This Day in History
April 4

What happened in history on this day: April 4? On April 4 in ... 188 - Birth of Caracalla [Marcus Aureiius Antoniius], Roman emperor (211-17). 397 - Ambrosius, Governor of Liguria/bishop of Milan (374-97)/saint, dies. 896 - Formosus dies, ending his reign as Catholic Pope (891-896). 1081 - Alexius I Comnenus occupies Byzantine throne. 1229 - Hugo van Pierrepont bishop of Liege, dies. 1284 - Alfonso X "El Sabio" King of Castilië/León (1252-84), dies at age 62. 1292 - Nicholas IV [Girolamo Masci] Pope (1288-92), dies. 1393 - Floris van Wevelinkhoven bishop of Utrecht, dies. 1406 - Robert III King of Scotland (1390-1406), dies. 1417 - John van Touraine first husband of Jacoba of Bavaria, dies. 1460 - University of Basle in Swizerland forms. 1527 - Birth of Abraham Ortelius [Ortels/Hortels] South Netherlands geographer. 1541 - Ignatius of Loyola becomes first superior-General of the Jesuits. 1552 - Mauritius van Saksen begins alliance with Karel Anikita Stroganov. 1558 - Czar Ivan IV gives parts of North-Russia to fur traders. 1581 - Francis Drake completes circumnavigation of the world and is knighted. 1585 - Caspar de Robles Spanish viceroy of Frisia, dies at about age 57. 1588 - Christian IV succeeds Frederik II as king of Denmark. 1588 - Frederik II King of Denmark/Norway (1559-88), dies at age 53. 1604 - Thomas Churchyard poet/pamphleteer, dies. 1611 - Denmark issues a declaration of war on Sweden. 1617 - John Napier Scottish mathematician/inventor (logarithms), dies. 1625 - Viceroy Frederik Henry marries Amalia countess von Solms-Braunfels. 1643 - Simon Episcopius [Bisschop] Dutch theologist, dies at age 60. 1646 - Birth of Antoine Galland French oriëntalist/interpreter. 1648 - Birth of Grinling Gibbons sculptor/woodcarver. 1655 - Battle at Postage Farina, Tunis English fleet beats Barbarian pirates. 1660 - English King Charles II ends Declaration of Breda (freedom of religion). 1662 - Davis Mell composer, dies at age 57. 1662 - Leonhart Kern German sculptor , dies at about age 73. 1664 - Adam Willaerts Dutch seascape painter, dies. 1687 - English King James II orders his Declaration of Indulgence read in church. 1696 - Birth of Giovanni Battista Tiepoldo painter. 1714 - Karel duke of Berry/French heir to the throne, dies. 1716 - Birth of John Evangelist Schreiber composer. 1716 - Russian and Prussian troops occupy Wismar. 1731 - Birth of Francisco Morera composer. 1734 - Johann C van Erckel old Catholic theologist, dies at about age 79. 1737 - Anthony van Heim installed as Dutch pension advisor. 1740 - Birth of Wolfgang Nicolaus Haueisen composer. 1752 - Birth of Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli composer (Andromeda). 1755 - Birth of Vincenc Masek composer. 1758 - Birth of John Hoppner portrait painter. 1762 - Birth of Stephen Storace composer. 1774 - Oliver Goldsmith Irish poet (She Stoops to Conquer), dies at age 17. 1784 - Mary Mead wife of English journalist John Wilkes, dies. 1785 - Birth of Bettina Brentano composer. 1785 - Birth of Bettina von Arnim German writer (This Book Belongs to the King). 1786 - Birth of John Franklin British explorer (Arctic). 1792 - Birth of Thaddeus Stevens US Radical Republican congressional leader (Representative-R). 1802 - Birth of Dorothea Dix US, aroused interest in treatment of mental inmates. 1804 - Birth of Joseph Fischhof composer. 1806 - Friedrich Gottlob Fleischer composer, dies at age 84. 1807 - Joseph Jérôme Le Francais de Lalande French astronomer, dies. 1809 - Birth of Benjamin Pierce US mathematician/astronomer. 1814 - Birth of John Blair Smith Todd Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1872. 1817 - André Masséna Duc de Rivoli soldier, dies. 1817 - Birth of John Wilson Sprague Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1893. 1817 - Prince d'Essing dies. 1818 - US Congress decided US flag is 13 red and white stripes and 20 stars. 1820 - Birth of Charles Devens Jr Major General, Brevet (Union volunteers), died in 1891. 1821 - Birth of Linus Yale US, portrait painter/inventor (Yale cylinder lock). 1823 - Birth of Karl Wilhelm Siemens inventor (laid undersea cables). 1823 - Birth of Robert Byington Mitchell Brigadier General (Union volunteers). 1826 - Birth of Zénobe Théophile Gramme inventor (electric motor). 1828 - Birth of Margaret Oliphant Scotland, novelist/biographer (Beleaguered City). 1828 - Casparus van Wooden patents chocolate milk powder (Amsterdam). 1831 - Birth of Edward Cary Walthall Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1898. 1832 - Birth of Jose Echegaray y Elizaguirre playwright/scientist (Teatro Escogido). 1832 - Charles Darwin aboard HMS Beagle reaches Rio de Janeiro. 1836 - Birth of Jerome Hopkins composer. 1841 - William Henry Harrison becomes first US President to die in office, at age 68. 1843 - Birth of Hans Richter Györ (Raab/Gyoer) Hungary, conductor (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra). 1843 - Birth of Hans Richter composer. 1844 - Charles Bulfinch first US pro architect (Massachusetts State House), dies at age 80. 1850 - City of Los Angeles incorporated. 1858 - Birth of Rémy de Gourmont French critic/writer (Physique de L'amour). 1859 - The opera "Dinorah" is produced (Paris France). 1862 - Harmen S Sytstra Dutch poet/editor (Iduna), dies at age 45. 1862 - Battle of Yorktown begins. 1862 - US begins Peninsular Campaign aimed at capturing Richmond. 1864 - Skirmish at Elkin's Ford (Little Missouri River), Arkansas. 1865 - Lee's army arrives at Amelia, Courthouse. 1866 - Birth of George P Baker US playwright (47 Workshop). 1870 - Birth of George A Smith Salt Lake City Utah, 8th president of Mormon church. 1870 - Golden Gate Park established by City Order #800. 1872 - Birth of Nikolai Amani composer. 1872 - Birth of Pauline de Haan-Manifarges Dutch singer. 1875 - Birth of Jozef Szulc composer. 1875 - Birth of Pierre Monteux Paris France, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra 1919-24). 1875 - Birth of Samuel S Hinds Brooklyn New York; actor (The Bribe, The Egg and I, The Great Alaskan Mystery). 1876 - Birth of Maurice de Vlaminck Paris France, Fauvist painter (Village in the Snow). 1879 - Birth of Gabriel Groulez composer. 1881 - Birth of Charles Funk Ohio, Encylopediest (Funk and Wagnalls). 1882 - Birth of Mary Howe composer. 1884 - Birth of Isoroku Yamamoto Admiral/supreme commander of Japanese fleet. 1887 - Susanna Medora Salter elected first US woman mayor (Argonia Kansas). 1888 - Birth of Tris Speaker baseball great, hit more doubles than Pete Rose. 1889 - Thomas T H Jorissen historian, dies at age 56. 1892 - Birth of Cyril Smith Peterhead Scotland; actor (Adventures of Sir Lancelot). 1892 - Birth of Esther Howard Montana, actress (Born to Kill, Murder My Sweet, A Fool's Advice). 1893 - Alphonse de Candolle Swiss botanist, dies at age 86. 1895 - Birth of Arthur Murray New York City, New York, dancer (Arthur Murray Dance Party). 1895 - Birth of Charlie Hallows cricket batsman (Lancs played for England 1921-28). 1896 - Announcement of Gold in the Yukon. 1896 - Birth of Robert Sherwood dramatist (Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Idiot's Delight). 1896 - Birth of Tristan Tzara [Samuel Rosenfeld] French poet (Approximate Man). 1897 - Birth of Pierre Fresnay Paris France; actor (Grand Illusion). 1899 - Birth of William Brann cricketer (South African batsman vs England 1922-23). 1899 - South Africa all out 35 vs England (Trott 4-19, Haigh 6-11). 1900 - Assassination attempt on prince of Wales/king Edward VII. 1900 - British garrison of Reddersberg surrenders to Boer General De Wet. 1900 - Edward VII King, assassinated. 1901 - Birth of Carmel Myers San Francisco California, actress (Carmel Myers Show). 1902 - Birth of Louise L de Vilmorin French poetess/author (Lutin Sauvage). 1902 - Cecil Rhodes scholarship fund established with $10 million. 1905 - Birth of Eugene Bozza composer. 1905 - Constantin Meunier Belgian painter/sculptor, dies at age 73. 1905 - Earthquake in Kangra India, kills 370,000. 1906 - Birth of Bea Benaderet New York City, New York, actress (Kate-Petticoat Junction). 1906 - Birth of John Cameron Swayze Wichita Kansas, newscaster (Timex, Hindenberg). 1907 - Birth of Nathan M Pusey Council Bluffs Iowa, educator (1963 National Association for Social Sciences Medal). 1908 - Birth of Ernestine Gilbreth Carey author (Cheaper by the Dozen). 1908 - Josef Sucher composer, dies at age 64. 1910 - Birth of Agnes Patrick campaigner. 1910 - Birth of [Marcelle] Georgette Hagedoorn actress/chansonnière. 1911 - Hugh Chalmers, automaker, suggests idea of baseball Most Valuable Player. 1912 - The Titanic arrives at Southampton after finishing sea trials. 1912 - Army fires on striking mine workers at Lena-gold fields Siberia. 1912 - Chinese republic proclaimed in Tibet. 1913 - Birth of Frances Langford Lakeland Florida, singer (Armed Forces Hour, Star Time). 1913 - Birth of Jerome Weidman US writer (Tenderloin). 1913 - Birth of Rosemary Lane Indianola Iowa, actress (4 Mothers, Harvest Melody). 1914 - "The Perils of Pauline" shown for first time in Los Angeles California. 1914 - Birth of Gustave Camus Belgian painter. 1914 - Birth of John Beith British diplomat. 1914 - Birth of Marguerite Duras France, novelist/playwright (The Sea Wall). 1914 - Birth of Richard Coogan Short Hills New Jersey; actor (Captain Video). 1914 - Birth of Sir John Beith British diplomat. 1915 - Birth of Jan Drda Czechoslovakia, writer (Nema Barikada, Mestecko Na Dlani). 1915 - Birth of Lars G Ahlin Swedish writer (Death of Me). 1915 - Birth of Muddy Waters [McKinley Morganfield]; guitarist ("Hoochie Coochie Man") (dies 1983). 1916 - Birth of David White actor (Larry Tate-Bewitched). 1916 - Birth of Herbert Eugene Caen columnist. 1916 - US Senate agrees (82-6) to participate in WWI. 1917 - Birth of Joseph Ortiz French-Algerian extremist (barricade uprising). 1918 - Battle of Somme ends. 1918 - Birth of Earl Jellicoe chancellor (University of Southhampton). 1918 - Birth of Margaret Dupont tennis champion. 1918 - Food riot in Amsterdam. 1919 - Birth of Antony Tudor England, choreographer (Metropolitan Opera 1957). 1919 - William Crookes English chemist/physicist (Crookes-pipe), dies at age 86. 1920 - Arabs attack Jews in Jerusalem. 1920 - Birth of Eric Rohmer Nancy France, director (Claire's Knee)/ actor (6 in Paris, Collector, Perceval). 1921 - Birth of Willem J "Wim" the Villiers South Africa minister of Administration. 1921 - Stanley Cup: Ottawa Senators (NHL) beat Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA), three games to 2. 1922 - Birth of Elmer Bernstein New York City, New York, movie music composer (Robot Monster). 1922 - WAAB (Baton Rouge Louisiana) becomes first US radio station with "W" calls. 1923 - Birth of Manon H E Alving Dutch actress (Short American). 1923 - L Martov [Joulij O Tsederbaum] Russian revolutionary, dies at age 49. 1924 - Birth of Christopher Prater screen printer. 1924 - Birth of Eva Marie Saint Newark New Jersey, actress (Sandpiper, Loving, Exodus). 1924 - Birth of Gil Hodges baseball player/manager (Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Mets). 1924 - Birth of Peter Vaughan actor (Haunted Honeymoon, Die Die My Darling). 1925 - Birth of Elizabeth Wilson Grand Rapids Michigan; actor (Doc, East Side/West Side). 1925 - Birth of Erna Spoorenberg Dutch singer. 1926 - Birth of Cloris Leachman Des Moines Iowa, actress (Phyllis, High Anxiety). 1926 - Greek dictator Theodorus Pangalos elected president. 1927 - Birth of Bob Stump (Representative-Republican-Arizona, 1977-). 1928 - Birth of Bill Ryan Brooklyn New York, newscaster (Smithsonian). 1928 - Birth of Jimmy Logan British comedian (Mad Death). 1928 - Birth of Maya Angelou [Marguerite Johnson] in Saint Louis, Missouri; poet (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)/actress (Nyo - Roots). 1928 - Birth of Monty Norman composer/writer. 1929 - First AAU Greco-Roman wrestling championships held. 1929 - Birth of William F Clinger Jr (Representative-Republican-Pennsylvania, 1979-). 1929 - Karl Friedrich Benz, automobile engineer (Mercedes), dies at age 84. 1930 - Andrew Sandham makes Test Cricket first triple century. 1930 - Birth of David Sexton soccer manager. 1930 - Les Ames makes the first Test Cricket century by a wicketkeeper (149). 1930 - Vladimir Majakovski Russian poet, dies. 1930 - Queen Viktoria of Sweden dies, in Rome, Italy. 1931 - Andre Michelin CEO (Michelin Tires), dies. 1931 - Birth of Denis Frank Owen Natural historian. 1931 - Birth of Harold L Volkmer (Representative-Democrat-Missouri, 1977-). 1931 - George Whitefield Chadwick composer, dies at age 76. 1932 - Birth of Andrei Tarkovski Russian director (Solaris, Stalker). 1932 - Birth of Anthony Perkins New York City, New York; actor (Psycho, Fear Strikes Out, Pretty Poison). 1932 - Birth of Bapu Nadkarni cricketer (economical Indian slow left-armer 1956-68). 1932 - Birth of Richard G Lugar (Senator-Republican-Indiana, 1977-). 1932 - George Bernard Shaw's "Too True to be Good", premieres in New York City. 1932 - Ottokar T Czernin von und zu Chudenitz Austrian minister, dies at age 59. 1932 - Vitamin C first isolated, C C King, University of Pittsburgh. 1932 - Wilhelm Ostwald physical chemist (Nobel Prize 1909), dies. 1933 - Birth of Fritz Bolkestein Dutch CEO (Shell)/Minister of Defense (VVD). 1933 - Birth of Robin Phillips English multi-millionaire manufacturer (hand-dryer). 1933 - Birth of Seoirse Bodley composer. 1933 - US Dirigible Akron crashes off coast of New Jersey, 73 die. 1934 - Birth of Dorothy Lousie Grenfell Williams broadcaster. 1934 - Braulio Dueno Colon composer, dies at age 80. 1935 - Birth of Easton Dudley Ashton Saint John McMorris cricketer (West Indies batsman of 1960s). 1935 - Birth of François-Bernard Mache composer. 1935 - Birth of Lord Ichayra Secretary-General (British Banking Association). 1935 - Birth of Trevor Griffiths playwright (Absolute Beginners). 1936 - Birth of Margo J Sylvia rocker (Tune Weavers). 1937 - 4th Golf Masters Championship: Byron Nelson wins, shooting a 283. 1937 - Birth of Ian Saint James novelist (Balfour Conspiracy, Vengeance, Money Stones). 1937 - Birth of J Hans van den Doel economist/Dutch Member of Parliament (PvdA). 1937 - Frantisek X Salda Czechoslovakia, writer/critic, dies at age 69. 1938 - 5th Golf Masters Championship: Henry Picard wins, shooting a 285. 1938 - Birth of A Bartlett Giamatti Boston Massachusetts, president of Yale/baseball commish (1989). 1938 - Birth of Michael Parks Corona California; actor (Then Came Bronson). 1938 - Birth of Peter Attenborough British headmaster (Charterhouse). 1938 - Cyril Christiani cricket wicket keep (West Indies 1935), dies of malaria at age 24. 1939 - Birth of Hugh Masekela Wilbank South Africa, trumpeter (I Am Not Afraid). 1939 - Birth of Joanne Carner Kirkland Washington, LPGA golfer (US Open 1970, 76). 1939 - Faisal II ascends to throne of Iraq. 1939 - Ghazi I King of Iraq, dies in car accident. 1940 - Birth of Bijan Iran, mens apparel designer (Beverly Hills, New York, London). 1940 - Birth of Robby Mueller cinematographer (Breaking the Waves, Dead Man, Korczak). 1940 - Birth of Vladimir Timofeyevich Isakov Russia, cosmonaut. 1940 - R Rodgers/Lorenz Hart's "Higher and Higher", premieres in New York City. 1941 - General Olof Thörnell, commander of Swedish forces, issues a report to government, stating that Sweden should prepare to participate in a war against the Soviet Union, for the sake of Finland, Sweden's future position, and prestige in northern Europe. 1941 - Birth of Major Lance US boxer/dancer/singer (Hey Little Girl). 1941 - German troops conquer Banghazi. 1941 - Max Frisch writer, dies at age 29. 1942 - Birth of Kitty Kelley author (Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra). 1942 - Birth of Kris Jensen rocker. 1943 - Birth of Ian Robertson British museum director (National Army Museum). 1943 - Oskar Schlemmer German painter/sculptor, dies at age 54. 1943 - Raoul Laparra composer, dies at age 66. 1944 - Birth of David Melville professor/director (Middlesex Polytechnic). 1944 - Birth of Lawrence A Hough US, rower (Pairs without cox-1968 Olympics-silver). 1944 - British troops capture Addis Ababa Ethiopia. 1944 - De Gaulle forms new regime in exile, with communists. 1944 - John Peale Bishop US poet (Undertaker's Garland), dies at age 51. 1944 - Karel Weis composer, dies at age 82. 1944 - Craig T. Nelson is born; actor. 1945 - Birth of Bryan Andrews cricketer (New Zealand medium-pacer, toured Australia 1973-74). 1945 - Birth of Caroline McWilliams Seattle Washington, actress (Sally-Soap, Marcy-Benson). 1945 - Birth of Catherine Spaak actress (Hotel, Weekend at Dunkirk, Circle of Love). 1945 - Birth of Walter Charles East Strousberg Pennsylvania; actor (Fletch Lives, Weeds). 1945 - Hungary liberated from Nazi occupation (National Liberation Day). 1945 - US forces liberated the Nazi death camp Ohrdruf in Germany. 1945 - US tanks/infantry conquer Bielefeld. 1946 - Birth of Craig T Nelson Spokane Washington; actor (Chief Jack Mannion-The District, Hayden Fox-Coach, Poltergeist). 1947 - Birth of Salvatore Sciarrino composer. 1947 - Largest group of sunspots on record. 1947 - United Nations's International Civil Aviation Organization established. 1948 - 84-year-old Connie Mack challenges 78-year-old Clark Griffith to a race from home to first base; it ends in a tie. 1948 - Birth of Berry Oakley Chicago Illinois, rocker (Allman Brothers-Ramblin' Man). 1948 - Birth of Gail Davies Broken Bow Oklahoma, country singer (Blue Heartache). 1948 - Birth of Luke Halpin Astoria New York; actor (Sandy Ricks-Flipper). 1948 - Birth of Pick Withers rocker (Dire Straits). 1949 - Birth of Larry Lingle rocker. 1949 - Israel and Jordan sign armistice agreement. 1949 - North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) treaty signed (Washington DC). 1950 - Birth of Christine Lahti Detroit Michigan, actress (Dr Kathryn Austin-Chicago Hope, Harvey Korman Show, Swing Shift). 1950 - Dirk Stikker becomes chairman of OES. 1951 - Birth of Steve Gatlin Olney Texas, country singer (Gatlin Brothers-Broken Lady). 1951 - Dutch Prince Bernhard visits Juan and Eva Perón in Buenos Aires Argentina. 1952 - Birth of Dave Hill England, rock guitarist (Slade-Coz I Love You). 1952 - Birth of Gary Moore Irish rock guitarist ("Still Got the Blues", Thin Lizzy, Skid Row). 1952 - Birth of Peter Haycock rock guitarist (All Along the Watchtower). 1952 - Birth of Rosemarie Ackermann German Democratic Republic, high jumper (Olympics-gold-1976). 1953 - Carol II King of Romania (1930-40), dies at age 59. 1953 - Rachilde [Marguerite Vallette-Eymery] French author, dies at age 93. 1954 - Birth of Julie Carmen Mount Vernon New York, actress (Gloria, Last Plane Out). 1954 - Louise Suggs wins LPGA Carrollton Georgia Golf Open. 1955 - Birth of Mick Mars rocker. 1955 - British government signs military treaty with Iraq. 1956 - Birth of Evelyn Hart prima ballerina (Royal Winnipeg Ballet). 1956 - Birth of Lamen Khalifa Fhimah Suk Giuma Libya, bomber (Pan Am Flight 103). 1956 - Enid Bagnold's "Chalk Garden", premieres in London. 1956 - Fritz Künkel German physician/charachterologist, dies at age 66. 1956 - David E. Kelley is born; writer/producer. 1957 - Birth of Graeme Kelling; British pop guitarist (Deacon Blue - "Real Gone Kid"). 1957 - Birth of Paul Downton; cricketer (England wicket-keeper in 1980s). 1958 - First march against nuclear weapons (Aldermaston, England). 1958 - Birth of Derek Kallicharran; cricket all-rounder (Guyana, USA 1994 ICC Trophy). 1958 - Birth of Hrvoje Horvatic; video artist. 1958 - Birth of John Wesley Jones in Lawton, Oklahoma, USA; 4X100 metre relayer (Olympics-gold-1976). 1958 - Birth of Pierre-Paul Prud'hon; painter. 1958 - Hendrik Heyman, Belgian minister of Nijverheid/mayor, dies at age 78. 1959 - Federation of Mali, consisting of Senegal and French Sudan, is founded (dissolved 1960). 1959 - Stanley Snooke, cricketer (brother of S J, duck in South African Test), dies. 1960 - 32nd Academy Awards - Ben-Hur, Charlton Heston, and Simone Signoret win. 1960 - Birth of Bev Smith in Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada; basketball forward (Olympics-1996). 1960 - Birth of Jon[athan] Agnew; British broadcaster/cricketer (England pace bowler late 1980s). 1960 - Project Ozma begins at Green Bank radio astronomy center. 1960 - Senegal declares independence from France. 1961 - Birth of Matt Cole in Stratford, Ontario, Canada; Canadian Tour golfer (1990 Space Coast). 1962 - Birth of Sherrin Smyers in Newcastle, Australia; LPGA golfer (1995 Youngstown-11th). 1962 - Birth of Tina Tombs in Montréal, Québec, Canada; LPGA golfer (1990 Jamie Farr Toledo). 1963 - Birth of Anthony Clark; comedian (Boyd Pritchett-Boston Common). 1963 - Birth of Dale Hawerchuk in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; NHL center (Philadelphia Flyers). 1963 - Birth of David Gavurin; English pop guitarist/composer (Sundays, Blind). 1963 - Birth of Jack Del Rio; NFL linebacker (Minnesota Vikings). 1963 - Endzion Barelli dies two days after winning a boxing match at age 18. 1963 - Jason Robards Sr, actor (Acapulco), dies at age 70. 1964 - The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" single goes #1 and stays #1 for five weeks. 1964 - Birth of Gregory Thomas Kraft in Detroit, Michigan, USA; PGA golfer (1993 Walt Disney-second). 1964 - Birth of Paul Parker; soccer player. 1964 - Birth of Robbie Rist in California, USA; actor (Oliver - The Brady Bunch). 1964 - David Cross is born; actor. 1965 - Birth of Zwart Francis [Charles Thompson]; US singer/songwriter (Pixies). 1965 - Birth of Robert Downey Jr in New York City, New York, USA; comedian/actor (Larry Paul - Ally McBeal, Saturday Night Live, Less than Zero, Back to School). 1965 - Birth of Tony Burse; Canadian Football League fullback (Edmonton Eskimos). 1965 - Mickey Wright wins LPGA Baton Rouge Golf Invitational. 1966 - Birth of Michal Clingman in Indio, California, USA; WPVA volleyballer (Nationals-9th-1994). 1966 - Birth of Myriam Schropp in West Germany; tennis star. 1966 - Birth of Nancy McKeon in Westbury, New York, USA; actress (Jo Polniazek - Facts of Life). 1966 - Birth of Stanislav Medrik in Nitra, Czechoslovakia; hockey defenseman (Team Slovakia). 1966 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1967 - Dutch De Young government forms. 1967 - Mischa Elman, Ukraine/US violinist, dies at age 76. 1968 - Apollo 6 launched atop Saturn V; unmanned. 1968 - Birth of Andre Bowden; WLAF linebacker (Frankfurt Galaxy). 1968 - Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, civil rights leader, assassinated by a sniper's bullet in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, at age 39. 1969 - Birth of Anthony Tucker; NBA forward (New York Knicks). 1969 - Birth of Carlos Reyes in Miami, Florida, USA; pitcher (Oakland Athletics). 1969 - Birth of Dennis de Nooijer; Dutch soccer player/twin brother of Gerard (Sparta). 1969 - Birth of Gerard de Nooijer; Dutch soccer player/twin brother of Dennis (Sparta). 1969 - Dr. Denton Cooley implants first temporary artificial heart. 1970 - Birth of Barry van Galen; Dutch soccer player (Roda JC). 1970 - Birth of Jason Stoltenberg in Australia; tennis star. 1970 - Byron Foulger, actor (Captain Nice, Petticoat Junction), dies at age 70. 1970 - Firestone World Tournament of Champions won by Don Johnson. 1970 - Barry Pepper is born; actor. 1971 - Follies opens at Winter Garden Theater in New York City for 524 performances. 1971 - Birth of Allan Houston; NBA guard (New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons). 1971 - Birth of Felipe Lira in Miranda, Venezeula; pitcher (Detroit Tigers). 1971 - Birth of Jaime Fernandez; Australian rower (Olympics-1996). 1971 - Birth of Yanic Perreault in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada; NHL center (Los Angeles Kings). 1971 - Marine clay under houses liquifies, 31 die (St-Jean-Vianney, Québec, Canada). 1972 - First electric power plant fueled by garbage begins operating. 1972 - Adam Clayton Powell Jr (Representative-Democrat-New York), dies at age 63. 1972 - Birth of Chad Eaton; defensive tackle (New England Patriots). 1972 - Birth of Jim Werland in Ventura, California, USA; canoe (alternate-Olympics-1996). 1972 - Birth of Matt Wagner in Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA; pitcher (Seattle Mariners). 1972 - Stefan Wolpe, German composer (Zeus and Elidco), dies at age 69. 1972 - Jill Scott is born; singer. 1973 - Birth of Damon Allen in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; figure skater (1997 Midwestern champion). 1973 - Birth of Peter Hoekstra; Dutch soccer player (PSV, Ajax). 1973 - Birth of Ryan Coughlin; Canadian Football League offensive linebacker (Montreal Alouettes). 1973 - Birth of Tiffany Woosley; WNBA guard (Houston Comets). 1973 - David Blaine is born; illusionist. 1974 - Birth of O J Santiago; tight end (Atlanta Falcons). 1974 - Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth's home-run record by hitting his 714th. 1975 - Birth of Kisha Ford; WNBA guard/forward (New York Liberty). 1975 - USAF transport carrying orphans from Saigon, Vietnam crashes killing 155. 1975 - Microsoft is founded as a partnership between Bill Gates and Paul Allen. 1976 - 5th Colgate Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Judy Rankin. 1976 - Birth of Alicia Silverstone in San Francisco, California; actress (Clueless). 1976 - Seni Pramoj's Democratic Party wins elections in Thailand. 1977 - Jeno Zador, composer, dies at age 82. 1978 - Birth of Irene Skliva in Athens, Greece; Miss World (1996). 1978 - Gino Contilli, composer, dies at age 70. 1979 - Birth of Charles Butler in Salt Lake City, Utah; dance skater (and Joseph-1997 National). 1979 - Birth of Rebecca Stoyel in South Australia; gymnast (Olympics-1996). 1979 - Edgar Buchanan, actor (Uncle Joe - Petticoat Junction), dies at age 77. 1979 - Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, former Pakistani President, hanged in Pakistan at age 51. 1979 - Natasha Lyonne is born; actor. 1979 - Heath Ledger is born; actor (dies 2008). 1980 - Birth of Björn Wirdheim; Swedish race car driver. 1980 - Death of Red Sovine, American country and folk singer and songwriter (born 1917). 1980 - USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk. 1981 - Henry Cisneros becomes first Mexican-American mayor (San Antonio, Texas). 1981 - UK pop group Bucks Fizz wins the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 with the song "Making Your Mind Up". 1981 - Brad Johnson, actor (Annie Oakley), dies at age 56. 1982 - The British Falkland Islands government surrenders, placing the islands in Argentinean control. 1982 - 11th Nabisco Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Sally Little. 1982 - Tsvetan Tsvetanov, composer, dies at age 50. 1983 - Gloria Swanson, American actress (Airport 1975), dies of a heart ailment at age 84 (born 1897). 1983 - Jacqueline Logan, silent film leading lady, dies at age 78. 1983 - Birth of Doug Lynch; Canadian ice hockey player. 1983 - 45th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: North Carolina State beats Houston 54-52. 1983 - 6th space shuttle mission, Challenger 1 launched. 1984 - Michael Frayn's Benefactors premieres in London, England. 1984 - Birth of Sean May, American basketball player. 1984 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan calls for an international ban on chemical weapons. 1984 - John Arnold, cricketer (England bat vs New Zealand 1931, scored 34 only Test), dies. 1985 - Tulane University cancels its basketball season amidst scandal. 1986 - Birth of Eunhyuk; Korean singer, member of Super Junior. 1986 - Frank Mortelmans, Belgian painter, dies at age 87. 1986 - Wayne Gretzky sets NHL record with 213th point of season. 1987 - Birth of Sarah Gadon; Canadian actress. 1987 - C[atherine] L[ucille] Moore, author (Judgment Night), dies at age 76 (born 1911). 1988 - 50th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Kansas beats Oklahoma 83-79. 1988 - Eddie Hill becomes first to drag race a quarter mile in under 5 seconds. 1988 - Largest crowd (55,438) at a season game at Riverfront (Cincinnati Reds vs Saint Louis Cardinals). 1988 - Last broadcast of Crossroads on British TV. 1988 - New York Mets set Opening Day record with six homeruns. 1988 - Governor Evan Mecham of Arizona is convicted in his impeachment trial and removed from office. 1989 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's last NBA game in Seattle. 1989 - New York Yankees' Tommy John ties record of playing 26 seasons; his 287th win puts him 19th overall as New York Yankees beat Minnesota Twins on opening day 4-2. 1989 - In Brussels, Belgium, NATO celebrates its 40th anniversary. 1989 - Richard M. Daley is elected mayor of Chicago. 1990 - The Marshall Chronicles premieres on ABC-TV. 1991 - Lucifer's Child opens at Music Box Theater in New York City for 28 performances. 1991 - H. John Heinz III (Senator-Republican-Pennsylvania), dies in a plane crash, at age 52 (born 1938). 1991 - Birth of Jamie Lynn Spears, American actress. 1991 - Death of Forrest Towns, American runner (born 1914). 1991 - Death of Edmund Adamkiewicz, German footballer (born 1920). 1991 - Luc de Rijck, Belgian soccer player (Turnhout), dies. 1991 - Max Frisch, Swiss architect/writer (Stiller, Biedermann), dies at age 79 (born 1911). 1992 - Game 1 of Mayor Challenge - New York Yankees beat New York Mets 6-4 at Yankee Stadium. 1992 - John Tesh (Entertainment Tonight) marries actress Connie Selleca. 1992 - Karl Tunberg, US scriptwriter (Ben Hur), dies. 1992 - Birth of Alexa Nikolas, American actress. 1992 - Sali Berisha becomes president/Alexander Meksi premier of Albania. 1992 - Samuel Reshevsky, Polish-born chess grandmaster, dies at age 80. 1992 - Sy Kramer, singer/comedy writer, dies of cancer at age 59. 1993 - 12th NCAA Women's Basketball Champion: Texas Tech beats Ohio State 84-82. 1993 - 5th Seniors Golf Tradition: Tom Shaw. 1993 - Alfred Mosher Butts, US architect/game maker (Scrabble), dies at age 93. 1993 - At Camden Yards, Bill Clinton becomes the first U.S. president to throw the first pitch of the baseball season from the pitcher's mound. 1993 - Bep [Alberta B] Ogterop [Rita la Roche], singer, dies. 1993 - Trish Johnson wins Las Vegas LPGA at Canyon Gate Golf Tournament. 1993 - Wrestlemania IX at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas, Hulk Hogan pins Yokozuna. 1994 - First game played at Jacobs Field, Cleveland Indians beat Seattle Mariners 4-3 in 11 innings. 1994 - 56th NCAA Men's Basketball Champion: Arkansas Razorbacks beats Duke 76-72. 1994 - KLM Saab 340B crashes at Schiphol, three killed. 1994 - Largest opening day crowd at Yankee Stadium, 56,706. 1994 - Los Angeles Dodgers player Darryl Strawberry begins substance abuse treatment. 1994 - Marc Andreessen and Jim Clark found Mosaic Communications (later renamed Netscape). 1994 - Olga Lowina, Dutch yodeler (Edelweisskapel), dies at age 69. 1994 - Virginia "Ginny" Simms, actress/singer (Kay Kyser Band), dies at age 77. 1994 - Birth of Risako Sugaya, Japanese singer. 1995 - Kenny Everett, British comedian/disc Jockey, dies at age 50 (born 1944). 1995 - Peter Brinson, dance educationalist, dies at age 67. 1995 - Priscilla Lane, actress (Saboteur, Bodyguard), dies at age 77. 1996 - Carl Burton Stokes, politician, dies at age 68. 1996 - David Keylsey, actor/director, dies at age 63. 1996 - David Whitton, campaigner, dies at age 44. 1996 - Frederick Denison Maurice Hocking, pathologist, dies at age 97. 1996 - Joy Newton, dancer, dies at age 82. 1996 - Larry LaPrise, American songwriter, dies at age 83 (born 1912). 1996 - Seamas NacNeill, piper, dies at age 79. 1996 - Death of Barney Ewell, American athlete (born 1918). 1996 - Comet Hyakutake is imaged by the USA Asteroid Orbiter Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous. 1997 - Anaheim Ducks clinch their first-ever playoff berth. 1997 - Atlanta Braves officially open Turner Field against Chicago Cubs. 1997 - DMSP Titan 2 launched. 1997 - STS 83 (Columbia 22), launches. 1998 - NFL Europe (formerly WLAF), kicks off season. 2000 - Death of Derek Allhusen, British equestrian (born 1914). 2002 - Death of John Kaufman, Sculptor. 2005 - North Carolina defeats Illinois 75-70 to win the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship at the Edward Jones Dome in Saint Louis, Missouri. 2006 - Death of Denis Donaldson, Irish Republican informer (born 1950). 2007 - Iran announces it will release the British sailors and marines that they captured on March 23. The captives arrive back in the UK the next day. 2007 - NATO and Afghan forces retake a key town from the Taliban in Sangin in southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 2007 - Death of Bob Clark, American film director (born 1939). 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