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Historical Events 1814 - British attack Fort Ontario, Oswego, New York 1908 - 34th Kentucky Derby: Arthur Pickens aboard 66-1 chance Stone Street wins in muddy track conditions; 2:15.20 slowest Derby in history 1938 - MLB Philadelphia Phillies Harold Kelleher pitcher faces 16 batters in 6th, as Cubs score 12 runs, both marks are NL records off one hurler in a single inning 1980 - Siege at Iranian Embassy in London ends as the SAS and police storm the building 1990 - 35th Eurovision Song Contest: Toto Cutugno for Italy wins singing "Insieme: 1992" in Zagreb More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1680 - Giuseppe Porsile, Neapolitan composer, born in Naples, Kingdom of Naples, Spanish Empire (d. 1750) 1873 - Leon Czolgosz, American anarchist and assassin of US President William McKinley, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1901) 1904 - Gordon Richards, British jockey (26 x British flat racing Champion Jockey; 4,870 race wins), born in Donnington Wood, Telford (d. 1986) 1921 - Sonja Oosterman, Dutch pop singer and lyricist (De Marketentsters en De Musketiers), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 2008) 1936 - Patrick Gowers, British choral and film score composer (Viri Galilaei; Hamlet; Smiley's People), born in Islington, England (d. 2014) More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1678 - Anna M van Schurman, Dutch poet, spoke 10 languages, dies at about 70 1808 - Pierre Jean George Cabanis, French physiologist, dies at 50 1864 - John Marshall Jones, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), dies in battle at 43 1996 - Bernard Benjamin Gillis [Kyanski] British jurist (High Court , 1964-80), dies at 89 2000 - Gino Bartali, Italian cyclist (Tour de France 1938, 48; Giro d'Italia 1936-7, 46), dies of a heart attack at 85 More Famous Deaths »

1883 - John Gordon Cashman publishes the first edition of the "Vicksburg Evening Post" in Mississippi 1919 - Demonstrates organised by students erupt in China, after news from the Paris Peace Conference that the Allies intend to give Shangtung to Japan 1933 - Pulitzer Prize for poetry awarded to Archibald Macleish for "Conquistador" 1961 - Malcolm Ross and Victor Prather reach a record height of 34,668 meters in a balloon 1968 - 1st ABA championship: Pitts Pipers beat NO Buccaneers, 4 games to 3 1977 - US Catholic bishops rescind automatic excommunications for divorced and remarried Catholics (receiving communion still outlawed if the previous marriages were not annulled by Church tribunals) 1991 - Phil Collins, Al Jarreau, Ikutaro Kakehashi and Joe Zawinul receive honorary doctorate degrees from the Berklee College of Music in Boston 1991 - MLB Cleveland Indians' Chris James sets club record for most RBIs in a game (9) 1992 - US Army and Marine Corps forces arrive in Los Angeles to end rioting following the acquittal of four police officers over the beating of Rodney King 2016 - Ohio Governor John Kasich bows out of the race for US Republican Presidential nominee More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1868 - World's largest book, the "Kuthodaw Inscription Shrines," recording the whole of Buddhist scriptures on 729 marble tablets, is completed and opened to the public in Mandalay, Burma 1919 - Demonstrates organised by students erupt in China, after news from the Paris Peace Conference that the Allies intend to give Shangtung to Japan 1958 - Alberto Lleras Camargo chosen as president of Colombia 2002 - 128th Kentucky Derby: Victor Espinoza aboard War Emblem wins in 2:01.13 2013 - 39 people are killed at a funeral in Wukari, Nigeria More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1893 - Edgar Dearing, American actor (Pollyanna, Abraham Lincoln, Free and Easy), born in Ceres, California (d. 1974) 1921 - Edo Murtić, Croatian painter, born in Velika Pisanica, Bjelovar, Croatia (d. 2005) 1933 - J. Fred Duckett, American sports announcer (Houston Astros, Rice University, US Track and Field) and teacher, born in Houston, Texas (d. 2007) 1989 - Rory McIlroy, Irish golfer (Masters 2025; US Open 2011, British Open 2014, PGA C'ship 2012, 14; FedEx Cup 2016, 19, 22), born in Holywood, Northern Ireland 1994 - Pauline Ducruet, daughter of HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, born in Princess Grace Hospital Centre, La Colle, Monaco More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1859 - Joseph Diez Gergonne, French mathematician, dies at 87 1919 - Milan Rastislav Štefánik, Slovak politician, French army general (WWI), Czecho-Slovak nationalist resistance leader, aviator, and astronomer, dies in a plane crash at 38 1971 - Donald Dexter Van Slyke, American chemist (Micromanometric analysis), dies at 88 1975 - Moe Howard [Moses Horowitz], American actor and comedian (The 3 Stooges), dies at 77 1999 - Brinsley Ford, British art historian and CEO (National Art Collections Fund), dies at 90 More Famous Deaths »

1837 - The University of Athens is founded by King Otto of Greece - first modern university in the Eastern Mediterranean 1902 - 28th Kentucky Derby: Jimmy Winkfield on Alan-a-Dale wins in 2:08.75 1922 - Salt layer find at Winterswijk 1953 - Westchester conference of American Library Association proclaims "Freedom to Read" 1968 - Holland Pirate Radio Station VRON becomes Radio Veronica Intl 1970 - World premiere of The Beatles' "Let it Be" documentary film directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, in New York City 1982 - NY Times reports that military will get 25% of NASA's budget 1992 - NY Met Eddie Murray is 24th to hit 400 HRs 2018 - Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan becomes NFL's first $30m per season player after agreeing to $150m contract extension 2018 - Indian government confirms around 110 people have died in dust storms in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in the last 9 days More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1765 - 1st North American medical college opens in Philadelphia 1830 - First regular steam train passenger service in the US starts in South Carolina, with U.S.-built locomotive “The Best Friend of Charleston” 1867 - Hudson's Bay Company gives up all claims to Vancouver Island 1900 - 26th Kentucky Derby: Jimmy Boland aboard Lieut Gibson wins in 2:06.25 2018 - Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan becomes NFL's first $30m per season player after agreeing to $150m contract extension More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1895 - Ernst Kantorowicz, German-American historian (Laudes regiae), born in Posen, Prussia (d. 1963) 1920 - John Lewis, American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer (Modern Jazz Quartet, 1952-97), born in La Grange, Illinois (d. 2001) 1964 - Ron Hextall, Canadian ice hockey goalie (Vezina and Conn Smyth Trophy 1987) and executive (GM Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins), born in Brandon, Manitoba 1968 - Shane Minor, American country music singer, born in Modesto, California 1979 - Genevieve Nnaji, Nigerian actress and director (Lionheart), born in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1763 - George Psalmanazar, British impostor (b. 1679) 1764 - Francesco Algarotti, Italian art collector and encyclopedist (Viaggio in Russia), dies at 53 1983 - Armando José Fernandes, Portuguese neoclassical composer, dies at 76 2005 - Pierre Moerlen, French rock-jazz fusion drummer and percussionist (Gong; Mike Oldfield), dies at 52 2008 - Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo, Spanish former Primer Minister (b. 1926) More Famous Deaths »

1809 - Dartmoor Prison in England opens to house French prisoners of war 1906 - Tsar Nicolas II of Russia dismisses his moderate Prime Minister Witte and appoints Ivan Goremykin, a conservative bureaucrat 1950 - Dutch PM Malan recognizes South-Africa but not People's Republic of China 1956 - US Lab detects high-temperature microwave radiation from Venus 1979 - 14th Academy of Country Music Awards: Kenny Rogers and Barbara Mandrell win 1985 - US performs underground nuclear test "Towanda" at Nevada Test Site, with an estimated 150 ton yield 1993 - "Tango Passion" closes at Longacre Theater NYC after 5 performances 1998 - 124th Kentucky Derby: Kent Desormeaux aboard Real Quiet wins in 2:02.20 2011 - E. coli O104:H4 outbreak strikes Europe, mostly in Germany, leaving more than 30 people dead and many others sick 2019 - Drone delivers a kidney for transplant surgery in Baltimore, Maryland, for the first time More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1876 - Ross Barnes hit 1st home run in National League 1906 - 32nd Kentucky Derby: Roscoe Troxler aboard Sir Huon wins in 2:08.8 1968 - 22nd NBA Championship: Boston Celtics beat LA Lakers, 4 games to 2 1981 - Radio Shack re-releases Model III TRSDOS 1.3 with 2 fixes 1999 - John Elway announces his retirement from the NFL More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1844 - Elijah McCoy, Canadian-American inventor of African descent, notable for his 57 US patents (lubrication of steam engines), born in Colchester, Ontario (d. 1929) 1904 - Georgi Dimitrov, Bulgarian composer, born in Belogradchik, Bulgaria (d. 1979) 1929 - Edward Levy, American composer, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2002) 1973 - Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, German film director and screenwriter (The Lives of Others), born in Cologne, Germany 1987 - Nana Kitade, Japanese singer and songwriter, born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 373 - Athanasius, Greek early church Father, theologian and Patriarch of Alexandria (298-373) (b. 298) 1985 - Bridget D'Oyly Carte, British theater and hotel director, dies of lung cancer at 77 1990 - Oleg Anatolyevich Yakovlev, Russian cosmonaut, dies at 49 1992 - Wilbur Mills, American politician (US Representative from Arkansas, 1939-77), famous for his involvement in a sex scandal with Fanne Foxe, dies at 82 2017 - Leo Thorsness, American Vietnam War pilot (Medal of Honor), dies at 85 More Famous Deaths »

1778 - American Revolution: The Battle of Crooked Billet begins in Hatboro, Pennsylvania. 1863 - Battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi 1927 - Imperial Airways is the first British airliner to serve cooked meals 1946 - The Paris Peace Conference concludes that the islands of the Dodecanese should be returned to Greece by Italy 1950 - Gwendolyn Brooks is the first African American awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry for "Annie Allen" 1977 - American golfer Gene Littler wins the Houston Open, his 29th and final PGA title 1980 - 15th Academy of Country Music Awards: Larry Gatlin and Crystal Gayle win 1995 - Montreal Canadiens lose 2-0 at Buffalo to miss Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 25 years 2004 - Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia join the European Union, celebrated at the residence of the Irish President in Dublin. 2005 - 17-year old Lionel Messi scores his 1st senior league goal for FC Barcelona in 2-0 win against Albacete Balompié, at the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1759 - British fleet occupies Guadeloupe, West Indies, capturing it from France 1795 - Kamehameha I, King of Hawaiʻi defeats Kalanikupule and conquers island of Oʻahu at Battle of Nuʻuanu [approx. date] 1921 - Drusian sultan Pasja al-Atrasj elected governor of Suwayda 1947 - Radar for commercial and private planes is first demonstrated 1954 - WAPA TV channel 4 in San Juan, PR (NBC/SFN) begins broadcasting More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1915 - Archie Williams, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m 1936), born in Oakland, California (d. 1993) 1928 - Raoul Servais, Belgian cartoonist and filmmaker (Harpya, Palme d'Or 1979), born in Ostend, Belgium (d. 2023) 1930 - Little Walter [Marion Walter Jacobs], blues singer-songwriter and harmonica player, born in Marksville, Louisiana (d. 1968) 1941 - Juraj Hatrík, Slovak composer (Monumento malinconico; Dispute Over a Plastered Dwarf), and educator, born in Orkucany, Slovak Republic (d. 2021) 1987 - Shahar Pe'er, Israeli tennis player (5 WTA singles titles), born in Jerusalem, Israel More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1896 - Nasr-ed-Din, shah of Persia (184.-96), murdered at 65 1963 - Lope K. Santos, Filipino writer and Father of the Philippine National Language and Grammar, dies at 83 1971 - Glenda Farrell, American actress (Golddiggers of 1935: Grand Slam; Exposed), dies of lung cancer at 66 2014 - Assaf Dayan, Israeli actor (He Walked Through the Fields), dies at 68 2017 - Mike Lowry, American politician (Rep-D-WA, 1979-89, Governor of Washington 1993-97), dies at 78 More Famous Deaths »

1804 - The New Hague Theater opens in The Hague, Netherlands 1864 - Battle of Jenkin's Ferry, Arkansas; Confederate General William Reid Scurry is killed 1922 - Chicago pitcher Charlie Robertson throws a perfect game as the White Sox beat Detroit Tigers, 2-0 at Navin Field 1945 - Adolf Hitler commits suicide along with his new wife Eva Braun in the Fuhrerbunker in Berlin as the Red Army captures the city 1967 - MLB Baltimore Orioles' Stu Miller and Steve Barber lose 2-1 despite no-hitting Tigers 1988 - NY Knights 1st arena football game beats Cobras 60-52 (10,157 in LA) 1990 - As Met pitcher David Cone argues a call at 1st base, 2 Braves score 2015 - US senator Bernie Sanders announces he will seek the Democratic Party's nomination for President 2018 - Superhero film "Avengers: Infinity War" sets new record for an opening weekend earning $250 million in the US, $630 million worldwide 2020 - Russian Prime Minister Mikhail V. Mishustin says he has COVID-19 More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1665 - Naval battle in Bay of Barbados between attacking Dutch fleet led by Michiel de Ruyter damages ships but fails to take the English-held fort 1962 - NASA civilian pilot Joseph A. Walker takes X-15 to 75,190 m 1962 - LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Mickey Wright wins her 8th major title in a playoff with Ruth Jessen 1988 - NY Yank Dave Winfield gets his 29th RBI of April-Sets AL and ties ML Rec 2000 - Pope John Paul II canonizes Polish nun Sister Faustina [Helena Kowalska] as a Catholic saint More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1912 - Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado, Deputy Prime Minister of Spain (1976-81) and Minister of Defense (1977-79), born in Madrid (d. 1995) 1931 - Bill Clay, American politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri), born in St. Louis, Missouri 1969 - Joey Restivo, American pop-rock percussionist (Linear - "Sending All My Love"), born in Brooklyn, New York 1982 - Cleo Higgins, British singer and actress (Cleopatra), born in Birmingham, England 1983 - Yamini, Tamil singer, born in India More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 535 - Amalaswintha, queen of Ostrogoths, murdered in the bath at about 37 1660 - Peter Scriverius, Dutch lawyer and historian, dies at 84 1976 - Edvard Fliflet Braein, Norwegian composer (Ut mot havet (Out To Sea); Anne Pedersdotter), dies at 51 2005 - Ron Todd, British trade unionist (TGWU General Secretary, 1985-92), dies at 78 2015 - Ben E. King [Nelson], American soul singer (Stand By Me), dies at 76 More Famous Deaths »

1943 - German pastor and anti-Nazi dissident Dietrich Bonhoeffer arrested by the Gestapo 1951 - China seizes the assets of the Asiatic Petroleum Company, a joint venture between the Shell and Royal Dutch oil companies in retaliation for the Hong Kong Government's requisitioning of the tanker Yung Hao 1965 - Malta becomes 18th member of Council of Europe 1971 - Boeing receives contract for Mariner 10, Mercury exploration 1982 - American mafia hitman Richard Kuklinski murders pharmacist Paul Hoffman by beating him with a tire iron 1997 - MLB Kansas City Royals Chili Davis is 75th to hit 300 HRs 2005 - New Zealand's first civil union takes place 2016 - Canadian musician Drake releases "Views", his 4th studio album 2019 - Indonesia announces plan to relocate its capital from Jakarta due to the city sinking, according to a government minister 2023 - 72-hour ceasefire in Sudan breaks down between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, as air and artillery strikes on Khartoum resume More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1540 - Emperor Charles declares all privileges of Ghent ended 1707 - English and Scottish parliaments accept Act of Union; creates the United Kingdom of Great Britain (comes into being 1st May) 1964 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1991 - "Don't Rock the Jukebox" single released by Alan Jackson (ASCAP Award Country Song of the Year, 1992; Billboard Song of the Year, 1991) 1995 - Longest sausage ever, at 28.77 miles, made in Kitchener, Ontario More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1896 - Walter Mehring, German writer (Die Gedichte, Lieder und Chansons des Walter Mehring), born in Berlin, Germany (d. 1981) 1901 - G. O. Sayles, English historian, born in Chesterfield, England (d. 1994) 1932 - King Hu, Chinese film director and actor (wuxia films), born in Beijing, Republic of China (d. 1997) 1947 - Sam Francis, American far-right conservative columnist and editor (The Washington Times, 1991-95), born in Chattanooga, Tennessee (d. 2005) 1954 - Deborah Iyall, American artist and singer (Romeo Void), born in Soap Lake, Washington More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1943 - Joseph Achron, Lithuanian-American concert violinist and composer (Golem Suite), dies at 56 1975 - Darwin Judge, USMC-corporal, 1 of last US soldiers killed in Vietnam 1982 - Herbert Collum, German composer, dies at 67 1997 - Peter Tali Coleman, Governor of American Samoa (1956-61, 1978-85, 1989-93), dies at 77 2020 - Trevor Cherry, English soccer defender (27 caps; Leeds United, Huddersfield Town, Bradford City) and manager (Bradford City), dies at 72 More Famous Deaths »

1728 - 82 survivors of the Dutch ship Zeewijk sail into Batavia on a hand-built boat, ten months after being shipwrecked off the western coast of Australia 1930 - 1st night organized baseball game played in Independence, Kansas 1965 - "My Name is Barbra", Barbra Streisand's first television special, premieres on CBS 1965 - William F. Raborn Jr. replaces John A. McCone as 7th head of CIA 1967 - Muhammad Ali refuses induction into army and stripped of boxing title 1980 - US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance resigns in protest over the Iran hostage rescue attempt 1993 - Zambian national football team dies in a plane crash near Libreville, Gabon that kills 30 people 1995 - Gas explosion in South Korean metro, 103 die 2018 - Danny DeVito Day declared in Jersey for 17th November by Mayor John Moor of Asbury Park 2019 - American diver Victor Vescovo makes the deepest dive ever to the bottom of the Mariana trench at 10,927m (35,849ft), and finds a plastic bag More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1253 - -May 7th) Utrecht destroyed by fire 1796 - Armistice of Cherasco between Sardinia and Napoleon Bonaparte at Cherasco, Piedmont gives France territories of Piedmont, Savoy and Nice 1988 - NJ Devils set all time playoff mark for penalty minutes 1997 - Ringo Starr's fourth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Peter Frampton, Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker, Simon Kirke, and Mark Rivera 2022 - Russian missiles strike Ukrainian city of Kyiv during a visit by UN Secretary-General António Guterres More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1922 - Alistair MacLean, Scottish novelist (The Guns of Navarone), born in Shettleston, Glasgow, Scotland (d. 1987) 1933 - Oliver "Bops Junior" Jackson, American jazz drummer, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1994) 1944 - Alice Waters, American chef (Chez Panisse, farm-to-table movement), born in Chatham Borough, New Jersey 1968 - Howard Donald, British pop musician (Take That - "Back For Good"), born in Droylsden, Lancashire, England 1968 - Andy Flower, Zimbabwean cricket wicketkeeper and captain (63 Tests, 12 x 100, HS 232no, 160 dismissals; Mashonaland, Essex CCC, South Australia), born in Cape Town, South Africa More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1946 - Louis Bachelier, French mathematician who pioneered mathematical finance introducing Brownian motion, dies at 76 1978 - Mohammed Daoud Khan, 1st President of Afghanistan (1973-78) and Prime Minister of Afghanistan (1953-63), dies at 68 1995 - Andrew Salkey, Panamanian-born novelist, dies at 67 1999 - John Stears, British Academy Award-winning film special effects expert (Dr. No; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Star Wars), dies following a stroke at 64 2007 - Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker, German physicist and philosopher, dies at 94 More Famous Deaths »

1667 - Blind and impoverished, English poet John Milton sells the copyright of "Paradise Lost" for £10 1813 - Americans under General Zebulon Pike capture York (now Toronto) from British regulars, militia and Ojibwe natives forcing a British withdrawal to Kingston; Pike is killed 1893 - Richard "King Dick" Seddon succeeds John Balance as premier of New Zealand and leader of Liberal Party 1911 - Following the resignation and death of William P. Frye, a compromise is reached to rotate the office of President pro tempore (for the time being) of the United States Senate 1935 - Yanks pull a 1st inning triple-play and beat Philadelphia A's 9-8 1959 - The last Canadian missionary leaves the People's Republic of China. 1964 - John Lennon's book of poetry and sketches "In His Own Write" is published in US 1972 - NYC Mayor John Lindsey appeals that John Lennon not be deported 2017 - NFL Draft: Texas AandM defensive end Myles Garrett first pick by Cleveland Browns 2022 - SpaceX, launches its Crew Dragon capsule with four astronauts, including Jessica Watkins - becomes 1st black woman to serve extended mission on International Space Station More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1773 - British Parliament passes the Tea Act (Boston won't like this) 1911 - Indian passive resistance in South Africa is suspended when General Jan Smuts enters into negotiations with Mahatma Gandhi 1950 - Musical revue "Tickets, Please" opens at Coronet Theater, later transferring to the Mark Hellinger Theatre, NYC; runs for 245 performances 1981 - Paul McCartney's rock band Wings breaks-up 1997 - "Stanley" closes at Circle in the Square Theater, NYC More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1903 - Frank Belknap Long, American writer (Rim of the Unknown), born in New York City (d. 1994) 1903 - Hans Kosterlitz, German-British biochemist (endorphins), born in Berlin (d. 1996) 1971 - Craig Keith, American football tight end (Jacksonville Jaguars), born in Raleigh, North Carolina 1972 - Maura West, American actress (As the World Turns), born in Springfield, Massachusetts 1989 - Emily Rios, American actress (Andrea Cantillo-Breaking Bad), born in Los Angeles, California More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1881 - Ludwig von Benedek, Austrian general, dies at 76 1952 - Guido Castelnuovo, Italian mathematician, dies at 86 1994 - John Preston, American writer (Gay House, Big Gay Book), dies at 48 1999 - Cyril Washbrook, English cricket batsman (37 Tests, 6 x 100, HS 195; Lancashire CCC), dies at 84 2009 - Woo Seung-yeon, South Korean actress and model, dies at 25 More Famous Deaths »

1677 - Emperor Leopold I forms University of Innsbruck 1947 - Vivian Ellis and A. P. Herbert' musical "Bless the Bride" opena at the Adelphia Theatre in London; runs for 886 performances 1971 - Turkey state of siege proclaimed 1971 - San Francisco lightship replaced by automatic buoy 1974 - Malta adopts constitution 1990 - Danny Wood of New Kids, steps on a stuffed animal and twists his ankle 1992 - Revival of Henrik Ibsen's stage drama "The Master Builder", directed by Tony Randall, closes at Belasco Theater, NYC, after 45 performances 1995 - Baseball season begins after lengthy strike 2012 - NFL Draft: Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck first pick by Indianapolis Colts 2019 - Waorani people of Pastaza win landmark environmental case against the Ecuadorian government to protect half a million acres of their territory in the Amazon rainforest More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1949 - Transjordan is officially renamed the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 1990 - Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan ties Bob Feller's record of pitching 12 one-hitters in 1-0 win over Chicago White Sox at Arlington Stadium 1992 - "Metro" closes at Minskoff Theater NYC after 13 performances 2008 - NFL Draft: University of Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long first pick by Miami Dolphins 2012 - 70 people are killed by rocket attacks by the Syrian Army on the city of Hama More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1718 - Esek Hopkins, American Revolutionary War admiral and Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy, born in Scituate, Rhode Island (d. 1802) 1938 - Maurice Williams, American doo-wop singer, and songwriter (Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs - "Stay"), born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (d. 2024) 1961 - Joan Chen [Chen Chong], Chinese-American actress (Heaven and Earth, The Last Emperor), born in Shanghai, China 1974 - Adil Ray, English radio presenter (BBC Asian Network), born in Birmingham, England 1981 - Matthieu Delpierre, French footballer, born in Nancy, France More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1784 - (Honora) "Nano" Nagle, Irish Catholic educator and religious order founder (Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, aka Presentation Sisters), dies of tuberculosis at about 66. 1970 - Paul Celan, Romanian-born writer, dies at 49 1983 - Vaughn Taylor, American character actor (Jailhouse Rock; Johnny Jupiter; Psycho), dies of cerebral hemorrhage at 73 1991 - Richard Hatfield, Canadian politician (26th Premier of New Brunswick), dies at 60 2019 - David McNee, Scottish law enforcement officer (City of Glasgow/Strathclyde Police Chief Constable, 1971-77; Metropolitan Police Commissioner, 1977-82), dies at 94 More Famous Deaths »

1449 - Anti-pope Felix V resigns 1684 - Patent granted for thimble 1849 - The Governor General of Canada, Lord Elgin, signs the Rebellion Losses Bill, outraging Montreal's English population and triggering the Montreal Riots. 1966 - Rare daylight meteor observed from New Jersey, US to Quebec, Canada in the early evening 1970 - Lance Mulcahy and Paul Cherry's musical "Park" closes at John Golden Theater, NYC, after 5 performances 1976 - Portugal adopts new constitution 1988 - American news program "Nightline" goes on location to Jerusalem Israel 1990 - Hubble space telescope is placed into orbit by space shuttle Discovery 2009 - Elijah Wood is honored with the Midnight Award by the San Francisco International Film Festival 2015 - 7.8-magnitude earthquake near Kathmandu in Nepal, killing 8000, leaving over 100,000 homeless, destroying many historic sites More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1914 - US President Woodrow Wilson is persuaded by Argentina, Brazil, and Chile to accept mediation in the conflict with Mexico 1927 - Spain routes 20,000 soldiers to Morocco (uprising Rifkabylen) 1972 - Hans-Werner Grosse glides 907.7 miles (1,461 km) in an AS-W-12 1976 - Portugal adopts new constitution 2022 - First airport for electric flying cars and large drones, built by Urban-Air Port, begins operations in Coventry, England More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1840 - James Dearing, U.S. Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Campbell County, Virginia (d. 1865) 1862 - Edward Grey, British Liberal statesman and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1905-16), born in London (d. 1933) 1949 - James Fenton, English poet and journalist, born in Lincoln, England 1973 - Barbara Rittner, German tennis star (1992 Schenectady), born in Krefeld, West Germany 1980 - Bruce Martin, New Zealand cricketer, born in Whangarei, New Zealand More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1840 - Siméon-Denis Poisson, French mathematician (Poisson distribution) and physicist, dies at 58 1875 - Trinley Gyatso, 12th Dalai Lama of Tibet, dies at 18 1939 - John Foulds, British cellist, musicologist, and composer (World Requiem; Three Mantras), dies in Calcutta of cholera at 58 1975 - Mike Brant, Israeli pop singer ("Laisse-moi t'aimer" ("Let Me Love You")), commits suicide at 28 1988 - Clifford D. Simak, American sci-fi author (Hugo, Way Station), dies at 83 More Famous Deaths »

1942 - 2nd night Exeter bombed by German Luftwaffe 1950 - US President Harry Truman denies there are communists in the US government 1950 - Jordan formally annexes the West Bank 1954 - Australia and USSR break diplomatic relations 1959 - WICD TV channel 15 in Champaign, IL (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting 1982 - 150 Khomeini followers assault student dormitory in West Germany 1993 - Firestone World Bowling Tournament of Champions won by George Branham 1994 - NY Rangers sweep NY Islanders in NHL playoffs 2005 - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and takes the name Pope Benedict XVI 2024 - Gustav Klimt's "Portrait of Fräulein Lieser", previously though lost, sells for a record Austrian auction price of 30 million euros More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1877 - Last federal occupying troops withdraw from the South (New Orleans) 1967 - 21st NBA Championship: Philadelphia 76ers beat SF Warriors, 4 games to 2 1981 - US ends grain embargo against USSR 1982 - Firestone World Bowling Tournament of Champions won by Mike Durbin 1996 - "Jack-Night on Town with John Barrymore" opens at Belasco for 12 performances More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1804 - Thomas Oliver Selfridge, American naval officer who served during the Mexican-American War and the Civil War, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1902) 1897 - Manuel Ávila Camacho, 45th President of Mexico (1940-46), born in Teziutlán, Puebla, Mexico (d. 1955) 1942 - Valeri Abramovich Voloshin, Russian pilot cosmonaut, born in Yangiyul, Tashkent 1950 - Rob Hyman, American rock singer-songwriter, keyboardist, melodica and accordion player (The Hooters - "All You Zombies"; "And We Danced"), born in Meriden, Connecticut 1963 - Mano Solo [Emmanuel Cabut], French singer, born in Châlons-sur-Marne, France (d. 2010) More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1617 - Carlo Concino, French marquis of Ancre/state advisor, murdered 1941 - Karin Boye, Swedish writer (Kallocain) commits suicide at 40 1947 - Willa Cather, American Pulitzer-Prize winning author (One of Ours; My Ántonia), dies of a cerebral hemorrhage while battling cancer at 73 1955 - Alfred Polgar, Austrian writer and theater critic (Yes and No!), dies at 79 1965 - Louise Dresser, actress (State Fair, Ship Comes In, Mammy), dies at 86 More Famous Deaths »

1795 - William Hastings acquitted in England of high treason 1962 - Ranger 4, 1st US satellite to reach Moon launched from Cape Canaveral 1964 - Houston Colt 45s Ken Johnson becomes 1st major league pitcher to lose a 9 inning no-hitter, Reds win 1-0 1965 - American composer Randall Thompson marks his retirement from the Harvard faculty conducting the debut of his orchestrated arrangement of "Frostiana: Seven Country Songs" with the Harvard Glee Club and Radcliffe Choral Society singing poetry of Robert Frost 1965 - Launch of 1st Soviet communications satellite 1969 - The Unionist Parliamentary Party votes by 28 to 22 to introduce universal adult suffrage in local government elections in Northern Ireland; the demand for 'one man, one vote' had been one of the most powerful slogans of the civil rights movement 1985 - Brooklyn College soccer team wins Nepal's invitational 1991 - USSR grants republics right to secede under certain conditions 2012 - Rangers F.C. owner, Craig Whyte, is banned for life from any involvement in Scottish football 2024 - Details of ancient Greek philosopher Plato's last night and burial place revealed by deciphering a carbonized scroll from Herculaneum, using new technologies including AI More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1937 - New York Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell's first start of season, a 3-0 win over the Boston Bees, is his 17th straight win; streak continues for league record 24 victories in a row 1950 - Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Pete Babando scores Cup-winning goal in double overtime of Game 7 as Detroit Red Wings beat NY Rangers, 4-3 for a 4-3 series win 1968 - Ernest Gold and Anne Croswell's musical "I'm Solomon", starring Dick Shawn, opens at Mark Hellinger Theater, NYC; runs for 7 performances 1977 - Dr Allen Bussey completes 20,302 yo-yo loops 2015 - Kawhi Leonard is named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the first time More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1889 - Charles Warrell, English schoolteacher and creator of the I-Spy books, born in Farmborough, Somerset (d. 1995) 1891 - Sergei Prokofiev, Russian composer (Peter and the Wolf; Alexander Nevsky), born in Sontsovka, Russian Empire (now Sontsivka, Ukraine) (d. 1953) 1960 - Steve Clark, English rock guitarist (Def Leppard), born in Hillsborough, England (d. 1991) 1981 - Lady Gabriella Kingston, British royal and writer, born in St Mary's Hospital, London, United Kingdom 1995 - Gigi Hadid [Jelena Noura Hadid], American fashion model, born in Los Angeles, California More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1933 - Tim Keefe, American Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (Triple Crown 1888; MLB record 0.86 ERA, single season 1880; NY Giants), dies at 76 1984 - (William) "Red" Garland, American jazz pianist (Miles Davis Quintet), dies of a heart attack at 60 2007 - Boris Yeltsin, Russian politician and 1st President of Russian Federation (1991-99), dies of congestive heart failure at 76 2011 - Max van der Stoel, Dutch politician and Minister of Foreign Affairs (PvdA), dies at 86 2022 - Orrin Hatch, American politician (US Senator from Utah (R), 1977-2019) longest-serving Utah US Senator, dies at 88 More Famous Deaths »