This Day in History
May 12

What happened in history on this day: May 12? On May 12 in ... 254 - Saint Stephan I replaces Lucius I as Catholic Pope. 912 - Leo VI Sophos, Byzantine Emperor (886-912), dies at age 45. 919 - Duke Henry of Saxon becomes king Henry I of Oostfrankische rich. 1003 - Gerbert French scholar, dies in Rome. 1003 - Sylvester II [Gerbert van Aurillac], first Fren Pope (999-1003), dies. 1012 - Sergius IV [Pietro Crescentii], Italian Pope (1009-12), dies. 1082 - Battle at Mailberg: Vratislav II of Bohemia beats Leopold II of Austria. 1215 - English barons serve ultimatum on king John without Country. 1237 - The crusading order, "The Swordbrothers" is incorporated into the order, "The Teutonic Knights" by decree of Pope Gregory. 1264 - Battle of Lewes begins in England. 1328 - Louis IV de Beier selects P Rainalducci as anti-Pope Nicolaas V. 1382 - Johanna I Queen of Naples/Provence, dies. 1459 - Sun City India founded by Rao Jodhpur. 1525 - Battle at Böblingen: Zwabische Union beats rebel Württembergse farmers. 1534 - Württemberg becomes Lutheran. 1551 - San Marcos University in Lima Peru, opens. 1588 - Catholic League under duke Henri de Guise occupies Paris France. 1604 - Spanish garrison of Aardenburg surrenders to Mauritius. 1634 - George Chapman English dramatist/interpreter, dies. 1640 - Uprising against Spanish king Philip IV. 1641 - Prince Willem II (14) marries English princess Henriette Mary Stuart (9). 1641 - Thomas Wentworth English viceroy of Ireland, beheaded at age 48. 1649 - Isaac Doreslaer English lawyer/diplomat, murdered. 1662 - Birth of Jan F van Bloom [Orizonte] Flemish painter, baptized. 1670 - Birth of August II the Strong One, King of Poland (355 children). 1679 - Birth of Giovanni Antonio Ricieri composer. 1689 - England and Netherlands form League of Augsburg. 1695 - English king Willem III departs to Netherlands. 1700 - Birth of Luigi Vanvitelli Italian architect. 1701 - Drenthe adopts Gregorian calendar (yesterday is 4/29/1701). 1729 - Birth of Michaël F B Freiherr von Melas Austrian general (7 Year Wars). 1733 - Maria Theresa crowned queen of Bohemia in Prague. 1737 - Cornelis van Alkemade historian, dies at age 83. 1739 - Birth of Jan Krtitel Vanhal composer. 1739 - Birth of Johann Baptist Wanhal composer. 1751 - Birth of Gaetano Manna composer. 1754 - Birth of Franz Anton Hoffmeister composer. 1776 - Birth of Juan Bros y Bertomel composer. 1776 - Turgot, French minister of Finance, resigns. 1777 - First ice cream advertisement (Philip Lenzi-New York Gazette). 1780 - Charleston South Carolina falls to the British (Revolutionary War). 1788 - Louis E van Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Austrian duke, dies at age 69. 1789 - Society of Saint Tammany is formed by Revolutionary War soldiers. 1790 - Birth of [Johannes] Carsten Hauch Danish writer. 1792 - Toilet that flushes itself at regular intervals is patented. 1796 - Johann P Uz German poet (Theodicee), dies at age 75. 1797 - Birth of Johann Hermann Kufferath composer. 1803 - Birth of Justus Freiherr von Liebig German chemist (agricultural chemics). 1804 - Birth of Robert Baldwin (Liberal) helped establish cabinet government in Canada. 1806 - Birth of Amos Beebe Eaton Brevet Major General (Union Army), died in 1877. 1806 - Birth of J V Snellman Finland, journalist/statesman/nationalist. 1811 - Louis-Charles-Joseph Rey composer, dies at age 52. 1812 - Birth of Edward Lear England, landscape painter, (Complete Nonsense Book). 1812 - Birth of Louis Ludwig Blenker Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1863. 1813 - Birth of Johann Czerski German chaplin. 1814 - Robert Treat Paine US judge (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at age 83. 1820 - Birth of Florence Nightingale Florence Italy, nurse (Crimean War). 1825 - Elias Mann composer, dies at age 75. 1825 - Stanislao Mattei composer, dies at age 75. 1828 - Birth of Gabriel Dante Rossetti England, poet/painter, Pre-Raphaelite. 1829 - Birth of Paul Karrer composer. 1832 - Gaetano Donizetti's opera "L'Elisir D'amore" premieres in Milan. 1835 - Charles Darwin visits copper mines in North Chile. 1842 - Birth of Jules Emile Fred Massenet Montaud France, composer (Manon, Le Cid). 1843 - Johann Georg Lickl composer, dies at age 74. 1845 - August Wilhelm Schlegel German poet/interpreter/critic, dies at age 77. 1845 - Birth of Gabriel Urbain Fauré Pamiers France, composer (Requiem, Ballade). 1849 - Willem Alexander PFL crowned king Willem III in Amsterdam. 1852 - John Richardson Canadian writer (War of 1812), dies. 1861 - Birth of Ivan Caryll English composer (Pink Lady). 1861 - Christian Heinrich Hohmann composer, dies at age 50. 1862 - Federal troops occupy Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 1863 - Birth of Charles Bordes composer. 1863 - Battle of Raymond, Mississippi. 1864 - Abner Monroe Perrin, Confederate Brigadier-General, dies in battle at age 37. 1864 - J.E.B. Stuart, Confederate General, dies at age 31. 1864 - Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia. 1864 - Battle of Todd's Tavern, Virginia (Sheridan's Raid). 1864 - Butler attacks Drewry's Bluff on James River (Fort Darling). 1864 - US Union colonel Emory Upton (24) promoted to Brigadier-General. 1865 - Last land action of Civil war at Palmito Ranch, Texas. 1867 - Birth of Hugh Trumble cricket off-spinner (great Australian at turn of century). 1868 - Birth of Halsey William Wilson US, publisher of reference books. 1870 - Manitoba becomes a province of Canada. 1871 - Daniel-François-Esprit Auber French opera composer, dies at age 89. 1871 - John F W Herschel British astronomer (Catalogue of Nebulae), dies. 1871 - Segregated street cars integrated in Louisville Kentucky. 1874 - Birth of Clemens Freiherr von Pirquet Austrian physician (Reaction of Pirquet). 1874 - US Assay Office in Helena Montana authorized. 1875 - First recorded shutout in pro baseball, Chicago 1, Saint Louis 0. 1876 - Birth of Harold grandson of English queen Victoria. 1876 - Henri A Esquiros French poet (Evangile du peuple), dies at age 63. 1877 - Ottawa Rough Riders first outside competition versus Britannia. 1880 - Birth of Lincoln Ellsworth led first transarctic, transantarctic flights. 1880 - Birth of W Hupkes engineer/director (Dutch Rail 1938). 1881 - Treaty of Bardo, Tunisia becomes a French protectorate. 1884 - Bedrich Friedrich Smetana Czechoslovakia, composer (2 Widows), dies at age 60. 1885 - Battle of Batoche, French Canadians rebel against Canada. 1886 - Birth of Albert Saverys Flemish painter. 1886 - Birth of Hermann Grabner composer. 1886 - Birth of Piotr F Scharoff Russian/Italian actor/director (Chechov). 1887 - Birth of Nandor Zsolt composer. 1888 - Crouching start first used by Charles Sherrill of Yale. 1889 - Birth of Otto Frank father of Anne Frank. 1890 - Louisiana legalized prize fighting. 1891 - Riot against tax increase in Paramaribo Suriname. 1894 - Birth of Cleo Ridgely New York City, New York, silent screen actress (I Remember Mama, The Love Mask). 1894 - Ludwig Englander's musical "Passing Show" premieres in New York City. 1896 - Juan Morel Campos composer, dies at age 38. 1897 - 1800-1900-year-old fossil of "girl of Yde" found in Drente Netherlands. 1897 - Battle at Thessalië: Turkish army beats Greece. 1897 - Ulrika "Minna" Cant-Johnstown Finnish playwright, dies at age 53. 1897 - Willem Roelofs painter/lithographer, dies. 1898 - Louisiana adopts new constitution with "grandfather clause" designed to eliminate black voters. 1900 - Birth of Helene Weigel Austria/German actress (Metropolis, Mutter Courage). 1900 - Boer attack under Sarel Eloff, about 70 killed. 1900 - Lord Roberts' troops occupies Crown city. 1900 - Wilhelm Steinitz Prague, chess champion (1866-1894). 1901 - Birth of Hyam Greenbaum composer. 1901 - President McKinley visits San Francisco. 1902 - Birth of Heinrich Kirchner German sculptor. 1903 - Birth of Lennox R F Berkeley British composer (Castaway). 1903 - Birth of Wilfrid Hyde-White England; actor (My Fair Lady, Peyton Place). 1906 - Birth of William M Ewing US geologist/geophysicist. 1907 - Birth of Katharine Hepburn Hartford Connecticut, actress (African Queen, Adam's Rib, On Golden Pond). 1907 - Birth of Leslie Charteris English/US detective writer (Enter the Saint). 1907 - J K Huysmans writer, dies at age 59. 1908 - George Bernard Shaws' "Getting Married" premieres in London. 1908 - Melesio Morales composer, dies at age 69. 1908 - Wireless Radio Broadcasting is patented by Nathan B Stubblefield. 1909 - 34th Preakness: Willie Doyle aboard Effendi wins in 1:39.8. 1910 - Second NAACP conference (New York City). 1910 - Birth of Dorothy Crowfoot-Hodgkin British chemist (penicillin/B12/Nobel Prize 1964). 1910 - Birth of Gordon Jenkins Webster Grove Missouri, orchestra leader (NBC Comedy Hour). 1910 - Philadelphia Athletics Chief Bender no-hits Cleveland Indians, 4-0. 1912 - Birth of Marshall Royal jazz sax/clarinet. 1913 - Harry Green runs world record marathon (2:38:16.2). 1914 - Birth of Bertus Aafjes Dutch poet/writer. 1914 - Birth of Dan Daniel (Representative-Democrat-Virginia, 1969-). 1914 - Birth of Howard K Smith Los Angeles California, TV newsman (ABC, Moderated Kennedy-Nixon debate). 1915 - Croatians plunder Armenia, killing 250. 1915 - Franklin K Mathiews, presents the idea of "Book Week". 1916 - Birth of Ellis Bonoff Kohs composer. 1917 - 43rd Kentucky Derby: Charles Borel on Omar Khayyam wins in 2:04.6. 1917 - Birth of André A Rieu Dutch conductor. 1918 - Birth of Oscar Beregi Jr Hungary; actor (Young Frankenstein, Panic in City). 1918 - Birth or Julius Rosenberg in New York, USA; engineer for U.S. Army Signal Corps, executed for spying. 1919 - New York Yankees and Senators play second straight extra inning tie, 4-4 in 15. 1921 - Birth of Edvard Mikcaeli Mirzoyan composer. 1921 - Birth of Giovanni Benelli archbishop (Florence)/Papal candidate. 1921 - Birth of Henry Mackie designer of the Belfast Calorimeter. 1921 - Birth of Joseph Beuys Germany, avant-garde painter/politician. 1921 - Emilia Pardo Bazan Spanish writer (La sirena negra), dies. 1921 - National Hospital Day first observed. 1922 - Birth of Barend Busnac office clerk/resistance fighter. 1923 - 49th Preakness: Benny Marinelli aboard Vigil wins in 1:53.6. 1923 - Birth of Ewart G Abner record company executive. 1923 - Birth of Giovanni Testori Italian writer (Rocco e i suoi fratelli). 1923 - Birth of Lord Laing English biscuit manufacturer/pilot/multi-millionaire. 1924 - 50th Preakness: John Merimee aboard Nellie Morse wins in 1:57.2. 1924 - 7th PGA Championship: Walter Hagen at French Lick CC Indiana. 1924 - Charles Henri Marechal composer, dies at age 82. 1925 - Alfred Milner British Governor (Cape Colony)/minister, dies at age 71. 1925 - Amy Lowell writer, dies at age 51. 1925 - Artur Napoleao dos Santos composer, dies at age 82. 1925 - Birth of John Simon theater critic (New York Times). 1925 - Birth of Lawrence "Yogi" Berra New York Yankees catcher/coach/manager, New York Mets, Houston Astros. 1925 - Birth of Tony Hancock Birmingham England; actor (Rebel, Wrong Box). 1925 - Uzbekistan and Kirgizistan become autonomous Soviet republics. 1925 - Walter Hagen wins PGA golf tournament. 1926 - Birth of Earl Hutto Panama City Florida, (Representative-Democrat-Florida, 1979-). 1926 - Birth of Mervyn M Dymally (Representative-Democrat-California, 1981-). 1926 - British general strike ends. 1926 - Dmitri Shostakovich's first Symphony, premieres in Leningrad. 1926 - General Pilsudski sets coup on premier Witos compared. 1926 - Umberto Nobile flies Airship Norge is first vessel to fly over the North Pole. 1928 - Birth of Manuel Lujan Jr (Representative-Republican-New Mexico, 1969-). 1928 - Mussolini ends woman's rights in Italy. 1928 - Opium laws enforced. 1929 - Birth of Burt Bacharach Kansas City Missouri, composer (I'll Never Fall in Love Again). 1929 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Julia Peterkin (Scarlet Sister Mary). 1930 - Birth of Pat McCormick-Keller Lakewood California, platform/springboard diver (Olympics-4 gold-1952, 1956). 1930 - Pieter Jelles Troelstra Dutch SDAP leader, dies at age 70. 1930 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Marc Connelly (Green Pastures). 1931 - Birth of Johan Fleerackers Flemish vice-president of Dutch One. 1931 - Eugene-Auguste Ysaye composer, dies at age 72. 1932 - Dead body of kidnapped son of Charles Lindbergh is found in Hopewell, New Jersey. 1932 - The Mickey Mouse film Mickey's Revue is released to theaters in the USA. Pluto and Horace Horsecollar also appear. Goofy appears for the first time, with the name "Dippy Dawg". 1933 - Federal Emergency Relief Administration and Agricultural Adjustment Administration form to help the needy and farmers. 1934 - "Cocktails For Two" by Duke Ellington hits #1. 1934 - 60th Preakness: Robert Jones aboard High Quest wins in 1:58.2. 1935 - Josef Pilsudski Polish dictator (1926-35), dies. 1936 - Birth of Tom Snyder Milwaukee Wisconsin, newscaster (Tommorow, NBC Weekend News). 1936 - Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Poisoned Kiss" premieres in London. 1937 - Birth of Beryl Burton United Kingdom, won record (7) women's cycling titles. 1937 - Birth of George Carlin in Bronx, New York, USA; comedian (Seven words you can't say on television, AM and FM, Carwash). 1937 - Birth of Gerry E Studds (Representative-Democrat-Massachusetts, 1973-). 1937 - King George VI's coronation in Great Britain. 1937 - Saint Louis Cardinals beat Philadelphia Phillies, 15-3. 1938 - Birth of Andrei Amalrik Russian writer/dissident. 1938 - Birth of Millie Perkins Passaic New Jersey, actress (Jane-Knots Landings). 1938 - Birth of Susan Hampshire London England, actress (Vanity Fair, Living Free). 1938 - Sandoz Labs manufactures LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide). 1939 - Turkey and Great Britain conclude a security pact. 1939 - Birth of Ronald Ziegler press secretary (Nixon). 1940 - French mariners occupy Saint Maarten. 1940 - German forces break through the Maastricht-Hasselt defence line in Belgium. 1940 - German tanks conquer Moerdijkbrug. 1940 - Nazi blitz conquest of France began by crossing Meuse River. 1941 - Birth of Anthony Newman Los Angeles California, harpsichordist/organist (Bhajeb). 1941 - Birth of Little Jayotis Washington US R&B singer (Persuasions). 1941 - Birth of Ruud de Wolff singer/guitarist (Blue Diamonds). 1941 - Great British convoy marches into Alexandria. 1942 - Extermination of Jews begins at Auschwitz. 1942 - Birth of Barry B[rookes] Longyear US, sci-fi author (City of Baraboo). 1942 - Birth of Dumitru Dediu Romania, cosmonaut (Soyuz 40 backup). 1942 - Birth of Ian Dury Upminster Essex, rocker (Blockheads)/actor (Judge Dredd). 1942 - Birth of Susan Hampshire London, actress (David Copperfield). 1942 - Birth of Timothy Hugh Brown theatre critic. 1942 - David Ben-Gurion leaves Jewish state in Palestine. 1942 - Nazi U-boat sinks American cargo ship at mouth of Mississippi River. 1942 - Russia occupies Crackow, until August 23, 1943. 1943 - Albert Stoessel composer, dies at age 48. 1943 - Birth of Billy Swan Cape Giradeau Louisiana, rocker (I Can Help). 1943 - Birth of David Walker rock keyboardist (Gary Lewis and Playboys-Diamond Ring). 1943 - Birth of Linda Dano Los Angeles California, actress (Felicia Gallant-Another World). 1943 - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrives in US. 1944 - 900+ 8th Air Force bombers attack Zwikau, Bohlen and Brüx. 1944 - Arthur T Quiller-Couch [Q], British author/critic, dies at age 80. 1944 - Birth of Eva Demski; writer. 1944 - Birth of James Purify; American singer ("I'm Your Puppet"). 1944 - Krim purged of Nazi troops. 1944 - Secret Police arrest Gerrit Van de Peat in the Netherlands. 1945 - Birth of Jayotis Washington; rocker. 1945 - Birth of Linda Carlson in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; actress (Bev - Newhart, Katie - Kaz). 1945 - Birth of Willie Parnell; US singer (Archie Bell and the Drells). 1946 - Birth of Ian McLagen; rocker (Faces). 1946 - Birth of Leonard Baichan; cricketer (West Indies opener, 103 versus Pakistan on debut 1975). 1948 - Birth of Lindsay Ann Crouse in New York City, New York, USA; actress (Slapshot, Iceman, Places in Heart). 1948 - Birth of Steve Winwood in Birmingham, England; singer/songwriter/ keyboardist/guitarist ("Higher Love", "Roll With It"). 1948 - Isidor Achron, composer, dies at age 55. 1948 - Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands resigns. 1949 - Soviet land blockade of Berlin ends. 1950 - Birth of Billy Squier in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, USA; heavy metal guitarist ("Don't Say No"). 1950 - Birth of Bruce Boxleitner in Elgin, Illinois, USA; actor (Scarecrow and Mrs King, Babylon 5). 1950 - Birth of Gabriel Byrne in Dublin, Ireland; actor (Hello Again, Cool World). 1950 - Birth of Jocko Marcellino; rocker (Sha Na Na). 1950 - Birth of Renate Stecher-Meissner in the German Democratic Republic; sprinter (Olympics-gold-1972). 1950 - Birth of Shozo Fujii; judo champion. 1951 - First hydrogen bomb test, on Enewetak Atoll. 1951 - Birth of Gunnar Larrson in Sweden; 200 metre/400 metre swimmer (Olympics-gold-1972). 1951 - Birth of Kid Creole [August Darnell]; rocker/actor (Obsession A Taste of Fear). 1951 - Oscar DePriest, American politician (Representative-Democrat-Illinois), dies at age 80. 1955 - Birth of Kix Brooks in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA; singer (Brooks and Dunn - "Brand New Man"). 1956 - Brooklyn Dodgers' Carl Erskine's second no-hitter, beats New York Giants, 3-0. 1956 - East Pakistan is struck by cyclone and tidal waves. 1956 - Hendrik P Marchant, Dutch minister of Education, dies at age 87. 1956 - Vladimir Ambros, composer, dies at age 65. 1957 - Beverly Hanson wins LPGA Smokey Golf Open. 1957 - Birth of Lou[is Rodman] Whitaker; second baseman (Detroit Tigers). 1957 - Race car driver A.J. Foyt gets his first professional victory, in a U.S. Automobile Club (USAC) midget car race in Kansas City, Missouri. 1957 - Erich von Stroheim, Austrian/US actor (Grand Illusion), dies at age 71. 1958 - Birth of Beth Maitland; actress (Traci - The Young and the Restless). 1958 - Birth of Christian Brando, son of Marlon; killed sister's boyfriend. 1958 - Birth of Kim Greist in Stamford, Connecticut, USA; actress (CHUD, Brazil, Payoff, Manhunter). 1958 - US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Enwetak. 1959 - Birth of Dave Christian in Minnesota, USA; NHL right wing (Washington Capitals, Olympics-gold-1980). 1960 - Birth of Lisa Martin; Australian marathoner (Olympics-silver 1988). 1960 - Birth of Lisa Ondieki; Australian marathoner (Olympics-1984, 1988, 1996). 1960 - Cecil Armstrong Gibbs, composer, dies at age 70. 1961 - Birth of Billy Duffy; rocker (The Cult - "Hell's Kitchen"). 1961 - Birth of Ray Gillen in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, USA; rocker (Badlands - "Dreams in the Dark"). 1961 - Botvinnik wins world chess championship for third time. 1962 - Birth of Amy Benz in Rochester, New York, USA; LPGA golfer (1994 Oldsmobile Classic-3rd). 1962 - Birth of Emilio Estevez in New York City, New York, USA; actor (The Breakfast Club, Young Guns, The Mighty Ducks). 1962 - Birth of Mark Bradshaw in Happy Camp, California, USA; diver (Olympics-1996). 1962 - Dick Calkins, co-author (Buck Rogers), dies at age 67. 1962 - US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island. 1963 - Birth of Vanessa Williams in Brooklyn, New York, USA; actress (Rhonda Blair - Melrose Place). 1963 - Mickey Wright wins LPGA Alpine Civitan Golf Open. 1963 - Race riot in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. 1963 - Stanislaw Wiechowicz, composer, dies at age 69. 1964 - Birth of Joy Ellen Kitzmiller in Los Angeles, California, USA; American badminton player (Olympics-1992). 1964 - Manlio Brosio chosen as secretary-general of NATO. 1965 - Birth of Stacy Wilson; ice hockey forward (Canada, Olympics-1998). 1965 - Birth of Steve Finley in Union City, Tennessee, USA; outfielder (San Diego Padres). 1965 - Israel and West Germany exchange letters, beginning diplomatic relations. 1965 - Roger Vailland, French playwright (La Truite), dies at age 57. 1966 - Birth of Rafael Bournigal in Azua, Dominican Republic; infielder (Oakland Athletics). 1966 - Birth of Stephen Baldwin; actor (Beast, Lawrenceville Stories, Usual Suspects). 1966 - Birth of Steven Conran in Lithgow, New South Wales; Australasia golfer. 1966 - Busch Stadium (Saint Louis, Missouri) opens, Atlanta Braves lose to Saint Louis Cardinals 4-3 in 12 innings. 1967 - Birth of Cara Coughenour in Sioux City, Iowa, USA; female pitcher (Colorado Silver Bullets). 1967 - Birth of Lawrence Rucchin; hockey defenseman (Team Italy 1998). 1967 - Birth of Robert Blackmon; defensive back (Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks). 1967 - Birth of Warren Rychel in Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada; NHL left wing (Colorado Avalanche). 1967 - H Rap Brown replaces Stokely Carmichael as chairman of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. 1967 - Julius Kalas, composer, dies at age 64. 1968 - "March of Poor" under Reverend Abernathy reaches Washington DC. 1968 - Birth of Mark Clark in Bath, Illinois, USA; pitcher (New York Mets). 1968 - Mickey Wright wins LPGA Tall City Golf Open. 1969 - Birth of Kim Fields Freeman in Los Angeles, California, USA; actress (Tootie - Facts of Life, Regine - Living Single). 1969 - Kenneth H Wallis achieves record speed for an autogiro-179 KPH. 1970 - Birth of Andreas Hestler in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; cyclist (Olympics-1996). 1970 - Birth of Andrew Coltart in Dumfries, Scotland; Australasia golfer. 1970 - Birth of James Michael Furyk in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA; PGA golfer (1994 Las Vegas-5th). 1970 - Birth of Mike Malizia in Utica, New York, USA; Nike golfer (1993 Doral-Ryder Open-61st). 1970 - Birth of Mike Weir in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada; Canadian Tour golfer (Ontario Amateur-1990, 1992). 1970 - Birth of Stevie Anderson; NFL wide receiver (Arizona Cardinals). 1970 - Birth of Todd Hallett in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada; rower (Olympics-1992, 1996). 1970 - Ernie Banks hits his 500th home run. 1970 - Harry A Blackmun is confirmed as a justice on the US Supreme Court. 1970 - Death of Nelly (Leonie) Sachs at age 78 in Stockholm, Sweden (born in Berlin, Germany); poet, playwright, won German Publishers' Peace Prize in 1965 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1966.. 1970 - Race riots in Augusta, Georgia, USA; six blacks killed (5 by cops). 1970 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1970 - Wladyslaw Anders, Polish general (WWI, WWII), dies at age 78. 1971 - Birth of Craig Novitsky; NFL tackle (New Orleans Saints). 1971 - Birth of Jamie Luner in Palo Alto, California, USA; actress (Cindy - Just the 10 of Us). 1971 - Birth of Tommy Johnson; WLAF cornerback (Amsterdam Admirals). 1971 - In Western Turkey, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurs, 220 miles southwest of Anakara in the Burdur area. 100 persons killed, thousands of buildings damaged or destroyed. 1971 - J M Taylor, cricketer (20 Tests 1920-26, 997 runs), dies. 1971 - Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger weds Bianca Macias at Saint Tropez Town Hall. 1972 - Birth of Annette Albertson in Reno, Nevada, USA; Miss America-Nevada (1997). 1972 - Birth of David Oaks; 100 metre/200 metre runner. 1972 - Birth of Jason Kyle; NFL linebacker (Seattle Seahawks). 1972 - Birth of Michelle Kahn; Miss Universe-Trinidad and Tobago (1996). 1972 - Birth of Paul Stout in Saugus, California, USA; actor (Phillip - Scarecrow and Mrs King). 1973 - 6th ABA championship: Indiana Pacers beat Kentucky Colonels, 4 games to 3. 1973 - Birth of MacKenzie Astin in Los Angeles, California, USA; actor (Facts of Life, Garbage Pail Kids). 1973 - Birth of Stefano Margoni; hockey forward (Team Italy 1998). 1973 - Frances Marion, screenwriter (Pollyanna, Camille), dies at age 85. 1974 - 28th NBA Championship: Boston Celtics beat Milwaukee Bucks, 4 games to 3. 1974 - Birth of Anna Ozolins; Australian rower (Olympics-1996). 1974 - Birth of Tiffany Stoker in Clovis, California, USA; Miss America (California-4th-1996). 1974 - Jo Ann Prentice wins LPGA American Defender-Raleigh Golf Classic. 1975 - Birth of Lawrence Phillips; running back (Saint Louis Rams). 1975 - US merchant ship Mayaguez seized by Cambodian forces. 1976 - Bayern Munich wins 21st Europe Cup 1. 1976 - Birth of Matthew P Newmark; actor (Joseph Carroll - Guns of Paradise). 1977 - First quadraphonic concert (Pink Floyd in London, England). 1977 - Birth of Iva Majoli in Yugoslavia; tennis star. 1977 - Birth of Monique de Bruin in Portland, Oregon; fencer-foil (Olympics-1996). 1978 - Birth of Amy Wheaton; actress (Curse). 1978 - Birth of Thomas Odoyo, cricketer (Kenyan all-rounder 1996 World Cup). 1978 - US Commerce Department announces that hurricane names will no longer be exclusively female. 1979 - Chris Evert's 125-match winning streak on clay comes to an end. 1980 - Lillian Roth, actress (Animal Crackers, Alice Sweet Alice), dies. 1981 - Birth of Kentaro Sato; Japanese composer. 1981 - Lena Horne: Lady, Music opens at Nederlander theater in New York City for 333 performances. 1981 - Benjamin H Sheares, President of Singapore, dies. 1982 - Birth of Zoe Lister; British actress. 1982 - FC Barcelona wins 22nd Europe Cup II. 1982 - Humphrey Searle, writer (20th Century counterpoint), dies at age 66. 1982 - Pulitzer prize awarded to John Updike (Rabbit is Rich). 1982 - US Football League forms. 1982 - Ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 sails from Southampton, England, as a troop transport for the British navy in its war to regain the Falkland Islands. 1982 - Spanish priest Juan María Fernández y Krohn tries to stab Pope John Paul II with a bayonet during the latter's pilgrimage to the Fatima, Portugal shrine. 1982 - Braniff International Airways is declared bankrupt and ceases all flights. 1983 - Julie Lynne Hayek (California) crowned 32nd Miss USA. 1984 - Joe Lucius scores his 13th hole-in-one on the same hole. 1984 - South Africa prisoner Nelson Mandela sees his wife for first time in 22 years. 1984 - World of Rivers world exposition opens in New Orleans, Louisiana. 1984 - The Louisiana World's Fair opens. 1984 - Space shuttle Discovery (OV-103) moves from Orbiter Processing Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC, for mating for 41-D (STS-14) for the first use of this Shuttle. 1984 - Doris May, actress (Peck's Bad Boy), dies of heart failure at age 81. 1984 - France performs nuclear test. 1985 - Birth of Dániel Tozsér; Hungarian footballer. 1985 - Amy Eilberg is ordained in New York as first woman Conservative rabbi. 1985 - Jean Debuffet, French painter/sculptor, dies (born 1901). 1985 - Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA United Virginia Bank Golf Classic. 1985 - Baseball game at Cleveland stadium between Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers rained out, ending a league record 458 games being played before the first rain out a season. 1986 - Birth of Emily VanCamp; Canadian actress. 1986 - Elisabeth Bergner, Austrian actress, dies at age 85 (born 1897). 1986 - Fred Markham (US), unpaced and unaided by wind, is first to pedal 65 mph on a level course, Big Sand Flat California. 1986 - US President Ronald Reagan appoints Dr James C Fletcher NASA Administrator. 1987 - Birth of Darren Randolph; Irish football goalkeeper. 1987 - Victor Feldman, pianist/drummer, dies at age 53. 1988 - Chet Baker, American jazz trumpeter, falls to death out of a hotel window at age 59 (born 1929). 1989 - Entertainment Tonight performs their 2,000th TV performance. 1989 - Joe Valdez Caballero, creator of hard taco shell, dies at age 81. 1989 - Last graffiti-covered New York City subway car retired. 1989 - Marcelle de Manziarly, composer, dies at age 89. 1989 - Retired British pilot Jack Mann is kidnapped by Islamic fundamentalists. 1989 - A Southern Pacific Railroad freight train crashes on Duffy Street in San Bernardino, California. 1990 - Comic Relief '90 (4th one) raises $4.7 million. 1991 - A new cancer drug is announced, which can only be found in bark of a rare tree in the Pacific Northwest. 1991 - Birth of Bradford N. Smith, American actor. 1991 - Hollis Stacy wins LPGA Crestar-Fresh Farm Golf Classic. 1992 - First Belgian woman (Ingrid Baeyens) to ascend Mount Everest. 1992 - Joe Burke, president (Kansas City Royals), dies at age 68. 1992 - Robert Reed; actor (Brady Bunch), dies of AIDS at age 59 (born 1932). 1992 - Birth of Malcolm David Kelley, American actor. 1993 - Final episode of six year run of ABC's Wonder Years in Netherlands. 1993 - Last broadcast of Cheers on NBC-TV. 1993 - CBS' TV show Knots Landing ends 14 year run with 334th show. 1993 - Parma wins 33rd Europe Cup II. 1994 - Alfred Lane Beit, connoisseur, dies at age 91. 1994 - David Brooks, psychologist, dies at age 91. 1994 - Helen Lee Mai, Hong Kong actress, dies at age 63. 1994 - U.K. Labour Party leader John Smith, 55, dies of a heart attack. Deputy leader Margaret Beckett stands in until an election can be held. 1994 - Birth of Drew Mikuska, American actor. 1994 - WIBC Bowling Queens won by Anne Marie Duggan. 1994 - Xenophon Balaskas, cricketer (9 Tests for South Africa, 22 wickets), dies. 1994 - Ice hockey becomes Canada's official winter sport. 1995 - Birth of Luke Benward, American actor. 1995 - Birth of Sullivan and Sawyer Sweeten, American actors. 1995 - Arthur Lubin, film director, dies at age 95. 1995 - Dow Jones Industrial Average for fifth straight day of the week sets a new record (4430.59). 1995 - Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Crimson Tide to theaters in the USA. 1995 - Giorgio Belladonna, bridge champion, dies at age 71. 1995 - Jose Mesa gets first of his Major League record 37 consecutive saves. 1995 - Martin Brodeur ties NHL record getting his third playoff shutout in four periods. 1995 - Reza Abdoh, theatre director, dies at age 32. 1996 - Inherit the Wind closes at Royale Theater in New York City after 45 performances. 1996 - Night of the Iguana closes at Criterion Theater in New York City after 68 performances. 1996 - 42nd McDonald's LPGA Championship won by Laura Davies. 1996 - Hubert William Dean, air armaments specialist, dies at age 84. 1996 - Robert Edwin Hall, mountaineer/businessman, dies at age 35. 1996 - New York Yankees losing 8-0 to Chicago White Sox, come back to win 9-8. 1997 - Fourteen North Koreans defect to South Korea. 1997 - Anaheim Angels score 13 in 7th versus Chicago White Sox. 1997 - Russia and Chechnya sign peace deal after 400 years of conflict. 1997 - Susie Maroney, 22, of Australia, is first to swim from Cuba to Florida. 1997 - Tornado narrowly misses downtown Miami, Florida. 1999 - Death of Saul Steinberg, Romanian-born cartoonist (born 1914). 1999 - David Steel becomes the first Presiding Officer (Speaker) of the modern Scottish Parliament. 2000 - Death of Adam Petty, American race car driver (born 1980). 2000 - The Tate Modern Gallery opens in London, England. 2001 - Death of Perry Como, American singer (born 1912). 2002 - Former President Jimmy Carter arrives in Cuba for a five-day visit with Fidel Castro, becoming the first U.S. President, in or out of office, to visit the island since Castro's 1959 revolution. 2002 - The Russian Shuttle Buran is destroyed when the roof of the hangar collapses, killing eight workers. 2003 - A suicide truck-bomb attack kills at least 60 at a government compound in northern Chechnya. 2003 - In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 26 people are killed in the Riyadh Compound Bombings. 2003 - Birth of Madeleine McCann, missing English toddler. 2003 - Death of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, French United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (born 1933). 2004 - An American civilian contractor in Iraq, Nick Berg, is shown being decapitated by a group allegedly linked to al-Qaida on a web-distributed video. 2004 - At Dodger Stadium, Alex Cora of Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits foul off 14 consecutive pitches, then hits the 18th thrown for a two-run home run. 2005 - An election is held in the Cayman Islands seven months later than originally scheduled due to Hurricane Ivan. It results in a change of government, with the United Democratic Party giving four seats to the then-opposition People's Progressive Movement in the 15 member Legislative Assembly. 2007 - The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 is held in Helsinki, resulting in Serbia's first victory. 2007 - The Walt Disney Company debuts a new kids' TV show, My Friends Tigger & Pooh. The show introduces a new character, Darby, a six-year-old girl. 2007 - Death of Mullah Dadullah Akhund, Afghani Taliban military leader. 2008 - A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hits China's southwestern Sichuan province, killing about 90,000, injuring 300,000, leaving 5 milion homeless. 2008 - Death of Robert Rauschenberg, American pop artist (born 1925). 2008 - Death of Irena Sendler, at age 98. Sendler saved Jews from Warsaw ghetto during World War II, and received Poland's White Eagle in 2003. 2009 - The Cannes film festival opens in France, with a preview of the Disney-Pixar 3D animation comedy film Up. 2009 - A rare blue diamond (7.03 carats, graded flawless) mounted on a platinum ring, sells for a record 10.5 million Swiss francs (US$9.5 million) at auction in Geneva, Switzerland. 2009 - Gordon Campbell wins a historic third straight term as British Columbia's premier in Canada. His Liberal party win 49 of 85 seats to the NDP's 36 seats. 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