This Day in History
February 3

What happened in history on this day: February 3? On February 3 in ... 474 - Leo I, Byzantine Emperor (457-74), dies. 865 - Ansgar/Anscharius/Oskar, German first (arch)bishop of Hamburg/saint, dies. 1377 - Cardinal Robert of Geneva (anti-pope Clemens VII) starts term. 1377 - Mass execution of population of Cesena Italy. 1399 - John of Gaunt duke of Lancaster/king of Castile and León, dies at age 58. 1451 - Murad II sultan of Turkey (1421-51), dies. 1468 - Death of Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz; invented printing in the Western World. The first printed bibles came from the press in the workshop of Johannes Gutenberg. 1488 - Bartholomeus Diaz discovers Mosselbaai (Angra dos Vaqueros). 1536 - García de Resende Port writer/publisher (Cancioneiro Geral), dies. 1547 - Russian czar Ivan IV (17) marries Anastasia Romanova. 1558 - Alfonsus de Castro Spanish theologist (council of Trente), dies. 1576 - Henry of Navarre (future Henry IV) escapes from Paris. 1591 - German monarchy forms Protestant Union of Torgau. 1602 - Paul Melissus [Paul Schede], German poet/composer, dies at age 62. 1648 - Birth of Louis Bouteiller composer. 1653 - Cardinal Mazarin returns to Paris from exile. 1655 - Birth of François Fagel Dutch field marshal, baptized. 1660 - General Moncks army reaches London. 1679 - Jan Havicksz Steen Dutch painter (Saint Nicolas Feast), dies at age 53. 1690 - First paper money in America issued (colony of Massachusetts). 1697 - Sjoucke Gabbes Frisian sailor, dies/buried on Dirk-Hartog Island. 1715 - Gottfried Vopelius composer, dies at age 70. 1736 - Birth of Johann Georg Albrechtsberger Austrian organist/composer. 1740 - Birth of Guillaume Lasceux composer. 1740 - Charles de Bourbon, King of Naples, invites Jews to return to Sicily. 1743 - Philadelphia establishes a "pesthouse" to quarantine immigrants. 1748 - Henri Madin composer, dies at age 49. 1752 - Dutch States-General forbid export of windmills. 1755 - Birth of Florido Tomeoni composer. 1763 - Birth of Caroline von Wolzogen [von Lengefeld], German author. 1781 - Dutch West Indies island of Saint Eustatia taken by the British. 1783 - Spain recognizes US independence. 1784 - Birth of John Fane graaf van Westmorland English (opera)composer/diplomat. 1803 - Pedro R de Campomanes Spanish economist/lawyer/literary, dies at age 79. 1805 - Birth of Otto T Freiherr von Manteuffel premier Prussia. 1807 - Birth of Joseph E Johnston General (Commander army of Tennessee). 1807 - Birth of Joseph Eggleston Johnston General (Confederate Army), died in 1891. 1809 - Birth of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Hamburg Germany, composer (Great Scherzos). 1809 - Territory of Illinois organizes (including present-day Wisconsin). 1811 - Birth of Horace Greeley editor ("Go west, young man"). 1814 - Johann Antonin Kozeluch composer, dies at age 75. 1815 - World's first commercial cheese factory established, in Switzerland. 1817 - Birth of Emile Racine Gauthier Prudent composer. 1817 - Birth of Samuel Ryan Curtis Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1866. 1820 - Birth of Elisha Kent Kane US arctic explorer (Kane Basin off NW Greenland). 1821 - Birth of Elizabeth Blackwell Bristol England, first woman physician. 1823 - Birth of Spencer F Baird US biologist (Wood's Hole Station). 1823 - The opera "Semiramide" is produced (Venice). 1824 - Birth of George Thomas "Tige" Anderson Brigadier General (Confederate Army). 1824 - Birth of Nathan George "Shanks" Evans Brigadier General (Confederacy), died in 1868. 1825 - Dutch North Sea coast floods. 1826 - Birth of Walter Bagehot England, economist/sociologist. 1830 - Birth of Robert Cecil Marquess of Salisbury (Conservative), British Prime Minister (1885-1902). 1831 - Birth of Cyrus Ballou Comstock Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1910. 1832 - George Crabbe English vicar/poet (Borough), dies at age 77. 1833 - Birth of Thomas T H Jorissen Dutch historian. 1836 - Whig Party holds its first national convention (Albany New York). 1842 - Birth of Sidney Clopton Lanier US, composer/poet (Hall of Fame). 1844 - Hector Berlioz' "Carnaval Romain" premieres in Paris. 1845 - Birth of Ernest von Wildenbruch German playwright (Sedan). 1846 - Joseph Weigl Austria composer/conductor (Waisenhaus), dies at age 79. 1851 - Birth of Johannes B van Heutsz Lieutenant-General/Governor-General Dutch East Indies. 1851 - Birth of Lord Harris cricketer (4 Tests for England MCC big-wig). 1853 - August Kopisch German writer (Mäuseturm), dies at age 53. 1855 - Wisconsin Supreme Court declares US Fugitive Slave Law unconstitutional. 1860 - Thomas Clemson takes office as first US superintendent of agriculture. 1861 - Birth of Léopold Courouble Belgian writer (Family Kaekebroeck). 1862 - Jean-Baptiste Biot French physicist/astronomer, dies at age 87. 1864 - Sherman's march through Georgia. 1865 - Birth of Martinus Ballings Flemish Jesuit/author (Will Power). 1865 - Hampton Roads Peace Conference, Lincoln and Stephens reach an impasse. 1867 - Prince Mutsuhito, 14, becomes Emperor Meiji of Japan (1867-1912). 1868 - Birth of Damaso Ledesma composer. 1869 - Booth theater at 23rd and 6th opens in New York City, New York (Romeo and Juliet). 1870 - 15th Amendment (Black suffrage) passed. 1870 - Birth of Ada Negri Italian poet/author (Il Libro di Mara). 1873 - Birth of Ernest B Allo French theologist. 1874 - Birth of Franklyn Dyall Liverpool England; actor (Easy Virtue). 1874 - Birth of Gertrude Stein Pennsylvania, author (Autobiography of Alice B Toklas). 1875 - Everhardus J Potgieter writer (Liedekens van Bontekoe), dies at age 66. 1876 - Albert Spalding with $800 starts sporting goods company, manufacturing first official baseball, tennis ball, basketball, golf ball, and football. 1876 - Gino Capponi Italian marquis/literary/premier of Toscane, dies at age 83. 1878 - Birth of Joseph Gordon Coates Prime Minister of New Zealand (1925-28). 1879 - Birth of Charles Follis first black US football player (Shelby Ohio). 1880 - Birth of Arnoldus Aerts bishop of Netherlands-Guinea (1920-42). 1882 - Birth of Trijntje Jansma-Boskma oldest person in Netherlands). 1882 - Circus owner PT Barnum buys his world famous elephant Jumbo. 1882 - Guglielmo Quarenghi composer, dies at age 55. 1883 - Birth of Camille Bombois French circus wrestler/painter. 1883 - Birth of Clarence Mulford Illinois, western writer (Hopalong Cassidy). 1886 - Birth of Erwin Kroll composer. 1887 - Birth of Carlo Jachino composer. 1887 - Birth of Georg Trakl Austrian poet (Autumn of the Lonely). 1887 - Birth of Silvio d'Amico Italian theater critic (Tramonto del grande attore). 1887 - To avoid disputed national elections,US Congress creates Electoral Count Act. 1888 - Birth of Joris Baers Flemish bibliography/founder (Boekengids). 1889 - Belle Starr US female gangster, murdered at age 40. 1889 - Birth of Carl Theodor Dreyer Danish movie director (Leaves from Satan's Body, Passion of Jeanne d'arc). 1889 - Birth of Risto Ryti Finnish premier/president. 1890 - Birth of Charles [Andy] Correll Peoria Illinois; actor (Calvin and the Colonel). 1890 - Birth of Heinrich Barth Swiss philosopher (Problem des Bösen). 1890 - Christophorus H D Buys Ballot Dutch meteorologist, dies at age 72. 1891 - Birth of Jan Donner Dutch minister of Justice (1926-33). 1891 - Birth of Peter H "Paul" Huf actor/director (Great Netherlands Stage). 1892 - Russia closes down Yeshiva of Volozhin. 1894 - First US steel sailing vessel, Dirigo, launched, Bath Maine. 1894 - Birth of Juan Negrín Prime Minister of the Spanish Republic (1936-39). 1894 - Birth of Norman Rockwell US, artist/illustrator (Saturday Evening Post covers). 1895 - Birth of Izak Buys cricketer (one Test for South Africa 1922, 0 and 4, 0-52). 1895 - Birth of Nick Kenny Astoria New York City, New York, columnist/songwriter (Nick Kenny Show). 1895 - Birth of Victor Raul Haya de la Torre politician (found APRA party in Peru). 1895 - Wilhelm Mauseth skates world record 500 metre (46.8 seconds). 1896 - Birth of Johannes Urzidil writer. 1898 - Birth of Alvar Aalto Finland, architect (Finlandia House). 1898 - Birth of Paul Urysohn Russian mathematician. 1899 - -16 degrees F (-27 degrees C), Minden Louisiana (state record). 1899 - Birth of Doris Speed actress (Annie-Coronation Street). 1899 - Birth of Forrest "Red" DeBernardi basketball hall of famer (elected 1961). 1900 - Birth of Mabel Mercer English cabaret singer (Fly Me to the Moon). 1900 - Ottokar Eugen Novacek composer, dies at age 33. 1900 - Rival forces fight for control of the Union Park ball grounds in Baltimore. 1901 - Dutch troops under General Van Heutsz conquer Batu Ilië on Sumatra. 1902 - Birth of Ramón [J] Sender [Garcés], Spanish writer (El Lugar del Hombre). 1902 - Isaac Fransen van der Putten Dutch Prime Minister (1866), dies. 1903 - Birth of Priaulx Rainier composer. 1903 - Birth of Walter Linck Swiss sculptor. 1903 - Frederick E Kitziger composer, dies at age 59. 1903 - Frederick Lugard occupies Kano West Africa. 1904 - Birth of Charlie "Pretty Boy" Floyd FBI Most Wanted criminal. 1904 - Birth of Luigi Dallapiccola Pisino Istria, Italian composer. 1904 - Birth of Roger Makins diplomat. 1906 - Birth of Ludvig Nielsen composer. 1907 - Birth of James A Michener New York City, New York, writer (Tales of the South Pacific, Centennial, Chesapeake, Hawaii, Space). 1908 - Birth of Oddbjörn Hagen Norway, cross country jumper (Olympics-gold-1936). 1908 - US Supreme Court rules a union boycott violates Sherman Antitrust Act. 1909 - Birth of M Vasalis [Margaretha Droogleever Fortuyn-Leenmans] poet (Phoenix). 1909 - Birth of Simone Weil Paris, mystic/social philosopher/Resistance fighter (WWII). 1909 - Johann Georg Herzog composer, dies at age 86. 1910 - Birth of Blas Galindo Dimas San Gabriel México, composer (A la Patria). 1910 - Birth of Nelson Case Long Beach California, TV host (Trash or Treasure). 1911 - Birth of Jehan [Ariste] Alain French organist/composer. 1911 - Birth of Jesse Thomas blues singer. 1912 - Birth of Jacques Soustelle French minister of information. 1913 - 16th Amendment, federal income tax, ratified. 1913 - Golden/Cawthorne's musical "Sunshine Girl" premieres in New York City, New York. 1914 - Birth of Cornelis "Kees" Andréa Dutch painter/graphic artist/carpet designer. 1914 - Birth of Felix Kelly artist. 1915 - Birth of Jann Willem Holsbergen author (Zakenmensen Fair as Gold). 1915 - Birth of Richard Bales composer. 1915 - Turkish and German army reach Suez Canal. 1916 - Birth of Vivien Signy nurse. 1916 - Canada's original Parliament building, in Ottawa, burns down. 1916 - Tristan Tzar publishes Dada-manifest in Zurich Switzerland. 1917 - US liner Housatonic sunk by German submarine and diplomatic relations severed. 1918 - Birth of Helen Stephens US, 100 metre dash (Olympics-gold-1936). 1918 - Birth of Joey Bishop [Gottlieb], Bronx, comedian/talk show host (Joey Bishop Show). 1918 - Twin Peaks Tunnel longest (11,920 feet) streetcar tunnel begins service. 1919 - Herbert/Blossom's musical "Velvet Lady" premieres in New York City, New York. 1919 - League of Nations first meeting (Paris). 1919 - Socialist conference convenes (Berne Switzerland). 1920 - Birth of Bibi Osterwald New Brunswick New Jersey, actress (Bridget Loves Bernie). 1920 - Birth of Dr Henry Heimlich doctor/inventor (Heimlich maneuver). 1920 - Birth of Stan Ockers Belgian bicyclist (Tour de France 1955, 56). 1921 - Max Wilhelm Zach composer, dies at age 56. 1922 - Birth of Bill Chappell Jr (Representative-Democrat-Florida, 1969-). 1922 - Birth of Jean-Pierre Rampal flutist (Italian Flute Concertos). 1922 - Christiaan R de Wet South African Boer General, dies at age 67. 1924 - Alexei Ryko elected as President of People's commission (succeeds Lenin). 1924 - Woodrow Wilson 28th President (1913-21), dies at his home in Washington at age 67. 1925 - Birth of John Fiedler Platville Wisconsin; actor (Mr Peterson-Newhart). 1925 - Birth of Joop C Swart Dutch publisher/founder (World Press Photo). 1925 - Jaap Eden Dutch World champion bicyclist/speed skating, dies at age 51. 1926 - Birth of Arthur Arfons auto racer/designer (Green Monster 1964-536.71 MPH). 1926 - Birth of Glen Tetley US choreographer. 1926 - Birth of Hans-Jochen Vogel leader of West Germany's Social Democrats (SPD). 1926 - Birth of J Roy Rowland (Representative-Democrat-Georgia, 1983-). 1926 - Birth of Shelley Berman Chicago Illinois; actor/comedian (Son of the Blob, Love American Style). 1927 - Uprising against regime of General Carmona in Portugal. 1928 - Birth of C V Gadkari cricketer (Indian batsman in six Tests 1953-55). 1929 - Birth of Russell Arms Berkeley California, singer (Your Hit Parade). 1929 - Birth of Val Doonican Irish singer/entertainer. 1929 - Revolutionary Socialist Party forms in Amsterdam. 1930 - Birth of Joan Rice actress (Payroll, Steel Key, Curtain Up). 1930 - Vietnamese Communistic Party forms. 1930 - William Howard Taft, resigns as chief justice for health reasons. 1931 - Arkansas legislature passes motion to pray for soul of H L Mencken after he calls the state the "apex of moronia". 1931 - Birth of Göran J S Palm Swedish poet/writer (Hudens Besök). 1931 - Hans Schardt Swiss geologist, dies at age 72. 1932 - Birth of J P "Pom-Pom" Felloes-Smith cricketer (South Africa batsman vs England 1960). 1932 - Birth of Maria Itkina USSR, sprinter (9 world records). 1932 - Birth of Peggy Ann Garner Canton Ohio, actress (Little Women, Daisy Kenyon). 1933 - First interstate legislative conference in US opens, Washington DC. 1933 - Birth of Paul S Sarbanes (Senator-Democrat-Maryland, 1977-). 1933 - German Chancellor Adolf Hitler tells his top generals of his determination to conquer land, to the east. 1933 - German minister Göring bans social-democratic newspaper Vorwärts. 1933 - Marinus van der Lubbe departs to Berlin. 1934 - Birth of Jeremy Kemp Chesterfield England; actor (Winds of War). 1935 - Birth of Johnny "Guitar" Watson rock guitarist. 1936 - Birth of Robert Simpson Australian cricket player/manager (great Australian batsman/captain/coach/slip). 1937 - Bradman scores 212 (in 441 minutes!) in 5th Test Cricket vs England. 1938 - Armando Palacio Valdés Spanish writer (El Cuarto Poder), dies at age 84. 1938 - Birth of Victor Buono San Diego California; actor (Man from Atlantis, Untouchables). 1938 - Birth of Vladimir Grigoryevich Fartushny Russia, cosmonaut. 1938 - Paul Osborn's "On Borrowed Time" premieres in New York City, New York. 1939 - Birth of Deszö Nowak Hungary, soccer play (Olympics-gold-1964, 68). 1939 - Birth of Vladimir Yevgenyevich Preobrazhensky Russian cosmonaut. 1940 - Birth of Fran Tarkenton Richmond Virginia, NFL quarterback (New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings). 1940 - Birth of Jim Hartz newscaster (NBC-TV, Innovations). 1941 - Birth of Angelo D'Aleo Bronx, tenor (Dion and Belmonts-Teenager in Love). 1941 - Birth of Bridget Hanley Seattle Washington, actress (Here Come the Brides). 1941 - Birth of Carol Mann Buffalo New York, golfer (LPGA Hall of Fame 1977, 1965 US Open). 1941 - Birth of Chuck Tharp rock vocalist (Fireballs). 1941 - Birth of Gary Bartlett cricket pace bowler (New Zealand in 10 Tests in the 1960s). 1941 - US Supreme Court upheld Federal Wage and Hour law, sets minimum wages and maximum hours. 1942 - First Japanese air raid on Java. 1942 - Baseball owners agree to permit each club up to 14 night games in 1942. 1943 - Four chaplains drown after giving up their life jackets to others. 1943 - Alexander Goode rabbi who surrendered his life jacket, drowns. 1943 - Birth of Blythe Danner Philadelphia Pennsylvania, actress (Butterflies are Free). 1943 - Birth of Dennis Edwards rocker (Temptations-Ain't Too Proud To Beg, My Girl). 1943 - Birth of Eric Haydock bassist (Hollies-He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother). 1944 - Birth of Trisha Noble Sydney New South Wales Australia, actress (Deadline, Strike Force, Executive Suite). 1945 - About 1000 American B-17 bombers of the US 8th Air Force attack Berlin, Germany. A reported 25,000 civilians are killed. 1945 - Birth of Bob Griese NFL quarterback (Miami Dolphins, 1971 Player of Year). 1945 - Birth of Johnny Cymbal rocker (Mr Bass Man). 1945 - Birth of Willeke Alberti [Verbruggen], Dutch vocalist/actress (Small Truth). 1945 - Jose Rolon composer, dies at age 61. 1945 - Roland Freisler German Nazi judge (July 20th plotter case), dies. 1945 - RKO Radio Pictures releases Disney's animated and live-action feature film The Three Caballeros to theaters in the US. After a brief initial run, Walt pulls the film from general release, due to bad press reviews. It includes the animated short films The Cold-Blooded Penguin, The Flying Gauchito, Baia, and Le Pinata, all with Donald Duck. 1947 - Anchorage, Alaska, reaches a record low temperatire: -38 degrees F. 1947 - -81 degrees F (-63 degrees C), Snag Yukon (North American record). 1947 - First black reporter inUS Congressional press gallery (Percival Prattis). 1947 - Anna Bahr-von Mildenburg Austrian soprano/director, dies at age 74. 1947 - Birth of Chose Alberts [Krommenhoek], vocalist (Yet Many Years). 1947 - Birth of Dave Davies London, rock vocalist/guitarist (Kinks-Lola). 1947 - Birth of Joe Coleman baseball pitcher (Washington, Detroit). 1947 - Birth of Koos Alberts [Krommenhoek], Dutch vocalist (Many More Years to Come). 1947 - Birth of Melanie [Safka], Astoria, singer/songwriter (Candles in the Rain). 1947 - Birth of Paul Auster US author/poet/director (Mr Vertigo, Smoke). 1947 - Birth of Stephen McHattie Antigonish Nova Scotia; actor (Call Me, Death Valley). 1947 - Bradman bowled by Alec Bedser for a duck in fourth Test Cricket. 1947 - Marc A "Pete" Mitscher US Lieutenant-Admiral (WWII-Task Force 58), dies at age 60. 1948 - Dick Button becomes first world figure skating champion from US. 1949 - Birth of Oscar Benton Dutch blues vocalist/guitarist (Ze is Zoals Jij). 1950 - Birth of Lizzie Borden director/writer (Love Crimes, Working Girls). 1950 - Birth of Michael Dickinson British reorganizer. 1950 - Birth of Morgan Fairchild [Patsy McClenny], Dallas Texas, actress (Falcon Crest, Flamingo Road). 1950 - Karl Seitz President of Austria, dies at age 80. 1950 - Nuclear physicist Klaus Fuchs arrested on spy charges. 1951 - Victor Borge Show debuts on NBC TV. 1951 - Birth of Felipe Munoz México, 200 metre backstroke swimmer (Olympics-gold-1968). 1951 - Dick Button win US skating title for 6th time. 1951 - Largest purse to date in horse racing, $144,323, won by Great Circle. 1951 - Tennessee Williams' "Rose Tattoo" premieres in New York City, New York. 1952 - Birth of Fred Lynn Chicago Illinois, baseball outfielder (Boston, California, Baltimore). 1952 - Birth of Jack Fields (Representative-Republican-Texas, 1981-). 1953 - J Fred Muggs, a chimp, becomes a regular on NBC's Today Show. 1954 - Jeen van den Berg win Dutch Eleven Cities Skating race (7:32). 1956 - Autherine J Lucy admitted to University of Alabama, suspended 2/7 after a riot. 1956 - Birth of Nathan Lane in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA; actor (Birdcage, Timon - The Lion King, Mouse Hunt, One of the Boys, Frankie and Johnnie). 1956 - Birth of Pamela Cossey England, model/sister of transsexual Tula. 1956 - Toni Sailor becomes first Olympics skier to sweep the three alpine events. 1957 - Birth of Tony Butler rocker (Big Country-Wonderland). 1957 - Patty Berg win LPGA Havana Golf Open. 1958 - Birth of Joe Frank Edwards Jr in Richmond, Virginia, USA; Commander USN/astronaut (STS 89). 1958 - Birth of Lee Crystal; rocker (Joan Jett and Blackhearts - "Ashes in the Wind"). 1958 - Henry Kuttner, sci-fi author (Dark World, As You Were), dies at age 42. 1958 - Johannes F Buziau, Dutch cabaret performer, dies at age 81. 1959 - American Airlines' Electra crashes in New York's East River, killing 65. 1959 - Birth of Loi Tolhurst; rocker (Cure - "Hell's Kitchen"). 1959 - Birth of Molly Killingbeck in Jamaica; 4X400 metre relayer (Olympics-silver-1984). 1959 - Birth of Thomas Calabro in Brooklyn, New York, USA; actor (Michael Mancini - Melrose Place). 1959 - Buddy Holly, rocker ("That'll be the Day"), dies in a plane crash in Iowa at age 22. 1959 - Richie Valens, rock vocalist ("Donna", "La Bamba"), killed in plane crash in Iowa at age 17. 1959 - The Big Bopper [Jiles Perry Richardson], rocker ("Chantilly Lace"), dies in a plane crash in Iowa at age 28. 1960 - Birth of B J Jefferson in Dallas, Texas, USA; actress (Ronnie Laurance - Another World). 1960 - Birth of Richard Kotzen; rocker. 1960 - Johannes G Geelkerken, Dutch reformed vicar, dies at age 80. 1961 - Sixth largest snowfall in New York City history (17.4 inches (44.2cm)). 1961 - Anna May Wong, actress (Gallery of Madame Lui-Tsang), dies at age 54. 1961 - Birth of Keith Gordon in New York City, New York, USA; actor (Dressed to Kill, Legend of Billie Jean). 1961 - Viscount Dunrossil, Governor-General of Australia (1959-61), dies at age 67. 1962 - Birth of Joe Handle; US baseball pitcher (Florida Marlins). 1962 - Birth of Michele Greene in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; actress (Abby Perkins - L.A. Law). 1962 - John Uelses pole vaults record 489 cm. 1962 - US President John Kennedy bans all trade with Cuba except for food and drugs. 1962 - Werner Bock, writer, dies. 1963 - Mickey Wright win LPGA Sea Island Women's Golf Invitational. 1964 - "Meet the Beatles" album goes Gold. 1964 - Black and Puerto Rican students boycott New York City public schools. 1965 - Birth of Dorcas Wonsavage in Madison, Wisconsin, USA; cross country skier (Olympics-1994). 1965 - Birth of Kathleen Kimont in Los Angeles, California, USA; actress (Fraternity Vacation, Renegade). 1965 - Birth of Maura Tierney in Boston, Massachusetts, USA; actress (Lisa - Newsradio). 1965 - Milwaukee Braves offer Milwaukee US $500,000 to terminate their lease a year earlier; the proposal is turned down. 1965 - Orbiting Solar Observatory 2 launches into Earth orbit (552/636 km). 1966 - First operational weather satellite, ESSA-1, launched (US). 1966 - First soft landing on the Moon (Soviet Luna 9). 1966 - Birth of Danny Morrison; cricket pace bowler (New Zealand since 1987). 1966 - Birth of Sean Patrick Wade in Houston, Texas, USA; New Zealand marathoner (Olympics-1996). 1966 - June Walker, actress (War Nurses), dies at age 65. 1967 - Birth of Aurelio Vidmar; soccer player (Standard Luik, Feyenoord). 1967 - Birth of Jason Morris in Scotia, New York, USA; half-middleweight judoka (Olympics-silver-1992, 1996). 1967 - Birth of Natalie Hunter; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; canoeist (Olympics-1996). 1967 - ABC airs the last Father Knows Best TV show. 1967 - Joe Meek, rocker (Tornados)/producer (Telstar), commits suicide. 1967 - Winifred Kingston, silent screen actress (David Garrick), dies at age 72. 1968 - Birth of Frantisek Kucera in Prague, Czechoslovakia; NHL defenseman (Vancouver Canucks, Olympics-gold-1998). 1968 - Birth of Leroy Thompson; NFL running back (Kansas City Chiefs). 1968 - Birth of Mark Koevermans in Netherlands; tennis star. 1968 - Birth of Vlade Divac in Yugoslavia; NBA center (Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers). 1969 - Birth of Casey Weldon; NFL quarterback (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). 1969 - Birth of Jeff Christy; NFL center (Minnesota Vikings). 1969 - Birth of Robert Pack; NBA guard (Washington Bullets, Dallas Mavericks). 1969 - Birth of Terry Bradshaw; US baseball outfielder (Saint Louis Cardinals). 1969 - Eduardo C Mondlane, President of Mozambique, murdered. 1969 - The Palestine National Congress appointed Yasser Arafat head of Palestinian Liberation Organization. 1970 - Birth of Alonza Barnett; WLAF safety (Amsterdam Admirals). 1970 - Birth of Eric Curry; NFL defensive end (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). 1970 - Birth of Jason Muzzatti in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; NHL goalie (Hartford Whalers). 1970 - Birth of Keith Carney in Providence, Rhode Island, USA; NHL defenseman (Chicago Blackhawks, Team US). 1971 - Birth of Eric Owens in Danville, Virginia, USA; outfielder (Cincinnati Reds). 1971 - Birth of Marcus Buckley; NFL linebacker (New York Giants). 1971 - Birth of Roman Cechmanek; NHL goaltender (Team Czechoslovakia Olympics-gold-1998). 1971 - Birth of Sean Dawkins; NFL wide receiver (Indianapolis Colts). 1971 - Jay C Flippen, actor (Ensign O'Toole), dies at age 72. 1972 - (to February 13) The 11th Olympic Winter Games are held in Sapporo, Japan. 1972 - Birth of Jermaine Smith; NFL defensive tackle (Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31). 1972 - Birth of Keith Elias; NFL running back (New York Giants). 1972 - Birth of Tyrone Poole; NFL cornerback (Carolina Panthers). 1972 - John Litel, actor (Big Boss, Crime Doctor, My Buddy), dies at age 79. 1972 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1973 - Birth of Jim Campbell in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA; NHL center (Anaheim Mighty Ducks). 1973 - Birth of Kyle Richardson; WLAF punter (Rhein Fire). 1973 - Edward Lockspeiser, composer, dies at age 67. 1973 - US President Richard Nixon signs Endangered Species Act into law. 1974 - Sandra Palmer win LPGA Burdine's Golf Invitational. 1975 - Billy Herman, Earl Averill, and Bucky Harris elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1975 - John Secondari, newscaster (Open Hearing), dies at age 55. 1975 - Robert Evett, composer, dies at age 52. 1976 - 26th NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 123-109 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1976 - Birth of Dwayne Rudd; linebacker (Minnesota Vikings). 1976 - Birth of Karen Bradley; Miss Rhode Island-USA (1996). 1976 - Neville Lindsay, cricketer (South Africa batsman in Test vs Australia 1921), dies. 1977 - Birth of Maitland Ward in Torrance, California; actress (Jessica-The Bold and the Beautiful). 1977 - Martin Dihigo John Lloyd elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1977 - Pauline Starke, actress (Dante's Inferno, Viking, Sun Up), dies at age 76. 1978 - Australia beats India 3-2 on 6th day of final test. 1979 - Jody Gilbert, actress (Willard, Shaggy, Blonde Dynamite), dies. 1979 - Minnesota Twins trade Rod Carew to California Angels for four players. 1979 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Linda Fratianne. 1979 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Charles Tickner. 1980 - 30th NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 144-136 (overtime) at Washington. 1980 - Larry Holmes TKOs Lorenzo Holmes in six rounds for heavyweight boxing title. 1980 - Muhammed Ali tours Africa as US President Jimmy Carter's envoy. 1981 - Gro Harlem Brundtland elected premier of Norway. 1981 - Birth of Alisa Reyes; American actress. 1981 - Australia beats New Zealand 3-1 to win World Series Cup. 1982 - Greatest helicopter lift, 56,888 kg, Podmoscovnoe, USSR. 1982 - John Sharples of England finishes disco dancing 371 hours. 1982 - Birth of Jessica Harp; American singer (The Wreckers). 1982 - Syrian president Hafez al-Assad orders the army to purge the city of Harran of the Muslim Brotherhood. 1982 - Columbia space shuttle moves to Vandenberg Air Force Base for mating for STS-3 mission. 1983 - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser is granted a double dissolution of both houses of parliament for elections on March 5. Bob Hawke replaces Bill Hayden as leader of the Australian Labor Party. 1983 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Rosalynn Sumners. 1984 - Birth of first baby conceived by embryo transplant, in Long Beach, California. 1984 - Ravindara Mhatrem, Indian diplomat, killed in England. 1984 - Mattel announces it is selling its Intellivision video game business for US$20 million in cash to a group lead by Terrence Valeski, an executive of Mattel Electronics. 1984 - STS-41-B: Space Shuttle Challenger is launched on the 10th space shuttle mission. 1984 - Anne Townsend, lacrosse/tennis/field hockey star, dies. 1985 - Harrigan 'n Hart closes at Longacre Theater in New York City after five performances. 1985 - Joanne Carner win LPGA Elizabeth Arden Golf Classic. 1986 - US President Ronald Reagan announces formation of Committee on Challenger Accident. 1987 - Montreal Expos trade Jeff Reardon to Minnesota Twins for Neal Heaton. 1987 - Death of Donald Aronow, creator of the Cigarette Boat (assassinated) (born 1927). 1988 - Death of Robert Duncan, American poet (born 1919). 1988 - The Democrat-controlled United States House of Representatives rejects President Ronald Reagan's request for $36.25 million to support the Nicaraguan Contras. 1989 - After a stroke, Pieter Willem Botha resigns his party's leadership and the presidency of South Africa. Frederik Willem de Klerk replaces Botha as South Africa's Nationalist Party leader. 1989 - John Cassavetes, American actor/director (Husbands, Dirty Dozen), dies at age 59 (born 1929). 1989 - A military coup overthrows Alfredo Stroessner, dictator of Paraguay since 1954. 1989 - Start first Test Cricket, New Zealand vs Pakistan, washed out. 1990 - Birth of Cody Newton Gifford son of Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford. 1990 - Jockey Billy Shoemaker (58), retires after 40,350 horse races. 1990 - New York Mets' Darryl Strawberry voluntarily enters Smither Center for alcohol rehabilitation. 1990 - Birth of Sean Kingston, American singer. 1991 - Meg Mallon wins Oldsmobile LPGA Golf Classic. 1991 - NFL Pro Bowl: AFC beats NFC 23-21. 1991 - Nancy Kulp, actress (Jane Hathaway - The Beverly Hillbillies), dies at age 69. 1992 - Defense opens calling Noriega "our ally in the war on drugs". 1992 - Labor strike at Royal Canadian Mint ends. 1992 - Portland, Oregon, starts their recycling program. 1993 - Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott suspended for one year due to racist comments. 1993 - Federal trial of four police officers charged with civil rights violations in videotaped beating of Rodney King begins in Los Angeles, California. 1993 - Karel Goeyvaerts, Flemish composer (8 Horse Bet), dies at age 69. 1994 - Les Miserables opens at Kallang Theatre, Singapore. 1994 - Actor Jean-Claude van Damme (32) weds Darcy Lapier (28) in Bangkok. 1994 - Birth of Tallulah Belle Willis third daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. 1994 - President Bill Clinton lifts US trade embargo against Vietnam. 1994 - STS-60 (Discovery) launches into orbit. 1994 - William J. Perry is sworn in as the United States Secretary of Defense. 1995 - John Pinsent, classical scholar, dies at age 72. 1995 - US space shuttle mission STS 63 (Discovery 19) launches into orbit. 1995 - Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Miami Rhapsody to theaters in the US. 1995 - Turner Fodrell, blues singer/guitarist, dies at age 66. 1996 - Audrey Meadows, American actress (Alice - The Honeymooners), dies at 69 (born 1926). 1996 - Broderick Vernon Chinnery-Haldane, photographer, dies at age 83. 1996 - Edward Adamson, art therapist/collector, dies at age 84. 1996 - Edward Frederick Weston Goodman, property developer, dies at age 81. 1996 - Tibor Reich, textile designer, dies at age 79. 1996 - Wild Jimmy Spruill, blues guitarist, dies at age 61. 1996 - In Yunnan, China, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurs. At least 322 people killed, 3,925 seriously injured and 13,000 slightly injured. About 358,000 housing units collapsed and 654,000 others were damaged. More than 320,000 people were left homeless. 1997 - Anthony Cuthbert Baines, writer/curator, dies at age 84. 1997 - Bohumil Hrabal, writer, dies at age 82. 1997 - Carl Sagan Public Memorial at Ithaca, New York. 1997 - Howard Stern Radio Show premieres in Detroit Michigan on WKRK 97.1 FM. 1997 - William Geoffrey Biddle, bomb disposal expert, dies at age 79. 1998 - Florida Panthers player Dino Ciccarelli's is 9th NHL player to score 600 career goals. 1998 - Karla Faye Tucker, age 38, is executed in Texas, becoming the first woman executed in the United States since 1984 and the first to be executed in Texas since the American Civil War. 1998 - New York Yankees replace general manager Bob Watson with Brian Cashman. 1998 - Postage stamps commemorating Princess Diana go on sale across Britain. 1998 - A United States Military pilot causes the deaths of 20 people near Trento, Italy, when his low-flying plane severs the cable of a cable-car. 2002 - Costa Rica holds presidential and congressional elections. 2002 - The New England Patriots beat the Saint Louis Rams 20-17, in NFL Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans. 2004 - The US Central Intelligence Agency admits that there was no imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. 2004 - Jóannes Eidesgaard becomes Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands. 2005 - Death of Zurab Zhvania, Prime Minister of Georgia (born 1963). 2006 - Death of Al Lewis, American actor (born 1923). 2007 - State of Emergency is declared in Indonesia after 'El Nino'-like flooding. 2007 - A truck bombing in a crowded Baghdad, Iraq, market kills at least 135 people and injures a further 339 others. 2007 - The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu is found at a Bernard Matthews turkey farm in Suffolk, United Kingdom. 2007 - Death of Pedro Knight, Cuban-born musician (born 1921). 2007 - Death of Billy Henderson, American singer (The Spinners) (born 1939). 2008 - In Glendale, Arizona, the NFL's Super Bowl XLII is played. The New York Giants beat the previously undefeated New England Patriots with a 17-14 victory. Most Valuable Player is Giants' Quarterback Eli Manning. 2008 - Boris Tadic is re-elected president of Serbia. 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