This Day in History
March 2

What happened in history on this day: March 2? On March 2 in ... 871 - Battle at Marton: Ethelred of Wessex beats Danish invasion army. 986 - Lotharius King of France (954-86), dies at age 44. 1121 - Dirk VI becomes count of Holland. 1122 - Floris II the fat one, count of Holland, dies. 1127 - Charles the Good, Count of Vlanderen, murdered. 1316 - Birth of Robert II the Steward, King of Scotland (1371-90). 1333 - Wladyslaw IV the Short One/Great, duke/king of Poland, dies. 1383 - Amadeus VI count of Savoy, dies. 1409 - Birth of John II French duke of Alençon/co-fighter of Jeanne d'arc. 1458 - Hussite George van Podiebrad chosen king of Bohemia. 1459 - Birth of Adrian VI [Adriaan F Boeyens], Netherlands, Pope (1522-23). 1481 - Birth of Franz von Sickingen in Ebernburg; German defender of the Protestant cause. 1498 - Vasco da Gama's fleet visits Mozambique Island. 1545 - Birth of Sir Thomas Bodley England, diplomat/scholar. 1555 - Birth of Ludovico Spontoni composer. 1609 - Birth of Hadji Chalfa/Kâtib Tsjelebi Turkish literary (Djihannüma). 1619 - Anne of Denmark daughter of Danish king Frederik II, dies at age 44. 1629 - English King Charles I leaces house of commons. 1675 - Prince William III installed as Governor of Overijssel. 1725 - Georg F Händels opera "Giulio Cesare in Egitto" premieres in London. 1755 - Birth of Antoine-Frederic Gresnick composer. 1758 - Johann Baptist Zimmermann German stucco worker, buried at age 78. 1759 - Birth of Johann Christian Friedrich Haeffner composer. 1760 - Birth of Camille Desmoulins France, journalist/pamphleteer/revolution leader. 1769 - Birth of DeWitt Clinton (Governor/Senator-New York). 1772 - Robert J Pothier French lawyer, dies at age 73. 1776 - Americans begin shelling British troops in Boston. 1787 - Jean Allamand French theologist/natural philosopher, dies at age 73. 1789 - Pennsylvania ends prohibition of theatrical performances. 1793 - Birth of Sam[uel] Houston first president of Texas (1836-38, 1841-44). 1797 - Horace [Horatio] Walpole British horror writer, dies at age 79. 1799 - US Congress standardizes US weights and measures. 1800 - Christian Friedrich Schale composer, dies at age 86. 1807 - US Congress bans slave trade effective January 1, 1808. 1810 - Birth of Leo XIII [Vincenzo G Pecci], 256th pope (1878-1903). 1813 - Birth of George Alexander Macfarren composer. 1815 - Birth of Antonio Buzzolla composer. 1817 - First Evangelical church building dedicated, New Berlin Pennsylvania. 1817 - Birth of János Arany Hungary, epic poet (Toldi, Death of King Buda). 1819 - Territory of Arkansas organized. 1819 - US passed its first immigration law. 1820 - Birth of Multatuli writer. 1822 - Christian Friedrich Hermann Uber composer, dies at age 40. 1824 - Birth of Bedrich Friedrich Smetana Bohemian composer (Bartered Bride, Moldau). 1824 - Birth of Constantine D Uschinsky Russian theorist. 1824 - Birth of Henry Beebee Carrington Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1912. 1824 - Interstate commerce comes under federal control. 1825 - First grand opera in US sung in English, New York City, New York. 1828 - Birth of Jefferson Columbus Davis Brevet Major General (Union Army), died in 1879. 1829 - Birth of Carl Schurz Major General (Union volunteers) journalist/political reformer/Civil War general. 1829 - New England Asylum for the Blind, first in US, incorporated, Boston. 1831 - John Frazee becomes first US sculptor to receive a federal commission. 1836 - Republic of Texas declares independence from Mexico. 1838 - Birth of David Duffle Wood composer. 1840 - Heinrich Olbers German astronomer (discoverer of comets and asteroids), dies at age 81. 1844 - Birth of Hermanus J A M Schaepman clergyman/Dutch politician. 1853 - Territory of Washington organized after separating from Oregon Territory. 1855 - Aleksandr Romanov becomes tsar of Russia. 1855 - Nicholas I Pavlovitch tsar of Russia (1825-55), dies at age 58. 1858 - Frederick Cook, New Orleans, patents a cotton-bale metallic tie. 1861 - Government Printing Office purchases first printing plant, Washington DC. 1861 - US Congress creates Dakota and Nevada Territories out of the Nebraska and Utah territories. 1862 - Birth of John Jay Chapman US advocate/poet/writer (Learning and Other Essays). 1862 - Frederick West Lander US Union Brigadier-General/poet, dies at age 40. 1863 - US Congress authorizes track width of 4'8.5" for Union Pacific railroad. 1865 - British newspaper "Morning Chronicle" begins publishing. 1865 - Freedman's Bureau founded for Black Education, 1865. 1865 - General Early's army is defeated at Waynesborough. 1866 - First US company to make sewing needles by machine incorporated, Connecticut. 1867 - US Congress abolishes peonage in New Mexico. 1867 - French A Durlet Belgian sculptor/architect, dies at age 50. 1867 - Howard University established. 1867 - Jesse James-gang robs bank in Savannah Missouri, one dead. 1867 - US Congress creates the Department of Education. 1867 - US Congress passes the first Reconstruction Act. 1868 - Carl Eberwein composer, dies at age 81. 1868 - University of Illinois opens. 1874 - Baseball batter's box is officially adopted. 1875 - Birth of Hans Lietzman German theologist/church historian. 1876 - Birth of Gösta Forsell Swedish radiologist. 1876 - Birth of Pius XII [Euhenio MGG Pacelli], 260th Pope (1939-58). 1876 - Rutherford B Hayes elected President. 1877 - Rutherford B Hayes (Republican) declared President despite Samuel J Tilden (Democrat) winning the popular vote, but is one electoral vote shy of victory. 1878 - Birth of Wander J de Haas Dutch physicist/son-in-law of Lorentz. 1882 - Birth of Wallis Clark Essex England, actress (Postal Inspector). 1882 - Louis Kufferath composer, dies at age 70. 1884 - Birth of Leon Jongen composer. 1887 - American Trotting Association organized in Detroit MI. 1887 - August W Eichler German botanist, dies at age 47. 1887 - Wilhelm Troszel composer, dies at age 63. 1889 - Kansas passes first US antitrust. 1890 - Oscar Fredriksen skates world record 5 km (9:19). 1893 - First federal railroad legislation passed; required safety features. 1893 - Birth of Maxime Dumoulin composer. 1894 - Birth of Renaat Veremans Flemish composer/conductor. 1895 - Berthe Member of Parliament Morisot French painter/aquarelliste, dies at age 54. 1895 - Birth of Felix Bressart Eydtkuhnen East Prussia Germany; actor (Ninotchka, Escape, Crossroads). 1895 - Ismail Pasha kedive of Egypt (1863-79), dies at age 64. 1896 - Battle of Aduwa, Abyssinia (Ethiopia) defeats invading Italians. 1896 - George Lohmann takes 9-28 vs South Africa at Johannesburg. 1898 - Australia complete a 4-1 series annihilation of England. 1899 - Birth of Pattie Maie Menzies Australian dame. 1899 - President McKinley signs bill creating Mount Rainier National Park (5th in US). 1900 - Birth of Kurt J Weill Dessau Germany, composer/Brecht collaborator (Mahogany). 1901 - Birth of Willem Bruynzeel Dutch timber-merchant. 1901 - Hawaii's first telegraph company opens. 1902 - Birth of Edward Uhler Condon atomic scientist (Manhattan Project). 1902 - Jimmy Collins, leaves Boston Beaneaters (National League) club to manage American League's new Boston Somersets. 1903 - Martha Washington Hotel, catering to women only, opens in New York City, New York. 1904 - "Official Playing Rules of Professional Base Ball Clubs" adopted. 1904 - Birth of Dr Seuss [Theodor Geisel] children's book author (Green Eggs and Ham, Horton Hears a Who!). 1904 - Gabriele d'Annunzio's "La figlia di Iorio" premieres in Milan. 1905 - Birth of Marc Blitzstein Philadelphia Pennsylvania, composer (Cradle Will Rock). 1907 - General Louis Botha named premier of Transvaal. 1907 - Georges Feydeaus' "La Puce à l'Oreille" premieres in Paris France. 1908 - Birth of Jan Brasser Dutch resistance fighter (Witte Ko)/communist. 1909 - Birth of Hanoch Jacoby composer. 1909 - Birth of Jan Fabricius Dutch playwright. 1909 - Birth of Mel Ott first National League-er to hit 500 homeruns, hall of famer (New York Giants). 1909 - Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy ask Serbia to set no territorial demands. 1910 - Two trains crash in snow storm in Wellington Washington, 118 die. 1910 - Birth of Hope Clara Chenhalls food inspector. 1911 - Birth of William Hansen Washington DC; actor (Homebodies). 1912 - Birth of Arthur Beaumont C Langton cricketer (South African pace bowler of 1930s). 1913 - Birth of Godfried [Jan Arnold] Bomans Dutch humorist/writer (Pieter Bas). 1913 - Birth of Marjorie Weaver Crossville Tennessee, actress (Young Mr Lincoln). 1913 - Birth of Mort Cooper baseball player (National League Most Valuable Player 1942). 1915 - Birth of Lona Andre actress (Case of Baby Sitter). 1915 - British Vice Admiral Carden begins bombing of Dardanelles forts. 1915 - Vladmir Jabotinsky forms a Jewish military force to fight in Palestine. 1916 - Birth of Anne Vondeling Dutch politician (PvdA). 1916 - Birth of Bernard George Stevens composer. 1916 - Elisabeth OL [Carmen Sylva], Queen of Romania, dies at age 72. 1917 - Birth of Desi Arnaz Santiago Cuba, singer/actor (Ricky Ricardo-I Love Lucy). 1917 - Birth of Jim Konstanty baseball player (National League Most Valuable Player 1950). 1917 - Birth of John Gardner composer. 1917 - Jones Act: Puerto Rico territory created, US citizenship granted. 1918 - Birth of Peter O'Sullevan Ireland, horse racing commentator. 1918 - New York Yankees purchase first baseman George Burns from Detroit Tigers and immediately trades him to Philadelphia Athletics. 1919 - First congress of Communist International opens at the Kremlin. 1919 - Birth of Eddie Lawrence comedian. 1919 - Birth of Jennifer Jones [Phyllis Isley] Tulsa Oklahoma, actress (Farewell to Arms). 1919 - Birth of Tamara Toumanova dancer. 1920 - Birth of Enrique Franco composer. 1920 - Karel Capék's "Loupeznik" premieres in Prague. 1921 - Birth of Robert Wilfred Levick Simpson composer. 1922 - Birth of Eric Feldbush composer. 1922 - Birth of Mario Zafred composer. 1922 - WBAP-AM, Fort Worth Texas, begins broadcasting. 1922 - WLW-AM in Cincinnati Ohio begins radio transmissions. 1923 - Birth of "Doc" Watson bluegrass musician. 1923 - Birth of Don Taylor cricketer (New Zealand 3 Tests, Auckland stands with Sutcliffe in Wisden). 1923 - Birth of Robert H Michel (Representative-Republican-Illinois, 1957-). 1923 - Time magazine debuts. 1924 - Birth of Albert Vogel Dutch elocutionist. 1924 - Birth of Rénos Apostolidis Greek author/poet (Katigoró). 1925 - Japan's House of Representatives recognizes male suffrage. 1925 - Nationwide road numbering system and US shield marker adopted. 1925 - SDAP-Second-Faction (Dutch Socialists) of parliament demands drastic disarmament. 1926 - Birth of Murray Newton Rothbard economist/Libertarian Party founder. 1927 - Babe Ruth becomes highest paid baseball player ($70,000 per year). 1927 - Birth of Siegfried Kohler composer. 1927 - Birth of Witold Szalonec composer. 1928 - Birth of Philip K Dick writer. 1929 - Birth of Donald Gosling English parkeerplaatsenmagnaat/multi-millionaire. 1929 - Chicago Black Hawks shut-out for NHL record 8th straight game. 1929 - US Congress creates Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. 1930 - First US indoor glider flight, Saint Louis Terminal Building. 1930 - Birth of Jan van Noor Dutch second Chamber member (CDA). 1930 - Birth of John Cullum Knoxville; actor (Hamlet, Hawaii, Northern Exposure). 1930 - David H Lawrence poet/writer (Lady Chatterley's Lover), dies at age 44. 1931 - Birth of Duane F Graveline Newport Vermont, astronaut. 1931 - Birth of Mikhail S Gorbachev Privolnoye USSR, Soviet Secretary-General (1985-91). 1931 - Birth of Tom Wolfe Richmond Virginia, journalist/author (Right Stuff). 1933 - "King Kong" premieres at Radio City Music Hall and RKO Roxy New York City. 1933 - Most powerful earthquake in 180 years hit Japan. 1934 - Birth of Bernard Rands Sheffield England, composer (Wildtrack). 1934 - Birth of Howard "Hopalong" Cassady NFL player. 1934 - Union Pacific tests light-weight high-speed passenger train, Omaha. 1935 - Birth of Al Waxman Toronto Canada; actor (Cagney and Lacey, Meatballs 3, Spasms). 1936 - Birth of Henny Boskamp [Hoelscher]; actor (Troeleke). 1936 - Bradman scores 369 in 253 minutes, South Africa vs Tasmania, 46 fours 4 sixes. 1936 - Adolf Hitler issues final orders for troops to re-occupy their former garrison posts in Rhineland towns. If French forces take action, the troops are instructed to withdraw. 1937 - Gustav Wohlgemuth composer, dies at age 73. 1937 - Mexico nationalizes oil. 1938 - Birth of Alan Lewis English textile factory/multi-millionaire. 1938 - Birth of Donald Schwall baseball player (1961 American League rookie of year). 1938 - Birth of Simon Estes Centerville Iowa, bass/baritone (Wonton, Don Carlos). 1938 - Landslides and floods cause over 200 deaths (Los Angeles California). 1938 - Trials of Soviet leaders begins in the Soviet Union. 1939 - Birth of Barbara Luna New York City, New York, actress (5 Weeks in a Balloon, Gentle Savage). 1939 - Birth of Gerard van Tongeren Dutch singer (Buffoons). 1939 - Eugenio Pacelli chosen as Pope Pius XII. 1939 - Howard Carter British archaeologist/Egyptologist (King Tut), dies at age 65. 1939 - Mass Legislature votea to ratify the Bill of Rights; 147 years late. 1940 - First intercollegiate track meet telecast, Madison Square Garden, New York City. 1940 - Birth of Frederik van Zyl Slabbert chairman (South African Progressive Federal Party, 1979-86). 1940 - Soviet armies conquer Tuppura Island Finland. 1942 - 14th Academy Awards: "How Green was My Valley", Gary Cooper and Joan Fontaine win. 1942 - Admiral Helfrich departs Java for Ceylon. 1942 - Birth of John Irving Exeter New Hampshire, writer (World According to Garp). 1942 - Birth of Lou Reed [Louis Firbank] Freeport New York, vocalist/guitarist (Walk on the Wild Side, Velvet Underground). 1942 - Birth of Tony Meehan [Daniel Meehan] London England, rocker (Drifters, Vipers). 1943 - First transport from Westerbork Netherlands to Sobibor concentration camp. 1943 - Alexandre Yersin Swiss bacteriologist (bacteria plague), dies at age 79. 1943 - Birth of George Benson jazz/blues guitarist (Breezin', This Masquerade). 1943 - Birth of Gordon Black English industrialist. 1943 - Birth of Rosa DeLauro (Representative-Democrat-Connecticut). 1943 - Birth of Stephen Dickman composer. 1943 - Sea battle in Bismarck Sea finishes, US and Australia win. 1944 - 16th Academy Awards: "Casablanca", Jennifer Jones and Paul Lukas win. 1944 - Birth of Katherine Crawford actress (Captains and Kings, Gemini Man). 1944 - Birth of Leif Segerstam composer. 1944 - Birth of Pam Barnett LPGA golfer. 1944 - Fumes from locomotive stalled in a tunnel suffocates 521 in Italy. 1945 - 8th Air Force bombs Dresden. 1945 - Birth of Gordon Thomson Ottawa Canada; actor (Adam Carrington-Dynasty). 1945 - Birth of Joy Garrett actress (Jo-Days of Our Lives). 1945 - King Michael of Romania gives in to Communist government. 1946 - Birth of Brian J Donnelly (Representative-Democrat-Massachusetts, 1979-). 1946 - Dutch troops land on East Bali. 1946 - Ho Chi Minh elected President of North Vietnam. 1946 - Kingman Douglass, becomes deputy director of US Central Intelligence Agency. 1948 - Birth of Larry Carlton rock composer (Against All Odds, Who's The Boss?). 1949 - First automatic street light (New Milford Connecticut). 1949 - Birth of Gates McFadden actress (Beverly Crusher-Star Trek Next Generation). 1949 - Birth of Rory Gallagher Ballyshannon Ireland, rock guitarist (See Here). 1949 - Lucky Lady II (USAF B-50 Superfortress), completes first nonstop round-the-world flight at Fort Worth Texas, covering 23,452-mis in 94 hours. 1950 - Birth of Karen Carpenter New Haven Connecticut, vocalist/drummer (We've Only Just Begun). 1950 - Birth of Matthew Laurance Queens New York; actor/identical twin of Mitchell (Mel-Beverly Hills 90210, Ben-Duet). 1950 - Birth of Mitchell Laurance Queens New York; actor/identical twin of Matthew (L.A. Law, Not Necessarily the News). 1950 - M Joseph V d'Arbaud French poet/author (Li cant palustre), dies at age 76. 1950 - Silly Putty invented. 1951 - First NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 111-94 at Boston. 1951 - Birth of Cassie Yates Macon Georgia, actress (Osterman Weekend, Dynasty). 1952 - Birth of Laraine Newman Los Angeles California, comedienne/actress (Saturday Night Live). 1952 - Marlene Hagge wins LPGA Sarasota Golf Open. 1953 - Birth of William Simmons sax/keyboardist (Midnight Star-No Parking). 1954 - Birth of Stone Phumelele Sizani South African treasurer (UDF). 1955 - Birth of Dale Bosworth TV host (America's Most Wanted). 1955 - Birth of Dale Bozzio Boston Massachusetts, rock vocalist (Missing Persons-Destination Unknown). 1955 - Birth of Jay Osmond Ogden Utah, singer (Osmond Brothers, Donny and Marie). 1955 - Birth of Shoko Asahara [Chizuo Matsumoto], Japanese sect leader. 1955 - Birth of Steve Small cricketer (stalwart New South Wales opening batsman). 1955 - King Norodom Sihanukh of Cambodia succeeded by his father. 1955 - William Inge's "Bus Stop" premieres in New York City, New York. 1956 - Birth of John Cowsill Newport Rhode Island, rock drummer (Cowsills-We Can Fly). 1956 - Birth of Mark Evans Melbourne Australia, rock bassist (AC/DC-Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Warrior Soul-Last Decade of The Century). 1956 - Morocco tears up the Treaty of Féz, declares independence from France. 1957 - Harry E Soref, inventor (padlock), dies at age 70. 1958 - First surface crossing of Antarctic continent is completed in 99 days. 1958 - Birth of Ian Woosnam; Welsh golfer. 1958 - Birth of Kevin Curren in South Africa; tennis star. 1958 - Marilynn Smith wins LPGA Jacksonville Golf Open. 1958 - Yemen announces it will join the United Arab Republic. 1959 - Birth of Andrew Farriss in Australia; rock keyboardist (Inxs - "Kiss the Dirt"). 1959 - Birth of Larry Stewart in Paducah, Kentucky, USA; country singer (Restless Heart - "Wheels"). 1959 - Birth of Laura Hurlbut; LPGA golfer. 1959 - Eric Blore, actor (Abie's Irish Rose, Love Happy), dies at age 70. 1959 - Yrlö Henrik Kilpinen, Finnish composer, dies at age 67. 1962 - Birth of Al Del Greco; NFL kicker (Houston/Tennessee Oilers). 1962 - Birth of Jon Bon Jovi [Bongiovi] in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA; rocker (Bon Jovi - "You Give Love a Bad Name"). 1962 - Birth of Philip Jonas in Johannesburg, South Africa; Canadian Tour golfer (1993 Payless-second). 1962 - Birth of Terry Steinbach in New Ulm, Minnesota, USA; catcher (Oakland Athletics). 1962 - Charles-Jean baron de la Vallée-Poussin, Belgian engineer, dies at age 96. 1962 - US President John Kennedy announces US will resume above ground nuclear testing. 1962 - Wilt Chamberlain scores incredible 100 points in an NBA game. 1963 - Birth of Suzette Charles in Mays Landing, New Jersey, USA; replaced Vanessa Williams as Miss America (1984). 1965 - The Sound of Music film opens in theaters in the USA. 1965 - Birth of Ron Gant in Victoria, Texas, USA; outfielder (Saint Louis Cardinals). 1966 - Birth of Judith Wiesner in Hallein, Austria; tennis star (1994 Schenectady). 1966 - Birth of Stevie Rachelle; rock vocalist (Tuff-What Comes Around Goes Around). 1967 - 9th Grammy Awards: "Strangers in Night" and Michele win. 1967 - Birth of Allan Boyko; Canadian Football League slot back/twin of Bruce (Winnipeg Blue Bombers). 1967 - Birth of Bruce Boyko; Canadian Football League fullback/twin of Allan (Winnipeg Blue Bombers). 1967 - Birth of Leo Gomez in Canovanas, Puerto Rica; infielder (Chicago Cubs). 1967 - Gordon Harker, actor (Inspector Hornleigh), dies at age 81. 1967 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1968 - Birth of Penny "Stamper" Davis in Carlisle, England; Canadian 470 yachter (Olympics-1996). 1968 - USAF displays Lockheed C-5A Galaxy, biggest plane in the world. 1968 - USSR launches space probe Zond 4; it fails to leave Earth orbit. 1968 - World Ice Dance Championship in Geneva, Switzerland won by Diane Towler and Bernard Ford (Great Britain). 1968 - World Ice Pairs Figure Skating Championship in Geneva, Switzerland won by Lyudmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov (USSR). 1968 - World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Geneva, Switzerland won by Peggy Fleming (USA). 1968 - World Men's Figure Skating Championship in Geneva, Switzerland won by Emmerich Danzer (Austria). 1969 - First test flight of the supersonic Concorde. 1969 - Chinese-Russian borders fight (approximately 70 die). 1969 - Dmitri Shostakovich completes his 14th Symphony. 1969 - Phil Esposito becomes first NHL Player to score 100 points in a season. 1970 - American Airlines' first flight of a Boeing 747. 1970 - Birth of Kevin Miniefield; NFL defensive back (Chicago Bears). 1970 - Birth of Steve Holman in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; mile runner. 1970 - US Supreme Court rules draft evaders can not be penalized after five years. 1971 - Birth of Amber Smith in Tampa, Florida, USA; actress (Faithful, Funeral, Mirror Has two Faces). 1971 - Birth of James Hammerstrand in LaMesa, California, USA; volleyball middle blocker (Olympics-1996). 1971 - Birth of Ray Hall; NFL defensive tackle (Jacksonville Jaguars). 1971 - Birth of Ruffin Hamilton; NFL linebacker (Atlanta Falcons). 1971 - Charles W Engelhard; US silver multi-millionaire, dies at age 54. 1972 - Bill Lawrence, news anchor (ABC), dies at age 56. 1972 - Jean-Bédel Bokassa appoints himself President for life of Central African Republic. 1972 - Pioneer 10 launched for Jupiter flyby. 1973 - "Black September" terrorists occupy Saudi Embassy in Khartoum. 1973 - Birth of John Elmore; guard (Baltimore Ravens). 1973 - Birth of Paul Popowich; actor (Tommy Tricker and Stamp Traveler). 1973 - Cleo Noel, US ambassador to Sudan, is assassinated. 1974 - 16th Grammy Awards: "Killing Me Softly" and Bette Midler win. 1974 - Birth of Martine Dessureault in Montréal, Québec, Canada; 50-metre swimmer (Olympics-1996). 1974 - Grand jury concludes US President Richard Nixon is involved in Watergate cover-up. 1974 - Greg Chappell makes 247 vs New Zealand, 410 minutes, 29 fours 1 six. 1975 - Birth of Arleen McDonald; Miss Mississippi-USA (1997). 1975 - Jean Kurt Forest, composer, dies at age 65. 1976 - Bubbling Brown Sugar opens at ANTA Theater in New York City for 766 performances. 1976 - Birth of Lars Bruggemann; hockey defenseman (Team Germany 1998). 1976 - Walt Disney World welcomes its 50 millionth guest. 1977 - Bette Davis is first woman to receive acting Life Achievement Award. 1977 - Future The Tonight Show host Jay Leno debuts with host Johnny Carson. 1977 - Libya amends constitution. 1978 - Soyuz 28 carries two cosmonauts (one Czechoslovakian) to Salyut 6. 1979 - Edith Craig, actress (Harmony Lane, Smashing Rackets), dies at age 71. 1979 - Sir Richard Sykes, British ambassador, is assassinated in Holland. 1980 - Third New York Islanders scoreless tie-Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh. 1980 - Jan Stephenson wins LPGA Sun City Golf Classic. 1980 - Mike Bratz (Phoenix Suns) ends NBA free throw streak of 57 games. 1980 - Birth of Chris Barker; English footballer. 1980 - Birth of Lance Cade; American professional wrestler. 1980 - Birth of Vince Walker; singer (Suburban Legends). 1981 - Janear Hines, actress (Roberta-Julia), dies at age 30. 1981 - Birth of Bryce Howard; American actress. 1981 - Aircraft hijacked by three Pakistani terrorists. 1982 - Birth of Mike Nugent; American football player (New York Jets). 1982 - Birth of Henrik Lundqvist; Swedish hockey goaltender. 1982 - 60th hat trick in New York Islanders' history-Bryan Trottier. 1982 - Philip K[indred] Dick, American author (Hugo-1963, Dr Futurity), dies at age 53 (born 1928). 1982 - Terror group "The Illuminated Path" frees 260 prisoners in Peru. 1982 - Birth of Ben Roethlisberger; American football player (Pittsburgh Steelers). 1983 - USSR performs underground nuclear test. 1983 - Compact Disc recordings developed by Phillips and Sony introduced. 1984 - Louis Basile, actor (Louie - The Super), dies at age 48. 1984 - Iran offensive against Iraq fails. 1985 - Birth of Reggie Bush; American football player. 1985 - John B Kelly Jr, chairman US Olympics Committee, dies at age 57. 1985 - Sir Michael Redgrave, actor/writer dies at age 77 of Parkinson's disease. 1985 - US approves screening test for AIDS. 1986 - First million-dollar purse for a handicap race won at Santa Anita. 1986 - Marcel Liebman, Belgian historian, dies at age 56. 1986 - Mary Beth Zimmerman wins Uniden LPGA Golf Invitational. 1986 - Protesters try to stop Land Rover motor company being sold to US. 1986 - Zafer Masri, mayor of Nablus, murdered. 1987 - Randolph Scott, American actor (Fort Worth, Gung Ho, Jesse James), dies at age 89 (born 1898). 1987 - Apple Computer introduces the expandable Macintosh SE, and open architecture Macintosh II with color graphics. 1987 - American Motors Corporation is acquired by the Chrysler Corporation 1988 - 30th Grammy Awards: "Graceland", Joshua Tree, Jody Watley win. 1988 - Dutch Liberal Party merges with SDP. 1988 - Birth of Kate Alexa, Australian singer. 1988 - Birth of Kathryn Blair, daughter of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. 1988 - Birth of Vito Mannone, Italian footballer. 1989 - Twelve European Community nations agree to ban the production of all chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by 2000. 1989 - Exxon Houston runs aground in Hawaii, spills 117,000 gallons of oil. 1989 - Madonna's "Like a Prayer" premieres on worldwide Pepsi commercial. 1989 - NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers win 22nd straight home game. 1989 - New York Mets' Darryl Strawberry swings at teammate Keith Hernandez. 1990 - Greyhound Bus goes on strike. 1990 - Mark Tewsksbury swims world record 50 metre backstroke (25.06 seconds). 1991 - Aspects of Love closes at Broadhurst Theater in New York City after 377 performances. 1991 - La Bete closes at Eugene O'Neill Theater in New York City after 24 performances. 1991 - Clark Mollenhoff, US journalist (Pulitzer Prize), dies. 1991 - Deb Richard wins LPGA Women's Kemper Golf Open. 1991 - Del Ballard Jr, throws most famous gutter ball in PBA Tour history. 1991 - Freek Zoetmulder, publisher (Austrian Encyclopedia)/neo-Nazi, dies. 1991 - James "Cool Papa" Bell, Negro baseball league great, dies at age 87. 1991 - North Carolina State Chris Corchiani becomes first NCAA player to get 1,000 assists. 1991 - Serge Gainsbourg, French composer/actor (Fury of Hercules), dies at age 62 (born 1928). 1991 - United Nations votes in favor of US resolutions for cease fire with Iraq. 1992 - Anita Hall swims female world record 200 metre freestyle (2:05.35). 1992 - Sandy Dennis, American actress (Up the Down Staircase), dies of cancer at age 54 (born 1939). 1992 - The highest-paid player in baseball is now Ryne Sandberg, after signing a four-year contract extension worth US$7.1 million per season. 1993 - Floortje Peneder, Dutch poet (Diary), dies at age 15. 1993 - Paul D Zimmerman, US screenwriter (King of Comedy), dies at age 54. 1993 - Salman Rushdie divorces Marianne Wiggins. 1994 - Branch Davidian cult leader David Koresh promises to surrender if taped statement is broadcast; it is, but he doesn't. 1994 - Donald McKenzie MacKinnon, philosopher, dies at age 80. 1994 - Miami begins a latin walk of fame, first star for Gloria Estefan. 1994 - Tengiz Abuladze, filmmaker, dies at age 70. 1994 - William Natcher, (Representative-Democrat-Kentucky), casts his 18,401 and last consecutive vote. 1995 - Smokey Joe's Cafe opens at Virginia Theater in New York City. 1995 - British stock trader Nick Leeson is arrested for collapse of Barings Bank PLC. 1995 - Ferry boat sinks off Sumbe Angola, 42+ killed. 1995 - Hugo Cole, musician/critic, dies at age 77. 1995 - Space shuttle STS-67 (Endeavour 8), launches. 1995 - Vladislav Listyev, TV journalist, dies at age 48. 1996 - Jacobo Majluta, President of Dominican Republic (1982), dies at age 61. 1996 - Tendulkar scores 137 for India vs SL in Cricket World Cup, but still lose. 1996 - John Howard is elected Prime Minister of Australia in a landslide, over the Labor Party's Paul Keating. 1996 - Ranabima Royal College, Sri Lanka, is established. 1997 - Gail Graham wins LPGA Alpine Australian Ladies Masters. 1997 - Nick Faldo wins Nissan Golf Open. 1997 - Saudi Arab billionaire Prince al-Waleed bin Talal aquires 5 percent of Apple. 1997 - Soyuz TM-24 returns to Earth (Russia). 1997 - Death of Bloodshed (rapper), American rapper (born 1975). 1998 - Data sent from the Galileo probe indicates that Jupiter's moon Europa has a liquid ocean under a thick crust of ice. 1998 - Natascha Kampusch is abducted by Wolfgang Priklopil (she will remain in his captivity until August 2006). 1999 - Death of Dusty Springfield, English singer (born 1939). 2000 - Hans Blix assumes the position of Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC. 2003 - Death of Hank Ballard, American musician (born 1927). 2004 - John Kerry effectively clinches the 2004 U.S. Democratic Party presidential nomination by winning 9 out of 10 "Super Tuesday" primaries and caucuses. 2004 - NASA announces that the Mars rover MER-B (Opportunity) has confirmed that its landing area was once drenched in water. 2004 - Death of Cormac McAnallen, Irish footballer (born 1980). 2004 - Death of Mercedes McCambridge, American actress (born 1918). 2004 - Death of Marge Schott, baseball team owner (born 1928). 2005 - President George W. Bush awards the nation's highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, posthumously to Jackie Robinson's widow. Robinson died in 1972. 2006 - Death of Jack Wild, English actor (born 1952). 2007 - Mike Young signs an $80 million, five-year contract extension offered by American baseball's Texas Rangers. 2007 - Five Bluffton University baseball players and the driver and his wife are killed in a chartered bus accident in Atlanta. The players, Zach Arend, David Betts, Scott Harmon, Cody Holp, and Tyler Williams, were en route to to Sarasota, Florida. 2007 - Death of Henri Troyat, French writer (born 1911). 2007 - Death of Madi Phala, South African artist (born 1955). 2008 - Intel announces the name for its new low-power microprocessor family: "Atom". 2008 - Dmitry Medvedev is elected President of Russia with 72 percent of total votes, to succeed Vladimir Putin in May. 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