This Day in History
February 4

What happened in history on this day: February 4? On February 4 in ... 211 - Lucius Septimus Severus, emperor of Rome (193-211), dies at age 64. 708 - Sisinnius, Greek-Syrian pope (708, 20 days), dies. 856 - Hrabanus Maurus, archbishop of Mainz, dies. 1189 - Gilbert of Sempringham English monastery founder/saint, dies. 1194 - Richard I Lion Hearted pays Leopold O Fenrik VI's ransom of 100,000. 1222 - Willem I earl of Holland (1203-22), dies. 1465 - Birth of French van Brederode leader of Hoeksen. 1503 - Queen Elizabeth consort of Henry VII of England, dies. 1505 - Joan of Valois Queen of France/saint, dies at age 40. 1508 - Death of Conradus Celtis, poet, in Vienna, Austria. 1508 - Maximilian I assumes imperial title without being crowned. 1549 - Birth of Eustache du Caurroy composer. 1553 - Caspar Othmayr composer, dies at age 37. 1575 - Birth of Pierre de Bérulle French cardinal. 1581 - Birth of Daniel Selich composer. 1586 - Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, becomes governor of Netherlands. 1590 - Gioseffo Zarlino composer, dies at age 73. 1600 - Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler meet for first time outside of Prague. 1617 - Louis Elsevier Dutch publisher, dies at about age 76. 1620 - Prince Bethlen Gábor signs peace with emperor Ferdinand II. 1640 - Hendrick C Vroom Dutch seascape painter, dies. 1646 - Birth of Hans A Freiherr von Abschatz Silesian poet. 1657 - Oliver Cromwell grants residency to Luis Caravajal. 1688 - Birth of Pierre De Marivaux Paris France, writer (Marianne). 1693 - Birth of George Lillo bourgeois English dramatist (The London Merchant). 1697 - Three VOC-ships anchor at Dirk-Hartogeiland, Australia. 1698 - Birth of Heinrich A Fouqué Prussian General. 1699 - 350 rebellious Streltsi executed in Moscow. 1714 - Duke of Berry French King Louis XIV's grandson, dies. 1746 - Robert Blair Scottish poet (Grave), dies at age 46. 1747 - Birth of Tadeusz Kosciusko Poland, patriot, (New York Bridge). 1751 - Birth of Blas de Laserna composer. 1758 - Birth of Pierre-Gabriel Gardel French ballet dancer/choreographer. 1764 - Birth of Carel H Verhuell Dutch/French Vice-Admiral/minister of Navy. 1767 - Birth of Johann Franz Volkert composer. 1768 - Birth of Maurits C van Hall Dutch ruler of Heicop and Boeicop, lawyer/politician. 1769 - Birth of Samuel I Wiselius Dutch lawyer/businessman/writer. 1778 - Birth of Augustin P de Candolle Swiss botanist (Théorie élémentaire). 1781 - Josef Myslivecek composer, dies at age 43. 1781 - Willem Crul Admiral (West-Indies), dies in battle at age 59. 1782 - British garrison surrenders to French and Spanish fleet. 1783 - In Calabria, Italy, one of the world's most destructive earthquakes occurs, responsible for 50,000 deaths and enormous property loss. This is the first earthquake to be investigated scientifically. 1787 - First Anglican bishops of New York and Pennsylvania consecrated in London. 1787 - Shays' Rebellion (of debt-ridden Massachusetts farmers) fails. 1789 - First electoral college chooses Washington and Adams as President and Vice President. 1794 - French National Convention proclaims abolishment of slavery. 1797 - Earthquake in Quito, Ecuador kills 40,000. 1799 - Birth of Joao Batista da Silva Leitao de Almeida Garret Portuguese playwright. 1802 - Birth of Mark Hopkins US, educator/philosopher (Williams College). 1803 - William Dunlap, adapts French melodrama "Voice of Nature". 1805 - Birth of Georg Andreas Henkel composer. 1805 - Birth of William H Ainsworth English writer (Old Saint Paul's, Rookwood). 1815 - Geert Reinders Dutch cattle breeder/inoculation proponent, dies at age 77. 1815 - Jacob van Strij Dutch cartoonist/graphic artist, dies at age 58. 1816 - Meingosus Gaelle composer, dies at age 63. 1819 - Birth of Joshua Norton San Francisco California, Norton I, emperor of USA. 1820 - Birth of Bozena Nemcová [Barnora Panklová], Czechoslovakian author (Babicka). 1822 - Free American Blacks settle Liberia, West Africa. 1824 - J W Goodrich introduces rubber galoshes to the public. 1826 - Birth of Halbert Eleazer Paine Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1905. 1834 - Amelie Julia Candielle composer, dies at age 66. 1841 - Birth of Clément Ader French inventor (first to fly a heavier-than-air craft). 1842 - Birth of Georg Brandes [Morris Cohen], Danish literary-historian/critic. 1842 - Birth of Vasili O Klyutshevski Russian historian. 1844 - Willem de Clerq Dutch merchant/literary, dies at age 49. 1846 - Mormons leave Nauvoo Missouri for settlement in the west. 1847 - First US telegraph company established in Maryland. 1848 - Birth of [François-Victor-]Jean Aicard French playwright/poet (Jeune Croyances). 1849 - Birth of Jean Richepin French poet/writer (Les Chansons de Gueux). 1849 - University of Wisconsin begins in one room with 20 students. 1854 - Alvan Bovay proposes the name "Republican Party", Ripon Wisconsin. 1854 - Carl Ludwig Cornelius Westenholz composer, dies at age 66. 1855 - Soldiers shoot Jewish families in Coro, Venezuela. 1861 - Confederate constitutional convention meets for first time, in Montgomery, Alabama. Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina elect Jefferson Davis President of Confederacy. 1864 - Skirmish at Big Black River Bridge, Mississippi. 1865 - Birth of Charles Bally Swiss linguist (Le langage et la vie). 1865 - Hawaiian Board of Education formed. 1866 - Mary Baker Eddy cures her injuries by opening a bible. 1868 - Birth of Constance Gore-booth Markiewicy Irish patriot/playwright/Member of Parliament. 1869 - Johan M Dautzenberg Flemish author/novelist (Future), dies at age 60. 1874 - Birth of Robert Liefmann German economist (Unternehmersverbände). 1875 - Birth of Ludwig Prandtl German Federal Republic, physicist (father of aerodynamics). 1875 - Birth of Raymond Moulaert composer. 1875 - Princess Louise marries Prince Philip von Saksen-Coburg-Gotha in Belgium. 1876 - Birth of Victor Jean Leonard Vreuls composer. 1880 - Steele MacKay's "Hazel Kirke" premieres in New York City, New York. 1881 - Birth of Fernand Léger France, painter/ceramist/cubist (The City). 1881 - Birth of Kliment J Woroshilov Marshal/President USSR (1953-60). 1884 - Birth of Julius Callewaert Flemish Dominican/bringing up children. 1884 - Birth of Rolland Beaumont cricketer (South African batsman in five tests 1912-14). 1885 - Birth of Cairine Ray Wilson Montréal, first female Canadian senator (appointed). 1887 - Interstate Commerce Act authorizes federal regulation of railroads. 1888 - Birth of Paul Althaus German theologist (The Christian Truth). 1889 - Birth of Walter Catlett San Francisco California; actor (Front Page, Tale of Two Cities). 1891 - Birth of Yuri Losmann Estonia, marathon runner (Olympics-silver 1920). 1892 - Birth of Ugo Betti Italian playwright. 1892 - Birth of Yrlö Henrik Kilpinen Finnish composer. 1893 - Birth of Bernard Rogers New York City, New York, composer (Warrior, Marriage of Aude, Passion). 1893 - Birth of Raymond Dart Australian paleoanthropologist (Australopithecus). 1894 - Antoine J "Adolphe" Sax instrument maker (saxophone), dies at age 79. 1895 - First rolling lift bridge opens, Chicago, Illinois. 1895 - Birth of Annie [Anna HM] Romein-Verschoor Dutch historian (Erflaters). 1895 - Birth of Hanns [Johann] Rauter German SS-Lieutenant-General/SS police chief in Netherlands. 1895 - Faustina Hasse Hodges composer, dies at age 71. 1896 - Birth of Friedrich Glauser writer. 1896 - Henry David Leslie composer, dies at age 73. 1897 - Birth of Ludwig Erhard chancellor of Germany (CDU). 1899 - Revolt against US occupation of Philippines. 1900 - Birth of Jacques Prévert France, poet/screenwriter (Paroles). 1902 - Birth of Charles A Lindbergh Detroit Michigan, pilot (first fly solo across Atlantic). 1903 - Birth of Alexander Oppenheim mathematician. 1903 - Birth of Berend van den Amstel [Bernard CED Hattink]; actor (Beatrice). 1903 - Birth of Edwin Denby Tientsin China, US dance critic/poet (Snoring in N). 1903 - Birth of Frank Howley Hampton New York, Brigadier General (Answers for Americans). 1903 - Birth of Siro Cisilino composer. 1903 - Stanley Cup: Montréal AAA beat Winnipeg Victorias, two games to one and one tie. 1904 - Birth of Herman B Wiardi Beckman Dutch politician (SDAP)/resistance fighter. 1904 - Birth of MacKinlay Kantor Webster City Iowa, novelist (Andersonville). 1904 - Birth of Predrag Milosevic composer. 1904 - John Millington Synges "Well of Saints" premieres in Dublin. 1905 - Birth of Eddie Foy Jr New Rochelle New York; actor (Eddie-Fair Exchange). 1906 - Birth of Clyde William Tombaugh US, astronomer (discovered Pluto). 1906 - Birth of Dietrich Bonhoeffer German theologist (Confessing Church). 1906 - Birth of Primo Carnera Italian boxer (champion-1933). 1908 - Birth of Emmanuel "Manny" Klein trumpeter. 1908 - Birth of Gordon Fraser Lawrence Massachusetts, newscaster (All Star News). 1909 - Birth of Kenneth W Howell English Anglican bishop (Chile/Bolivia/Peru). 1909 - Birth of Robert Coote London; actor (Timmy-Rogues, Theodore-Nero Wolfe). 1910 - Birth of Alfred Mendelsohn composer. 1910 - Birth of Uys Krige South African playwright/novelist (Orphan of the Desert). 1911 - Peter A "Piet" Cronje South Africa Boer General, dies at about age 75. 1912 - Birth of Byron Nelson Fort Worth Texas, PGA golfer (won 19 tournaments in 1945). 1912 - Birth of Erich Leinsdorf Vienna Austria, available conductor and banana eater. 1912 - Birth of James Craig Nashville Tennessee; actor (Devil and Daniel Webster, Cyclops). 1913 - Birth of Rosa Lee Parks civil rights activist (bus protester). 1913 - Birth of Woody Hayes [Wayne], college football coach (Ohio, 1968 coach of year). 1913 - Louis Perlman patents demountable auto tire-carrying wheel rim. 1913 - National Institute of Arts and Letters founded. 1914 - Birth of Alfred Andersch German writer (Red Head). 1914 - Birth of Ida Lupino London England, actress (Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Jennifer). 1914 - US Congress approves Burnett-anti-immigration law. 1915 - Birth of William Talman Detroit Michigan; actor (Crashout, Hamilton-Perry Mason). 1915 - Experiments to find cause of pellagra begin at Mississippi Penitentiary. 1916 - Birth of Basil Hembry farmer/campaigner. 1916 - Birth of Colin Morris playwright/documentary filmmaker. 1916 - Birth of David Vassall Cox composer. 1916 - Birth of Gavin Buchanan Ewart English poet (Pleasures of the Flesh). 1917 - Belgium Council of Flanders established. 1917 - Birth of Aga Yahya Khan Pakistan military/politician. 1918 - Birth of Norman Wisdom London England, comedian (Kraft Music Hall). 1919 - Birth of Frank van Klingeren Dutch architect (De Meerpaal, Dronten). 1919 - City of Bremen's Soviet Republic overthrown. 1920 - First flight from London to South Africa takes-off (1.5 months). 1920 - Birth of Derek Worlock English Roman Catholic archbishop (Liverpool). 1921 - Birth of Betty Friedan Peoria Illinois, feminist writer (Feminine Mystique). 1921 - Xavier Mellery Belgian painter/illustrator, dies at age 75. 1922 - WGY-AM in Schenectady New York begins radio transmissions. 1923 - Birth of Conrad Bain Alberta Canada; actor (Maude, Diff'rent Strokes). 1924 - First Winter Olympics games close at Chamonix France. 1924 - George Kelly's "Show-Off" premieres in New York City, New York. 1925 - Birth of Russell Hoban US children's book author (Riddley Walker/Pilgermann). 1926 - Austrian chancellor Seipel wants to join Germany. 1926 - Birth of John Edward Caulwell Hearne writer. 1927 - KGA-AM in Spokane Washington begins radio transmissions. 1927 - Thomas Linnemann Laub composer, dies at age 74. 1928 - Birth of Dave Ketchum Quincy Illinois; actor (Agent 13-Get Smart). 1928 - Hendrik A Lorentz physicist (L transformation-Nobel Prize 1902), dies at age 74. 1929 - Archie Jackson scores 164 on Test Cricket debut vs England at Adelaide. 1929 - Birth of Mary Joan Nielubowicz Rear Admiral/nurse. 1929 - Birth of Paul Burlison rocker. 1930 - First tieless, soundless, shockless streetcar tracks, New Orleans. 1931 - Birth of Argentina Rioja. 1931 - Birth of Isabel Perón [Maria Martinez], dancer/president Argentina. 1931 - National League adopts a deader baseball. 1932 - (to February 15) The 3rd Olympic Winter Games are held in Lake Placid, New York, USA. 1932 - Birth of Ivan Davis Electra Texas, pianist/writer (Hunger, Corn is Green). 1932 - Japanese troop occupy Harbin, Manchuria. 1933 - Crew of Dutch "7 Provinces" mutiny after pay cuts. 1933 - German President Von Hindenburg limits freedom of the press. 1934 - Birth of Gil Rogers Lexington Kentucky; actor (Hawk-Guiding Light, Doctors). 1934 - Birth of Jouko Sakari Linjama composer. 1935 - Birth of Martti Talvela Hiitola Karelia Finland, operatic basso. 1935 - Birth of Wallis Mathias cricketer (first non-Muslim to play for Pakistan). 1936 - First radioactive substance produced synthetically (radium E). 1936 - Birth of Daan van Golden Dutch sculptor. 1936 - Birth of Gary Conway Boston Massachusetts; actor (Burke's Law, Land of the Giants). 1937 - Birth of Collin Wilcox Highlands North Carolina; actor (To Kill a Mocking Bird). 1937 - Birth of John Devitt Australia, 100 metre freestyle swimmer (Olympics-gold-1960). 1937 - Birth of Magnar Solberg Norway, 20K biathalete (Olympics-gold-1968, 72). 1937 - Jim Margie, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, bowls 900 in three (unsanctioned) games. 1938 - "Our Town", by Thornton Wilder opens on Broadway. 1938 - Birth of Donald W Riegle Jr (Senator-Democrat-MI, 1976-). 1938 - Adolf Hitler announces a reorganization of the army, abolishing the post of war minister, appointing General Wilhelm Keitel as chief of the armed forces high command (OKW), and appointing Field Marshal Walther von Brauchitsch as Commander-in-Chief of the Army. 1938 - RKO Radio Pictures generally releases the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to theatres in the USA. 1939 - Birth of Jacques Charlier Belgian sculptor. 1939 - Birth of Jane Bryant Quinn newspaper and television reporter. 1939 - Birth of John Schuck Boston Massachusetts; actor/comedian (McMillan and Wife, Holmes and Yo-Yo). 1939 - Birth of Stan Lundine (Representative-Democrat-New York, 1976-86). 1939 - Edward Sapir US linguist/cultural anthropologist (Indian), dies at age 55. 1939 - Glenn Cunningham (top miler) says 4-minute mile beyond human effort. 1939 - Henri W A Deterding Dutch oil magnate (Royal Oil, Shell), dies at age 72. 1940 - Birth of George A Romero actor/director (Creepshow, Martin, 2 Evil Eyes). 1941 - Birth of John Steel rock drummer (Animals-House of the Rising Sun). 1941 - Birth of Marie Masters Cincinnati Ohio, actress (Susan-As the World Turns). 1941 - British tanks occupy Maus Libya. 1941 - Former Dutch premier De Geer flies to Berlin. 1941 - Johann Peter Kirsch Luxembourg church historian, dies at age 79. 1941 - United Service Organization (USO) founded. 1942 - Birth of Johnny Gamble rocker (Classics). 1942 - Clinton Pierce becomes first US General wounded in action in WWII. 1943 - Bertolt Brecht's "Der gute Mensch von Sezuan" premieres in Zürich. 1943 - Birth of Cheryl Miller Sherman Oaks California, actress (Paula-Daktari, Born Free). 1943 - Frank Calder first NHL president, dies. 1944 - Birth of Daniel A Mica (Representative-Democrat-Florida, 1979-). 1944 - Birth of Florence LaRue Gordon Pennsylvania, rocker (5th Dimension-One Less Bell). 1944 - Jean Anouilh's "Antigone" premieres in Paris. 1944 - US 7th Infantry Division captures Kwajalein. 1945 - Birth of David Brenner Philadelphia Pennsylvania, comedian/TV talk show host (Nightlife). 1945 - The Yalta Conference takes place, over eight days, to discuss post-war policies. Russia asks for an Allied air bombing of Berlin and Leipzig. 1946 - Birth of Mary Meyer US, 500 metre speed skater (Olympics-silver-1968). 1946 - Birth of Roy Yeager Doraville Georgia, rocker (Atlanta Rhythm Section). 1946 - Garson Kanin's "Born Yesterday" premieres in New York City, New York. 1946 - Margarete Boie writer, dies. 1947 - Birth of Dan Quayle (Senator-Republican-Indiana)/(44th Vice-President-R 1989-93). 1947 - Birth of Jeannie Wilson Memphis Tennessee, actress (Simon and Simon, Stir Crazy). 1947 - Birth of Sanford Bishop (Representative-Democrat-Georgia). 1948 - Birth of Alice Cooper [Vincent Furnier], Detroit Michigan, rocker (School's Out). 1948 - Birth of Rakesh Shukla cricket leg-spinner (one Test India vs Sri Lanka 1982). 1948 - Birth of Robert Coover novelist (Pricksongs and Descants). 1948 - Birth of Rod Grams (Representative-Republican-Minnesota). 1948 - Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) gains independence from Britain (National Day). 1949 - Birth of Michael Beck Memphis Tennessee; actor (Hans Helms-Holocaust). 1949 - Failed assassination attempt on Shah of Persia. 1950 - Birth of James Dunn US vocalist (Stylistics-You make me feel Brand New). 1950 - Birth of Pamela Franklin Tokyo Japan, actress (Satan's School for Girls). 1950 - Birth of Philip Ehart rock drummer (Kansas). 1950 - Birth of Robert-John Stips rock keyboardist/singer (The Nits). 1951 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Sonya Klopfer. 1951 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Richard Button. 1952 - First black executive of a major TV station (Jackie Robinson-WNBC New York). 1952 - Birth of Jerry Shirley rock drummer (Humble Pie-Hot N Nasty, Eat It). 1952 - Birth of Lisa Eichhorn Reading Pennsylvania, actress (Cutter's Way, Yankees). 1953 - Alexander Loudon Dutch diplomat (League of Nations), dies at age 60. 1953 - Birth of Svetlana Ulmasova USSR, 3K (world title 1978). 1954 - RKO Radio Pictures releases Disney's live-action feature film Rob Roy, The Highland Rogue to theaters in the US. 1954 - Vaclav Vackar composer, dies at age 72. 1956 - American League plans to test automatic intentional walk during spring training. 1956 - Leendert A Donker Dutch Social Democrat party-minister of Justice, dies at age 56. 1956 - Peder Gram composer, dies at age 74. 1957 - First electric portable typewriter placed on sale (Syracuse, New York, USA). 1957 - Joseph Hardaway, creator of Bugs Bunny, dies at age 66. 1957 - Miguel Covarrubias, Mexican illustrator, dies. 1958 - Birth of Mary Ann Pascal; actress (Samantha-Brothers). 1958 - Birth of Werner Schwab; writer. 1958 - Frederik de Merode, Belgian prince, dies at age 46. 1958 - Baseball Hall of Fame fails to elect anyone for first time since 1950. 1959 - Birth of Lawrence Taylor; NFL's greatest linebacker (New York Giants). 1959 - Birth of Zenani Mandela, daughter of Nelson and Winnie Mandela. 1959 - Israel begins exporting copper ore. 1959 - Una O'Connor, actress (Banjo, Invisible Man), dies at age 78. 1960 - BBWAA voters fail to elect a new Hall of Fame member. 1960 - Birth of Pamelyn Ferdin; actress (Happy Birthday Wanda June, Tool Box Murders). 1960 - San Francisco Giants move their offices to Candlestick Park. 1961 - Birth of Denis Savard in Pointe Gatineau, California, USA; NHL center (Chicago Blackhawks). 1961 - Birth of Vern Fleming in Long Island City, New York, USA; basketball player (Olympics-gold-1984). 1961 - Sputnik 7 launches into Earth orbit; probable Venus probe failure. 1962 - Birth of Clint Black in Long Branch, New Jersey, USA; country vocalist ("A Better Man"). 1962 - Birth of Dan Plesac in Gary, Indiana, USA; pitcher (Pittsburgh Pirates). 1962 - Birth of Vern Fleming; NBA guard (New Jersey Nets). 1962 - Russian newspaper Izvestia reports baseball is an old Russian game. 1962 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Barbara Roles. 1962 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Monty Hoyt. 1963 - Birth of Jane Leary in Sydney, Australia; golfer (1992 Australian Amateur Champion). 1963 - Birth of Pirmin Zurbriggen; Swiss alpine skier (Olympics-gold-1988). 1963 - Birth of Tracie Ruiz-Conforto in Hawaii, USA; synchronized swimmer (Olympics-2 gold/silver-1984, 1988). 1964 - US Federal Aviation Administration begins six month test of reactions to sonic booms over Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 1964 - Siegfried T Bok, neurobiologist/anatomist (Cybernetica), dies at age 71. 1965 - Birth of John van Loen; Dutch soccer player (Feyenoord, San Frecce). 1965 - U C Greyhound, champion trotter (horse), dies at age 33. 1965 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1966 - All-Nippon Airways 727 crashes off Haneda Airport, Japan; kills 133. 1966 - Birth of Barry Klein in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA; rower (Olympics-1996). 1966 - Birth of Marissa Laakso in Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Miss Massachusetts-America (1990). 1966 - Birth of Spike; rocker. 1966 - Gilbert H Grosvenor, president of National Geographic Society, dies at age 90. 1967 - Birth of Sergei Grinkov; Soviet ice skater (Olympics-gold 1988, 1994). 1967 - US launches Lunar Orbiter 3. 1968 - Golden Rainbow opens at Shubert Theater in New York City for 355 performances. 1968 - Birth of Kristen Marie; actress (Cheryl McKinnon - Another World). 1968 - Bowie Kuhn replaces William Eckert as 5th commissioner of baseball. 1968 - Ed Baker, actor (Keystone Kops), dies of emphysema at age 70. 1968 - Gerard den Brabander [Jan G Jofriet], poet (Nothing New), dies at age 67. 1969 - 41,163, largest NBA crowd, watches doubleheader Cincinnati Royals vs Detroit Pistons, San Diego Rockets vs Boston Celtics. 1969 - Birth of Brad Cornett; US baseball pitcher (Toronto Blue Jays). 1969 - Birth of Chastity Bono in Los Angeles, California, USA; daughter/actress (Sonny and Cher Show). 1969 - Birth of Chris Crooms; WLAF safety (Barcelona Dragons). 1969 - Birth of Dallas Drake in Trail, British Columbia, Canada; NHL center (Winnipeg Jets). 1969 - Birth of Joe Sacco in Medford, Massachusetts, USA; NHL right wing (Anaheim Mighty Ducks). 1969 - John Madden is named head coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders. 1969 - Thelma Ritter, actress (All About Eve, Pillow Talk), dies at age 63. 1969 - Yasser Arafat takes over as chairman of Palestinian Liberation Organization. 1970 - Birth of Alisa Marie Kimble; Miss California-USA (1997). 1970 - Birth of Gabrielle Anwar in Laleham, England; actress (Body Snatchers). 1970 - Birth of John Frascatore; US baseball pitcher (Saint Louis Cardinals). 1970 - Birth of Todd Peterson; NFL kicker (Seattle Seahawks). 1970 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1971 - Birth of Kevin Farkas; NFL tackle (Carolina Panthers). 1971 - Birth of Maarten Atmodikoro; soccer player (Dordrecht '90, NAC). 1971 - Birth of Pete Pierson; NFL tackle (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). 1971 - Birth of Sterling Palmer; NFL defensive end (Washington Redskins). 1971 - British car maker Rolls Royce declares itself bankrupt. 1971 - Government exhibit under construction collapses, kills 65 in Brazil. 1971 - National Guard mobilized to quell rioting in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. 1972 - 6th round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks ends in Vienna, Austria. 1972 - Birth of Kelvin Anderson; Canadian Football League running back (Calgary Stampeders). 1973 - No, No Nanette closes at 46th Steet Theater in New York City after 861 performances. 1973 - Birth of Michael Goorjian; actor (Party Of Five). 1973 - Birth of Oscar De La Hoya in Los Angeles, California, USA; boxer (Olympics-gold-1992). 1973 - New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres play a penalty-free game. 1973 - Manfred Kokot runs world record 50 metre indoor (5.61 seconds). 1973 - Reshef, Israel's missile boat, unveiled. 1974 - Benzine rationing ends in Netherlands. 1974 - Birth of Brandon Convery in Kingston, Ontario, Canada; NHL center (Toronto Maple Leafs). 1974 - Birth of Chris Ward; defensive end (Baltimore Ravens). 1974 - Chimpanzee Nim Chimsky signs his first word, at age 2.5 months. 1974 - Gas rationing ends in Netherlands. 1974 - Mihail Andricu, composer, dies at age 79. 1974 - Patricia Hearst (19), daughter of publisher Randolph Hearst kidnapped by Symbionese Liberation Army. 1975 - Birth of Elana Eve Chomiszak in Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Miss Rhode Island-America (1996). 1975 - Birth of Miriam Ruppert; Miss Germany-Universe (1996). 1976 - (to February 15) The 12th Olympic Winter Games are held in Innsbruck, Austria. 1976 - 7.5 earthquake kills 22,778 in Guatemala and Honduras. 1976 - Edward Benjamin Britten, composer, dies at age 62. 1976 - Judge Oliver upholds Seitz's decision on Andy Messersmith free agency. 1976 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1977 - 30th NHL All-Star Game: Wales beat Campbell 4-3 at Vancouver, BC, Canada. 1977 - Elevated train jumps track, crashes onto Chicago street (11 die, 200 hurt). 1977 - Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" album released. 1978 - Birth of Laurence Borremans; Miss Belgium-Universe (1997). 1978 - Dr Bergen Evans, English professor ($64,000 Question), dies at age 73. 1979 - Co-Ed Fever, TV Comedy, debut and cancelled that outing on CBS. 1979 - End of last 3+day D/N game for 15 years (WSC, SCG). 1979 - Joanne Carner win LPGA Colgate Triple Crown Golf Tournament. 1980 - Joanne Carner win LPGA Whirlpool Golf Championship of Deer Creek. 1980 - Abolhassan Bani-Sadr sworn in as first president of Iran. 1980 - Birth of Kelly Marie Sodan; Miss Kentucky Teen-USA (1996). 1981 - Gro Harlem Brundtland becomes the Prime Minister of Norway. 1982 - Indoor distance record for a paper airplane (47 metres) Tacoma, Washington. 1982 - Musical Pump Boys and Dinettes premieres at Princess Theater in New York City for 573 performances. 1982 - Sue Carol, actress (She's My Weakness), dies of a heart attack at age 73. 1982 - Birth of Tomas Vaitkus; Lithuanian professional road racing cyclist. 1982 - Birth of Mandisa Stevenson; American basketball player. 1982 - Birth of Kimberly Wyatt; singer (The Pussycat Dolls). 1983 - Reginald Denham, director/writer (Death at BC House), dies at age 89. 1983 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Scott Hamilton. 1983 - Jim Ameche, actor (Festival of Stars), dies at age 68. 1983 - Karen Carpenter, American singer/drummer (The Carpenters), dies of anorexia at age 32 (born 1950). 1984 - 9 closes at 46th Steet Theater in New York City after 739 performances. 1984 - Backstage Magic opens at CommuniCore in Walt Disney World. 1984 - Frank Aquilera sets world frisbee distance record (168 metres) Las Vegas. 1985 - Birth of Bug Hall; American actor. 1985 - 20 countries (but not US) sign United Nations treaty outlawing torture. 1985 - Naval exercises canceled when US refuses to tell New Zealand of nuclear weapons. 1986 - 38th NHL All-Star Game: Wales beat Campbell 4-3 (overtime) at Hartford, Connecticut. 1986 - Israeli fighters intercept Libyan airliner (passenger plane). 1987 - Liberace, American pianist (Liberace Show), actor (Evil Chandell - Batman), dies at age 67 (born 1919). 1987 - Dennis Conner and Stars and Stripes beat Australia's Kookaburra 3, bringing America's Cup yachting trophy back to USA. 1987 - US President Ronald Reagan's veto of Clean Water Act is overridden by US Congress. 1987 - Sacramento Kings score only four points first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers; fewest in a period since introduction of 24 second shot-clock in 1954. 1988 - Birth of Carly Patterson, American gymnast. 1989 - Dean Jones scores 216 vs West Indies at the Adelaide Oval. 1989 - Kenneth "Jethro" Burns, country singer (Homer and Jethro), dies at age 69. 1990 - Ten Israeli tourists murdered near Cairo, Egypt. 1990 - Anders Holmertz swims world record 400 metre freestyle (3 minutes 40.81 seconds). 1990 - Danny Everett runs world record 400 metre indoor (45:04). 1990 - Lyudmila Narozhi-Lenko runs world record 60 metre hurdles indoor (7.69). 1990 - NFL Pro Bowl: NFC beats AFC 27-21. 1990 - Pat Bradley win Oldsmobile LPGA Golf Classic. 1990 - Richard Hadlee takes his 400th Test Cricket wicket (Sanjay Manjrekar). 1990 - The Saint Petersburg Pelicans defeat the Palm Beach Tropics to win the first Senior Professional Baseball Association Championship, 12-4. 1991 - Bob Leslie, actor (Cinderella, Mako Jaws of Death), dies at age 64. 1991 - Baseball Hall of Fame's board of directors vote 12-0 to bar Pete Rose. 1991 - Martin Crowe and Andrew Jones make 467 stand vs SL, world record. 1992 - Fred Slyter, dialogue coach, dies after long illness at age 56. 1992 - John Dehner, actor (Apache, Cowboy, Boys from Brazil), dies at age 76. 1992 - Death of Lisa Fonssagrives, Swedish model (born 1911). 1993 - Admiral Studeman, ends term as acting director of US Central Intelligence Agency. 1993 - Russian space agency tests a 82-foot wide space mirror. 1994 - The Federal Open Market Committee raises the US Federal Funds target rate for the first time since May 1989. The rate is raised by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent. 1994 - Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film My Father, the Hero to theaters in the USA. 1994 - 10th Soap Opera Digest Awards - Days of Our Lives wins. 1994 - Twenty die in armed assault on mosque in Khartum, Sudan. 1994 - Han Jansen, Dutch painter, dies at age 62. 1994 - Harold Schneider, US producer (Five Easy Pieces, War Games), dies at age 55. 1994 - Jan Veldkamp, Dutch geophysicist/director (KNMI), dies at age 84. 1994 - Justinus Darmojuwono, Indonesian archbishop/cardinal, dies at age 79. 1994 - Merlene Ottey runs world record 50 metre indoor (6.00 seconds). 1994 - Russian team beats ladies world record 4x800 metre indoor (8:18.71). 1995 - Betty Davis, British dance teacher of Dame Margot Fonteyn, dies. 1995 - Dean Jones completes 324 for Victoria vs South Australia. 1995 - Patricia Highsmith [Mary Patricia Plangman], US/Swiss author, dies at age 74 (born 1921). 1995 - Roel Wiersma, Dutch soccer star (PSV), dies at age 62. 1995 - Zimbabwe's first Test Cricket victory, over Pakistan by an inning. 1996 - NFL Pro Bowl: NFC beats AFC 20-13. 1997 - James Friell, political cartoonist, dies at age 84. 1997 - Mario LeMieux is 7th NHL player to score 600 goals. 1997 - O.J. Simpson is found liable in civil court for the death of Ron Goldman and for the battery of Nicole Brown Simpson. Simpson is ordered to pay $35,000,000 in damages to the families of the two victims. 1997 - On their way to Lebanon, two Israeli troop-transport helicopters collide, killing 73. 1997 - After at first contesting the results, Serbian President Slobodan MiloÜevic recognizes opposition victories in the November 1996 elections. 1997 - Ipswich Town footballer Adam Tanner, who recently failed a drugs test, is banned from football for three months at an FA hearing. Tanner received a relatively lenient punishment as he had admitted taking drugs at the first attempt and shown remorse for his behaviour. 1997 - British Home Secretary Michael Howard informs Moors Murderer Myra Hindley that she will never be released from prison. Mr Howard made the decision in agreement with a recommendation made by his predecessor David Waddington in 1990. 1997 - In Northeastern Iran, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurs. At least 88 people killed, nearly 2,000 injured, 16,500 houses destroyed or damaged. 1998 - Microsoft chairman Bill Gates gets a pie thrown in his face in Brussels, Belgium. 1998 - In Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurs. At least 2,323 people killed, 818 injured, 8,094 houses destroyed. 1999 - Unarmed West African immigrant Amadou Diallo is shot dead by New York City police officers on an unrelated stake-out, inflaming race relations in the city. 2000 - German extortionist Klaus-Peter Sabotta is jailed for life for attempted murder and extortion, in connection with the sabotage of German railway lines. 2000 - Death of Phil Tonken, American radio and television announcer (born 1919). 2001 - Death of Iannis Xenakis, Greek composer (born 1922). 2003 - Platinum hist a 23-year high of US$700 per ounce. 2004 - The Saint Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols agree to a US$100 million, seven-year deal. 2005 - The Chicago Cubs sign Aramis Ramirez to a US$8.95 million, one-year contract. 2006 - Death of Betty Friedan, American feminist, activist, and writer (born 1921). 2006 - The Wowowee stampede occurs at the PhilSports Arena. 61 killed. 2007 - The Indianapolis Colts defeat the Chicago Bears 29-17 in NFL's Super Bowl XLI, played at Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida. 2008 - U.S. President George W. Bush unveils a record US$3.1 trillion spending plan for fiscal 2009, including US$515 billion for military spending, and US$70 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan for just part of 2009. Domestic programs would be deeply cut. The budget is the first to be presented electronically. 2008 - In Colombia, over one million people protest in the streets against FARC, the largest demonstration in the country's history. 2008 - Texas Tech University basketball coach Bob Knight resigns. He has coached for 42 years, presiding over 902 winning games, a record among US men's college basketball coaches. 2008 - Death of Harry Richard Landis, at age 108 in Sun City Center, Florida, the second-last American soldier survivor of World War I. 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