Today in History for 12th April 2024

[CoM Moderators]

Historical Events

1869 - North Carolina legislature passes anti-Ku Klux Klan Law
1905 - French Dufaux brothers test helicopter
1931 - Joe McCarthy debuts as New York Yankees manager
1935 - First flight of the Bristol Blenheim
1999 - US President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving "intentionally false statements" in a sexual harassment civil lawsuit.
2020 - OPEC and other major oil companies agree to the largest-ever drop in production to stabilize world prices

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Famous Birthdays

1933 - Montserrat Caballé, Spanish bel canto operatic soprano, and unlikely pop star (with Freddie Mercury - Barcelona), born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 2018)
1956 - Herbert Grönemeyer, German singer (Mensch; Spruenge), born in Göttingen, Germany
1956 - Alex Briley, American actor (Can't Stop the Music), born in New York City
1959 - Liu Xiao Ling Tong [Zhang Jinlai], Chinese actor (Journey to the West - "Monkey King"), born in Shanghai, China
1965 - Elaine Zayak, American figure skater (Olympic 6th 1984), born in Paramus, New Jersey
1995 - Jennifer Brady, American tennis player (Australian Open 2021 runner-up), born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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Famous Deaths

238 - Gordian II, Roman co-Emperor with his father Gordian I, killed in battle at Carthage
1997 - George Wald, American physiologist and biologist (Nobel Prize 1967, vitamin A in retina), dies at 90
2007 - Kevin Crease, Australian TV anchor (b. 1936)
2012 - George Mesterhazy, Hungarian-American jazz pianist, and arranger, dies at 56
2020 - Francisco Aritmendi, Spanish athlete (International Cross Country Championships 1964), dies of COVID-19 at 81
2020 - Jim Frey, American MLB manager (Kansas City Royals, American League C'ship 1980; Chicago Cubs), dies at 88

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