This Day in History
February 11

What happened in history on this day: February 11? On February 11 in ... 385 - Oldest Pope elected; Siricius - bishop of Tarragona. 641 - Heraclius, emperor of Byzantium (610-641), dies at about age 65. 731 - Gregory II, Greek-Syrian Pope, dies. 821 - Benedict of Aniane, saint, dies. 824 - Paschal I, Italian Catholic Pope (817-24), dies. 867 - Theodora the Saint, beauty queen/empress of Byzantine, dies. 1141 - Hugo of St-Victor philosopher/theologist/mystic, dies. 1380 - Birth of Gianfrancesco Poggio Bracciolini Italy, humanist. 1465 - Birth of Elizabeth of York London, Consort of King Henry VII. 1503 - Elizabeth of York Consort of King Henry VII, dies on 38th birthday. 1506 - Birth of Juliana van Stolberg engraver of Nassau. 1531 - Henry VIII recognized as supreme head of the Church in England. 1535 - Birth of Gregory XIV [Niccolò Sfondrati], Roman Catholic pope (1590-91). 1543 - Ahmed Gran sultan of Adal, dies in battle. 1543 - Battle at Wayna Daga Ethiopian/Portugese troops beat Muslim army. 1543 - Karel/Henry VIII sign anti-French covenant. 1554 - Lady Jane Grey deposed Queen of England, beheaded after 9 day rule at age 17. 1557 - Birth of John Wtenbogaert remonstrants theologist. 1568 - Birth of Honoré d'Urfé French writer (L'Astrée). 1573 - First European, Francis Drake sees the Pacific (from Panamá). 1575 - King Frederick of Denmark offers island of Hveen to Tycho Brahe. 1622 - Alfonso Fontanelli composer, dies at age 64. 1638 - Dutch countess Louise of Solms marries earl John of Brederode. 1650 - René Descartes philosopher "I think therefore I am", stops thinking. 1657 - Birth of Bernard Fontenelle France, scientist/writer (Plurality of Worlds). 1685 - David Teniers III Flemish painter, dies at age 46. 1720 - Sweden and Prussia sign peace (second Treaty of Stockholm). 1752 - Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in the US, opened. 1755 - Birth of Albert Christoph Dies composer. 1762 - Johann Tobias Krebs composer, dies at age 71. 1764 - Birth of Marie-Joseph de Chénier French poet (Cajus Graechus). 1766 - Stamp Act declared unconstitutional in Virginia. 1768 - Samuel Adams letter, circulates around American colonies, opposing Townshend Act taxes. 1776 - Birth of Joannis Capodistrias Greek Governor of Troezen (1827-31). 1780 - Birth of K v Günderode writer. 1783 - Birth of Jarena Lee famous African. 1790 - Birth of Ignaz Assmayer composer. 1790 - Society of Friends petitions US Congress for abolition of slavery. 1793 - Prussian troops occupy Venlo Netherlands. 1794 - First session of US Senate open to the public. 1797 - Antoine Dauvergne composer, dies at age 83. 1800 - Birth of William Henry Fox Talbot Wiltshire England, photographic pioneer. 1802 - Birth of Lydia Maria Child US, author/abolitionist (Juvenile Miscellany). 1806 - Vicente Martin y Soler composer, dies at age 51. 1808 - Anthracite coal first burned as fuel, experimentally, Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania. 1809 - Robert Fulton patents the steamboat. 1810 - Birth of Loisa Puget composer. 1810 - Napoleon marries Marie-Louise of Austria. 1811 - President Madison prohibits trade with Britain for third time in four years. 1812 - Birth of Alexander Hamilton Stephens Vice President (Confederacy), died in 1883. 1812 - Birth of Benjamin Franklin Sands Commander (Union Navy), died in 1883. 1812 - Massachusetts Governor Gerry signs a redistricting bill-the first "gerrymander. 1814 - Norway's independence proclaimed. 1819 - Birth of Samuel Parkman Tuckerman composer. 1821 - Birth of Auguste Édouard Mariette French Egyptologist, (dug out Sphinx 12/16/42). 1821 - Birth of Hermann Allmers writer. 1826 - London University founded. 1829 - Birth of William Anderson Pile Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1889. 1830 - Birth of Hans Bronsart von Schellendorf composer. 1830 - Birth of Peter Arnold Heise composer. 1833 - Birth of Melville Weston Fuller 8th chief justice. 1837 - American Physiological Society organizes in Boston. 1839 - Birth of Josiah Willard Gibbs theoretical physicist/chemist. 1840 - Birth of Sanuel Dana Greene Lieutenant Commander (Union Navy), died in 1884. 1840 - Gaetano Donizetti's Opera "La Fille du Regiment" premieres in Paris. 1841 - J H Ferdinand Olivier German painter, dies at age 55. 1843 - Giuseppe Verdi's Opera "I Lombardi" premieres in Milan. 1847 - Birth of Thomas Alva Edison Milan Ohio, lit up your life (held 1200 patents). 1851 - First cricket first-class game in Australia, Tasmania vs Victoria, Launceston. 1852 - First British public female toilet opens (Bedford Street London). 1854 - Major streets lit by coal gas for first time. 1858 - First apparition of Mary to 14-year-old Bernadette of Lourdes France. 1860 - Birth of Rachilde [Marguerite Vallette-Eymery], French author (Monsieur Venus). 1861 - President-elect Lincoln takes train from Spingfield Illinois to Washington DC. 1861 - US House unanimously passes resolution guaranteeing noninterference with slavery in any state. 1867 - Birth of August W Messer German philosopher/educator/psychologist. 1868 - Léon Foucault discovers first physical proof of Earth's rotation, dies. 1869 - Birth of Helene ELJ Kröller-Müller Dutch founder (Kröller-Müller Museum). 1870 - Jacob M de Kempenaer Dutch Minister of Internal Affairs (1848-49), dies at age 76. 1870 - Leopold Eugen Mechura composer, dies at age 66. 1873 - Birth of Feodor Chaliapine Russian author/novelist (Pages from My Life). 1873 - Spanish Cortes fires king Amadeus I. 1874 - Birth of Elsa Beskow [Maartman], Swedish children's book/fairy tales author. 1874 - Birth of Fritz Bennicke Hart composer. 1875 - Birth of Sara Wennerberg-Reuter composer. 1878 - First US bicycle club, Boston Bicycle Club, forms. 1878 - First weekly Weather report published in United Kingdom. 1879 - Birth of Jean Gilbert composer. 1879 - Honore Daumier caricaturist/painter, dies. 1879 - Willem J van Zeggelen Dutch author/novelist/writer, dies at age 67. 1882 - Birth of Gheorghe Cucu composer. 1882 - Gustav Schmidt composer, dies at age 65. 1883 - Birth of Paul August von Klenau Danish composer/conductor (Sulamith). 1887 - Birth of Ernst "Putzi" Hanfstängl German/US pianist/politician (NSDAP). 1887 - Birth of John van Melle South African writer (Dawid Booysen). 1889 - Birth of John Mills dancer (Mills Brothers). 1889 - Birth of Vladimir Mikhaylovich Deshevov composer. 1889 - Meiji constitution of Japan adopted; first Diet convenes in 1890. 1890 - Birth of John P M L de Vries fairy tale writer. 1891 - Birth of J W Hearne cricket leg-spinner (all-rounder for England in 24 Tests). 1892 - Erik Anthon Valdemar Siboni composer, dies at age 63. 1893 - Birth of Johan C P Alberts Dutch literary (Festival). 1894 - Birth of Alfonso Leng composer. 1894 - Birth of Isaac M Kolthoff chemist (Massenanalyse). 1894 - Pasqual Juan Emilio Arrieta y Corera composer, dies at age 70. 1895 - -17 degrees F (-27.2 degrees C) in Braemar, Grampian (United Kingdom record). 1895 - Birth of Viktor Nikolayevich Trambitsky composer. 1895 - Georgetown became part of Washington DC. 1896 - Birth of Else Lasker-Schüler writer. 1896 - Oscar Wildes "Salomé" premieres in Paris. 1897 - Birth of Yves de La Casiniere composer. 1897 - White Rose Mission opens on East 97th Street, New York City. 1898 - Birth of Leo Szilard Hungary, physicist/A-bomb worker/peace activist. 1898 - Owen Smith of North Carolina, AME Zion minister, named minister to Liberia. 1899 - -15 degrees F (-26 degrees C), Washington DC (district record). 1899 - -61 degrees F (-52 degrees C), Montana (record low temperature). 1899 - George Morgan first English motorist to die in an motor accident, dies. 1900 - Birth of Hans-Georg Gadamer German philosopher. 1900 - Birth of Thomas Hitchcock Jr great polo player (Westchester Cup 1924,27,30,39). 1901 - Milan I king of Serbia, dies at age 56. 1902 - Police beats up universal suffrage demonstrators in Brussels. 1903 - Anton Bruckner's 9th Symfonie premieres in Vienna. 1903 - Birth of Hans Redlich composer. 1903 - Birth of Rex Lease West Virginia; actor (Fast Bullets, Sunny Skies, Custer's Last Stand). 1903 - Henryk Szulc composer, dies at age 67. 1904 - Birth of Henry R LaBouisse headed UNICEF (1965-79). 1904 - Birth of Sir Keith Holyoake New Zealand Prime Minister (1960-72). 1905 - Birth of Beb [Elizabeth] Vuyk Netherlands/Indonesian writer (Camp diary). 1905 - James Blackstone, Seattle, bowls 299.5-last pin breaks but stands. 1905 - Pope Pius X publishes encyclical Vehementer nos. 1906 - Birth of Denis Barnett British air chief marshal. 1907 - Birth of E W Swanton author and sports commentator. 1907 - De Master's Dutch government resigns. 1907 - Passenger ship Larchmont sinks by Block Island, 322 die. 1907 - Peter J Savelberg Dutch Limbourg monastery founder, dies at age 80. 1908 - Australia regain the Ashes with a 308 run cricket victory vs England. 1908 - Birth of Josh White rocker. 1908 - Birth of Sutan Takdir Alishahbana Indonesian linguistic/author/novelist. 1908 - Birth of Vivian [Ernest] Fuchs geologist/explorer (British Antarctic Survey). 1908 - Heemskerk's government begins in Holland. 1909 - Birth of Joseph L Mankiewicz Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania, film writer/director (Sleuth). 1909 - Birth of Max Baer [The Livermore Larruper] Omaha Nebraska, heavyweight boxing champion (1934-35)/actor (The Prizefighter and the Lady). 1911 - Albert von Rothschild baron/Austrian banker, dies at age 66. 1911 - Birth of Alec Cairncross chancellor (Glasgow U). 1912 - Birth of Roy Fuller England, poet/novelist (Lost Season). 1912 - Birth of Rudolf Firkusny Napajedla Czechoslovakia, pianist (Julliard). 1913 - Birth of Lucio Diestro San Pedro composer. 1914 - Birth of French Duynstee Dutch constitutional lawyer. 1914 - Birth of Matt Dennis Seattle Washington, singer (Matt Dennis Show). 1914 - Birth of Menelaos Pallantios composer. 1914 - Birth of Winand J Borgerhoff Mulder court judge of Amsterdam. 1915 - Birth of Haakon Stotijn Dutch oboist (VARA Orchestra, Orkestgebouw Orchestra). 1915 - Birth of Mervyn Levy artist/critic. 1915 - Birth of Patrick Leigh Fermor author. 1916 - Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presents its first concert. 1916 - Birth of Bernice Levin Neugarten social scientist/gerontologist. 1916 - Emma Goldman arrested for lecturing on birth control. 1917 - Birth of Richard Jock Kinneir graphic designer. 1917 - Birth of Sidney Sheldon novelist (1947 Academy Award, 1959 Tony, Bloodline). 1919 - Birth of Gretchen Fraser Tacoma Washington, slalom skier (Olympics-gold-1948). 1919 - Friedrich Ebert (SPD), elected President of Germany. 1920 - Birth of Billy Halop New York City, New York; actor (Bert Munson-All in the Family). 1920 - Birth of Daniel F[rancis] Galouye US, sci-fi author (Dark Universe, Last Leap). 1920 - Birth of Farouk I Cairo, last King of Egypt (1936-52). 1920 - Birth of Paul Peter Piech artist. 1921 - Ambassador Theater opens at 215 W 49th Steet New York City. 1921 - Birth of Eva Gabor Budapest Hungary, actress (Lisa-Green Acres, Gigi). 1921 - Birth of Lloyd Bentsen (Senator-Democrat-Texas) (1988 Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee). 1922 - "April Showers" by Al Jolson hits #1. 1922 - Birth of Leslie Nielsen Regina Sask; actor (Forbidden Planet, Naked Gun). 1922 - Birth of Tudor Jarda composer. 1922 - Gerardus J P Bolland Dutch philosopher (Bolland Society), dies at age 67. 1922 - US intervention army leaves Honduras. 1923 - Birth of Baroness Sharples. 1923 - Birth of Ronald Arculus British diplomat. 1924 - Birth of Mary Tregear Oriental art historian. 1925 - Birth of Dr Virginia E Johnson sexologist (Masters and Johnson). 1925 - Birth of Kim Stanley [Patricia Reid], Tularosa New Mexico, actress (Right Stuff). 1925 - Birth of Peter Berger British Vice-Admiral. 1925 - Birth of Virginia E Johnson doctor/sexologist (Masters and Johnson). 1926 - Birth of Alexander Gibson British conductor/founder (Scottish Opera). 1926 - Birth of Paul Bocuse France, great chef (Legion of Honor). 1926 - Tokelau (Union) islands in south Pacific transfers to New Zealand. 1927 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Beatrix Loughran. 1927 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Nathaniel Niles. 1928 - (to February 19) The 2nd Olympic Winter Games are held in St. Moritz, Switzerland. 1928 - Birth of Archibald Forster CEO (Esso United Kingdom). 1928 - Birth of Conrad Janis New York City, New York; actor (Mork and Mindy, Quark, Bonino). 1928 - Birth of Gerry Alexander cricket wicketkeeper (West Indies of 50s and 60s). 1928 - Birth of Raoul Cita rocker. 1929 - Birth of Leonard Gregory Kastle composer. 1929 - Eugene O'Neill's "Dynamo" premieres in New York City, New York. 1929 - Vatican City (world's smallest country) made an enclave of Rome. 1930 - Birth of Alevtina Koltschina USSR, cross country relay skier (Olympics-gold-1960). 1930 - Birth of C H Dearnley organist. 1930 - Birth of Earl of Rosebery. 1931 - Birth of Larry Merchant author/boxing commentator (Showtime). 1931 - Charles Algernon Parsons British inventor (steam turbine), dies at age 76. 1932 - 73 degrees F highest temperature ever recorded in Cleveland in February. 1932 - Birth of Dennis Skinner Member of Parliament. 1932 - Birth of Jerome Lowenthal Philadelphia Pennsylvania, pianist/professor (Jerusalem Academy of Music). 1934 - Birth of Francesco Pennisi composer. 1934 - Birth of John Surtees British race car driver. 1934 - Birth of Mary Quant Kent England, fashion designer (Chelsea Look, Mod Look). 1934 - Birth of Patrick Holmes Sellors ophthalmologist. 1934 - Birth of Tina Louise New York City, New York, actress (Ginger-Gilligan's Island, Julie-Dallas). 1935 - -11 degrees F (-24 degrees C), Ifrane, Morocco (African record low). 1935 - First US airplane flight with auto slung beneath the fuselage, New York. 1935 - Birth of Bent Lorentzen composer. 1935 - Birth of Gene Vincent Norfolk Virginia, rock guitarist/vocalist (Be-Bop-A-Lula). 1936 - Birth of Burt Reynolds Waycross Georgia, USA; actor (Evening Shade, Striptease, Cannonball Run, Smokey and the Bandit, Dan August, Deliverance). 1936 - Pumping begins to build Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. 1937 - 44-day sit-down strike at General Motors in Flint Michigan ends. 1937 - Birth of Bill Lawry cricketer (dour Australian lefty opener, Can talk a bit). 1937 - Birth of Lodewijk Boer Dutch violinist/playwright (The Family). 1937 - Birth of Marilyn Butler Rector (Exeter College-Oxford). 1937 - Birth of Peter Lashley cricketer (4 Tests for West Indies 1960-66). 1938 - Birth of Bevan Congdon cricketer (New Zealand batsman of 60s and 70s). 1938 - Birth of Boris Majorov USSR, ice hockey (Olympics-gold-1964). 1938 - Birth of General Manuel Antonio Noriega Panamanian General/dictator (1983-1990). 1938 - Birth of Willy Correa de Oliveira composer. 1938 - Birth of Yevgeniy Majorov USSR, ice hockey (Olympics-gold-1964). 1938 - Steve Casey beats Lou Thesz in Boston, to become wrestling champion. 1938 - Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg meets with Adolf Hitler in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria. Adolf Hitler demands that Austria become a protectorate of Germany, governed by him. Schuschnigg signs in agreement. 1939 - Birth of Bryan Gould Member of Parliament. 1939 - Birth of Gerry Goffin Queens New York, rock lyricist (married Carole King). 1939 - Birth of Jane [Hyatt] Yolen US, sci-fi author (Spider Jane, Heart's Blood). 1939 - Franz Schmidt Austrian composer, dies at age 64. 1940 - Birth of Bobby "Boris" Pickett rocker (Monster Mash). 1940 - Birth of Calvin Fowler Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, basketball player (Olympics-gold-1968). 1940 - Birth of John Fink Detroit Michigan; actor (Dr Adam Hudson-Nancy). 1940 - John Buchan first Baron Tweedsmuir, Governor-General of Canada (1935-40), dies. 1940 - Russian forces breach the main Finnish defensive line. 1941 - First Gold record presented (Glenn Miller-Chattanooga Choo Choo). 1941 - Birth of Glenn Randall Jr stuntman (Species, Mrs Soffel, Return of the Jedi). 1941 - Birth of Jeremy Mackenzie General. 1941 - Birth of Sergio Mendes jazz/pop musician (Brazil '66/'77/'88). 1941 - Lieutenant-General Erwin Rommel arrives in Tripoli. 1941 - Rudolf Hilferding German economist/Minister of Finance (SPD), suicide at age 63. 1941 - Sicherheitsdienst complains about Dutch anti German sentiments. 1942 - "Archie" comic book debuts. 1942 - Birth of James Couchman Member of Parliament. 1942 - Birth of Leon Haywood US vocalist/keyboardist (It's Got to be Mellow). 1942 - Birth of Otis Clay US gospel/R&B-singer (That's how it is). 1942 - Birth of Tony Colton rock producer (On the Boards). 1943 - Birth of Iain Cameron British brigadier. 1943 - Birth of Win Griffiths Member of Parliament. 1943 - General Eisenhower selected to command the allied armies in Europe. 1943 - Transport nr 47 departs with French Jews to Nazi-Germany. 1943 - Karkov is recaptured by the Soviet Red Army. 1944 - Birth of Bert Greene golfer. 1944 - Birth of Buddhadev Dasgupta director (Charachar, Grihajuddha). 1944 - Birth of Michael G Oxley (Representative-Republican-Ohio, 1981-). 1944 - German troops re-conquer Aprilia Italy. 1944 - Ivan Sollertinski friend of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich, dies. 1944 - U-424 sunk off Ireland. 1945 - First gas turbine propeller-driven airplane flight tested, Downey California. 1945 - Al Dubin Swiss songwriter (Tiptoe Thru The Tulips), dies at age 53. 1945 - J S H Lokerman Dutch resistance fighter, dies in Neugengamme. 1945 - At Yalta, representatives of Great Britain, the USA, and the Soviet Union sign a secret agreement on certain post-war issues. After victory over Japan, the Soviet Union is to receive the Kurile Islands, and southern Sakhalin and adjacent islands. 1946 - Birth of M C Walker CEO (Iceland Frozen Foods). 1946 - Birth of Timothy Chambers pediatrician. 1946 - The U.S. Military Tribunal in Japan convicts Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma of the Japanese Army of ordering the Bataan Death March and condoning other wartime atrocities. He is sentenced to death by firing squad. 1946 - The secret agreement by the Allies made in Yalta is published publicly. The terms of the Soviet Union joining the war versus Japan include maintaining the status quo in Outer Mongolia, the restoration of southern Sakhalin and adjacent islands to the Soviet Union, and the gain to the Soviet Union of the Kurile Islands. 1948 - Billy Griffith scores cricket century on debut England vs West Indies, out for 140. 1948 - John Costello follows Eamon Da Valera as premier of Ireland. 1948 - Sergy Eisenstein film director, dies at age 50. 1948 - Test Cricket debut of Frank Worrell, vs England Port-of-Spain. 1949 - Birth of Charlie Hargrett rock guitarist (Blackfoot). 1949 - Willie Pep recaptures world featherweight boxing title. 1950 - "Rag Mop" by The Ames Brothers hit #1. 1950 - Birth of Clarence Ellis NFL player. 1950 - Birth of Earnest Jim Istook (Representative-Republican-Oklahoma). 1950 - Birth of Johanna E "Joke" Beerens actress (Schipper Next to God). 1950 - Birth of Rochelle Fleming US soul vocalist (First Choice, Smarty Pants). 1951 - Kwame Nkrumah wins first parliamentary election on Gold coast (Ghana). 1953 - Birth of Alan Rubin music figure (Blues Brothers). 1953 - Birth of Philip Anglim San Francisco California; actor (Dane-Thorn Birds). 1953 - Birth of Stephen D Thorne Frankfurt-on-Main, German, Lieutenant Commander USN/astronaut. 1953 - J Styne/B Hilliard's musical "Hazel Flagg" premieres in New York City, New York. 1953 - President Eisenhower refuses clemency appeal for Rosenberg couple. 1953 - Russia breaks diplomatic relations with Israel. 1954 - In Los Angeles, California, the 6th Annual Emmy Awards are presented, hosted by Ed Sullivan. Best Audience Participation, Quiz or Panel Program: This Is Your Life and What's My Line? Best Children's Program: Kukla, Fran, and Ollie Best Dramatic Program: The United States Steel Hour Best Female Star of a Regular Series: Eve Arden for Our Miss Brooks Best Male Star of a Regular Series: Donald O'Connor for The Colgate Comedy Hour Best Mystery, Action, or Adventure Program: Dragnet Best New Program: Make Room for Daddy and The United States Steel Hour Best Program of News or Sports: See It Now Best Public Affairs Program: Victory at Sea Best Series Supporting Actor: Art Carney for The Jackie Gleason Show Best Series Supporting Actress: Vivian Vance for I Love Lucy Best Situation Comedy: I Love Lucy Best Variety Program: Omnibus Most Outstanding Personality: Edward R. Murrow. 1954 - Birth of Catherine Hickland Fort Lauderdale, actress (Capitol, Star Trek IV). 1956 - Birth of Kathleen Beller Queens New York, actress (Fort Apache the Bronx, Touched). 1957 - NHL Players Association forms (New York City, New York), Red Wings' Ted Lindsay elected president. 1958 - Birth of Michael Jackson; controller (BBC2). 1958 - Birth of Regina Marsikova in Czechoslovakia; tennis star. 1958 - Ruth Carol Taylor is first African-American woman hired as flight attendant. 1959 - Birth of Corinne Shigemoto; US judo coach (Olympics-1996). 1959 - Vinoo Mankad ends his final Test Cricket (v West Indies at Delhi). 1960 - Birth of Richard A Mastracchio in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA; astronaut. 1960 - Jack Paar walks off his TV show. 1961 - Birth of Becky LeBeau in Los Angeles, California, USA; vocalist ("Mischief"). 1961 - Birth of Carey Lowell in New York City, New York, USA; actress (Me and Him, Guardian, Dangerously Close). 1961 - Birth of Mary Docter; American 3000 metre speed skater (Olympics-1980, 1984, 1988, 1992). 1961 - Eduard R Verkade, Dutch actor/director (Pygmalion), dies at age 82. 1961 - Patrice Lumumba, first premier of Congo, murdered at age 34. 1961 - Robert C Weaver sworn in as US Administrator of the Housing and Home Finance Agency with highest federal post by a black. 1961 - Trial of Adolf Eichmann begins in Jerusalem, Israel. 1962 - Birth of Scott Kolden in Torrance, California, USA; actor (Scott - Me and the Chimp). 1962 - Birth of Sheryl Crow in Kennett, Missouri, USA; singer/songwriter ("All I Wanna Do", "If It Makes You Happy"). 1963 - Birth of Todd Benzinger; US baseball player (San Francisco Giants). 1963 - US Central Intelligence Agency Domestic Operations Division is created. 1963 - Sylvia Plath, poet/novelist (Ariel), kills herself in London at age 30. 1964 - The Beatles' first live appearance in US, at Washington DC Coliseum. 1964 - Greek and Turks begin fighting in Limassol, Cyprus. 1964 - Taiwan drops diplomatic relations with France. 1965 - The Beatles' Ringo Starr marries Maureen Cox. 1965 - Birth of Angie Ridgeway in Wabash, Indiana, USA; LPGA golfer (1992 Sara Lee-8th). 1965 - Birth of Stephen Gregory in New York City, New York, USA; actor (Chase - The Young and the Restless). 1965 - Milwaukee Braves propose to pay 5 cents from each ticket to bring a new team to Milwaukee. 1966 - Birth of Alexander Semak in Ufa, Russia; NHL center (New York Islanders). 1966 - Birth of Anthony Parker; NFL cornerback (Minnesota Vikings, Saint Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers). 1966 - Birth of Patrick Kuhnen in West Germany; tennis star. 1966 - Birth of Stephen Gregory in New York City, New York, USA; actor (Chase - The Young and the Restless). 1966 - San Francisco Giants' Willie Mays signs highest contract, US$130,000 per year. 1967 - Birth of Barbara Byrne in Princeton, New Jersey, USA; rower (Olympics-1996). 1967 - Birth of Chris Reohr in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, USA; fencer (Olympics-1996). 1967 - Birth of Derek King in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; NHL left wing (New York Islanders). 1967 - Birth of John Patterson; US baseball infielder (San Francisco Giants). 1968 - Howard Lindsay, US playwright (State of the Union), dies at age 78. 1968 - Israeli-Jordan border fight. 1968 - Jeffrey Kramer survives 76-metre jump off Washington Bridge into Hudson River, New York. 1968 - Madison Square Garden III closes; Madison Square Garden IV opens (New York City, New York). 1968 - Peggy Fleming wins Olympics figure skating gold medal, Grenoble, France. 1969 - Birth of Bryan Eversgerd; US baseball pitcher (Saint Louis Cardinals). 1969 - Birth of Jennifer Aniston in Sherman Oaks, California, USA; actress (Rachel - Friends). 1969 - Birth of Joe Valerio; NFL outside corner/tackle (Kansas City Chiefs). 1969 - Birth of Kevin King; US baseball pitcher (Seattle Mariners). 1969 - Birth of Mark Atkinson; cricket wicket-keeper (Tasmanian batsman). 1969 - Birth of Mary Stoker; Miss Wisconsin-USA (1996). 1969 - Diana Crump becomes first US woman jockey to ride against men, Hialelah. 1969 - James Lanphier; actor (Flight of Lost Balloon), dies at age 48. 1970 - 26.37 cm (10.38 inches) of rainfall, Mount Washington, New Hampshire (state 24-hour record). 1970 - Birth of Alistair Brown, cricketer (Surrey and England ODI opening batsman 1996). 1970 - Birth of Jason Allyn Scott in Iowa City, Iowa, USA; rower (Olympics-1996). 1970 - Emil Abranyi, composer, dies at age 87. 1970 - Japan becomes fourth nation to put a satellite (Osumi) in orbit. 1971 - Birth of Jennifer Lynne Faucette in Burlington, Vermont, USA; Miss Vermont-America (1995). 1971 - Birth of John Bock; NFL center (New York Jets, Miami Dolphins). 1971 - Birth of Linda Wild in Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA; tennis star (1993 Melbourne Open). 1971 - Montreal Canadiens' John Believau scores his 500th NHL goal. 1971 - US, United Kingdom, USSR, others sign Seabed Treaty outlawing nuclear weapons. 1971 - Whitney Young Jr, National Urban League director, drowns in Nigeria. 1972 - Birth of Dennis Iliohan; Dutch soccer player (FC Lisse, ADO Den Haag). 1972 - Jan Wils, architect (Olympian Stadium, Amsterdam), dies at age 80. 1973 - First one-day international for Pakistan and New Zealand. 1973 - First sub 17-minute 1,500-metre female freestyle swim (Shane Gould 16 minutes 56.9 seconds). 1973 - Birth of Tom Tumulty; linebacker (Cincinnati Bengals). 1973 - Hans D Jensen, German physicist (Nobel Prize 1963), dies at age 65. 1973 - Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA Naples-Lely Golf Classic. 1973 - Philadelphia 76ers lose their 20th NBA game in a row. 1974 - First baseball arbitration: Minnesota Twins' pitcher Dick Woodson seeking US$29,000 (wins), Twins offered $23,000. 1974 - Anna Q Nilsson, actress (Toll Gate, Sorrell and Son), dies at age 85. 1974 - Birth of Brian Newman; guard (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). 1974 - Birth of Ronnie Ward; linebacker (Miami Dolphins). 1974 - Birth of Wally Richardson; quarterback (Baltimore Ravens). 1974 - Dick Woodson is first of 48 to invoke baseball's new arbitration rule. 1974 - Titan-Centaur test launch fails. 1975 - Birth of Chuck Watanabe; kayak (alternate-Olympics-1996). 1975 - Birth of Jacque Vaughn; NBA guard (Utah Jazz). 1975 - Birth of Kim Weir; Miss Nebraska-USA (1997). 1975 - Margaret Thatcher defeats Edward Heath for Conservative leadership. 1976 - Alice Allen, actress (Call of the Hills), dies. 1976 - Birth of Brice Beckham in Long Beach, California; actor (Wesley - Mr Belvedere). 1976 - Birth of Tony Battie; NBA forward (Denver Nuggets). 1976 - Charlie Naughton, actor (Frozen Limits), dies at age 89. 1976 - Lee J Cobb actor (12 Angry Men, On the Waterfront), dies at age 64. 1977 - 20.2-kg lobster caught off Nova Scotia, Canada (heaviest known crustacean). 1977 - Birth of Jessica Carlson in Kalamazoo, Michigan; archer (alternate-Olympics-1996). 1977 - Birth of Stephanie Richardson in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 200 metre/800 metre swimmer (Olympics-1996). 1977 - Birth of Veronica Marie Duka in Campbellsville, Kentucky; Miss Kentucky-America (1996-Top 10). 1977 - Louis J M Beel, Dutch premier (1946-48, 1958-59), dies at age 74. 1978 - 25th hat trick in New York Islanders' history-Denis Potvin. 1978 - China lifts a ban on Aristotle, Shakespeare, and Dickens. 1978 - EOKA organization disbands in Cyprus. 1978 - James B Conant, headmaster (Harvard University), dies at age 84. 1979 - 43 million watch Elvis! on ABC. 1979 - Birth of Brandy [Norwood]; singer (Les Miserables, Moesha). 1979 - Iran's premier Bakhtiar resigns, Ayatollah Khomeini seizes power. 1979 - Musical They're Playing Our Song premieres at Imperial theater in New York City for 1082 performances. 1980 - Birth of Matthew Lawrence in Montgomery, Pennsylvania; actor (Matthew - Gimme a Break). 1980 - Birth of Natasha Bobo in Watsonville, California; actress (Sally - Together We Stand). 1981 - Birth of Kelly Rowland; American singer (Destiny's Child). 1981 - Australia all out 83 vs India at Melbourne Cricket Ground chasing 143 to win. 1982 - Birth of Neil Robertson; Australian snooker player. 1982 - Eleanor Powell, American tap dancer/wife of Glenn Ford, dies of cancer at age 69 (born 1912). 1982 - Takashi Shimura, Japanese actor (Rashomon, 7 Samurais), dies at age 76 (born 1905). 1982 - Birth of Natalie Dormer; English actress. 1983 - Fourth largest snowfall in New York City history (18 inches (46cm)). 1984 - Wayne Gretzky sets NHL short-handed season scoring record at 11. 1984 - STS-41-B: Space Shuttle Challenger makes the first shuttle landing at the Kennedy Space Center. 1984 - Birth of Matt Good, American Musician (From First To Last). 1985 - Heinz Eric Roemheld, composer, dies of pneumonia at age 83. 1985 - Henry Hathaway, actor/director (Nob Hill), dies of heart attack at age 86. 1985 - Jordan king Hussein and Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Arafat sign accord. 1985 - Kent Hrbek signs 5-year, US$6 million contract with Minnesota Twins, making him the club's first million dollar player. 1985 - Ulysses Simpson Kay, composer, dies at age 68. 1985 - Pakistani bowler Wasim Akram takes 10 wickets in his second Test cricket match, but New Zealand still wins. 1986 - Australia beat India 2-0 to win the World Series Cup. 1986 - Frank [Patrick] Herbert, American sci-fi author (Dune), dies at age 65 (born 1920). 1986 - Iran begins Fajr-8 offensive against Iraq. 1986 - Human rights activist Anatoly Scharansky is released by the Soviet Union and leaves the country. 1986 - Death of Evelio Javier, Filipino politician, lawyer, and civil servant (born 1942). 1987 - British Airways is privatised and listed on the London Stock Exchange. 1987 - England beat Australia 2-0 to win the World Series Cup. 1987 - Philippines' new constitution goes into effect. 1987 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1989 - Barbara Clementine Harris is consecrated as the first female bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. 1989 - George O'Hanlon, actor/director (Bop Girl, Zamba), dies at age 71 (born 1912). 1989 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Jill Trenary. 1990 - 40th NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 130-113 in Miami. 1990 - Birth of Q'Orianka Kilcher, German-born actress. 1990 - James "Buster" Douglas knocks out Mike Tyson to win the World Heavyweight Boxing crown. 1990 - Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison, near Cape Town, South Africa, after 27 years behind bars. 1990 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Todd Eldredge. 1990 - Enix releases the Dragon Quest IV game for the Famicom in Japan. On the first day in stores, 1.3 million copies are sold, for about US$75 each. 1991 - Oscar Nitzchke, German architect (Alcoa building), dies at age 90. 1991 - Unrepresented Nations and People Organization (UNPO) forms in Hague, Netherlands. 1992 - An F-16 jet crashes into a residential district of Hengelo, the Netherlands; no casualties are reported. 1992 - Birth of Taylor Lautner, American actor. 1992 - Michael Johnson runs indoor world record 400 metre (44.97 seconds). 1992 - Ray Danton, US actor/director (Psychic Killer), dies at age 60. 1993 - George A Stephen, inventor (Weber Kettle Grill), dies at age 71. 1993 - Howard Stern's radio show begins transmitting to Rochester New York (WRQI). 1993 - Irina Privalova runs world record 60 metre indoor (6.92 seconds). 1993 - Janet Reno is selected by President Clinton as U.S. Attorney General. 1993 - Joy Garrett, actress (Days of Our Lives), dies of liver failure at age 47. 1993 - Oksana Kostina, Russian gymnast, dies in an auto accident. 1993 - Death of Robert W. Holley, American biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (born 1922). 1994 - Antonio Martin, Spanish cyclist, dies in cycling accident at age 23. 1994 - Lu Parker, Miss South Carolina, crowned 43rd Miss USA. 1994 - Sorrell Booke, American actor (Mayor Boss Hogg - Dukes of Hazzard), dies at age 64 (born 1930). 1994 - Space shuttle STS-60 (Discovery 18), lands. 1994 - William Conrad, American actor (Cannon), dies of a heart attack at age 73 (born 1920). 1994 - Buena Vista releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film Blank Check to theaters in the USA. 1994 - Death of Neil Bonnett, American race car driver (born 1946). 1995 - Danyon Loader swims world record 400 metre freestyle (3 minutes 40.46 seconds). 1995 - Mark Foster swims world record 50 metre butterfly (23.55 seconds). 1995 - Sandra Völker swims European record 50 metre backstroke (27.67 seconds). 1995 - Space shuttle STS-63 (Discovery 19), lands. 1995 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Todd Eldredge. 1995 - West Indies score 5-660 against New Zealand. 1996 - 46th NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 129-118 at San Antonio. 1996 - Amelia Rosselli, Italian poet, dies at age 65 (born 1930). 1996 - Cyril Poole, English cricket player (Notts 1946-62, England 1951-52 in three Tests), dies (born 1921). 1996 - Kebby Musokotwane, Prime Minister of Zambia (1985-89), dies (born 1946). 1996 - Phil Regan, American actor (Las Vegas Night, Dames, Housewife), dies at age 88 (born 1906). 1997 - Bill Parcells becomes head coach of New York Jets. 1997 - Birth of Michael Jackson Jr son of Michael Jackson. 1997 - Death of Don Porter, American actor (Gidget), at age 84 (born 1912). 1997 - STS 82 (Discovery 22) launches. 1998 - KVBC-FM (Las Vegas) offers Monica Lewinsky $5M for interview. 1998 - Lyrics to "Candle in the Wind 1997" auctioned for $442,500. 1999 - Pluto moves along its eccentric orbit further from the Sun than Neptune. It had been nearer than Neptune since 1979. 1999 - Square releases the Final Fantasy VIII video game for the PlayStation in Japan. Opening day sales: 2.21 million copies for 17.2 billion yen (about US$145 million). Total worldwide sales over its lifetime: 7.4 million. 1999 - In Afghanistan, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurs. Seventy people killed, 500 injured, at least 14,000 homeless and 7,000 houses destroyed. 2000 - A blast from an explosive device in front of a Barclay's Bank across from the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street wounds dozens but kills none. 2000 - Disney releases the Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film The Tigger Movie to theaters in the USA. 2000 - Death of Roger Vadim, French film director (born 1928). 2001 - The East beats the West 111-110 in the 50th NBA All Star Game in Washington, DC. 2001 - Three Rivers Stadium, 30-year-old home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is imploded. 2004 - Comcast in the USA launches a US$54 billion hostile takeover bid for the Walt Disney Company. The bid is withdrawn on April 28. 2005 - Death of Stan Richards, former Emmerdale actor (born 1930). 2006 - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shoots his friend and lawyer, Harry Whittington, in the face with a shotgun on a south Texas ranch. 2006 - Pitcher Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs agree to a one-year deal worth US$6.5 million. 2007 - In a national referendum, Portuguese voters agree to legalise abortion. 2007 - The 49th Annual Grammy Awards take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA. 2007 - All-star backstop Joe Mauer the Minnesota Twins come to terms on a $33 million, four-year contract. 2007 - Death of Reginald Hugh Hickling, British lawyer, colonial civil servant, law academic and author (born 1920). 2008 - In Timor-Leste, rebels battle presidential guards at the president's home. Pres José Ramos-Horta is shot and wounded. Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado and another rebel are killed. 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