Today in History for 2nd February 2024

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Historical Events

1714 - Nicholas Rowe's play "The Tragedy of Jane Shore" premieres in London
1861 - The "Organized Incorporated Territory of Nevada" is created, lasting until October 31st, 1864
1888 - Frank Sprague opens the first successful U.S. electric street railway system, the Richmond Union Passenger Railway, in Richmond, Virginia
1973 - Richard Helms, ends term as 8th director of CIA; succeeded by James R Schlesinger (until July)
1992 - IRS and Willie Nelson settle on $9M tax bill (of $16.7M)
2016 - First case of Zika contracted on US mainland (Texas) and second known sexually transmitted case confirmed in Texas

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Famous Birthdays

1873 - Johan Paul van Limburg Stirum, Dutch colonial administrator and diplomat (Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies 1916–1921), born in Zwelle, Netherlands (d. 1948)
1901 - Connie Gilchrist, American actress (Cry Havoc, Letter to 3 Wives), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1985)
1927 - Richard Belmont Ray, American politician (Rep-D-GA, 1983-93), born in Fort Valley, Georgia (d. 1999)
1949 - Brent Spiner, American actor (Data-Star Trek the Next Generation), born in Houston, Texas
1973 - Radka Bobkova, Czech tennis player (quarter Bournemouth), born in Prague, Czechoslovakia
1996 - Paul Mescal, Irish actor (Normal People), born in Maynooth, Ireland

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Famous Deaths

1435 - Johanna II, Queen of Naples (1414-35), dies at 61
1491 - Martin Schongauer, German painter, dies at 40
1907 - Dmitri Mendeleev, Russian chemist and inventor who devised the periodic table of the elements, dies at 72
1952 - Johann Babtist Thaller, German composer, dies at 79
1970 - Jaroslav Vogel, Czech composer and conductor (Brno Philharmonic, 1959-62; Ostrava Orchestra 1919- 43), dies at 76
1993 - Alexander Schneider, Lithuanian violinist (Budapest String Quartet), dies at 84

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