Today in History for 26th May 2024

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Historical Events

961 - German King Otto II crowned
1951 - Vaughan Williams' "Pilgrim's Progress" premieres in London
1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their 2nd bed-in for peace at Hotel La Reine Elizabeth, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1984 - Floods kill 14 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
1997 - NHL Western Conference Final: Detroit Red Wings beat Colorado Avalanche, 4 games to 2
2000 - Arthur C. Clarke is knighted "for services to literature" at a ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka

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Famous Birthdays

1863 - Bob Fitzsimmons, English boxer (first 3-division world champion; Middleweight 1981-96, Light Heavyweight 1903, Heavyweight 1897-99), born in Helston, England (d. 1917)
1923 - Roy Dotrice, British actor (A Moon for the Misbegotten, Amadeus) and narrator (A Song of Ice and Fire), born in Guernsey, Channel Islands (d. 2017)
1931 - Jim Frey, American MLB manager (Kansas City Royals, American League C'ship 1980; Chicago Cubs), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2020)
1941 - Imants Kalniņš, Latvian classical, choral and rock composer ("Hey, You There!"), born in Riga, Latvian SSR
1957 - Kristina Olsen, American folk singer-songwriter ("I'm Keeping This Life of Mine"), and session musician, born in San Francisco, California
1981 - Eda-Ines Etti, Estonian pop singer (Eurovision), born in Haapsalu, Estonia

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Famous Deaths

1864 - Charles Sealsfield, Austrian-American writer, dies at 71
1907 - Ida McKinley, US First Lady (1897-1901) and wife of the 25th US President William McKinley, dies at 59
1959 - Joe Kelly, American radio and television host (Quiz Kids, 1949-53), dies at 57
1977 - William Powell, American RandB singer (O'Jays - "Love Train"; "Backstabbers"), dies of cancer at 35
1979 - George Brent, American actor (Baby Face, Dark Victory, 42nd St), dies at 75
1995 - Friz Freleng, American animator for Warner Bros cartoons (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies), dies at 88

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