This Day in History
March 21

What happened in history on this day: March 21? On March 21 in ... 1295 - Birth of Heinrich von Berg [Seuse] in Konstanz, Germany; mystic. 1349 - 3,000 Jews killed in Black Death riots in Efurt Germany. 1417 - Birth of St. Nicholas of Flüe in Flüeli, Switzerland; judge, hermit. 1421 - Battle of Beauge-French beat British. 1466 - Birth of French van Brederode leader Hoeksen. 1474 - Birth of Angela Merici Italian monastery founder/saint. 1487 - Nicholas van Fluë, Swiss saint/patron of Switzerland, dies. 1492 - Alonzo Pietro, pilot, sailed with Columbus. 1521 - Birth of Mauritius duke/nice monarch of Saksen (1547-53). 1527 - Birth of Hermann Finck composer. 1538 - Hugo earl of Leisnig, Governor of Frisia, dies at about age 79. 1556 - Thomas Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury, burned at stake at age 66. 1609 - Birth of Jan II Kazimierz cardinal/King of Poland (1648-68). 1610 - King James I addresses English House of Commons. 1617 - Pocahontas dies. 1624 - Birth of François Roberday composer. 1642 - Birth of Georg Schmezer composer. 1652 - Vredius [Olivier de Wree], Flemish historian/mayor (Brugge), dies at age 55. 1654 - Johann Neukrantz composer, dies at age 51. 1656 - Armagh James Ussher Archbishop (said world began 4004 BC), dies at age 76. 1681 - Third Exclusion Parliament meets in London. 1685 - Birth of Johann Sebastian Bach in Eisenach, Germany; composer (Matthäus-Passion). 1697 - Czar Peter the Great begins tour through West-Europe. 1702 - Queen Anne Stuart addresses English parliament. 1708 - Birth of Caspar Ruetz composer. 1713 - Birth of Francis Lewis signed Declaration of Independence. 1716 - Birth of Josef Ferdinand Norbert Seger composer. 1729 - John Law Scottish financier, dies at about age 57. 1734 - Gunther Jacob Wenceslaus composer, dies at age 48. 1763 - Birth of Jean Paul writer. 1765 - Birth of Henry Fagel Dutch/English baron/diplomat. 1768 - Birth of Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Fourier mathematician/Egyptologist. 1768 - Jan J Mauricius Dutch Governor-General of Suriname (1742-51), dies at age 75. 1779 - Birth of Alexis Garaude composer. 1788 - Fire destroyed 856 buildings in New Orleans Louisiana. 1788 - Gustavus Vassa petitions Queen Charlotte, to free enslaved Africans. 1790 - Thomas Jefferson reports to President Washington in New York as Secretary of State. 1791 - Captain Hopley Yeaton of New Hampshire becomes first commissioned officer in USN. 1793 - Johann Michael Schmidt composer, dies at age 51. 1801 - Andrea Lucchesi composer, dies at age 59. 1804 - French civil Code of Napoleon adopted. 1806 - Birth of Benito Pablo Juárez Oaxaca Mexico, President of México (1858-72). 1810 - Philippe-Joseph van den Berghe graaf Limmighe Brabants ships, dies. 1813 - Birth of James Jesse Strang king of Mormons on Beaver Island Michigan (1850-56). 1816 - Birth of Charlotte Bronte novelist/poet. 1820 - Birth of Frank Mori composer. 1824 - Fire at Cairo ammunitions dump kills 4,000 horses. 1826 - Beethoven's Quartet #13 in B flat major (Op 130) premieres in Vienna. 1835 - Charles Darwin and Mariano Gonzales meet at Portillo Pass. 1836 - Birth of Jesus Monasterio composer. 1839 - Birth of Modest Mussorgsky composer (Boris Gudunov, Night on Bald Mountain). 1843 - Preacher William Miller of Massachusetts predicts the world will end today. 1844 - Leopold F J J J van Sassen Ysselt Dutch politician, dies at age 65. 1844 - Origin of Bahá'í Era-Bahá'í calendar starts here (Bahá 1, 1). 1847 - Antonio López de Santa Anna becomes President (9th time) of Mexico. 1851 - Yosemite Valley discovered in California. 1854 - Birth of Alick A C Bannerman cricketer (brother of Charles, Australia 1878-1893). 1857 - Abraham J van der Aa lexicographer (Biograph dictionary), dies at age 64. 1857 - Earthquake hits Tokyo; about 107,000 die. 1859 - Scottish National Gallery opens in Edinburgh. 1859 - Zoological Society of Philadelphia, first in US, incorporated. 1860 - US extradition treaty with Sweden. 1863 - Birth of Hugo Kaun composer. 1863 - Edwin Vose Sumner US Union-General-Major (Fair Oaks), dies at age 66. 1863 - Naval Engagement at Havana Cuba-USS Henrick Hudson vs BR Wild Pigeon. 1864 - Battle at Henderson's Hill (Bayou Rapids), Louisiana. 1865 - Battle of Bentonville ends, last Confederate effort to stop Sherman. 1866 - Birth of Antonia Caetana de Paiva Pereira Maury astronomer. 1866 - US Congress authorizes national soldiers' homes. 1868 - First US professional women's club, Sorosis, is founded in New York City, New York. 1869 - Birth of Albert Kahn architect, originated modern factory design. 1869 - Birth of Florenz Ziegfeld producer (Ziegfield Follies). 1871 - Journalist Henry M Stanley begins his famous expedition to Africa. 1871 - Otto von Bismarck elevated Fürst. 1874 - US Grant's daughter Nellie marries in the White House. 1878 - Birth of Thurlow Weed Lieurance composer. 1880 - Birth of Hans Hofmann German/US painter (Search for the Real). 1880 - Birth of Wilhelm Pessler German sociologist. 1881 - Birth of Hermann Sandby composer. 1882 - Birth of Gilbert M Anderson [Max Aronson], Little Rock AR. 1883 - Birth of Jules van Nuffel composer. 1884 - Birth of George D Birkhoff US mathematician (Aesthetic measure). 1885 - Second French government of Ferry resigns. 1887 - Birth of Edwin Scharff German "entartet" painter/sculptor. 1888 - Arthur Pinero's "Sweet Lavender" premieres in London. 1890 - Austrian Jewish communities are defined by law. 1891 - A Hatfield marries a McCoy, ends long feud in West Virginia; it started with an accusation of pig-stealing and lasted 20 years. 1891 - Birth of Jonathan Hale actor (Saint's Double Trouble, Saint Strikes Back). 1893 - Birth of Geoffrey Dearmer poet. 1894 - Jacob Rosenhaim composer, dies at age 80. 1899 - British and French accord about West-Africa. 1900 - Birth of Eugenie Leontovitch Moscow Russia; actor (Homicidal). 1900 - Birth of Paul Klecki/Kletzki Polish violinist/composer/conductor. 1901 - Birth of Carmelita Geraghty Rushville Indiana, actress (My Best Girl, Texas Ranger). 1901 - Birth of Richard Leslie Hill historian. 1902 - Birth of Carl Jaffe Hamburg Germany; actor (first Man in Space, Escapement). 1902 - Birth of Eddie James "Son" House folk blues musician (Delta Blues). 1902 - Birth of William Downie Forrest journalist. 1904 - Forrest Mars Sr. is born (dies 1999). 1904 - Birth of Nikolaos Skalkottas composer. 1905 - Birth of Phyllis McGinley US, poet (Pulitzer 1961, Love Letters). 1906 - Birth of John D Rockefeller III billionaire philanthropist (oil). 1907 - US invades Honduras. 1908 - Birth of Maurice Stans rocker. 1909 - Moran and MacFarland (US) win Europe's first six day bicycle race (Berlin). 1910 - Birth of Nick Castle Brooklyn New York, choreographer (Dinah Shore, Judy Garland). 1911 - Birth of John Paxton screenwriter (On The Beach, Kotch, Farewell My Lovely). 1912 - Birth of Peter Bull actor/author (Executioner, Tom Jones, Dr Strangelove). 1913 - Birth of George Ghita Ionescu academic. 1913 - Birth of Max Youngstein New York City, New York, producer (United Artists). 1913 - Flood in Ohio, kills 400. 1914 - Birth of Herman Siles Zuazo politician. 1914 - Birth of Paul Tortelier composer. 1914 - US Ladies Figure Skating Championship won by Theresa Weld. 1914 - US Men's Figure Skating Championship won by Norman M Scott. 1916 - Birth of Harold Robbins US, novelist (The Carpetbaggers) [or 0521]. 1916 - JP Van Limburg Stirum succeeds AWF Idenburg as Governor-General of Netherland Indies. 1916 - Victor de Stuers Dutch art expert, dies at age 72. 1917 - First female US Navy Petty Officer is Loretta Walsh. 1918 - Birth of Joe Carveth NHL forward (scored 20 or more goals in three seasons). 1918 - During WWI Germany launches Somme offensive. 1919 - Birth of Geoffrey Pinnington journalist. 1919 - Birth of Lois Collier Salley South Carolina, actress (Mary-Boston Blackie, Slave Girl). 1920 - Federigo Tozzi Ital writer/journalist (Torre, Tre Croci), dies at age 37. 1921 - "Big Jim" Colisimo US gangster, murdered by Al Capone. 1921 - Birth of Antony Hopkins composer. 1921 - Birth of Arthur Grumiaux Belgian violinist. 1921 - Birth of Logan Ramsey Long Beach California; actor (Head, Joy Sticks, Say Yes). 1921 - Walter Kerr Theater (Ritz, CBS, NBC, ABC) opens at 223 W 48th Steet New York City. 1922 - KGW-AM in Portland Oregon begins radio transmissions. 1923 - Birth of Mort Lindsey Newark New Jersey, orchestra leader (Merv Griffin Show). 1923 - Birth of Philip Abbott Lincoln Nebraska; actor (Arthur Ward-The FBI). 1923 - US foreign minister Charles Hughes refuses USSR recognition. 1924 - First foreign language course broadcast on US radio (WJZ, New York City, New York). 1924 - Birth of Karl Heinz Fussl composer. 1924 - Mass Investors Trust becomes first mutual fund set up in US. 1925 - Birth of John E Grotberg (Representative-Republican-Illinois, 1985-86). 1925 - Birth of Peter Brook London, director (1776)/TV writer. 1925 - Edinburgh's Murreyfield Stadium officially opens. 1925 - Iran adopts Khorshidi solar Hijrah calendar. 1926 - Birth of André Delvaux Heverie Belgium, director/writer (Benvenuta). 1926 - Birth of Virginia Weidler Hollywood California, actress (Babes on Broadway). 1927 - Birth of Hans-Dietrich Genscher German minister of Foreign affairs (FDP). 1927 - Guomindang Army conquerors Shanghai as British marines flee. 1928 - Birth of Evelyn Ruth Anderson composer. 1928 - Charles Lindbergh is presented the US Congressional Medal of Honor for his first trans-Atlantic flight. 1928 - Birth of James W Kinnear Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, CEO (Texaco). 1928 - Birth of Peter Hacks German playwright (Tie Windloch). 1929 - Birth of James Coco Bronx New York; actor (Man of La Mancha, Murder by Death). 1929 - Birth of Jules Bergman space and science reporter (ABC-TV). 1931 - Birth of Ivan William Hannaford sociologist. 1931 - KRO-broadcast studio initiated in Hilversum Holland. 1931 - US Ladies Figure Skating Championship won by Maribel Vinson. 1931 - US Men's Figure Skating Championship won by Roger Turner. 1932 - Birth of Joseph Silverstein Detroit Michigan, violinist (Denver Symphony Orchestra). 1933 - Birth of John Hall English real estate developer/multi-millionaire. 1933 - Birth of Michael Heseltine Welsh/British minister of Defense (1986)/Member of Parliament. 1933 - Hitler, Göring, Prince Ruprecht, Brüning and top army meet in Berlin. 1934 - Babe Didrikson pitches an inning in an Athletics-Brooklyn Dodgers exhibition game Walks 1, hits the next guy, third guy hits into triple-play. 1934 - Birth of Al Freeman Jr San Antonio Texas; actor (One Life to Live, My Sweet Charlie). 1934 - Birth of Lister Carney Bellaire Ohio, 200 metre runner (Olympics-silver-1960). 1934 - Fire destroys Hakodate Japan, killing about 1,500. 1934 - Franz Schreker composer, dies at age 55. 1934 - Lilyan Tashman actor (Bulldog Drummond), dies at age 34. 1935 - Birth of Brian Clough soccer manager. 1935 - Birth of Hubert Fichte writer. 1935 - Jean Anouilh's "Y avait un presonnier" premieres in Paris France. 1935 - Persia officially renamed Iran. 1936 - Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov composer (Chopiniana), dies at age 70. 1936 - Birth of Marek Stachowski composer. 1937 - Birth of Tom Flores Fresno California, NFL quarterback/coach (Oakland Raiders). 1937 - Ponce massacre, police kill 19 at Puerto Rican Nationalist parade. 1938 - Birth of Grahame Thomas cricketer (Australian batsman of the mid-1960s). 1938 - Birth of Wilf Corrigan English/US electronic manufacturer (LSI Logic). 1938 - Oscar Apfel actor (Inspiration), dies at age 60. 1939 - Birth of Kathleen Widdoes Wilmington Delaware, actress (Without a Trace). 1939 - Birth of Martha Hudson Eastman Georgia, 4X100 metre relayer (Olympics-gold-1960). 1939 - Evald Aav composer, dies at age 39. 1939 - Nazi-Germany demands Gdansk (Danzig) from Poland. 1941 - Birth of Dirk D Frimout Belgium, cosmonaut. 1941 - Birth of Malcolm Francke cricketer (leg-spinner, Ceylon 1956 to Queensland 1984). 1941 - Joe Louis knocks out Abe Simon in 13 for heavyweight boxing title. 1941 - Robert Liefmann German economist (Kartelle und Trusts), dies at age 67. 1942 - Birth of Françoise Dorléac Paris France, actress (That Man From Rio). 1942 - Captain Morávec Czechoslovakian resistance fighter, commit suicide. 1942 - Convoy QP9 departs Great Britain to Murmansk. 1942 - Heavy German assault on Malta. 1943 - Assassination attempt on Hitler fails. 1943 - Birth of Antal Dunai Hungary, soccer player (Olympics-gold-1968). 1943 - Birth of Viv[ian] Stanshall Shillingford Oxon England, rocker (Bonzo Dog Band-I'm the Urban Spaceman). 1943 - British 8th army opens assault on Mareth line, Tunisia. 1944 - Birth of Charles Edward Greene Pine Bluff Arkansas, 4x100 metre runner (Olympics-gold-1968). 1944 - Birth of Henrik Colding-Jorgensen composer. 1944 - Birth of Jamary Oliveira composer. 1944 - Birth of Marie-Christine Barrault Paris France, actress (Stardust Memories). 1944 - General Eisenhower postpones S France invasion until after Normandy. 1945 - First Japanese flying bombs (ochas) attack Okinawa. 1945 - Birth of Charles E Greene US, 100 metre sprinter (Olympics-bronze-1968). 1945 - Birth of Rose[mary] Stone Dallas Texas, vocalist/pianist (Sly and the Family Stone-Everyday People). 1945 - Birth of Vernon Guy US gospel singer (Cool Sounds, Sharpees). 1945 - During WWII Allied bombers begin 4-day raid over Germany. 1945 - Dutch Resistance fighter Hannie Schaft arrested by Nazi police. 1945 - J Woortman Dutch resistance fighter, dies in Bergen-Belsen at age 39. 1946 - Birth of Ray Dorset rocker (Cold Blue Excursion). 1946 - Birth of Timothy Dalton in Colwyn Bay, Wales; actor (James Bond - The Living Daylights, License to Kill). 1946 - Kenny Washington signs with Los Angeles Rams, first black NFL player since 1933. 1946 - United Nations set up temporary headquarters at Hunter (now Lehman) College (Bronx). 1947 - Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Fulgens radiatur. 1947 - President Truman signs Executive Order 9835 requiring all federal employees to have allegiance to the United States. 1947 - Test Cricket debut of Bert Sutcliffe, New Zealand vs England at Christchurch. 1948 - "Stop the Music" with Bert Parks premieres on ABC radio. 1948 - Birth of Nancy Addison Altman New York City, New York, actress (Jillian Coleridge Ryan-Ryan's Hope). 1949 - Birth of Alvin Kallicharran cricketer (wonderful West Indies LHB 1972-81). 1949 - Birth of Eddie Money [Mahoney] in Brooklyn, New York; singer/guitarist ("Take Me Home Tonight"). 1950 - Birth of Roger Hodgson London England, rock vocalist (Supertramp-It's Raining Again). 1951 - 2,900,000 US soldiers in Korea. 1951 - Birth of Russell Thompkins Jr US soul singer (Stylistics-Sing Baby Sing). 1952 - "3 Wishes for Jamie" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater New York City for 94 performances. 1952 - A J Pieters SS-Untersturmführer, executed. 1952 - Alan Freed presents Moondog Coronation Ball at old Cleveland Arena, 25,000 attend first rock and roll concert ever. 1952 - Birth of Chris O'Connell rocker. 1952 - Tornadoes in Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama and Kentucky cause 343 deaths. 1952 - Wilhelm Albrecht German SD-chief, executed. 1953 - Birth of Carl Wolfson Washington DC, comedian (Thicke of the Night). 1953 - Birth of Robert "Shotgun" Johnson Miami Florida, rock drummer (KC and the Sunshine Band-Give it Up). 1953 - NBA record 106 fouls and 12 players foul out (Boston-Syracuse). 1954 - Birth of Mary Jane Smith Van Nuys California, WPVA volleyballer (National-9th-1993). 1954 - Harry Lawrence Freeman composer, dies at age 84. 1955 - Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus desires Cyprus joining Greece. 1955 - Birth of Barbel Wockel-Eckert German Democratic Republic, track star (Olympics-4 gold-1976, 1980). 1955 - Birth of Jean Marie Hon San Francisco California, actress (Jane-Man From Atlantis). 1955 - Brooklyn Bulletin asks Dodger fans not to call their team "Bums". 1955 - Muriel Aked dies at age 67. 1956 - 28th Academy Awards: "Marty", Ernest Borgnine and Anna Magnani win. 1956 - Birth of Ingrid Kristiansen Norway, marathoner (Olympics-4th-1984, Boston-1986, 1989). 1957 - Birth of Sabrina Le Beauf in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; actress (Sondra - Crosby Show). 1958 - First presentation of West Point's Sylvanus Thayer Award. 1958 - Birth of Brad Hall in Santa Barbara, California, USA; comedian (Saturday Night Live). 1958 - Birth of Gary Oldman; actor (Sid and Nancy, Criminal Law, State of Grace). 1958 - Birth of Marlies Göhr, German Democratic Republic; sprinter (Olympics-gold-1976, 1980). 1958 - Cyril M Kornbluth, American sci-fi writer (Space Merchants), dies at age 34. 1958 - USSR performs atmospheric nuclear test. 1959 - 21st NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: California beats West Virginia 71-70. 1960 - Birth of Ayrton Senna; Brazilian formula-1 racer (1988 champion). 1960 - Birth of Dale Baze; jockey. 1960 - Birth of Guy Chadwick; English singer/songwriter (House of Love). 1960 - Sharpeville Massacre: Police kill 72 in South Africa and outlaws African National Congress. 1961 - Art Modell purchases Cleveland Browns for record (US$3,925,000). 1961 - Birth of Kassie DePaiva [Wesley] in Morganfield, Kentucky, USA; actress (Chelsea - Guiding Light, Evil Dead 2, Blair - One Life to Live). 1961 - Birth of Wei Wang in Beijing, China; US table tennis player (Olympics-1996). 1962 - A bear becomes the first creature to be ejected at supersonic speeds. 1962 - Birth of Matthew Broderick in New York City, New York; actor (Inspector Gadget, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, WarGames, Biloxi Blues). 1962 - Birth of Rosie O'Donnell; comedienne (A League of Their Own, Flintstones, Rosie). 1962 - Philadelphia Phillies retires pitcher Robin Roberts' number 36. 1963 - Alcatraz federal penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, California closed. 1963 - Birth of Ronald Koeman; Dutch soccer star (Ajax, PSV, Barcelona, Feyenoord). 1963 - Birth of Sharon June Howe Pederson in Glencoe, Minnesota, USA; rocker (Vixen - "Rev It Up"). 1963 - Birth of Shawon Dunston in Brooklyn, New York, USA; infielder (San Francisco Giants). 1964 - 26th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: UCLA beats Duke 98-83. 1964 - The Beatles' "She Loves You" single goes #1 and stays #1 for two weeks. 1964 - UCLA completes undefeated NCAA basketball season (30-0). 1965 - Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA Saint Petersburg Golf Open. 1965 - Martin Luther King Jr begins march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. 1965 - US Ranger 9 launched; takes 5,814 pictures before lunar impact. 1966 - Birth of Al Iafrate in Dearborn, Michigan, USA; NHL defenseman (San Jose Sharks). 1966 - Birth of Karen Lunn in Cowra, Australia; LPGA golfer (1993 Women's British Open). 1966 - Birth of Matthew Maynard; cricketer (big hitting Glamorgan and England player). 1966 - US Supreme Court reverses Massachusetts' ruling that film Fanny Hill is obscene. 1966 - ABC airs the last Ben Casey TV show. A total of 153 episodes aired. 1967 - Birth of Elaina Oden in Orange, California, USA; volleyball middle blocker (Olympics-bronze-1992, 1996). 1967 - Birth of Troy Westwood; Canadian Football League kicker (Winnipeg Blue Bombers). 1968 - "Royals" chosen as the name of new Kansas City American League Baseball franchise. 1968 - Birth of Erwin Vanderbroeck; Dutch soccer player (Roda JC). 1968 - Birth of Jeff Lazaro in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA; American hockey forward (Olympics-1994). 1968 - Birth of Johan Garpenlov in Stockholm, Sweden; NHL left wing (Florida Panthers). 1968 - Birth of Mark Sander; WLAF linebacker (Scottish Claymores). 1968 - Birth of Scott Williams; NBA forward (Philadelphia 76ers). 1968 - Israeli forces cross Jordan River to attack Palestinian Liberation Organization bases. 1968 - Portuguese socialist Mario Soares banished to Sao Tomé. 1969 - Birth of Mark Allen in Australia; Australasia golfer. 1969 - Gerhart Fritsch, writer, dies at age 44. 1969 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1970 - 32nd NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: UCLA beats Jacksonville 80-69. 1970 - Marlen Haushofer, writer, dies at age 49. 1971 - Birth of Hason Graham; NFL wide receiver (New England Patriots). 1971 - Gavaskar scores first of his 34 Test Cricket tons, 116 at Georgetown. 1971 - Jan Ferraris wins LPGA Orange Blossom Golf Classic. 1971 - Vermont seasonal snowfall totals 132.2 inches. 1972 - Birth of Boris Mironov in Moscow, Russia; NHL defenseman (Team Russia Olympics-Silver-1998, Edmonton). 1972 - Birth of Chris Ball in Costa Mesa, California, USA; kayak (alternate-Olympics-1996). 1972 - Birth of Frank West; Canadian Football League defensive back (Hamilton Tiger Cats). 1972 - Birth of John Leach; Canadian Football League running back (Toronto Argonauts). 1972 - Birth of Michele Michael; Miss Maryland-USA (1996). 1972 - US Supreme Court rules states can't require one-year residency to vote. 1973 - Antoni Szalowski, composer, dies at age 65. 1973 - Birth of Chiou Hai Ta; Miss Taiwan (Republic Of China)-Universe (1997). 1973 - Birth of Larry Bowie; running back (Washington Redskins). 1973 - Frank Mahovlich becomes 5th NHL player to score 500 goals. 1974 - Attempt made to kidnap Princess Anne in London's Pall Mall. 1974 - Candy Darling [James Slattery], female impersonator, dies. 1975 - Berend Giltay, composer, dies at age 64. 1975 - Birth of Vitaly Potapenko; NBA center (Cleveland Cavaliers). 1975 - Ethiopia ends monarchy after 3000 years. 1975 - Ralph Hawtrey, economist (multiplier), dies at age 95. 1978 - San Diego Padres fire Al Dark (second manager ever fired during spring training). 1979 - Egyptian Parliament unanimously approves peace treaty with Israel. 1980 - Mafioso Angelo Bruno is assassinated in Atlantic City. 1980 - U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. 1980 - Death of Peter Stoner, American mathematician, astronomer and Christian apologist (born 1888). 1980 - Gideon Fagan, composer, dies at age 75. 1980 - On TV show Dallas, JR is shot. 1980 - Birth of Deryck Whibley; Canadian singer, songwriter, and musician (Sum 41). 1980 - Birth of Ronaldinho; Brazilian football player. 1980 - Birth of Marit Bjørgen; Norwegian cross-country skier. 1982 - Harry H Corbett, British actor (Steptoe and Son, Jabberwocky), dies at age 57. 1982 - Jerry Pate celebrates golf win by jumping into the water hazard. 1982 - Movie Annie premieres in theaters. 1982 - Nancy Lopez wins LPGA J&B Scotch Pro-Am Golf Tournament. 1982 - Birth of Maria Elena Camerin; Italian tennis player. 1982 - In Hokkaido, Japan region, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. 1983 - Birth of Bruno Langley; British actor. 1983 - Only known typo on Time Magazine cover (control=contol), all recalled. 1984 - Soviet submarine crashes into USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier off Japan. 1984 - Border scores 100 vs West Indies Trinidad after 98 in first cricket innings. 1984 - NFL owners pass the infamous anti-celebrating rule. 1984 - Part of Central Park is named Strawberry Fields honoring John Lennon. 1985 - The ABC TV network debuts the Wildside series. 1985 - Canadian paraplegic athlete and humanitarian Rick Hansen begins his circumnavigation of the globe in a wheelchair in the name of spinal cord injury medical research. 1985 - Arthur Ashe is named to International Tennis Hall of Fame. 1985 - Bloodbath at Langa (Uitenhage) South Africa, 19 killed. 1985 - Michael Redgrave, English actor (Goodbye Mr Chips, Mr Arkadin), dies at age 77 (born 1908). 1985 - Salvador Ley, composer, dies at age 78. 1986 - August de Boodt, Belgian politician, dies at age 90. 1986 - Karin Kania (German Democratic Republic) skates ladies world record 500 metre (39.52 seconds) and 3 km (4:18.02). 1986 - Pittsburgh Associates buy Pittsburgh Pirates for US$218 million. 1987 - Dean Paul Martin, American actor (Billy - Misfits of Science), dies at age 35 (born 1951). 1987 - PSV sells soccer player Ruud Gullit to AC Milan (17 million gulden). 1987 - Robert Preston, American actor (Harold Hill - Music Man), dies from lung cancer in Montecito, California at age 68 (born 1918). 1988 - 23rd Academy of Country Music Awards: Randy Travis and Hank Williams Jr. 1988 - Birth of Lee Cattermole, English footballer. 1988 - Birth of Pat McCabe, Australian rugby union player. 1989 - Birth of Rochelle Wiseman, British singer/television presenter. 1989 - First sea test of Trident 2 missile self-destructs, Cape Canaveral. 1989 - Milton Frome, actor (Family Jewels), dies. 1990 - "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" opens at Eugene O'Neill New York City for 149 performances. 1990 - Normal Life starring Moon Unit and Dweezil Zappa premieres on CBS-TV. 1990 - Sydney starring Valerie Bertinelli premieres on CBS-TV. 1990 - After 75 years of South African rule, Namibia becomes independent; Sam Nujoma first president. 1991 - 27 lost at sea when two US Navy anti-submarine planes collide. 1991 - Largest wrestling crowd in Japan (64,500) at Tokyo Dome. 1991 - Leo Fender, inventor (Fender guitar), dies (born 1909). 1991 - Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India, killed by bomb at age 46. 1991 - Tatsumi Fujinami beats Ric Flair for NWA wrestling championship. 1991 - United Nations Security Council panel decides to lift the food embargo on Iraq. 1992 - Birth of Bobby Preston, American actor. 1992 - Second WLAF season begins. 1992 - John Ireland, actor (Rawhide), dies of leukemia at age 78. 1992 - Pakistan scores 6-264 to overhaul New Zealand in exciting World Cup semi. 1992 - Death of Natalie Sleeth, American composer (born 1930). 1993 - Patty Sheehan wins LPGA Standard Register Ping Golf Tournament. 1993 - Pope John Paul II declares Duns Scotus a saint. 1993 - South Africa White Wolves kill five-year-old black girl. 1994 - 66th Academy Awards. Film director Steven Spielberg's film Schindler's List wins seven Oscars, including Best Picture. Best Actor: Tom Hanks. Best Actress: Holly Hunter. 1994 - Anne P Sidamon-Eristoff named chairwoman of Museum of National History. 1994 - Dack Rambo, actor (Jack Ewing-Dallas), dies from AIDS at age 52. 1994 - Novell announces it is acquiring WordPerfect Corporation for US$1.4 billion, and will acquire Quattro Pro from Borland International for US$145 million. 1994 - Lili Damita, wife of Errol Flynn (Bridge of San Luis Rey), dies at age 89. 1994 - Macdonald Carey, American actor (Days of Our Lives), dies of cancer at 81 (born 1913). 1994 - Watne Gretzky ties Gordie Howe's NHL record of 801 goals. 1995 - Daan Wildschut, Dutch painter/author, dies at age 81. 1995 - Etienne Martin, French sculptor, dies at age 82. 1995 - New York City agrees to sell its two owned radio stations (WNYC AM and FM). 1995 - New Jersey officially dedicates the Howard Stern Rest Area along Route 295. 1995 - Norman Schwartz, record producer, dies at age 66. 1995 - Robert Urquhart, actor (Dunkirk, Bulldog Breed), dies at age 72. 1995 - The NBC TV network begins airing the Disney series Pride & Joy. 1996 - Night of the Iguana opens at Criterion Theater in New York City for 68 performances. 1996 - Eric Brand, diplomat, dies at age 73. 1996 - Frank Murray, police Officer, dies at age 51. 1997 - World Ice Dance won by Oksana Grishuk and Evgeny Platov (Russia). 1997 - World Ice Pairs Figure Skating won by Mandy Woetzel and Ingo Steuer (Germany). 1997 - World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Lausanne won by Tara Lipinski (USA). Tara Lipinski, 14, becomes the youngest women's world figure skating champion. 1997 - World Men's Figure Skating Championship in Lausanne won by Elvis Stojko (Canada). 1997 - Mercenaries of Sandline International withdraw from Papua New Guinea. 1997 - Death of W.V. Awdry, British children's writer (born 1911). 1997 - In Zaire, Etienne Tshiksekedi is appointed new prime minister; he ejects supporters of Mobutu Sese Seko from his cabinet. 1999 - Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones become the first to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon. 1999 - Death of Ernie Wise, British comedian (born 1925). 2000 - Pope John Paul II begins the first official visit by a Roman Catholic pontiff to Israel. 2000 - The U.S. Supreme Court rules the government lacks authority to regulate tobacco as an addictive drug, throwing out the Clinton administration's main anti-smoking initiative. 2001 - Royal Caribbean International's Radiance of the Seas cruise ship (90,090 gross tons, 2100 passengers) first arrives at its home port in Miami, Florida. 2001 - Death of Norma Macmillan, Canadian voice actress (born 1921). 2001 - In Japan, Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance handheld video game system. It features 32-bit ARM processor, and 240 x 160 pixel 32,000-color display. A Link Cable allows four players to play together on certain games. Size is 3.25 x 5.6 inches; weight is 140 grams. Two AA batteries power the system for about 15 hours. Price is 9800 yen. 611,504 units sell in the first week. 2002 - In Pakistan, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh along with three other suspects are charged with murder in the kidnapping and killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. 2002 - Death of Amanda Dowler, murdered British schoolgirl (born 1988). 2004 - The incumbent Barisan Nasional party wins 198 out of 219 seats in the Parliament of Malaysia. 2004 - Antonio Saca is elected President of El Salvador (inaugurated June 1). 2004 - Birth of Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg. 2005 - Ten are killed in the Red Lake High School massacre in Minnesota, the worst school shooting since the Columbine High School massacre. 2005 - Death of Jeff Weise, American murderer (born 1988). 2006 - Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Laila Freivalds resigns after over a year of criticism. 2008 - A magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurs in the northwest region of Xinjiang province in China, with aftershocks of 5.1 and 5.2 within half an hour. 2008 - French President Nicolas Sarkozy announces France will reduce its number of airborne nuclear weapons by one third, to fewer than 300. 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