Today in History for 20th March 2024

[CoM Moderators]

Historical Events

1896 - Marines land in Nicaragua to protect US citizens
1942 - Major German assault on Malta
1948 - First live televised symphony performances: Eugene Ormandy leads Philadelphia Orchestra on CBS, followed 90 minutes later by Arturo Toscanini leading the NBC Orchestra on NBC
1973 - Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame, 11 weeks after his death in a plane crash
1986 - New York City passes its first lesbian and gay rights legislation
2021 - Severe one-in-a-hundred-year flooding in Sydney and the surrounding state of New South Wales prompts evacuation orders

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1890 - Lauritz Melchior, Danish-American baritone tenor (National Symphony), born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1973)
1896 - Hal Walker, director (I Married Joan), born in Ottumwa, Iowa (d. 1972)
1903 - Edgar Buchanan, American actor (Petticoat Junction), born in Humansville, Missouri (d. 1979)
1911 - Mieke Verstraete [Maria Augustina De Graef], Belgian-Dutch actress (Pleasantly Settled), born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1990)
1928 - Anthony Blond, British publisher (The Publishing Game, Book Book), born in Sale, Cheshire (d. 2008)
1984 - Winta [Efrem], Eritrean-Norwegian RandB singer (Hot Romance (Rok With You); Nails on Chalkboard), born in Oslo, Norway

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1874 - Hans Christian Lumbye, Danish waltz composer, and musical director (Tivoli Gardens, 1843-72), dies at 63
1918 - Lewis A. Grant, American Civil War General (b. 1828)
1934 - Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont, Queen consort of William and Regent of the Netherlands, dies at 76
1974 - [Lavinia] Marian Fleming Poe, African American advocate in Virginia, dies at 83
1979 - Mino Pecorelli, Italian journalist, shot dead in Rome at 50
1999 - Roy L. Johnson, American admiral (WW II-Pacific Ocean, commanded Seventh Fleet 1960s), dies at 93

More Famous Deaths »