This Day in History
April 5

What happened in history on this day: April 5? On April 5 in ... 823 - Pope Peschalis I crowns Lotharius I, co-emperor of France. 828 - Nicephorus, patriarch of Constantinopel (806-15), dies at about age 77. 1058 - Bishop John "Minchio", [domkop] elected as Pope Benedictus X. 1242 - Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod defeats Teutonic Knights. 1242 - Battle on the More of Pskov Estonia. 1258 - Julian of Cornillon/Liege Flemish visionary/saint, dies. 1270 - Ramban Nachmanides Talmudic scholar (Hiddushei Ha-Ramden), dies. 1531 - Richard Roose boiled to death for trying to poison an archbishop. 1566 - 200 Brussel nobles offer Margaretha of Parma a petition. 1585 - Clemens Crabbeels becomes bishop of Hertogenbosch. 1588 - Birth of Thomas Hobbes England, philosopher (Leviathan). 1595 - Birth of John Wilson composer. 1598 - Birth of Laurentius Erhard composer. 1603 - New English king James I departs Edinburgh for London. 1614 - Second parliament of King James I begins session (no enactments). 1614 - Indian princess Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe. 1621 - Mayflower sails from Plymouth on a return trip to England. 1626 - Birth of Jan van Kessel Flemish painter. 1632 - The Swedish and Imperial armies exchange cannon fire for six hours, killing 2000 of the Swedish force, and 3000 of the Imperial force. Tilly is fatally wounded. Maximilian and the army escape during the night to Ingolstadt. 1643 - Birth of Charles V Leopold Duke of Lorraine/fieldmarshal in Austria. 1648 - Spanish troops/feudal barons strike down people's uprising in Naples. 1649 - Birth of Elihu Yale England, philanthropist founded Yale. 1649 - John Winthrop first Governor Massachusetts Bay Colony, dies at age 61. 1673 - François Caron Admiral/Governor (Formosa), drowns at about age 72. 1684 - William Brouncker second viscount/first president of Royal Society, dies. 1693 - Anne M L of Orléans duchess (Grande Mademoiselle), dies at age 65. 1695 - George Savile first marquis of Halifax, dies at age 61. 1697 - Charles XI King of Sweden (1660-97), dies at age 41. 1698 - Birth of Georg Gottfried Wagner composer. 1712 - John Luyken poet/etcher (species company), dies at age 63. 1722 - Jacob Roggeveen discovers Easter Island. 1723 - J Fischer von Erlach Austrian architect (Hofburg, Vienna), dies at age 66. 1725 - Birth of Giacomo Casanova Italian writer/philanderer/adventurer (uncertain). 1727 - Birth of Pasquale Ankossi composer. 1732 - Birth of Jean-Honoré Fragonard France, painter. 1732 - Johann Christian Schieferdecker composer, dies at age 52. 1739 - French emperor Karel VI sign secret treaty. 1751 - Adolf Frederik of Holstein-Gottorp crowns himself king of Sweden. 1752 - Birth of Sébastien Erard piano/harp manufacturer. 1753 - British Museum forms (opens in 1759). 1762 - British take Grenada, West Indies, from French. 1765 - Edward Young English poet (Love of Fame), dies at age 81. 1768 - First US Chamber of Commerce forms (New York City, New York). 1784 - Birth of Ludwig [Louis] Spohr Germany, violin virtuoso/composer (Faust). 1788 - Birth of Franz Pforr German painter/cartoonist (Lukasbund). 1792 - George Washington casts first presidential veto. 1794 - Georges-Jacques Danton French revolutionary leader, guillotined at age 34. 1794 - Marie Jean Hérault de Séchelles French author/politician, dies. 1795 - Birth of Sir Henry Havelock British soldier (War in Afghanistan 1838-39). 1799 - Birth of Vincenzo Fioravanti composer. 1803 - First performance of Beethoven's second Symphony in D. 1806 - Isaac Quintard patents apple cider. 1811 - Birth of Jules Dupré landscape painter. 1811 - Robert Raikes founder of Sunday Schools, dies. 1812 - British storm Badajoz fortress, held by French and Spanish. 1814 - Netherlands Bank issues its first banknotes. 1815 - Eruption of Tambora volcano (Sumbawa Java). 1818 - Birth of Lewis Baldwin Parsons Brevet Major General (Union volunteers). 1820 - Birth of Nadar [Félix Tournachon] French painter/cartoonist/author/ballonist. 1820 - Henrik C Cras lawyer (Laudatio Hugonis Grotii), dies at age 81. 1822 - Birth of James Nagle Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1866. 1824 - Birth of Sydney Thompson Dobell poet (The Roman). 1825 - Birth of David Rumph "Neighbor" Jones Major General (Confederate Army). 1827 - Birth of Joseph Lister England, physician (founded aseptic surgery). 1828 - Birth of Pietro Plantania composer. 1830 - Birth of Alexander Muir Lesmahagow Scotland, poet (The Maple Leaf Forever). 1832 - Birth of Jules-François Camille Ferry French statesman. 1837 - Birth of Algernon Charles Swinburne England, poet (Atalanta in Calydon). 1838 - Birth of Alpheus Hyatt US, invertebrate paleontologist. 1839 - Birth of Robert Smalls Beaufort South Carolina, black congressman 1875-87 (Representative-South Carolina). 1839 - Birth of Stanislaw Pilinski composer. 1845 - Birth of Jules M Cambon French Governor-General of Algeria/ambassador. 1853 - Birth of Alfonso Randano composer. 1854 - Birth of Vicente Goicoechea Errasti composer. 1856 - Birth of Booker Taliaferro Washington pioneer educator (first black on US stamp). 1857 - Birth of Alexander-Jozef von Battenberg ruler of Bulgaria (1879-86). 1859 - Birth of Wilhelm Harteveld composer. 1861 - Federals abandon Fort Quitman, Texas. 1862 - Birth of Louis Ganne composer. 1862 - Siege of Yorktown, Virginia. 1865 - Battle at Amelia Springs/Jetersville, Virginia (Appomattox Campaign). 1868 - Birth of J F "Flooi" Du Toit cricketer (one Test South Africa 1892). 1869 - Birth of Albert Roussel Tourcoing France, composer (Rapsodie Flamande). 1869 - Birth of Karl Wagenfeld Low German writer (Daud un Düwel). 1869 - Daniel Bakeman last surviving veteran of the Revolutionary War, dies at age 109. 1871 - Birth of Jeanne Bougeois [La Mistinguette], artist (French revue). 1871 - Georg Andreas Henkel composer, dies at age 66. 1874 - Johann Strauss Sr's opera "Die Fledermaus", premieres in Vienna. 1876 - Birth of Viktor Patrick Vretblad composer. 1878 - Wilhelm Speyer composer, dies at age 87. 1881 - Transvaal regains independence under British suzerainty. 1882 - Birth of Don Blackie cricketer (Australian off-spinner in 1928-29 yes, age 46). 1884 - John Wisden publisher/cricketer (prominent Sussex player), dies. 1885 - Birth of Dimitrie Cuclin composer. 1886 - Birth of Jacques Handschin Swiss musicologist (Der Toncharakter). 1887 - Anne Sullivan teaches "water" to Helen Keller. 1890 - Birth of Fie Carelsen Dutch actress (Malle Gervallen). 1893 - Birth of Clas Thunberg Finland, speed skater (Olympics-gold-1924, 28). 1893 - Birth of Pál Szabó Hungarian farmer/author (Talpalatnyi Föld). 1893 - Cleveland passes Park Act (forerunner of Metroparks). 1894 - Eleven strikers killed in riot at Connellsville Pennsylvania. 1895 - Oscar Wilde loses libel case against Marquess of Queensberry, who accused him of homosexual practices. 1896 - John Rogers Thomas composer, dies at age 66. 1899 - Birth of William Hornby Steer barrister/judge. 1900 - Attempted assassination of Prince of Wales in Brussels, fails. 1900 - Birth of Spencer Tracy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; actor (Father's Little Dividend, Adam's Rib, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner). 1900 - Comte de Villebois-Marevil French/South African General, dies in battle. 1901 - Birth of Alexander Alexeieff Russian/French painter/graphic artist. 1901 - Birth of Chester Bowles Massachusetts, ambassador/writer (Conscience of a Liberal). 1901 - Birth of Melvyn Douglas [Hesselberg] Macon Georgia, USA; actor (Hud, Ghost Story). 1902 - Maurice Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante defunte", premieres in Paris France. 1902 - Soccer match riot between Scotland and England kills 25. 1903 - Birth of Thomas Baron Pitfield composer. 1905 - Birth of Bill Raisch one armed actor (Fred Johnson-Fugitive). 1905 - Birth of Jef Maes composer. 1905 - James Barrie's "Alice-sit-by-the-fire", premieres in London. 1906 - Birth of Arthur Guy Clutton-Brock English agronomist. 1906 - Saint Pius X encyclical "On the Mariavites or Mystic Priests of Poland". 1907 - Anton G van Hamel founder (Roman philosphy in Netherlands), dies at age 65. 1907 - Birth of J Zeldenrust Dutch pathologist/anatomist. 1908 - Birth of Bette Davis Lowell Massachusetts, famous eyes (Of Human Bondage, Jezebel). 1908 - Birth of George Schick Prague Czechoslovakia, conductor (Chicago Symphony). 1908 - Birth of Grady Sutton Chattanooga Tennessee; actor (Pruitts of South Hampton). 1908 - Birth of Herbert von Karajan Austria, Berlin Philharmonic conductor/Nazi. 1908 - Birth of Mary Hemingway writer (Ernest Hemmingway Biography). 1908 - British premier Henry Campbell-Bannerman resigns. 1908 - Gaetano Coronaro composer, dies at age 55. 1909 - Birth of Alberto Romero "Cubby" Broccoli New York City, New York, film producer (James Bond). 1909 - Birth of Gerald Bond cricketer (one Test South Africa vs England 1938, 0 and 0-16). 1911 - Birth of Goddard Lieberson Hanley Staffordshire England, recording executive. 1911 - Birth of Gordon Jones Alden Iowa; actor (Mike the Cop-Abbott and Costello). 1911 - MCC tour match vs Jamaica finishes in a tie. 1911 - Waldorf W Aster acquires the Daily Observer. 1912 - Birth of John Le Mesurier Bedford England; actor (Jabberwocky, Dad's Army). 1913 - Birth of Alan Cheales dominican priest. 1914 - Birth of Frederick Angus Armstrong journalist. 1915 - French begin Woëvre-offensive. 1915 - First British newspaper comic strip: "Adventures of Teddy Tail - Diary of the Mouse in Your House", by Charles Folkard in Daily Mail. The strip runs for over 40 years. 1915 - Jess Willard defeats Jack Johnson in 26 for heavyweight boxing title. 1916 - Birth of Baroness Delacourt-Smith of Alteryn. 1916 - Birth of Bernard Baily comic artist. 1916 - Birth of Gregory Peck La Jolla California; actor (To Kill a Mockingbird, MacArthur). 1916 - French troops occupy Bois de Caillette. 1917 - Birth of Richard Yardumian Philadelphia Pennsylvania, composer (Come Creator Spirit). 1917 - Birth of Robert [Albert] Bloch US, sci-fi author (Hugo, Psycho). 1918 - Paul Vidal de la Blanche French geographer, dies at age 73. 1919 - Birth of Sir Douglas Henley British auditor-general. 1919 - Eamon de Valera becomes president of Dail Eireann. 1919 - Heavyweight Jess Willard knocks out Jack Johnson in Havana. 1919 - Polish Army executes 35 young Jews. 1920 - Birth of Arthur Hailey Luton England, novelist (Hotel, Airport). 1920 - Birth of Barend Biesheuvel Dutch premier (1971-73). 1921 - Alphonsus J M Diepenbrock Dutch composer (Missa), dies at age 58. 1921 - Birth of Lady Fisher founder (British Women Caring Trust). 1921 - Birth of Les Jackson cricket bowler (England twice, 1949 and 1961). 1921 - Birth of Robert Q Lewis New York City, New York, TV host (Masquerade Party, Robert Q Lewis Show). 1922 - Birth of Christopher Hewett Worthing Sussex England; actor (Mr Belvedere, The Producers). 1922 - Birth of Gale Storm Bloomington Texas, actress (My Little Margie, Gale Storm Show). 1922 - Birth of Harry Freedman composer. 1922 - Birth of Tom Finney British soccer star. 1922 - Charles F A Woeste Belgian count/minister of Justice, dies at age 85. 1922 - KOB-AM in Albuquerque New Mexico begins radio transmissions. 1922 - WDZ-AM in Decatur Illinois begins radio transmissions. 1923 - Birth of Ernest Mandel Belgian philosopher/economist. 1923 - Birth of Michael V Gazzo Hillside New Jersey; actor (Cookie, Fear City). 1923 - Birth of Nguyen Van Thieu president of South Vietnam (1965-75). 1923 - Birth of Stanley Orme chairman (British Labour Party). 1923 - Firestone Company puts their inflatable tires into production. 1923 - George Edward Stanhope Molyneúx Herbert 5th Earl of Carnarvon/egyptologist, dies at age 56. 1924 - Birth of Mart Kempers Dutch graphic artist/sculptor. 1925 - Belgian Workers Party wins parliamentary election. 1925 - Birth of Oldrich Flosman composer. 1925 - New York Yankees whip Brooklyn Dodgers in exhibition 16-9 but Babe Ruth collapses in North Carolina due to an ulcer. 1926 - Birth of Milton O Thompson astronaut (Dynasoar, X-15). 1926 - Birth of Roger Corman Detroit Michigan, producer/director (Little Shop of Horrors). 1927 - Birth of John Gilbert Member of Parliament. 1927 - Johnny Weissmuller set records in the 100 and 200 metre freestyle. 1928 - Birth of David Farquhar Andress composer. 1928 - Birth of Michael Bryant London England; actor (Sakharov, Girly). 1928 - Birth of Peter Moore Principal (London Business School). 1928 - Birth of Tony Williams Elizabeth New Jersey, singer (Platters-Only You, Harbor Lights). 1928 - Birth of Will Gaines jazz dancer. 1928 - Jane Ellen Harrison scholar/archaeologist, dies. 1928 - Roy Kilner cricketer (9 Tests for England 1924-26), dies at age 38. 1929 - Birth of Hugo Claus Flemish writer/director (Cool Lover, Sugar). 1929 - Birth of Nigel Hawthorne actor (Tartuffe, Pope John Paul II). 1929 - Lithuania signs Litvinov-pact. 1930 - England out for 849 vs West Indies Kingston, Sandham out for 325. 1931 - Birth of Denis Lawton director (London University Institute of Education). 1932 - Dutch textile strike broken by trade unions. 1934 - Birth of Frank Gorshin Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, impressionist/actor (Riddler-Batman). 1934 - Birth of Stanley Turrentine jazz saxophonist (Wonderland). 1934 - Birth of Tina Maria Stone runner (one year distance record of 15,472 miles). 1934 - Salvatore Di Giacomo composer, dies at age 74. 1935 - Birth of Donald Lynden-Bell British astronomer. 1935 - Birth of Peter Grant rock band manager. 1935 - Croatian Farmers Party wins Yugoslavian election. 1935 - Emil Mlynarski composer, dies at age 64. 1936 - Birth of John Albert professor (Master of University College Oxford). 1936 - Birth of John White composer. 1936 - Birth of Michael Livesay British Admiral/president (RN College Greenwich). 1936 - Tupelo Mississippi virtually annihilated by a tornado, 216 die. 1937 - Birth of Colin Powell Bronx New York, General/advisor to President George Bush (Nat Security Affairs)/Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-93)/Secretary of State (2001-). 1937 - Birth of Stuart May senior partner (Theodore Goddard). 1938 - Anti-Jewish riots break out in Dabrowa Poland. 1938 - Birth of Colin Bland cricketer (South African bat Maybe the best cover field). 1938 - Birth of Ronald Anthony White Jr singer. 1939 - Birth of Andrew Buxton CEO (Barclays Bank). 1939 - Birth of David Winters London England, choreographer (Steve Allen Comedy Hour). 1939 - Birth of Lonnie White vocalist (Smokey Robinson and Miracles-Shop Around). 1939 - Membership in Hitler Youth becomes obligatory. 1939 - William Cooper cricketer (two Tests for Australia 1882-84), dies. 1940 - Birth of Aliza Kashi Israel, actress/singer (Merv Griffin regular). 1941 - Birth of Dave Swarbrick rocker (Fairport Convention). 1941 - Birth of David LaFlamme New Britain Connecticut, electric violinist (It's a Beautiful Day). 1941 - Birth of Eric Burdon England, rocker (Animals-House of the Rising Sun). 1941 - Birth of Michael Moriarty Detroit Michigan; actor (Ben Stone-Law and Order, Bang the Drum Slowly, Q, Stuff). 1941 - Birth of Roman Balayan Nerke Azerbaijan, director (Filer, Biryuk). 1941 - In San Francisco, Castro and Fillmore streetcars replaced by buses. 1942 - Birth of Allan Clarke Salford Lancashire England, rock vocalist (Hollies-The Air That I Breathe). 1942 - Birth of Arthur Barrett cricketer (West Indies leggie early 1970s). 1942 - The Japanese Combined Fleet of Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo attacks Colombo, Ceylon, with 91 bomber and 36 fighter aircraft. They sink armed merchant cruiser Hector and destroyer Tenedoes in the harbor. They damage the submarine depot vessel Lucia and merchant ship Benledi. Nineteen Hawker Hurricanes, six Fairey Swordfish, one Fairey Albacore, and one Consolidated Catalina are destroyed. The Japanese force loses six Aichi D3A1 dive bombers, and one Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero fighter. Fifteen other aircraft are damaged. 1942 - (1340 hours) Near Ceylon, 53 D3A1 planes from Japanese carriers Akagi, Soryu, and Hiryu attack British heavy cruisers Cornwall and Dorsetshire, sinking both in fifteen minutes. 1943 - Allies bomb Mortsel. 1943 - Birth of Jonathan Lynn Bath England; actor (Danny-Doctor in the House). 1943 - Birth of Max Gail Detroit Michigan; actor (Barney Miller, Whiz Kids, DC Cab, Normal People). 1943 - Poon Lim found after being adrift 133 days. 1944 - 140 Lancasters bomb airplane manufacturer in Toulouse. 1944 - Birth of Ann [Elizabeth] Maxwell US, sci-fi author (Jaws of Menx). 1944 - Birth of Crispian Saint Peters rocker. 1944 - Birth of Dave Holland heavy metal rocker (Judas Priest-Breakin' the Law). 1944 - Birth of James Buckley CEO (Baltic Exchange). 1944 - Birth of Nicholas Caldwell rocker (Whispers). 1944 - Birth of Peter T King (Representative-Republican-New York). 1944 - Birth of Willeke van Ammelrooy Amsterdam, actress (Cidke de Rat, Antonia). 1944 - Isolde Kurz German writer/poetess (Meine Mutter), dies at age 90. 1944 - Willy Derby [Dieben] singer (Hello Bandoeng), dies. 1945 - Almelo Netherlands freed. 1945 - Huldreich Georg Fruh composer, dies at age 41. 1945 - Kuniaki Koiso resigns as Prime Minister of Japan; replaced by Kantaro Suzuki. 1946 - First performance of Charles Ives' third Symphony. 1946 - Birth of Jane Asher Paul McCartney's former girlfriend/actress (Deep End). 1946 - Birth of Jennifer Penney ballerina. 1946 - Birth of Larry Frederick Wendt composer. 1946 - Birth of Robert E McKee CEO/managing director (Conoco-United Kingdom). 1946 - Vincent Millie Youmans US composer (Tea For Two), dies from tuberculosis at age 47. 1949 - 60-year-old Saint Anthony's Hospital burns, kills 77 (Effingham Illinois). 1949 - Birth of Dr Judith Arlene Resnik Akron Ohio, astronaut (STS 41D, 51L-Chal disaster). 1950 - Birth of Agnetha Fältskog Jonkoping Sweden, rocker (ABBA-Waterloo). 1950 - Birth of Franklin R Chang-Diaz Costa Rica, PhD/astronaut (STS 61C, 34,46,60,75). 1950 - Birth of Mildred Douglas Surinames/Dutch singer (Mai Tai). 1950 - Prague espionage trial against bishops and priests begins. 1951 - Birth of Everett Morton rocker (English Beat). 1951 - Birth of Roosevelt Ferguson Arkansas, murderer (FBI Most Wanted List). 1951 - Julius and Ethel Rosenberg sentenced to death for espionage in the USA. 1952 - Henri Vandeputte Belgian writer (L'Autre Vie), dies at age 75. 1952 - Henry Wittenberg wins his 8th AAU wrestling title. 1953 - Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Babe Didrikson-Zaharias Golf Open. 1953 - Birth of John Buchanan cricketer (Queensland batsman 78-79, Shield coach 1995). 1954 - Birth of Christopher S Nelson New Orleans Louisiana; actor (Sons and Daughters). 1954 - Birth of Stan Ridgeway rocker (Mosquito-Garage Sale). 1954 - Claude Delvincourt composer, dies at age 66. 1954 - Elvis Presley records his debut single, "That's All Right". 1955 - Birth of Janice Long British radio host (Crash FM). 1955 - Birth of Renate Bruemmer astronaut/cosmonaut. 1955 - Winston Churchill resigns as British Prime Minister, Anthony Eden succeeds him. 1957 - Birth of Vince Gill in Norman, Oklahoma, USA; country singer ("When I Call Your Name"). 1958 - Birth of Cammie Lusko in Los Angeles, California, USA; Guinness' World's Strongest Woman. 1958 - Birth of Johan Kriek in South Africa; tennis player (US Indoor 1982). 1958 - Jozef Brems, Flemish apostole vicar of Denmark, dies at age 87. 1959 - 23rd Golf Masters Championship: Art Wall Jr wins, shooting a 284. 1960 - Alma Kruger, actor (Made For Each Other), dies at age 88. 1961 - Dutch Governor Platteel installs New Guinea Council. 1962 - Manager J Daems appointed bishop of Antwerp, Belgium. 1962 - NASA civilian pilot Neil A Armstrong takes X-15 to an altitude of 54,600 metres. 1962 - Saint Bernard Tunnel finished-Swiss/Italian workers shake hands. 1963 - The Beatles receive their first silver disc ("Please Please Me"). 1963 - Birth of Jimmy Osmond; singer (Donny and Marie Show). 1963 - Jacobus JP Old, architect/co-founder (The Style), dies at age 73. 1963 - Julius Harrison, composer, dies at age 78. 1963 - Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II becomes chief of Western Samoa. 1964 - First driverless trains run on the London Underground. 1964 - Birth of Martha Faulconer in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; golfer (1993 ShopRite LPGA-5th). 1964 - Birth of Robert "Bob" Kaehler in Burlingame, California, USA; rower (Olympics-5th-1992, 1996). 1964 - Douglas MacArthur; US General (Pacific theater-WWII), dies at age 84. 1964 - Mary Lena Faulk wins LPGA Saint Petersburg Women's Golf Open. 1965 - 37th Academy Awards: Best picture: My Fair Lady; Best actor: Rex Harrison; Best actress: Julie Andrews for her role in the film Mary Poppins; Best song: "Chim Chim Cher-ee" by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman in the film Mary Poppins. 1965 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1966 - Birth of Brent Hughes in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada; NHL left wing (Buffalo Sabres). 1966 - Birth of Larry Norman in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; canoeist (Olympics-1992, 1996). 1966 - Birth of Scott Dill; NFL tackle/guard (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings). 1966 - Sven Fleuron, writer, dies at age 91. 1967 - ATS II launched but fails to reach orbit. 1967 - Philadelphia '76ers player Wilt Chamberlain sets NBA record of 41 rebounds. 1968 - Birth of Tasia Valenza in New York City, New York, USA; actress (Dottie Thornton Martin - All My Children). 1968 - Lois Andrews dies of lung cancer at age 44. 1969 - Gabriel M-E-R Chevallier, French author (La Peur), dies at age 73. 1969 - Rómulo Gallegos, Venezuela author/President (1947-48), dies at age 84. 1970 - Birth of Erlan Sagymbayev; hockey forward (Team Kazakhstan Olympics-1998). 1970 - Birth of Tim Jacobs; NFL running back (Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins). 1970 - Jacob H "Jaap" Stotijn; oboist/conductor, dies at age 78. 1971 - Birth of Bob Kuberski; NFL defensive tackle (Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31). 1971 - Birth of Finidi George; soccer player (Ajax). 1971 - Birth of Stuart Peele; Australian rower (Olympics-1996). 1971 - Fran Phipps is first woman to reach North Pole. 1971 - Mount Etna erupts in Sicily, Italy. 1971 - US Lieutenant Wiliam Calley (My Lai Massacre) sentenced to life. 1972 - Baseball season is delayed due to a strike. 1972 - Birth of Shigemasa Ito; WLAF offensive linebacker (Rhein Fire). 1972 - Brian Donlevy, actor (Steve - Dangerous Assignment), dies at age 73. 1972 - New York Mets trade Ken Singleton to Montreal Expos for Rusty Staub. 1973 - Birth of Ed Hobbs; WLAF running back (London Monarchs). 1973 - Birth of Emile Palmer; WLAF defensive tackle (London Monarchs). 1973 - Birth of Estefania Knuth in Barcelona, Spain; LPGA golfer (1992 French International). 1973 - Birth of Spencer Folau; NFL/WLAF offensive tackle (Baltimore Ravens, Rhein Fire). 1973 - Birth of Tony Banks; quarterback (Saint Louis Rams). 1973 - Birth of Yutaka Kawaguchi; hockey defenseman (Team Japan 1998). 1973 - NFL adopts jersey numbering system (ie quarterbacks, 1-19). 1974 - Birth of Mike DuHaney in New Haven, Connecticut, USA; soccer defender (Olympics-gold-1996). 1974 - Birth of Rick Terry; NFL defensive tackle (New York Jets). 1974 - Last day of Test cricket for Garry Sobers and Rohan Kanhai. 1974 - World's tallest building, the World Trade Center opens in New York City (110 stories). 1974 - William Hudson, actor (I Led Three Lives), dies at age 49. 1975 - Birth of Nikki Dryden in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 800 metre swimmer (Olympics-6th-1992, 1996). 1975 - Chiang Kai-shek, Nationalist Chinese leader, dies from a heart attack at age 87. 1975 - Soyuz 18A launch aborted short of orbit; cosmonauts return safely. 1975 - Victor Marijnen, Dutch premier (1963-65), dies at age 58. 1976 - Birth of Ike Hilliard; NFL wide receiver (New York Giants). 1976 - Birth of Ryan Drese in San Francisco, California; baseball pitcher (Olympics-bronze-1996). 1976 - Harold Wilson resigns as James Callaghan becomes Prime Minister of England. 1976 - Howard Hughes, reclusive billionaire, dies at age 72. 1977 - Birth of JoAnn Sevin in Dubois, Pennsylvania; air pistol (Olympics-1996). 1977 - Birth of Sevilay Ozturk; Miss Turkey-Universe (1996). 1977 - John Marriott dies at age 83. 1977 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1979 - Baltimore Orioles' manager Earl Weaver wins his 1,000th game as a skipper. 1979 - Ex-premier Pol Jar flees out of Cambodia. 1979 - Pioneer 11 launched towards Jupiter. 1981 - 10th Colgate Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Nancy Lopez. 1981 - Cornelis Verolme, Dutch ship builder, dies at age 80. 1981 - Philadelphia Flyers amass a record 2,621 penalty minutes. 1981 - Death of Maurice Zbriger, Canadian violinist, composer and conductor (born 1896). 1981 - Birth of Michael A. Monsoor; American Medal of Honor recipient (dies 2006). 1982 - Abe Fortas, US Supreme court justice, dies at age 71 (born 1910). 1982 - Lord Carrington, British foreign secretary, resigns due to Falkland Islands war. 1982 - Saint Louis Cardinals' Jim Kaat pitches in record 24th consecutive season. 1982 - The British Royal Navy task force sails to recapture the Falkland Islands. 1982 - Birth of Matt Pickens; American soccer player. 1983 - France throws out 47 Soviet diplomats. 1983 - New York Mets' Tom Seaver's sets record 14th National League Opening Day assignment. 1984 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar breaks Wilt Chamberlain's all-time career scoring record of 31,419 points (31,421). 1984 - Theo Koomen, Dutch sportscaster, dies in auto-accident at age 54. 1984 - Human Comedy opens at Royale Theater in New York City for 13 performances. 1984 - Arthur Travors "Bomber" Harris, marshal of British Royal Air Force, dies (born 1892). 1985 - Tyrell Johnson, cricketer (West Indies left-arm quickie, one Test 1939), dies. 1986 - Two US soldiers and a Turkish woman killed, 230 injured, in West Berlin discotheque bombing. 1986 - Colin McCool, cricketer (14 Tests for Australia, 36 wickets), dies. 1986 - Manly Wade Wellman, science-fiction author (Devil's Planet), dies at age 82. 1986 - Record for a throw-and-return boomerang toss is set (121 metres). 1986 - In Peru, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurs. At least 16 people killed, 170 injured and 2,000 houses destroyed in the Cuzco area. 1987 - 16th Nabisco Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Betsy King. 1987 - Fox TV network premieres showing Married With Children and Tracey Ullman. 1987 - Wayne Gretzky wins 7th straight NHL scoring title. 1988 - Birth of Daniela Luján, Mexican actress. 1988 - Birth of Asumi Nakata, Japanese voice actress (seiyu). 1988 - Alf Kjellin, Swedish actor/director (Juggler), dies. 1989 - David Letterman becomes first network TV series to use Dolby stereo. 1989 - Orel Hershiser ends his 59 consecutive scoreless pitched inning streak. 1989 - Solidarity granted legal status in Poland. 1990 - John Stockton reaches 1000-assist mark for NBA record three years in a row. 1990 - New York Rangers beat New York Islanders 2-1 in first game of preliminaries. 1990 - Nico Scheepmaker, Dutch columnist/poet, dies at age 59. 1991 - Joe Dumaars (Detroit Pistons) ends NBA free throw streak of 62 games. 1991 - Former Texas Republican Senator John Tower (age 65) and 22 others are killed in an airplane crash in Brunswick, Georgia, United States. 1991 - The NBC TV network begins airs the series The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage. 1991 - Kitty Kelly publishes a book knocking Nancy Reagan. 1991 - Manley Lanier "Sonny" Carter Jr, USN/astronaut (STS 33), dies at age 43. 1991 - Southeast Airlines Embracer 120 crashes in Georgia, killing 23. 1991 - Space Shuttle STS 37 (Atlantis 8) launched. 1991 - Disney releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film The Marrying Man to theatres in the USA. 1991 - US begins air drops to Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq. 1992 - "Search and Destroy" closes at Circle in Square Theater New York City after 46 performances. 1992 - 11th NCAA Women's Basketball Champion: Stanford beats Western Kentucky 78-62. 1992 - 4th Seniors Golf Tradition: Lee Trevino. 1992 - Anthony "Tony" Papa, big band leader, dies at age 65. 1992 - Comedian Sam Kinison marries live-in girlfriend Malika Souiri. 1992 - Dana Lofland wins Las Vegas LPGA Golf International. 1992 - Game two of Mayor Challenge - New York Yankees sweep New York Mets 6-5 at Shea Stadium. 1992 - Peru's President Alberto Fujimori suspends constitution and dissolves Congress. 1992 - Sam Walton, billionaire CEO (Wal-Mart), dies of cancer at age 74. 1992 - Samuel H Reshevsky, Polish/US chess grandmaster, dies at age 80. 1992 - Thailand General Suchinda Kraprayoon installed as president. 1992 - Wrestlemania VIII, 62,167 at Hoosier Dome; Randy "Macho Man" Savage beats Ric Flair for title, Hulk Hogan disqualifies Sid Justice. 1992 - Death of Suada Dilberovic, Bosnian medical student (born 1968); first casualty of the Siege of Sarajevo. 1992 - Death of Molly Picon, American actress (Milk and Honey), at age 94 from Alzheimer's (born 1898). 1993 - 55th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: North Carolina beats Michigan 77-71. 1993 - Colorado Rockies first baseball game - lose to New York Mets 3-0. 1993 - Construction begins on Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 1993 - Crowd of 73,293 watches New York Yankees beat Cleveland Indians 9-1. 1993 - At Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, the Florida Marlins play their major league first game ever, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-3. 1993 - Republican Guard kills 64 in Chad. 1993 - Birth of Nick Price, American actor. 1994 - Jackie Mason Politically Incorrect opens at Golden theater in New York City for 347 performances. 1994 - Andre Victor Tchelistcheff, winemaker, dies at age 92. 1994 - Aubrey J Watson Sr, bishop, dies at age 65. 1994 - Marlon Riggs, US writer/director/producer (Ethnic notions), dies at age 37. 1994 - Miami Heat beat New York Knicks ending 15 game NBA winning streak. 1994 - Roy Smeck, guitarist/banjoist, dies at age 94. 1995 - The U.S. House of Representatives votes 246-188 to cut taxes for individuals and corporations. 1995 - Christian Pineau, French politician, dies. 1996 - Marlon Brando makes anti-semitic remarks about Hollywood on Larry King. 1996 - Peter Nailor, civil servant/historian, dies at age 67. 1997 - Death of Allen Ginsberg, American poet, at age 80 (born 1926). 1997 - Alparslan Turkes, Turkish politician (MHP), dies. 1997 - Galileo, third Ganymede Flyby (Orbit 7). 1998 - In Japan, the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge linking Shikoku with Honshu and costing about US$3.8 billion, opens to traffic, becoming the largest suspension bridge in the world. 1998 - Death of Cozy Powell, English rock drummer (born 1947). 1999 - Two Libyans suspected of bringing down Pan Am flight 103 in 1988 are handed over to Scottish authorities for eventual trial in the Netherlands. The United Nations suspends sanctions against Libya. 1999 - In Laramie, Wyoming, Russell Henderson pleads guilty to kidnapping and felony murder, in order to avoid a possible death penalty conviction for the apparent hate crime killing of Matthew Shepard. 2000 - Yoshiro Mori replaces Keizo Obuchi as prime minister of Japan. 2000 - Death of Lee Petty, American race car driver (born 1914). 2002 - Death of Layne Staley, American singer (Alice in Chains) (born 1967). 2004 - Queen Elizabeth II begins a state visit to France to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale. 2005 - Death of John Sichel, British film and television director. 2006 - Death of Gene Pitney, American singer (born 1941). 2006 - A swan with Avian Flu is discovered in Cellardyke in Fife, Scotland (the first case in the United Kingdom). 2007 - The Greek Louis Hellenic Cruises' cruise ship M/S Sea Diamond strikes a reef off the harbor of Santorini, tearing a hole in the hull. 2007 - Death of Thomas Stoltz Harvey, Pathologist who conducted Albert Einstein's autopsy (born 1912). 2007 - Death of Leela Majumdar, Bengali children's author (born 1908). 2007 - Death of Darryl Stingley, American football player (born 1951). 2007 - Death of Poornachandra Tejaswi, Indian writer and novelist (born 1938). 2008 - Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter), American actor (Moses - The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur, Planet of the Apes) and activist (1960s Civil Rights, National Rifle Association) dies at age 84 in Beverly Hills, California. Heston won Best Actor Academy Award for his performance in Ben Hur. Heston also served as president of the Screen Actors Guild and was chairman of the American Film Institute. 2008 - In Miami, Florida, American Serena Williams defeats Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 to win the Sony Ericsson Open for the fifth time. 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