This Day in History
May 1

What happened in history on this day: May 1? On May 1 in ... 305 - Emperor Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Jovius of Rome resigns. 1006 - Supernova observed by Chinese and Egyptians in constellation Lupus. 1048 - Bishop Bernold flees Saint Pieterskerk for Utrecht Netherlands. 1171 - Dermot MacMurrough last Irish king of Leinster, dies. 1218 - Birth of Rudolf I in Limburg-im-Breisgau (Germany); first King of the Germans from the Habsburg dynasty. 1238 - Birth of Magnus VI Lagabuter King of Norway (1263-80). 1245 - Birth of Philippe III Poissy Yvelines France, King of France (1270-85). 1277 - Stefanus IV Uros I de Great King of Serbia (1243-76), dies. 1308 - Albrecht I van Habsburg German King (1298-1308), murdered. 1394 - Ekiho, exorcised the Zen temple and its surroundings from an old badger. 1447 - Louis VII Duke of Baveria (1413-43), dies. 1456 - Hugues de Lannoy Flemish viceroy of Holland/Zealand, dies. 1471 - Thomas a Kempis spiritual writer (Navolging of Christ), dies at age 91. 1493 - Birth of Phillippus Paracelsus Switzerland, physician/alchemist. 1523 - Danish king Christian III arrives in Veere. 1528 - Pánfilo the Narvaéz begins exploration to with 350 men to Florida. 1544 - Turkish troops occupy Hungary. 1545 - Birth of Franciscus Junius [François du Jon], French/Netherlands calvinist theologist. 1551 - Council of Trente resumes. 1555 - Marcellus II [Marcello Cervini] Italian Pope (1555), dies at age 53. 1567 - Birth of Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt Dutch royal painter. 1572 - Pius V [Antonio Ghislieri] great-inquisiteur/Pope (1566-72), dies. 1577 - Birth of François van Kinschot Dutch treasurer. 1582 - Birth of Marco da Gagliano Italian opera composer. 1592 - Birth of Johann A Schall von Bell German missionaries/astronomer. 1598 - Jacob van Necks merchant fleet departs for Java. 1625 - Portuguese and Spanish expedition recaptures Salvador (Bahia). 1625 - Prince Frederik Henry appointed viceroy of Holland. 1633 - Birth of Sébastien le Prestre de Vauban French fortress architect. 1672 - Birth of Joseph Addison England, essayist (Spectator). 1679 - Esaias Reusner composer, dies at age 43. 1682 - Louis XIV and his court inaugurate Paris Observatory. 1700 - John Dryden English poet/playwright (Rival Ladies), dies. 1703 - Battle at Rultusk: Swedish army beats Russians. 1703 - Kiva Yoshinaka Japanese monarch, murdered. 1704 - Boston Newsletter publishes first newspaper ad. 1707 - England, Wales and Scotland form Great Britain. 1711 - Arch duke Karel of Austria/Hungarian rebellion sign Peace of Szatmar. 1715 - Prussia declares war on Sweden. 1725 - Spain and Austria sign trade treaty. 1733 - Nicolas Coustou French sculptor (Saôn), dies at age 75. 1735 - Birth of John H van Kinsbergen Dutch Lieutenant-Admiral/founder of Dutch Marines Corps. 1751 - The first cricket match is played in America. 1757 - Austria and France divide Prussia. 1759 - Birth of Jacob Albright [Albrecht], German/US predictor. 1759 - British fleet occupies Guadeloupe, West-Indies, on France. 1764 - Birth of Benjamin Henry Latrobe engineer/architect (built Capitol). 1764 - Birth of Gottfried Rieger composer. 1769 - Birth of Arthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington, British Prime Minister (Conservative) (1828-30). 1771 - Birth of George Guest composer. 1772 - Gottfried Achenwall German lawyer/statistics/economist, dies at age 52. 1775 - Birth of Jacob-Joseph-Balthasar Martinn composer. 1776 - Adam Weishaupt founds the secret society of Illuminati. 1777 - RB Sheridans "School for Scandal" premieres in London. 1781 - Emperor Jozef II decrees protection of population. 1785 - Kamehameha, the king of Hawai'i defeats Kalanikupule and establishes the Kingdom of Hawai'i. 1786 - Mozart's opera "Marriage of Figaro" premieres in Wien (Vienna). 1800 - Birth of Ret Thomas Aloysius Dornin Commander (Union Navy), died in 1874. 1807 - Birth of John Bankhead "Prince John" Magruder Major General (Confederate Army). 1818 - Birth of José Amador de los Ríos Spanish historian/poet. 1819 - Birth of William Steele Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1885. 1822 - John Phillips becomes first mayor of Boston. 1825 - Birth of George Inness US landscape painter ("Delaware Water Gap"). 1829 - Birth of José M de Alencar Brazilian writer/minister of Justice. 1830 - Birth of Mary Harris Jones [Mother Jones], hell-raiser. 1831 - Antonius van Alphen apostle vicar of De Bosch, dies at age 82. 1834 - British colonies abolish slavery. 1834 - Belgian parliament accept railway laws. 1835 - Birth of Alfred Napoleon Alexander "Natti" Duffie Brigadier General (Union volunteers). 1839 - Birth of Chardonnet inventor (rayon). 1840 - First adhesive postage stamps ("Penny Blacks" from England) issued. 1841 - First emigrant wagon train leaves Independence Missouri for California. 1844 - Samuel Morse sends first telegraphic message. 1844 - Whig convention nominates Henry Clay as presidential candidate. 1846 - Ida Pfeiffer (48) begins trip around world. 1850 - John Geary becomes first San Francisco mayor. 1851 - Birth of Eberhard Nestle German oriëntalist/biblical scholar. 1851 - Great Exhibition opens in London's Hyde Park, at Crystal Palace. 1852 - Birth of Calamity [Martha] Jane [Burke]; frontier adventurer/Indian fighter (dies 1903). 1853 - Argentina adopts its constitution. 1854 - Amsterdam begins transferring drinking water out of the dunes. 1857 - A coalition of Central American states ousts William Walker, president of Nicaragua. 1858 - Birth of Anthony Johnson Showalter composer. 1859 - Birth of Bohuslav Jeremias composer. 1859 - Birth of Willem J Leyds Dutch/South Africa lawyer/politician/diplomat. 1861 - Lee orders Confederate troops under T J Jackson to Harper's Ferry. 1862 - Birth of Anthony G Kröller entrepreneur/government advisor/husband of Helene Müller. 1862 - Birth of Marcel Prévost French publisher/writer (Les demis-vierges). 1862 - Union captain David Farragut conquers New Orleans. 1863 - Edward Dorr Tracy, US Confederate Brigadier-General, dies in battle at age 29. 1863 - Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia (29,000 injured or died). 1863 - Battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi. 1863 - Confederate "National Flag" replaces "Stars and Bars". 1863 - Confederate congress passes resolution to kill black soldiers. 1864 - Atlanta campaign, Georgia. 1864 - Battle at Alexandria, Louisiana (Red River Campaign). 1864 - Wilderness campaign. 1866 - American Equal Rights Association forms. 1867 - Howard University chartered. 1867 - Reconstruction of South begins, black voter registration. 1869 - "Folies-Bergère" opens in Paris France. 1869 - A colt is reported killed by a meteorite near New Concord Ohio. 1870 - Francisco Solano López fieldmarshal/President of Paraguay. 1872 - Amalia princess of Weimar/wife of prince Hendrik the Navigator, dies. 1872 - Birth of Hugo Alfvén Stockholm Sweden, composer (Midsommarvaka). 1873 - First US postal card issued. 1873 - David Livingstone, British physician/explorer (Africa), dies at age 60. 1873 - Emperor Franz Jozef opens 5th World's Fair in Wien (Vienna). 1874 - Vilem Blodek composer, dies at age 39. 1875 - 238 members of "Whiskey Ring" accused of anti-US activities. 1880 - Birth of Conrad Weiss German writer/poet (Tantum dic verbo). 1881 - Birth of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin France, philosopher/paleontologist. 1883 - "Buffalo Bill" Cody put on his first Wild West Show. 1883 - Amsterdam World's Fair opens. 1883 - National League Baseball returns to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; first National League game since 1876. The Providence Grays beat the Philadelphia Quakers 4-3. 1883 - New York Athletic Club hires Bob Rogers as first American pro sports trainer. 1884 - Birth of Felipe Boero composer. 1884 - Construction begins on Chicago's first skyscraper (10 stories). 1885 - Maria "Goeie Mie" Swanenburg sentence to life for killing 27 in Netherlands. 1886 - Conrad Busken Huet writer (Country of Rubens). 1886 - Heinrich Franz Daniel Stiehl composer, dies at age 56. 1886 - US general strike for 8 hour day, begins. 1887 - Birth of Alan Gordon Cunningham Irish/British general/director of Palestine (1945-48). 1889 - First International Workers Day, according to the second International. 1889 - Bayer introduces aspirin in powder form (Germany). 1891 - Cy Young pitches first game played in Cleveland's League Park Cleveland Spiders 12, Cincinnati Redlegs 3. 1892 - Birth of Howard Barlow Plain City Ohio, conductor (Voice of Firestone). 1892 - US Quarantine Station opens on Angel Island, San Francisco Bay. 1892 - Willem A Scholten manufacturer (potatoes), dies at age 89. 1893 - World Columbian Exposition opens in Chicago, Illinois, USA. 1895 - Birth of Leo Sowerby Grand Rapids Michigan, composer (Pulitzer 1946). 1896 - Naser ed-Din shah of Persia (1848-96), murdered at age 65. 1898 - Alphonse Wauters Belgian historian, dies at age 81. 1898 - Birth of Eugene R Black US, President of World Bank (1953-62). 1898 - George Dewey commands, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley" as US route Spanish fleet at Manila. 1899 - Birth of Jón Leifs Iceland, composer/conductor. 1900 - Birth of Ignazio Silone Italy, novelist/politician (Bread and Wine). 1900 - Mihály von Munkácsy [Michael von Lieb], German painter, dies at age 56. 1900 - Premature blast collapses mine tunnel killing 200 at Scofield UT. 1900 - Roermond soccer team forms in Roermond. 1901 - Detroit Tigers commit 12 errors against Chicago White Sox. 1901 - Herb McFarland hit first grand slam in the American League. 1901 - Pan-American Exposition opens in Buffalo. 1902 - John Glover English chemist (production sulfuric acid), dies at age 85. 1903 - Arthur Haygarth cricketer (compiler of "Scores and Biographies"), dies. 1903 - Luigi Arditi violist/composer, dies at age 80. 1904 - Antonín Dvorak Czechoslovakia, composer (Slavic Dancing), dies at age 62. 1905 - Birth of Leila Hyams New York City, New York, actress (Big House, Ruggles of Red Gap). 1905 - Birth of Nikolai Tikhonov Soviet Prime Minister (1980-85). 1906 - Phillie's John Lush no-hits Brooklyn Dodgers, 6-0. 1907 - Belgian Government of De Trooz forms. 1907 - Birth of Jan Pauw CEO (Aruban Theater Group). 1907 - Birth of Kate Smith in Greenville, Alabama, USA; singer ("God Bless America") / Philadelphia Flyers' luck charm. 1907 - Indian Mine Laws passes (concessions from Netherlands-Indies). 1908 - Birth of Giovanni Guareschi Italian writer (Don Camillo, Peppone). 1908 - World's most intense rain shower (2.47" in 3 minutes) at Portobelo Panamá. 1909 - Birth of Ethel Jane Cain original United Kingdom Speaking Clock voice. 1909 - Birth of George Melachrino composer. 1909 - Birth of Yannis Ritsos Greek poet. 1909 - Netherlands begins unity with Belgium. 1910 - Birth of Cliff Battles Akron Ohio, NFL hall of famer (Braves, Washington Redskins). 1912 - Amsterdam-North soccer team DWV forms. 1912 - Beverly Hills Hotel opens. 1912 - Birth of Anna Pollak mezzo-soprano. 1912 - Birth of Felipe Padilla de Leon composer. 1913 - Birth of Walter Susskind Praha (Prague) Czechoslovakia, conductor. 1913 - Longacre Theater opens at 220 W 48th Steet New York City, New York. 1914 - China's first president Yuan Shikai wins dictatorial qualification. 1915 - British Lusitania leaves New York, for Liverpool. 1915 - German submarine sinks US ship Gulflight. 1916 - Birth of Glenn Ford in Québec, Canada; actor (Cade's County, Big Heat, Midway). 1916 - Birth of Jack Parr Canton Ohio, TV host (Jack Paar Show). 1916 - Birth of Jane Jacobs Scranton Pennsylvania, urbanologist. 1917 - Birth of Danielle Darrieux France, actress (Alexander the Great, Mayerling). 1917 - Birth of John Beradino Los Angeles California; actor (Steve Hardy-General Hospital). 1917 - Birth of Louis G "Lo" van Hensbergen actor/author (Amsterdam Affair). 1917 - José E Rodo Uruguayan writer (Motivos de proteo), dies. 1919 - Birth of Alwyn Farquharson Scottish clan-captain/large landowner. 1919 - Birth of Dan O'Herlihy Ireland; actor (Fail Safe, Last Starfighter, Robocop). 1919 - Mount Kelud (Indonesia) erupts, boiling crater lake which broke through crater wall killing 5,000 people in 104 small villages. 1920 - Babe Ruth's first New York Yankees homerun and 50th of career, out of Polo Grounds. 1920 - Belgian-Luxembourg toll tunnel opens. 1920 - Brooklyn Dodgers tie Boston Braves, 1-1, in 26 innings. 1920 - Swedish Crown Princess Margareta dies. 1921 - Birth of 12th Lord Middleton English large landowner/multi-millionaire. 1921 - Birth of Paul Daels president (Flemish Iron Pilgrimage committee). 1921 - Drusian sultan Pasja al-Atrasj elected Governor of Suwayda. 1921 - Louis Campbell-Tipton composer, dies at age 43. 1922 - Birth of Louis Nye Hartford Connecticut, comedian (Steve Allen, Happy Days). 1922 - Charlie Robertson of Chicago pitches a perfect no-hit, no-run game. 1923 - 49th Kentucky Derby: Earl Sande aboard Zev wins in 2:05.4. 1923 - Birth of Joseph Heller in Brooklyn, New York, USA; novelist (Catch-22, 1963 Arts and Letters Award). 1924 - Admiral Paul Koundouriótis becomes President of Greece. 1924 - August Cuppens Flemish author (Limburgs Driemanschap), dies at age 62. 1924 - Birth of Art Fleming in the Bronx, New York, USA; TV host (Jeopardy) (dies 1995). 1924 - Birth of Earl George composer. 1924 - Birth of Enrico Josif composer. 1924 - Birth of Patricia Roberts Harris first US black woman cabinet member. 1924 - Birth of Terry Southern writer. 1925 - Oakland Athletics Jimmie Foxx, 17, first game; he pinch-hits a single. 1925 - Birth of Chuck Bednarik Pennsylvania, NFL hall of fame center/linebacker (Philadelphia). 1925 - Birth of Malcolm Scott Carpenter Boulder Colorado, astronaut (Mercury 7-Aurora 7). 1925 - Cyprus becomes a British Crown Colony. 1926 - British coal-miners go on strike. 1926 - Nicolaus Adriani translator (Middle-Celebes Language), dies at age 60. 1926 - Satchel Paige makes pitching debut in Negro Southern League. 1927 - The first cooked meals on a scheduled flight are introduced on an Imperial Airways flight from London to Paris. 1927 - Birth of Greta Andersen Denmark, 100 metre freestyle swimmer (Olympics-gold-1948). 1927 - Birth of Harry [Harold George Jr] Belafonte New York City, New York, calypso singer (The Banana Boat Song). 1927 - Birth of Israr Ali cricket pace bowler (Pakistan in four Tests 1952-59). 1927 - Birth of Lord Bathurst English earl/large landowner/multi-millionaire. 1927 - Birth of Roland Verhavert Flemish screen writer (Sea Gulls Die in the Harbor). 1927 - Birth of William Mitchell Byers musician. 1927 - Netherlands beats Belgium 3-2 in soccer match in Amsterdam. 1927 - Panningen soccer team forms in Panningen. 1928 - Six children die and ten injured by hailstones in Klausenburg, Romania. 1928 - Birth of Raoul Servais Belgian cartoonist/president (l'ASIFA). 1928 - Drunken fascist Erich Wichman attacks VARA-radio transmitter. 1928 - Lei Day begun (a Hawaiian celebration). 1928 - Pitcairn Airlines (later Eastern) begins service. 1928 - Rotterdam soccer team Black White '28 forms. 1929 - Birth of Sonny James [James Loden] Hackelburg Alabama, rocker (Young Love). 1929 - Birth of Sonny Ramadhin cricket spin bowler (great West Indies spin bowler). 1929 - Brooklyn's Johnny Finn sets 100 yard sack race in 14.4 seconds. 1929 - Farm workers strike begins in East-Groningen. 1929 - Police kill 19 Mayday demonstrators in Berlin. 1930 - Birth of Little Walter [Marion Walter Jacobs] rocker. 1930 - Birth of Ollie Matson NFL halfback (Saint Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Lions, Eagles). 1930 - Bradman scores 236 Australia versus Worcestershire, his first f-class innings in England. 1930 - The dwarf planet Pluto is officially named. 1931 - U.S. President Herbert Hoover officially dedicates New York City's Empire State Building. At 102 stories and 1,250 feet high it is the world's tallest skyscraper (a record held until 1972). 1931 - Norway claims Peter I Island. 1931 - Singer Kate Smith begins her long-running radio program on CBS. 1932 - First Suriname union congress at Paramaribo. 1932 - Paul Doumer President of France (1931-32), assassinated by Russia's Paul Gargalov. 1933 - Birth of Joan Hackett East Harlem New York City, New York, actress (Defenders, Another Day). 1933 - Birth of Uwe Greßmann writer. 1934 - Alexander Alexandrovich Davidenko composer, dies at age 35. 1934 - Austria signs pact with Vatican. 1934 - Birth of Alette Beaujon Curaçaos poet (Gedichten on the Bay and Elsewhere). 1934 - Philippine legislature accepts US proposal for independence. 1934 - Water state kingdom dismisses NSB-leader Anton Mussert. 1935 - Boulder Dam completed. 1935 - Canada's first silver dollar is made available, struck in 0.8 fine silver. The 1935-dated coin commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the accession to the throne of King George V. 1936 - Emperor Haile Selassie leaves Ethiopia as Italian invades. 1936 - FBI's J Edgar Hoover arrests Alvin Karpis. 1937 - Birth of Bo Nilsson Swedish composer (Doppelspiel). 1937 - Franklin Roosevelt signs act of neutrality. 1937 - Snitz Edwards actor (Phantom of the Opera, College), dies at age 75. 1939 - Birth of Judy Collins in Seattle, Washington, USA; singer ("Send in the Clowns", "Both Sides Now", "Clouds"). 1939 - Birth of Max Robinson Richmond Virginia, black news anchor (ABC Evening News). 1939 - Birth of Ray Aranha Miami Florida; actor (Nick-Married People). 1939 - Pulitzer Prize awarded to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (The Yearling). 1939 - Wilhelm Normann German chemist (harden van oliën), dies. 1940 - 140 Palestinian Jews die as German planes bomb their ship. 1940 - The 1940 Olympics are cancelled. 1941 - "Citizen Kane", directed by and starring Orson Welles, premieres in New York. 1941 - Birth of Barbara Barendrecht [BHM Wurfbain], actress (Dirty Picture). 1941 - Birth of Juraj Hatrick composer. 1941 - General Mills introduces Cheerios. 1941 - German assault on Tobruk. 1941 - John R Locksmith de Brown vicar/CHU-politician, dies at age 71. 1942 - Birth of Stephen Macht Philadelphia Pennsylvania; actor (Joe-Knots Landing, Cagney and Lacey). 1942 - Radio Orange calls to defy order to wear "Jewish star". 1943 - First edition of illegal "The Free Artist" appears in Amsterdam. 1943 - 69th Kentucky Derby: Johnny Longden aboard Count Fleet wins in 2:04. 1943 - Birth of Joy Harmon Saint Louis Missouri, actress (Cool Hand Luke). 1943 - Food rationing begins in US. 1943 - German Wehrmacht deployed in order to break Dutch strikes. 1943 - German plane sinks boat loaded with Palestinian Jews bound for Malta. 1943 - Rauter signs unofficial death sentence. 1944 - Messerschmitt Me-262 Sturmvogel, first operational jet aircraft (twin-jet fighter), makes first flight. 1944 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Martin Flavin (Journey in the Dark). 1944 - Surprise attack on Weteringschans Amsterdam, fails. 1945 - Birth of Rita Coolidge in Nashville, Tennessee, USA; singer ("Higher and Higher", "We're All Alone"). 1945 - 900 occupiers of Demmin Vorpommeren commit suicide. 1945 - Admiral Karl Dönitz forms German government. 1945 - German president Karl Dönitz commences a progressive total surrender of German armed forces, by means of local surrenders. 1945 - Australian and Dutch troops lands on Tarakan. 1945 - Desider Antalffy-Zsiross, Hungarian organist/composer, dies at age 59. 1945 - General Belgian Labor Union (ABVV) party forms. 1945 - Paul Josef Goebbels, Nazi minister on propoganda, commits suicide. 1945 - Radio Budapest, Hungary re-enters shortwave broadcasting. 1945 - Seys-Inquart flees to Flensburg. 1945 - Soviet army reaches Rostock. 1946 - Birth of Bruce Robinson; actor (Story of Adele H). 1946 - Birth of Jerry Weiss in New York City, New York, USA; rocker (Blood Sweat and Tears). 1946 - Birth of Joanna Lumley in Kashmir, India; actress (Ab Fab, On Her Majesty's Secret Service). 1946 - Birth of Nick Fortune [Nicholas Fortuna]; rock bassist (The Buckinghams). 1946 - Edward Cuthbert Bairstow, composer, dies at age 71. 1946 - Fieldmarshal Bernard Montgomery appointed British supreme commander. 1946 - Mrs Emma Clarissa Clement named "American Mother of the Year". 1946 - Percy William Whitlock, composer, dies at age 42. 1947 - Birth of Carlos Ward; rocker (B T Express). 1947 - Birth of Ghulam Abbas; cricketer (scored 12 and 0 in only Test for Pakistan 1967). 1947 - Cleveland Indians abandon League Park to play all games at Municipal Stadium. 1947 - Lieutenant General Hoyt S Vandenberg ends term as second head of US Central Intelligence Agency. 1947 - Radar for commercial and private planes first demonstrated. 1947 - Rear Admiral Roscoe H Hillenkoetter, US Navy, becomes 3th director of the Central Intelligence Agency. 1947 - Sanner, leader of Norger blood bath, executed. 1948 - 74th Kentucky Derby: Eddie Arcaro aboard Citation wins in 2:05.4; this is Arcaro's fourth win. 1948 - Birth of James Wise; American soul singer (Archie Bell and the Drells). 1948 - Christos Ladas, Greek minister of Justice, murdered. 1948 - Glenn Taylor, Idaho Senator, arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, for trying to enter a meeting through a door marked "for Negroes". 1948 - North Korea proclaims itself People's Democratic Republic of Korea. 1948 - Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Auspicia quaedam. 1949 - Oakland Athletics' Elmer Valo is first American League player to hit two bases-loaded triples in a game. 1949 - Birth of Douglas Barr in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA; actor (Howie - The Fall Guy). 1949 - Birth of Margo Miller in San Francisco, California, USA; fencer-epee (Olympics-1996). 1949 - Gerard Kuiper discovers Nereid, (second satellite of Neptune). 1950 - Birth of Marina Stepanova; Russian hurdler (world record 1986). 1950 - Mayor of Brussels reluctantly bans May Day parade. 1950 - New marriage laws enforced in People's Republic China. 1950 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Rodgers and Hammerstein (South Pacific). 1951 - 600,000 march for peace and freedom in Germany. 1951 - Birth of Gordon Greenidge; cricketer (great West Indian opener 1974-91). 1951 - Dutch Reformed Church introduces new church choir. 1951 - Mickey Mantle's first homerun. 1952 - US Marines take part in an atomic explosion training in Nevada. 1952 - "Mr Potato Head" toy is introduced; first toy advertised on television. 1952 - TWA airline introduces tourist class. 1952 - William Fox [Fried], American film pioneer (Nickelodeon), dies at age 73. 1953 - Birth of Elquemedo Willett; cricketer (West Indies lefty spinner early 1970s). 1953 - Birth of Felix Hanemann; rocker (Zebra). 1953 - Birth of Mindy Moore; LPGA golfer. 1953 - Zora Arkus-Duntov starts work at Chevrolet in the USA as assistant staff engineer to Maurice Olley in Research and Development. 1954 - 80th Kentucky Derby: Raymond York aboard Determine wins in 2:03. 1954 - Birth of Michael Scott; reporter (Entertainment Tonight). 1954 - Birth of Ray Parker Jr in Detroit, Michigan, USA; rock guitarist/vocalist ("Ghostbusters"). 1954 - Birth of Taslim Arif; cricketer (Pakistan keeper/batsman, 210 versus Australia 1980). 1954 - Bishops publish Mandement (member socialist organization forbidden). 1954 - HSA-UWC Established (Unification Church) (The Moonies). 1954 - Tom Tyler, actor (Lost Ranch, Coyote Trails), dies at age 50. 1955 - Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Peach Blossom Golf Tournament. 1955 - Birth of Julien Wiener; cricketer (Australian opening batsman 1979-80). 1955 - Bobby Feller's 15th one-hit or less game (12 one-hitters, three no-hitters). 1956 - Birth of Byron Stewart in Baxter Springs, Kansas, USA; actor (Warren Coolidge - St Elsewhere). 1956 - The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk is made available to the public. 1956 - A doctor in Japan reports an "epidemic of an unknown disease of the central nervous system," marking the official discovery of Minamata disease. 1957 - Birth of Dick Swett; Representative-Democrat-New Hampshire. 1957 - Birth of Paul D Ronney in Los Angeles, California, USA; ScD/astronaut (STS 83 alternate). 1957 - Birth of Rick Darling; cricketer (accident-prone/dashing Aussie opener 1978-79). 1957 - Birth of Steve Farris; rock guitarist (Mr Mister). 1957 - Grant Mitchell, actor (Great Lie, Laura, Cairo, Conflict), dies at age 82. 1957 - Larry King's first radio broadcast. 1957 - US gives Poland credit of US$95 million. 1957 - Vanguard TV-1 booster test reaches 195 km. 1958 - Ambonese rebellion bombed Ambon/conquer Morotai. 1958 - Arturo Frondizi sworn in as President of Argentina. 1958 - Birth of John Diehl in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; actor (Detective Zito - Miami Vice). 1959 - Birth of Eddie Johnson; NBA guard/forward (Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers). 1959 - Birth of Paul Smith; rock saxophonist (Haircut 100). 1959 - Floyd Patterson knocks out Brian London in 11 rounds for heavyweight boxing title. 1959 - Oscar Torp, Norwegian premier, dies. 1959 - West Germany introduces five-day work week. 1959 - Chicago White Sox' player Early Wynn beats Boston Red Sox 1-0 on his own homerun. 1960 - Birth of Albert McDonald in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada; American canoe (alternate-Olympics-1996). 1960 - India's Bombay state split into Gujarat and Maharashtra states. 1960 - Pancho Gonzalez retires from tennis. 1960 - Russia shoots down American pilot Francis Gary Powers' U-2 spy plane over Sverdlovsk. 1961 - First US airplane hijacked to Cuba. 1961 - Birth of Charlie O'Brien in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; catcher (Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays). 1961 - Birth of Steven Cauthen; jockey (1978 Kentucky Derby-Affirmed). 1961 - Fidel Castro announces there will be no more elections in Cuba. 1961 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird). 1961 - Tanganyika granted full internal self-government by Britain. 1962 - First French underground nuclear experiment in the Sahara. 1962 - Birth of Gary Clark; NFL wide receiver (Miami Dolphins). 1962 - Birth of Paula Weishoff in Hollywood, California, USA; volleyballer (Olympics-silver-1984, bronze-1992, 1996). 1962 - Birth of Reggie Pleasant; Canadian Football League cornerback (Edmonton Eskimos). 1962 - Bo Belinsky pitches a no-hitter, in his fourth start. 1962 - France performs underground nuclear test at Ecker, Algeria. 1962 - US President John Kennedy authorizes Area Redevelopment Act (ARA). 1963 - First American (James Whittaker) conquers Mount Everest. 1963 - Birth of Robert Seguso in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; tennis star. 1963 - Indonesia takes control of Irian Jaya (west New Guinea) from Netherlands. 1964 - At Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, the BASIC programming language runs for the first time. The language was developed by professors John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz, BASIC is an acronym for Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. It is based on FORTRAN and Algol, and was developed for a General Electric 225 mainframe computer. 1964 - Birth of Bruno Ravel in Paris, France; rocker (Danger Danger - "Screw It"). 1964 - Birth of Carlos Aalbers; Dutch soccer player (NEC). 1964 - Birth of Ruth Picardie; journalist. 1964 - Birth of Sarah FE Armstrong-Jones, daughter of princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon. 1965 - 91st Kentucky Derby: Bill Shoemaker on Lucky Debonair wins in 2:01.2. 1965 - Birth of Jon Warren in Akron, Ohio, USA; 1.5k runner. 1965 - Leo Spies, composer, dies at age 65. 1965 - Spike Jones, composer (Spike Jones Show), dies at age 53. 1965 - Stanley Cup: Montreal Canadiens beat Chicago Blackhawks, 4 games to 3. 1965 - USSR launches Luna 5; later impacts on Moon. 1966 - Birth of Armando Reynoso in San Luis Potosi, México; pitcher (Colorado Rockies). 1966 - Birth of Charlie Schlatter in New York City, New York, USA; actor (18 Again, Heartbreak Hotel). 1966 - Birth of Johnny Colt in Cherry Point, North Carolina, USA; rock bassist (Black Crowes - "Shake Your Money Maker"). 1966 - Birth of Mark Coogan in Manhaset, New York, USA; marathoner (Olympics-1996). 1966 - Last British concert by The Beatles (Empire Pool in Wembley). 1966 - Mickey Wright wins LPGA Shreveport Kiwanis Club Golf Invitational. 1966 - Radio RSA, South Africa begins shortwave transmitting. 1966 - US troops shooting targets in Cambodia. 1967 - Anastasio Somoza Debayle becomes President of Nicaragua. 1967 - Birth of Bill Schultz; NFL/WLAF offensive tackle (Denver Broncos, Scottish Claymores). 1967 - Birth of Marvcus Patton; NFL linebacker (Washington Redskins). 1967 - Birth of Scott Coffey in Hawaii; actor (Satisfaction, Shout). 1967 - Birth of Yael Arad in Israel; Women's half middleweight judoka (Olympics-1996). 1967 - Elvis Presley and Pricilla Beaulieu wed in Las Vegas, Nevada. 1967 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Bernard Malamud (The Fixer). 1968 - Birth of Anton Scheutjens; soccer player (Roda JC). 1968 - Birth of Lisa Campbell in Victoria, Australia; badminton player (Olympics-1996). 1968 - Birth of Mark Scott in Paramus, New Jersey, USA; rock drummer (Trixter - "Give It To Me Good"). 1968 - Harold G Nicolson, English author (English sense of humor), dies at age 71. 1968 - Philadelphia Phillies' J Boozer is ejected for throwing spitballs during his warmup. 1969 - Birth of Billy Owens; NBA forward/guard (Sacramento Kings). 1969 - Birth of Bryan Marchment in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; NHL defenseman (Edmonton Oilers). 1969 - Birth of Roy Rosello; singer (Menudo-Cannonball). 1969 - Ella Logan, actress (52nd Street, Woman Chases Man), dies at age 56. 1969 - George Parker, cricketer (two Tests for South Africa 1924), dies. 1969 - Houston Astros' Don Wilson second no-hitter, beats Cincinnati Reds, 4-0. 1969 - Leonard Tose buys NFL Philadelphia Eagles for US$16,155,000. 1970 - Birth of Alex Van Pelt; NFL quarterback (Buffalo Bills). 1970 - Birth of Allen DeGraffenreid; WLAF wide receiver (Scotland Claymores). 1970 - Birth of Alundis Brice; NFL cornerback (Dallas Cowboys). 1970 - Birth of Damon Diletti; Australian field hockey goal keeper (Olympics-silver-1992, 1996). 1970 - Death of the poet, Paul Celan (Paul Antschel); poet (Der Sand aus den Urnen (1948), Mohn und Gedächtnis (1952), Lichtzwang (1970)). 1971 - 97th Kentucky Derby: Gustavo Avila on Canonero II wins in 2:03.2. 1971 - Amtrak (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) is formed to take over U.S. passenger rail service. 1971 - Birth of Ethan Albright; NFL tackle (Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills). 1971 - Birth of Jamie Marie Swenson; Miss USA-South Dakota (1997). 1971 - Birth of Renee Poetschka; Australian 200 metre/400 metre (Olympics-1992, 1996). 1971 - Birth of Stuart Appleby in Cohuna, Australia; Nike golfer (1994 Victorian PGA). 1971 - Edith Day, actress (Romance of Air), dies at age 75. 1971 - Glenda Farrell, actress (Grand Slam, Exposed), dies at age 66. 1972 - Birth of Bobby Chouinard in Manilla, Phillipines; pitcher (Oakland Athletics). 1972 - Fernand Ansseau, Belgian operator (Orfeo), dies at age 82. 1972 - North Vietnamese troops occupy Quang Tri Activities Committee. 1972 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Wallace Stegner (Angle of Repose). 1972 - Radio's Mutual Black Network premieres. 1973 - Birth of Curtis Martin; NFL running back (New England Patriots). 1973 - Birth of Frank Beede; NFL center (Seattle Seahawks). 1973 - San Francisco Giants score seven runs with two outs in 9th inning to beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-7. 1974 - Birth of Keri Phebus in Laguna Beach, California, USA; tennis star. 1974 - Birth of Matthew Hatchette; NFL wide receiver (Minnesota Vikings). 1974 - Birth of Vladimir Zavyalov; hockey forward (Team Kazakhstan Olympics-1998). 1975 - Birth of Austin Croshere; NBA forward (Indiana Pacers). 1975 - United Aircraft changes its company name to United Technologies Corporation. 1976 - 102nd Kentucky Derby: Angel Cordero Jr on Bold Forbes wins in 2:01.6. 1976 - Birth of Darius McCrary in Walnut, California; actor (Edward Winslow - Family Matters). 1976 - Jos Hermens on the Netherlands sets record for 20,000 metre, 57:24.2. 1976 - Rex O'Malley, actor (Camille, Zara, Midnight, Thief), dies at age 75. 1977 - Birth of Anna Louise Wilson in Dunedin, New Zealand; 100 metre breast stroke (Olympics-1996). 1977 - Chantal Langlace runs female world record marathon (2:35:15.4). 1977 - Debbie Austin wins LPGA Birmingham Golf Classic. 1978 - Aram Katchaturian, Russian composer (The Earth), dies at age 74. 1978 - MVV soccer team forms in Maastricht. 1978 - Japan's Naomi Uemura, travelling by dog sled, becomes the first person to reach the North Pole alone. 1979 - Berkeley Bertram McGarrell Gaskin, cricketer (two Tests for West Indies), dies. 1979 - Birth of Jennifer Botterill; ice hockey forward (Canada, Olympics-1998). 1979 - Birth of Kimberly Grigsby; Miss Virginia Teen USA (1997). 1979 - Elton John becomes first pop star to perform in Israel. 1979 - Home rule introduced to Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland). 1979 - Marshall Islands (in the Pacific) become self-governing. 1980 - Day in Hollywood, Night in Ukraine opens at John Golden theater in New York City for 588 performances. 1980 - 15th Academy of Country Music Awards: Barbara Mandrell wins. 1980 - American Book Award: William Styron (Sophie Choice)/T Wolfe (Right Stuff). 1980 - Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders play to 1:20 of 5th period in a playoff game. 1981 - Dr Clarence A Bacote, historian and political scientist, dies at age 75. 1981 - Harrison Williams (Senator-Democrat-New Jersey) convicted on FBI Abscam charges. 1981 - Peter Huchel, writer, dies at age 78. 1981 - Birth of Alexander Hleb; Belarusian football player. 1981 - Start of the new Chilean pension system, based on private pension funds. 1982 - Death of William Primrose, Scottish violist (born 1903). 1982 - 108th Kentucky Derby: Ed Delahoussaye on Gato Del Sol wins in 2:02.4. 1982 - Gene Sheldon, actor (Bernardo - Zorro), dies at age 72. 1982 - A Royal Air Force Avro Vulcan bomber takes off from Ascension Island and bombs Stanley Airport, Falkland Islands. 1982 - A crowd of over 100,000 attends the first day of the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. The fair is kicked off with an address by President Ronald Reagan. Over 11 million people attend the fair during its six month run. 1983 - My One and Only opens at Saint James Theater in New York City for 767 performances. 1983 - Hollis Stacy wins LPGA CPC International Golf Tournament. 1983 - Nolan Ryan surpasses Walter Johnson for most strikeouts (3,508). 1983 - V N Swamy, Indian cricket pace bowler (without distinction), dies. 1984 - Birth of Farah Fath, American actress. 1984 - Birth of Alexander Farnerud, Swedish footballer. 1984 - Gordon Jenkins, orchestra leader (NBC Comedy Hour), dies at age 73. 1984 - Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1984 - Mick Fleetwood (of Fleetwood Mac) files for bankruptcy. 1985 - "Communist" bomb attack kills two firemen in Brussels, Belgium. 1985 - US President Ronald Reagan ends embargo against Nicaragua. 1985 - William Hoffman's As Is premieres in New York City. 1986 - Bill Elliott sets stock car speed record of 212.229 mph. 1986 - Soviet news agency Tass reports Chernobyl nuclear power plant mishap. 1986 - Will Stegers expedition reaches North Pole. 1986 - Death of Hylda Baker, English comedy actress (born 1905). 1987 - Birth of Shahar Pe'er; Israeli tennis player. 1987 - 46 homeruns hit in 13 baseball games. 1987 - Pope John Paul II beatifies Edith Stein, a Jewish-born nun. 1988 - Birth of Kristopher Tate, Founder, Chief Technologist of Zooomr. 1988 - Birth of Darryl Knights, English footballer. 1988 - Romance/Romance opens at Helen Hayes Theater in New York City for 297 performances. 1988 - Carroll Righter, astrologer, dies at age 88 of prostate cancer. 1988 - Irish Republican Army attack in Roermond, kills three. 1988 - Paolo Stoppa, actor (Garibaldi, Visit, Freedom Fighters), dies. 1988 - Patti Rizzo wins LPGA Sara Lee Golf Classic. 1989 - The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World opens to the public. It covers 135 acres. Total construction costs were over US$500 million. Advertising and promotions for the opening cost US$30 million. Entrance prices are US$29 for adults, and US$23 for children aged 3-9. 1989 - David Webster, South African white anti-apartheids activist, murdered. 1989 - Douglass Watson, actor (Mac Cory - Another World), dies at age 68. 1989 - Jockey Chris Antley ends record of 64 consecutive winning days. 1989 - Marion Mack, actress (General), dies. 1989 - US Supreme Court rules employees have legal burden to prove non-discriminatory reasons for not hiring or promoting. 1989 - Death of Sally Kirkland, fashion editor at Life magazine (born 1912). 1990 - "Prelude to a Kiss" opens at Helen Hayes Theater New York City. 1990 - Sunset Carson, cowboy actor (El Paso Kid, Oregon Trail), dies at age 62. 1990 - Birth of Caitlin Stasey, Australian actress. 1991 - Will Rogers Follies opens at Palace Theater in New York City for 983 performances. 1991 - Oakland Athletics' Rickey Henderson breaks Lou Brock's record with his 939th base steal (vs New York Yankees). 1991 - Actor Robert Duvall weds Sharon Brophy. 1991 - Angola's civil war ends. 1991 - Last day of Test cricket for Gordon Greenidge. 1991 - Milwaukee Brewers beat Chicago Cubs, 10-9, in 19 innings. 1991 - Richard Thorpe, director (Jailhouse Rock, Night Must Fall), dies. 1991 - Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers pitches his seventh career no-hitter (breaking his own record), beating the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0. 1992 - Eric Houston kills four in a California high school where he failed history four years prior. 1992 - Los Angeles Dodgers postpone three games due to racial riots resulting from the Rodney King incident. 1992 - New York Rangers win their first ever 7th game of a playoff (vs New Jersey Devils). 1992 - Rickey Henderson steals his 1,000th base. 1993 - 119th Kentucky Derby: Jerry Bailey aboard Sea Hero wins in 2:02.4. 1993 - A Tamil Tigers suicide bomber assassinates President Ranasinghe Premadasa of Sri Lanka. 25 others die as well. 1993 - Hans [Henri EA] Tuynman, provo (Full-time Provo), dies at age 50. 1993 - Pierre Bérégovoy, former Prime Minister of France (1992-93), commits suicide at age 67. 1994 - My Fair Lady closes at Virginia Theater in New York City after 165 performances. 1994 - Rise and Fall of Little Voice opens at Neil Simon theater in New York City for 9 performances. 1994 - Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna dies in an accident during the San Marino Grand Prix. 1994 - Charles Kuralt retires as CBS newsman (On the Road). 1994 - Imre Gyöngyössy, Hungarian director, dies at age 64. 1994 - Sandra Palmer wins LPGA Sprint Senior Challenge Golf Tournament. 1994 - Sherri Steinhauer wins LPGA Sprint Golf Championship. 1994 - Tornado and hail storms hit Jiangxi, China, 95 killed. 1995 - "On the Waterfront" opens at Atkinson Theater in New York City for 8 performances. 1995 - Steve Waugh scores 200 for Australia versus West Indies at Sabina Park. 1996 - Ideal Husband opens at Barrymore Theater in New York City for 308 performances. 1996 - Asher Wallfish, journalist, dies at age 67. 1996 - Gerald Williams is first New York Yankees player since 1934 to get six hits in a game. 1996 - Ivo Rudolph Jarosy, film scholar/exhibitor, dies at age 74. 1996 - William Mitchell Byers, musician, dies on 79th birthday. 1997 - Bebe AKA Flipper, dolphin, dies at age 40. 1997 - Howard Stern Radio Show premieres in San Diego California on KIOZ 105.3 FM. 1997 - Tasmania becomes the last state in Australia to decriminalize homosexuality. 1997 - The United Kingdom's Labour Party ends 18 years of Conservative rule. 1997 - HM Prison Pentridge in Melbourne, Australia, is officially closed. 1997 - Birth of Ariel Gade, American actress. 1998 - Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film He Got Game to theaters in the USA. 1998 - Death of Eldridge Cleaver, American activist (born 1935). 1999 - 125th Kentucky Derby: Chris Antley aboard Charismatic wins in 2:03.2. 2001 - The Japanese cities of Urawa, Omiya, and Yono merge to form the city of Saitama. 2001 - Washington, DC police declare Chandra Levy missing (her remains are discovered a year later). 2002 - Tevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres establishes a new major league record for the most saves for one team: 321. 2003 - Death of Elizabeth Hulette, American wrestling manager and valet (born 1960). 2003 - George W. Bush lands on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, in a Lockheed S-3 Viking, where he gives a speech announcing the end of major combat in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. A banner behind him declares "Mission Accomplished." 2004 - The largest expansion to date of the European Union takes place, extending the Union by ten member-states: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Malta and Cyprus. 2004 - Barry Bonds sets a major league record by being walked four times intentionally in a nine-inning game. 2004 - The Sasser worm is first noticed on the loose, affecting Windows 2000 and Windows XP. The worm crashes and rebots computers, replicating itself to other computers. Millions of computers are quickly affected worldwide. 2005 - A suicide attack targets a Kurdish funeral in the northern Iraqi town of Talafar, near Mosul, killing at least 25 people and injuring more than 30 others. 2005 - Nintendo releases the Pokémon Emerald video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. 2006 - Bolivian President Evo Morales nationalizes his nation's gas fields. 2006 - The Great American Boycott takes place across the United States as marchers protest for immigration rights. 2008 - Great Britain's Labor Party suffers worst election defeat on record, losing 331 councilors in local elections to the opposition Conservatives, who gained 256. 2008 - Near the tip of the Aleutian island chain off Alaska, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake occurs. 2008 - A US navy ship off the coast of Somalia makes a missile attack on the home of Aden Hashi Ayro in Dusamareb, killing him and at least ten other people. Ayro was military leader of al-Shabab, in control of most of Somalia. 2008 - In Diyala province of Iraq, two suicide bombers detonate themselves in a market in Balad Ruz, killing at least 35 people and injuring 65. 2008 - In Havana, Cuba, hundreds of thousands of Cubans attend a May Day parade. 2008 - Death of Anthony Mamo, 1st President of Malta (born 1909). You can pick a particular day to view that day's events in history. Bookmark this URL:   http://thisdayinhistoryinfo.info/   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 Chronology of World War II Chronology of Personal Coins