the PlayStation in Japan. 1997 - Eve Lister, actress/singer (No Limit, Hyde Park), dies at age 84. 1997 - Death of Johnny Klein, American drummer (born 1918). 1998 - 72nd Australian Women's Tennis: Martina Hingis beats C Martinez (6-3 6-3). 1998 - STS 89 (Endeavour 12) lands. 1999 - NFL Super Bowl XXXIII: Denver Broncos beat Atlanta Falcons in Miami, Florida; Most Valuable Player: John Elway, Denver, Quarterback. 1999 - Death of Norm Zauchin, baseball player (born 1929). 2000 - Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashes off the California coast into the Pacific Ocean, killing 88. 2000 - In England, Dr. Harold Shipman is found guilty of murdering 15 patients between 1995 and 1998 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The trial judge recommends that Shipman, 54, should never be released from prison. Shipman's victims were all patients at his surgery in the North Cheshire township of Hyde, where he had worked for six years leading up to his arrest in September 1998. 2001 - Death of Gordon R. Dickson, Canadian writer (born 1923). 2001 - The Scottish Court in the Netherlands convicts one Libyan and acquits another for their part in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 which crashed in Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. 2002 - A large section of the Antarctic Larsen Ice Shelf begins disintegrating, eventually consuming about 3,250 km (1,254 miles) over a 35-day period. 2003 - The Chicago White Sox announces Comiskey Park will now be known as U.S. Cellular Field, in exchange for US$68 million in a 23-year deal with the wireless service provider. 2004 - Death of Eleanor Holm, American swimmer (born 1913). 2005 - The Michael Jackson trial commences in Santa Barbara, California, 14 months after Jackson was arrested with much publicity. 2006 - Samuel Alito is sworn in as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. 2007 - The Venezuelan National Assembly gives President Hugo Chávez the power to rule by decree for 18 months. 2007 - Delta Air Lines creditors officially reject US Airways' hostile takeover bid. 2007 - The Mooninite scare occurs in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, when devices used in a guerrilla marketing campaign for the animated television series Aqua Teen Hunger Force are mistaken for improvised explosive devices. 2007 - Death of Kirka Babitzin, Finnish singer (born 1950). 2007 - Death of Lee Bergere, American actor (born 1924). 2007 - Death of Molly Ivins, American columnist (born 1944). 2008 - Microsoft offers to buy Yahoo for US$44.6 billion: US$31 per share in cash and stock. 2008 - In the USA, ABC airs the season four premiere of series Lost. 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