This Day in History
February 28

What happened in history on this day: February 28? On February 28 in ... 870 - Eighth ecumenical council ends in Constantinople. 1066 - Westminster Abbey opens. 1261 - Hendrik duke of Brabant (1248-61), dies. 1533 - Birth of Michel de Montaigne France, essayist/philosopher. 1552 - Birth of Jobst Bürgi [Justus Byrgius], Swiss/German mathematician. 1570 - Anti-Portugese uprising on Ternate, Moluccas. 1573 - Birth of Elias Hill German architect/city builder (Augsburg). 1573 - Jan "Hans" Liefrinck Flemish engraver/publisher, dies at about age 54. 1609 - Paul Sartorius composer, dies at age 39. 1610 - Thomas West, Baron De La Warr, is appointed governor of Virginia. 1616 - Birth of Kaspar Forster composer. 1618 - Filips Willem Prince of Orange, dies at age 63. 1626 - Cyril Tourneur English poet/dramatist, dies at about age 51. 1632 - Birth of Jean-Baptiste Lully Florence Italy, composer. 1638 - Claude G Bachet de Meziriac French mathematician/poet, dies at age 56. 1638 - Henri duc de Rohan, French soldier/Huguenot leader, dies. 1638 - Scottish Presbyterians sign National Convenant, Greyfriars, Edinburgh. 1646 - Roger Scott is tried in Massachusetts for sleeping in church. 1653 - Three Day Sea battle English beats Dutch. 1663 - Birth of Thomas Newcomen English co-inventor (steam engine). 1665 - Lodewijk van Nassau Dutch governor (Bois-le-Duc), dies. 1667 - English colony Suriname in Dutch hands. 1675 - Birth of Guillaume Delisle Paris, cartographer/geographer. 1683 - Birth of René-Antoine de Réaumur France, biologist/engineer. 1690 - Birth of Aleksei P Romanov Russia, son of Peter the Great. 1692 - Salem witch hunt begins. 1704 - Elias Neau, a Frenchman, opens a school for blacks in New York City, New York. 1704 - Indians attack Deerfield Massachusetts, kill 40, kidnap 100. 1708 - Slave revolt, Newton, Long Island New York, 11 die. 1712 - Birth of Louis Joseph de Montcalm de Saint-Véran France, General. 1728 - Georg F Händels opera "Siroe, re di Persia" premieres in London. 1730 - Tsarina Anna Ivanovna leads autocracy. 1737 - Hercule Brehy composer, dies at age 63. 1742 - Willem J 's-Gravesande Dutch physicist, dies at age 53. 1747 - Birth of Justin Morgan composer. 1749 - First edition of Henry Fieldings' "Tom Jones" published. 1750 - Birth of Ignacy Potocki Polish foreign minister. 1759 - Pope Clement XIII allows Bible to be translated into various languages. 1764 - Birth of Robert Haldane Scottish theologist/philanthropist. 1771 - Birth of French Jozef Kinsoen Flemish portrait painter. 1778 - Rhode Island General Assembly authorizes enlistment of slaves. 1779 - Birth of Augustus Callcott landscape painter, Kensington. 1781 - Richard Stockton US attorney (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at age 50. 1784 - John Wesley charters Methodist Church. 1784 - Phillis Wheatly poetess, dies. 1786 - Birth of D François J Arago French astronomer/physicist/politician. 1792 - Birth of Henriette countess d'Oultremont de Wégimont wife of King Willem I. 1792 - Birth of Karl Earnest Ritter von Baer Estonian/German embryologist. 1794 - US Senate voids Pennsylvania's election of Abraham Gallatin. 1796 - Friedrich Wilhelm Rust composer, dies at age 56. 1797 - Birth of Mary Lyon US, educator (Mt Holyoke) (Hall of Fame). 1797 - Birth of W Frederik K prince of Netherlands/General/Admiral (10 day campaign). 1799 - Birth of Johann von Döllinger German Old Catholic theologian/historian. 1810 - First US fire insurance joint-stock company organized, Philadelphia. 1810 - Birth of Reinier C Bakhuizen van de Brink Dutch historian. 1812 - Birth of Berthold Auerbach German author (Schwarzwälder Dorfgeschichten). 1817 - Birth of James Craig Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1888. 1818 - Adriaan Loosjes Pzn Dutch publisher/writer (Moral Stories), dies at age 56. 1819 - First public performance of a Schubert song, "Schäfers Klageleid". 1820 - Birth of John Tenniel England, cartoonist/illustrator (Alice in Wonderland). 1822 - Birth of Matthew Duncan Ector Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1879. 1823 - Birth of Ernest Renan French philosopher/historian/scholar of religion. 1824 - Birth of Charles Blondin France, acrobat/aerialist. 1824 - Birth of John Creed Moore Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1910. 1825 - Birth of Quincy Adams Gillmore Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1888. 1826 - M Biela, an Austrian officer, discovers Biela's Comet. 1827 - First commercial railroad in US, Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) chartered. 1828 - Franz Grillparzer's "Ein Treuer Diener" premieres in Vienna. 1833 - Birth of Alfred von Schlieffen Count/Prussian General-field marshal. 1835 - Dr Elias Lönnrot publishes Finnish poem "Kalevala". 1844 - 12-inch gun aboard USS Princeton explodes. 1844 - Abel P Upshur Secretary of State, dies in explosion on USS Princeton. 1844 - Thommas W Gilmer Navy Secretary, dies in explosion on USS Princeton. 1847 - US defeats México in battle of Sacramento. 1850 - Birth of Hermann Schell German theologist/philosopher (Gott und Geist). 1854 - Birth of Juliusz Zarebski composer. 1854 - Republican Party formally organized at Ripon Wisconsin. 1857 - Birth of Gustave Adolph Kerker composer. 1858 - Birth of Jacob P Vis Dutch industrialist (founder Nevada Royal Salt Industries). 1859 - Arkansas legislature requires free blacks to choose exile or slavery. 1861 - Territories of Nevada and Colorado created. 1862 - The opera "La Reine de Saba" premieres (Paris). 1863 - Confederate raider "Nashville" sinks near Fort McAllister, Georgia. 1864 - Raid at Kilpatrick's, Richmond. 1864 - Skirmish at Albemarle County, Virginia (Burton's Ford). 1865 - Birth of Arthur Symons Welsh poet/critic/co-founder (Savoy). 1865 - Birth of Sir Wilfred Grenfell England, medical missionary. 1866 - Birth of Vyacheslav I Ivanov Russian philosopher/classical/Symbolist poet (Pilot Stars). 1871 - Second Enforcement Act gives federal control of congressional elections. 1874 - Birth of Soledad Jiminez Santander Spain; actor (Phantom of the Range). 1875 - Birth of Viliam Figus composer. 1876 - Birth of John Alden Carpenter Chicago Illinois, composer (Sea Drift). 1876 - Charles Edward Horsley composer, dies at age 53. 1877 - Birth of Sergei Bortkiewicz composer. 1878 - US congress authorizes large-size silver certificate. 1879 - "Exodus of 1879" southern blacks flee political/economic exploitation. 1882 - First US college cooperative store opens, at Harvard University. 1882 - Birth of Geraldine Farrar US soprano/actress (Story of American Singer). 1882 - Birth of José Vasconcelos Oaxaca México, politician/essayist/philosopher. 1882 - Birth of Richard Heinrich Stein composer. 1883 - First US vaudeville theater opens (Boston). 1886 - Birth of José Gutiérrez Solana Spanish painter/author (Madrid Escenas). 1886 - Birth of Max Vasmer German slavic (La Tertulia de Pombo). 1887 - Birth of William Zorach Lithuania, US sculptor (Spirit of the Dance). 1888 - Ferry in San Pablo Bay explodes. 1888 - Vincent d'Indy's Wallenstein-trilogy, premieres. 1889 - Birth of Victor Sutherland Paducah Kentucky; actor (Captive City). 1890 - Birth of Vaslav Nijinsky Kiev Ukraine, ballet dancer. 1891 - Oscar Grundén skates world record 500 metre (50.8 seconds). 1893 - Birth of Ben Hecht New York City, New York, novelist/playwright/screenwriter (The Front Page). 1893 - Edward Acheson, Pennsylvania, patents an abrasive he names "carborundum". 1895 - Birth of Guiomar Novaes Brazil, pianist (Brazilian Order of Merit). 1895 - Birth of Marcel Pagnol French playwright/director (Marchands de Gloire). 1896 - Birth of Philip Showalter Hench Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, physician (cortisone-Nobel). 1896 - France dismisses Queen Ranavalona of Madagascar. 1898 - Birth of Molly Picon Yiddish actress (Milk and Honey). 1899 - Birth of Frederick Denison Maurice Hocking pathologist. 1900 - Birth of Edna Swithenbank Manley Jamaican sculptor, wife of Prime Minister. 1900 - Birth of Laura Z Hobson writer. 1900 - General Buller's troops relieve Ladysmith Natal. 1901 - Birth of Linus Pauling chemist/peace worker (Nobel Prize 1954, 1962). 1901 - Birth of Rudolf W Nilsen Norwegian poet (Hverdagen). 1902 - Jules Massenets opera premieres in Monte Carlo. 1903 - Barney Dreyfuss and James Potter buys Philadelphia Phillies for $170,000. 1903 - Girolamo/Jeromin de Rada Albanian poet, dies at age 88. 1904 - Vincent d'Indy's second Symphony in B, premieres. 1905 - Birth of Glyn Jones writer. 1905 - Joseph C Juglar French physician/economist, dies at age 85. 1906 - Birth of Bugsy Siegel gangster created casinos in Las Vegas. 1906 - Stanley Cup: Ottawa Silver 7 sweep Queens University (Kingston Ontario) in two games. 1907 - Birth of Milton Caniff Hillsboro Ohio, Dutch cartoonist (Terry and the Pirates). 1908 - Birth of Billie Bird Pocatello Idaho, actress (Mrs Cassidy-Benson, Dear John, Jury Duty). 1908 - Failed assassination attempt on Shah Mohammed Ali in Teheran. 1909 - Birth of Olan Soule La Harpe Illinois; actor (My Three Sons, Arnie). 1909 - Birth of Stephen Harold Spender England, poet/critic (Vienna, Edge of Darkness). 1910 - Birth of Roman Maciejewski composer. 1910 - Birth of Vincente Minnelli Chicago Illinois, movie director (American in Paris, Gigi). 1911 - Birth of Amir Hamzah Indonesian poet (Njanji Sunji). 1912 - Bill Storer English cricket wicketkeeper (6 Tests 1897-99), dies. 1912 - Birth of Helmut Coing German lawyer/director (Max-Planck-institute). 1912 - Victor Trumper's last Test Cricket innings c Woolley b Barnes 50. 1913 - 6.8-m, 4000-kg elephant seal killed, South Georgia (South Atlantic). 1914 - Birth of Jim Boles Lubbock Texas; actor (Joe-One Man's Family). 1914 - Construction begins on Tower of Jewels for the Exposition (San Francisco). 1915 - Birth of Sir Peter Medawar England, zoologist, immunologist (Nobel Prize 1953). 1915 - Birth of Zero [Samuel Joel] Mostel Brooklyn New York; actor (Fiddler on the Roof). 1916 - Henry James US/British writer (Bostonians), dies in London at age 72. 1917 - AP reports México and Japan will ally with Germany if US enters WWI. 1917 - Birth of Hans Deutgen Sweden, world champion archer. 1917 - Russian Duma sets up Provisional Committee; workers set up Soviets. 1918 - Birth of Alfred Burke London England; actor (Backfire). 1920 - Birth of Edward Kassner music publisher. 1920 - Birth of Jim Olin (Representative-Democrat-Virginia, 1983-). 1920 - Birth of Marjorie M Sweeting English geomorphologist. 1920 - Maurice Ravel's "Le tombeau de Couperin" premieres. 1921 - Birth of John Bouber [Blom]; actor/author (Fool of Heideloo). 1921 - Birth of Vladimir Sommer composer. 1922 - Egypt regains independence from Britain, but British troops remain. 1922 - English princess Mary marries viscount Lascelles. 1922 - KHQ-AM in Spokane Washington begins radio transmissions. 1922 - Vicente Lleo composer, dies at age 51. 1923 - Birth of Charles Durning Highland Falls New York; actor (Dog Day Afternoon, Fury, Sting, Tootsie). 1923 - Swedish king Gustaaf V begins state visit to Netherlands. 1924 - Birth of Robert A Roe (Representative-Democrat-New Jersey, 1969-). 1924 - US begins intervention in Honduras. 1925 - "Tea For Two" by Marion Harris hit #1. 1925 - Birth of Harry H Corbett Rangoon Burma; actor (Steptoe and Son, Jabberwacky). 1925 - US Congress authorizes a special handling stamp. 1925 - Friedrich Ebert Social-Democrat president of Germany, dies. 1925 - Longest win streak in Toronto Maple Leaf history (9 games). 1925 - Theater Museum of Amsterdam forms. 1926 - Birth of Seymour Shifrin composer. 1926 - Birth of Stanley Glasser composer. 1926 - Birth of Svetlana Alliluyeva daughter of Josef Stalin, author (My Life). 1927 - Birth of Bernard Frank oriental scholar/writer. 1927 - Birth of John Swire British aircraft magnate (Cathay Pacific). 1928 - Birth of Bettye Ackerman Cottageville South Carolina, actress (Maggie Graham-Ben Casey). 1928 - Birth of Smokey The Bear. 1928 - Birth of Tom Aldredge Dayton Ohio; actor (What About Bob, Nurse, Mind Snatchers). 1929 - Birth of Frank O Gehry architect (Galleria-Oklahoma City). 1929 - Chicago Black Hawks lose record NHL 15th straight game at home. 1929 - Clemens Freiherr von Pirquet Austrian artist (React of P), dies at age 54. 1929 - John Ebenezer West composer, dies at age 65. 1930 - Birth of Frank Malzone baseball player. 1930 - Birth of Leon Cooper US physicist (Nobel Prize 1972). 1931 - Ban Johnson, (created baseball's American League), dies after a long illness. 1931 - Birth of Gavin MacLeod Mount Kisco New York; actor (Murray-Mary Tyler Moore, The Love Boat). 1931 - Birth of Gustav Thoni Italy, skier (World Cup-1971, 72, 73, 75). 1931 - Birth of Jack Thieuloy writer. 1931 - Canadian Rugby Union adopts the forward pass. 1931 - Oswald Mosley founds his New Party. 1932 - Birth of Brian Moore British commentator (Big Match). 1932 - Birth of Don Francks Vancouver British Columbia; actor (Terminal Choice, Finian's Rainbow). 1933 - First female in cabinet Francis Perkins appointed Secretary of Labor. 1933 - German President Von Hindenburg abolishes free expression of opinion. 1933 - Hitler disallows German communist party (KPD). 1934 - Birth of Willie Bobo New York City, New York, jazz drummer (Cos). 1935 - Alexander W F Idenburg Governor-General of Netherlands Indies (1909-16), dies at age 73. 1935 - Amsterdam Hotel of the Red Lion gets sidewalk permit. 1935 - Birth of Clive Halse cricketer (South Africa fast bowler on 1963-64 Australia/New Zealand tour). 1935 - Nylon discovered by Dr Wallace H Carothers. 1936 - Pedro Muñoz Seca La Caraba/La oca, dies at age 55. 1938 - Birth of Martin Olav Sabo (Representative-Democrat-Minnesota, 1979-). 1939 - Birth of Charles Brown Cincinnati Ohio, featherweight boxer (Olympics-bronze-1964). 1939 - Birth of John Fahey singer (Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death). 1939 - Birth of Tommy Tune Wichita Falls Texas, dancer/choreographer (The Boyfriend). 1939 - Great Britain recognizes Franco-regime in Spain. 1940 - First televised basketball game (college game at New York City's Madison Square Garden-University of Pittsburgh beats Fordham University, 50-37). 1940 - Birth of Joe South Atlanta Georgia, guitarist/songwriter/singer (Games People Play). 1940 - Birth of Mario Andretti race-car driver (1969 Indianapolis 500). 1940 - Johan C Braakensiek Dutch political cartoonist, dies at age 81. 1940 - Richard Wright's "Native Son" published. 1940 - US population at 131,669,275 (12,865,518 blacks (9.8%)). 1941 - 39 U Boats (197,000 ton) sunk this month. 1941 - Alfonso XIII de Borbón King of Spain (1902-31), dies. 1941 - Birth of Alice May Brock author. 1941 - Birth of Marty Sanders rock vocalist. 1941 - British-Italian dogfight above Albania. 1942 - First weapon drop on Netherlands. 1942 - Birth of Brian Jones rock guitarist (Rolling Stones-Brown Sugar). 1942 - Birth of Frank Bonner Little Rock Arkansas; actor (WKRP, Hoax, You Can't Hurry Love, Sidekicks). 1942 - Japanese land in Java, last Allied bastion in Dutch East Indies. 1942 - Race riot, Sojourner Truth Homes, Detroit. 1943 - "Porgy and Bess" opens on Broadway with Anne Brown and Todd Duncan. 1943 - 63 U Boats (359,300 ton) sinks this month. 1943 - Birth of Barbara Acklin [Allen], Chicago Illinois, R&B singer (Love Makes a Woman). 1943 - Birth of Donny Iris singer. 1943 - Birth of Hans F Dijkstal Dutch minister of the Interior (VVD, 1994-). 1944 - Birth of Colin Nutley director/writer (Such is Life, Black Jack). 1944 - Birth of Kelly Bishop Colorado, actress (Unmarried Woman, Advice to Lovelorn). 1945 - Birth of Charles "Bubba" Smith Texas, NFL player (Baltimore Colts)/actor (Police Academy). 1945 - Birth of Mimsy Farmer Chicago Illinois, actress (Devil's Angel, Road to Salina). 1945 - Birth of Ronnie Rosman rocker (Tommy James Shondells-Crystal Blue Persuasion). 1946 - Birth of Graham Vivian cricketer (son of Giff, five Tests for New Zealand 1965-72). 1946 - Combined Chiefs of Staff reveal that the American, Canadian, and British Governments had experimented with building ice ships during 1942-43. The Habbakuk project was to create a two million ton ship made of ice and wood pulp, 2000 feet long, 300 feet wide, as a floating aircraft base. 1947 - Anti Kuomintang demonstration on Taiwan. 1947 - Birth of Stephanie Beacham England, actress (Devil's Widow, Schizo, Dallas, Colbys). 1948 - Birth of Bernadette Peters [Lazzaro] Queens New York, actress (The Jerk, Song and Dance). 1948 - Birth of Mercedes Ruehl Queens New York, actress (Lost in Yonkers, Crazy People). 1948 - Birth of Willie Donnell Smith. 1949 - Stanley Robert Marchant composer, dies at age 65. 1950 - "Alive and Kicking" closes at Winter Garden Theater New York City after 46 performances. 1950 - Birth of Ilene Graff Brooklyn New York, actress (Marsha-Mr Belvedere). 1950 - Birth of Stephen Chatman composer. 1951 - Birth of Gustavo Thoeni Italy, giant slalom (Olympics-gold-1972). 1951 - Birth of John Roarke Providence Rhode Island, comedian (Fridays). 1951 - Birth of Karsan Ghavri cricketer (Indian lefty medium pacer early 80s). 1951 - French government of Pleven dissolves. 1951 - US Senate committee reports of at least two major US crime syndicates. 1952 - Birth of Cristina Raines [Tina Herazo] Manila Philippines, actress (Sentinel). 1952 - Birth of Eddie Manion saxophonist. 1952 - Birth of Jennie Lynn San Diego California, actress (Love and Marriage). 1952 - Birth of Melissa Babish South Carolina, swimmer (Olympics). 1953 - Birth of Ricky "Dragon" Steamboat [Richard Blood], wrestler (NWA/WWF/WCW/AWA). 1953 - Jim Thorpe decathlete (Olympics-gold-1912), dies at age 64. 1953 - Stalin meets with Beria, Bulganin, Khrushchev and Malenkov. 1954 - Patty Berg/Pete Cooper win LPGA Orlando Mixed Golf Tournament. 1954 - US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Bikini Island. 1955 - Birth of Gilbert Gottfried comedian (Beverly Hills Cop). 1955 - Birth of Randy Jackson New Orleans Louisiana, guitarist (Zebra-Tell Me What You Want). 1956 - Thirteen die in a train crash in Swampscott Massachusetts. 1956 - Birth of Adrian Dantley Washington DC, NBA forward (Olympics-gold-1976, Utah Jazz, 1981, 1984 top scorer). 1956 - Forrester issued a patent for computer core memory. 1957 - Birth of Cindy Wilson in Athens, Georgia, USA; rock vocalist (B-52's - "Love Shack"). 1957 - Birth of Ian Smith; cricket wicket-keeper (New Zealand of the 1980s). 1957 - Birth of Ian Stanley; keyboardist. 1957 - Birth of Jeff Woodland in Papua New Guinea; Nike golfer (1991 Dakota Dunes Open). 1957 - Birth of John Turturro in Brooklyn, New York, USA; actor (Brain Donor, Color of Money, Jungle Fever). 1957 - Birth of Phil Gould; rock percussionist (Level 42 - "Hot Water"). 1957 - Jockey Johnny Longden's 5,000th career victory. 1958 - Birth of Christine Lathan-Brehmer in German Democratic Republic; 400 metre runner (Olympics-gold-1976). 1958 - Birth of Mark Pavelich; NHL player (New York Rangers). 1958 - West Indies 1-504 in reply to Pakistan 328, day three of third Test Cricket. 1959 - Birth of Sydney P Mufamadi; South African leader (SACP). 1959 - Ice Dance Championship at Colorado Springs USA won by Denny and Jones of Great Britain. 1959 - Ice Pairs Championship at Colorado Springs won by Wagner and Paul of Canada. 1959 - Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Colorado Springs won by Carol Heiss USA. 1959 - Launch of Discoverer 1 (WTR)-first polar orbit. 1959 - Maxwell Anderson, US dramatist (Key Largo, Bad Seed), dies at age 70. 1959 - Men's Figure Skating Championship in Colorado Springs won by David Jenkins USA. 1959 - NFL Chicago Cardinals trade Ollie Matson to Los Angeles Rams for nine players. 1960 - 8th Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, California close. 1960 - F S Flint, British translator/poet (imagist movement), dies at age 74. 1960 - Jonathan Hale, actor (Blondie), shoots himself at age 68. 1960 - Mickey Wright wins LPGA Tampa Golf Open. 1960 - US wins Olympics hockey gold medal by defeating Czechoslovakia 9-4. 1961 - Birth of Barry McGuigan; British boxer. 1961 - Birth of Wayne Smith in Albany, Washington, USA; Australasia golfer. 1961 - US President John Kennedy names Henry Kissinger special advisor. 1961 - Joris Vriamont, Flemish writer/music publisher, dies at age 64. 1962 - Birth of Angela Bailey in England; Canadian 4X100 metre relayer (Olympics-silver-1984). 1962 - Birth of Chunli Li in Auckland, New Zealand; table tennis player (Olympics-1996). 1962 - Birth of Rae Dawn Chong in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; actress (Quest for Fire). 1962 - Birth of Steve Tsujiura; hockey forward (Team Japan 1998). 1962 - Harold Ogden "Chic" Johnson, comedian (Olsen and Johnson), dies at age 70. 1963 - Theodore Newton, actor (Voltaire, Ace of Aces), dies at age 58. 1964 - Dirk Filarski, painter/lithographer (Bergen School), dies at age 78. 1965 - Adolf Schärf, President of Austria (1957-65), dies at age 74. 1965 - Birth of Duane Ferrell; NBA forward (San Francisco Warriors, Indiana Pacers). 1965 - Birth of Mikko Makela in Tampere, Finland; NHL right wing (New York Islanders). 1966 - Birth of Erik van Kessel; Dutch soccer player (FC Utrecht). 1966 - Birth of Jan Varholik in Kosice, Czechoslovakia; hockey defenseman (Team Slovakia). 1966 - Birth of Tim Goad; NFL defensive tackle (Cleveland Browns). 1966 - Birth of Vincent Askew; NBA guard/forward (Seattle Supersonics, Portland Trail Blazers). 1966 - Charles A Bassett II, astronaut, dies in a crash of T-38 jet at age 34. 1966 - Elliot McKay See Jr, astronaut, dies in T-38 jet crash at age 38. 1966 - Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale begin a joint holdout against Los Angeles Dodgers. 1967 - Birth of Antone Davis; NFL tackle (Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles). 1967 - Birth of Jeff[rey] Pfaendtner in Detroit, Michigan, USA; rower (Olympics-bronze-1996). 1967 - Birth of Marcus Lillington; rock guitarist (Breathe - "All I Need"). 1967 - Wilt Chamberlain sinks NBA record 35th consecutive field goal. 1968 - Birth of J T Snow; US baseball first baseman (New York Yankees, California Angels). 1968 - Birth of Mike Milchin in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; pitcher (Minnesota Twins). 1968 - Doretta Morrow, actress (Because You're Mine), dies at age 41. 1968 - Frankie Lymon, singer, dies at age 25. 1968 - Juanita Hall, actress (Captain Billy), dies at age 66. 1969 - Birth of Elisa Fiorillo; singer (Forgive Me For Dreaming). 1969 - Birth of Robert Sean Leonard in Westwood, New Jersey, USA; actor (Dead Poets Society, Mr and Mrs Bridge). 1969 - Birth of Shawn McEachern in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA; NHL forward (Boston Bruins, Washington Senators). 1969 - Ice Dance Championship at Colorado Springs won by Towler and Ford of Great Britain. 1969 - Ice Pairs Championship at Colorado Springs won by Rodnina and Ulanov of USSR. 1969 - Ladies Figure Skating Champion in Colorado Springs won by Gabriele Seyfert, German Democratic Republic. 1969 - Men's Figure Skating Championship in Colorado Springs won by Tim Wood USA. 1970 - Birth of Jan Varholik; hockey defenseman (Team Slovakia 1998). 1970 - Birth of Mika Stromberg in Helsinki, Finland; hockey defenseman (Team Finland). 1970 - Birth of Noureddine Morceli in Algeria; 1500 metre runner (Olympics-gold-1996). 1970 - Caroline Walker runs world female record marathon (3:02:53). 1971 - 53rd PGA Championship: Jack Nicklaus shoots a 281 at PGA National to win his second golf grand slam. 1971 - Birth of John Buchanan; actor (Sidekicks, Black Stallion, Family Man). 1972 - Birth of Melisa Moses in Jacksonville, Florida, USA; diver (Olympics-4th-1996). 1972 - Birth of Scott Gragg; NFL tackle (New York Giants). 1972 - US President Richard Nixon ends historic week-long visit to China. 1972 - Victor Barna, table tennis champion, dies. 1973 - Birth of Demetrice Martin; WLAF cornerback (Scotland Claymores). 1973 - Birth of Denard Walker; cornerback (Tennessee Oilers). 1973 - Birth of Eric Lindros in London, Ontario, Canada; NHL center (Philadelphia Flyers). 1973 - Birth of Gary Walker; NFL defensive tackle/defensive end (Houston Oilers). 1973 - Birth of Henry Bailey; NFL wide receiver/kick returner (Pittsburgh Steelers). 1973 - Cecil Kellaway, actor (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner), dies at age 78. 1973 - Hope Landin, actress (I Remember Mama, Sugarfoot), dies at age 79. 1973 - Suriname government of Sedney arrests 13 union leaders. 1974 - Birth of Katie Allen; Australian field hockey full back/half back (Olympics-1996). 1974 - Birth of Kevin Abrams; cornerback (Detroit Lions). 1974 - Birth of Michael Manasseri; actor (License to Drive). 1974 - Birth of Michael Swift; WLAF cornerback (Rhein Fire). 1974 - Ethiopian government of Makonnen forms. 1974 - Labour Party wins British parliamentary election. 1974 - Mees Toxopeus, Dutch rescue-vessel captain, dies at age 89. 1974 - Taiwan police shoot into crowd. 1974 - US and Egypt re-establish diplomatic relations after seven years. 1975 - 40 killed in London Undergroud, as train speeds past final stop. 1975 - Birth of Azhar Mahmood; cricket pace bowler (Pakistani ODI 1996). 1975 - EG signs accord of Lomé with 46 developing countries. 1975 - Istvan Kardos, composer, dies at age 83. 1975 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1976 - 18th Grammy Awards: "Love Will Keep Us Together", Natalie Cole win. 1976 - Birth of Angie Kennedy in Nambour, Queensland, Australia; swimmer (Olympics-1996). 1976 - Ceuta and Melilla (Spanish Morocco) are last European African possession. 1977 - First killer whale born in captivity (Marineland, Los Angeles, California). 1977 - Birth of Aki-Petteri Berg; NHL defenseman (Team Finland Olympics-bronze-1998, Los Angeles Kings). 1977 - Birth of Debbie Koegel in Norristown, Pennsylvania; dance skater (and Oleg Fediukov). 1977 - Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, comedian (Jack Benny Show), dies at age 71. 1977 - Harbor strike in Rotterdam/Amsterdam ends. 1978 - Birth of Marissa Perez; Miss Connecticut Teen-USA (1996). 1978 - Eric Frank Russell, sci-fi author (Hugo, Deep Space), dies at age 73. 1978 - Philip Ahn of Los Angeles, California, actor (Master Kan - Kung Fu), dies at age 66. 1979 - Birth of Virginia Ledgerwood in Chester, Virginia; rhythmic gymnast (Olympics-1996). 1979 - Jane Hylton, English actress (Adventures of Sir Lancelot), dies at age 52. 1979 - Mr Ed, TV show talking horse, dies. 1980 - Ian Alexander Ross Peebles, cricketer (45 wickets for England), dies. 1980 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1980 - Birth of Tayshaun Prince; American basketball player. 1980 - Birth of Piotr Giza; Polish footballer. 1980 - The Well-Tuned Piano by La Monte Young premieres (takes 4 hours 12 minutes). 1981 - Calvin Murphy (Houston Rockets) sets NBA record with 78 consecutive free throws. 1981 - People's Republic of China throws out Netherlands ambassador due to submarine sale to Taiwan. 1982 - Ayako Okamoto wins LPGA Arizona Copper Golf Classic. 1982 - FALN (PR Nationalist Group) bombs Wall Street, New York. 1982 - Birth of Andres Nuiamäe; Estonian soldier (dies 2004). 1982 - AT&T loses record US$7 billion for fiscal year ending on this day. 1983 - Death of Winifred Atwell, British pianist (born 1914). 1983 - Final TV episode of MASH airs (CBS); record 125 million watch. 1984 - Birth of Karolina Kurkova, Czech model. 1984 - 26th Grammy Awards: "Beat It", Michael Jackson wins eight. 1984 - Leslie Walcott, cricketer (Test for West Indies vs England 1930), dies. 1985 - Birth of FeFe Dobson; Canadian singer. 1985 - Birth of Jelena Jankovic; Serbian tennis player. 1985 - The Provisional Irish Republican Army carries out a mortar attack on the Royal Ulster Constabulary police station at Newry, killing nine officers in the highest loss of life for the RUC on a single day. 1985 - Charita Bauer, actress (Mary - Aldrich Family), dies at age 62 in New York City, New York. 1986 - European Economic Community signs "Special Act" for Europe free trade. 1986 - (11:21 PM) While walking home with his wife from a movie, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme is shot dead in Stockholm. 1986 - Seven Major League Baseball players, who are admitted drug users, are severely disciplined by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth. Penalties include year-long suspensions without pay, heavy fines, drug-related community service and career-long drug testing. 1986 - Death of Thomas Williams, British politician (born 1915). 1987 - Anny Ondra, actress (Blackmail), dies at age 83. 1987 - Nora Kaye, US ballet dancer, dies at age 67. 1988 - 15th Winter Olympics games close at Calgary, Canada. 1988 - Anti-Armenian pogrom in Azerbaijan, 30 killed. 1988 - Mikha'il Na'imah, Lebanese playwright, dies at age 99. 1988 - Pat Verbeek becomes first New Jersey Devils' player to score four goals in an NHL game. 1988 - Yvonne van Gennip skates world record 5 km ladies (7:14.13). 1989 - Gretchen Polhemus, 23, (Texas), crowned 38th Miss USA. 1989 - Hermann Burger, writer, dies at age 46. 1989 - Red Schoendienst and Al Barlick elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1990 - Birth of Anna Muzychuk, Ukrainian chess player. 1990 - Colin Milburn, cricketer (9 Tests for England, 654 runs), dies. 1990 - Dutch police seize 3,000 kg of cocaine. 1990 - Fabia Drake, actress (Nice Girl Like Me), dies at age 86. 1990 - Tuppy Owen-Smith, South Africa cricketer (batsman vs England 1929), dies. 1990 - US 65th manned space mission STS 36 (Atlantis 6) launches into orbit. 1990 - In Southern California, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurs. 1991 - Les Miserables opens at Theatre Carre, Amsterdam. 1991 - Speed of Darkness opens at Belasco Theater New York City for 36 performances. 1991 - Don Mattingly named 10th New York Yankees' Captain. 1991 - Guillermo Ungo, member of El Salvador junta (1979-80), dies. 1991 - Noureddine Morceli runs world record 1500 metre indoor (3:34:16). 1991 - Birth of Sarah Bolger, Irish actress. 1991 - US and allied forces grant Iraq a cease fire. 1992 - Angelique Pettyjohn, actress (Body Talk, Star Trek), dies at age 49. 1992 - Emilla Sherman, choreographer/rockette, dies. 1992 - La Lupe, Cuban singer, dies of a heart attack in the Bronx at age 53. 1993 - "Anna Christie" closes at Criterion Theater New York City after 54 performances. 1993 - 7th American Comedy Awards: Seinfeld wins. 1993 - Fer A Olthoff, Dutch WWII resistance fighter (Het Parool), dies. 1993 - Franco Brusati, Italian director/writer (Bread and Chocolate), dies at age 70. 1993 - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents raid the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, with a warrant to arrest leader David Koresh on federal firearms violations. Four agents and five Davidians die in the raid and a 51-day standoff begins. 1993 - Iolanda Chen triple jumps world indoor record hop step (14.46 metres). 1993 - Ishiro Honda, Japanese director/producer (Godzilla), dies at age 81. 1993 - Joyce Carey [Lawrence], English actress (Number 27), dies at age 94. 1993 - Ruby Keeler, Canadian actress (42nd Street, Dames), dies of cancer at age 82 (born 1910). 1993 - Tony Curtis weds Lisa Deutsch as his fourth wife. 1994 - Brady Law, imposing a wait-period to buy a hand-gun, goes into effect. 1994 - Buster Holmes, chef/restaurateur, dies at age 88. 1994 - Elbert "Skippy" Williams, tenor sax player, dies at age 77. 1994 - George Osborne Sayles, historian, dies at age 92. 1994 - Leopoldina Poldi Feichtegger Gerhard dies at age 90. 1994 - Aisin Giorro Pu Chieh, brother of Last Emperor of China, dies at age 86. 1994 - United States F-16 pilots shoot down four Serbian fighter aircraft over Bosnia-Herzegovina for violation of the Operation Deny Flight and its no-fly zone. 1995 - Members of the group Patriot's Council are convicted in Minnesota of manufacturing ricin. 1995 - Denver International Airport opens in Colorado, USA. 1995 - Herman "Ace" Wallace, blues guitarist/singer, dies at age 69. 1995 - Keith Rigg, cricketer (8 Tests for Australia 1931-37), dies. 1995 - Max Rudolf, conductor, dies at age 92. 1996 - Birth of Bobbe' J. Thompson, American actor. 1996 - 38th Grammy Awards: Jagged Little Pill-Alanis Morisette wins. 1996 - Daniel Chipenda, Angolan politician, dies at age 64. 1997 - FBI agent Earl Pitts pleads guilty to selling secrets to Russia. 1997 - Smokers must prove they are over 18 to purchase cigarettes in US. 1997 - The North Hollywood shootout takes place between two heavily armed bank robbers and officers of the Los Angeles Police Department. 1997 - WFAA-TV becomes the first TV station in the nation to start broadcasting their newscasts in HDTV on a VHF channel. 1997 - In Northwestern Iran, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurs. At least 965 people killed, 2,600 injured, 36,000 homeless, 12,000 houses damaged or destroyed. Severe damage to roads, electrical power lines, communications and water distribution systems. 1998 - Death of Dermot Morgan, Irish actor and comedian (born 1952). 1998 - Serbian police begin to wipe out so-called "terrorist gangs" in Kosovo. 1998 - "View From the Bridge" closes at Criterion Theater New York City. 1998 - Vancouver Canucks Mark Messier is fourth NHL player to get 1,600 points. 2001 - The Selby rail crash near Selby, North Yorkshire, England, kills ten people. 2001 - In Washington, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. About 400 people injured and major damage in the Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia area. Damage estimate between US$1 and 4 billion. 2002 - The ex-currencies of all euro members officially (at EU-level) cease to be legal tender. 2002 - Death of Helmut Zacharias, German violinist (born 1920). 2003 - Death of Fidel Sánchez Hernández, President of El Salvador (born 1917). 2003 - Death of Rudolf Kingslake, lens designer, and engineer (born 1903). 2004 - Death of Daniel J. Boorstin, American historian and Librarian of Congress (born 1914). 2004 - Over one million Taiwanese participating in the 228 Hand-in-Hand Rally form a 500-kilometre (300-mile) long human chain to commemorate the 228 Incident in 1947. 2006 - Death of Ron Cyrus, American politician, father of Billy Ray Cyrus (born 1935). 2007 - Birth of HRH Princess Lalla Khadija of Morocco, daughter of Mohammed VI of Morocco and his wife, Princess Lalla Salma. 2007 - The New Horizons space probe makes a gravitational slingshot against Jupiter which changes its trajectory towards Pluto. 2007 - Death of Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., American historian and political commentator (born 1917). 2007 - Death of Billy Thorpe, Australian musician (Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs) (born 1946). 2007 - Death of Charles Forte, English hotelier (born 1908). 2008 - A report by the Pew Center on the United States says the American penal system held more than 2.3 million adults at the start of the year, meaning more than one in every 100 American adults is confined in a prison or jail, the highest ratio in the nation's history. The report also notes that the United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world. 2008 - The European Court of Human Rights rules unanimously that a government may not deport an individual to a state where he may be at risk of torture. 2008 - Thaksin Shinawatra returns to Thailand from exile since 2006 military coup deposed him. 2008 - In Kenyan, President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga sign a deal setting up a coalition government. Odinga will become prime minister with wide-ranging executive powers, cabinet posts will be shared, and the constitution will be amended to formalize power-sharing. 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