Today in History for 17th June 2024

[CoM Moderators]

Historical Events

1579 - English navigator Francis Drake lands on the coast of California at Drakes Bay, names it "New Albion"
1850 - Paddle-wheeler "G P Griffith" burns off Mentor Ohio, 206 die
1954 - Televised Senate Army McCarthy hearings ends
1990 - "Some Americans Abroad" closes at Vivian Beaumont NYC after 62 performances
1991 - South Africa abolishes last of its apartheid laws
1991 - Country entertainer Minnie Pearl suffers a stroke at 78

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Famous Birthdays

1920 - François Jacob, French biologist and bacteriologist (Nobel 1965), born in Nancy, France (d. 2013)
1926 - Manuel Enríquez, Mexican composer, born in Ocotlán, Jalisco, Mexico (d. 1994)
1930 - Romuald Twardowski, Polish composer, born in Wilno/ Vilnius, Poland
1947 - Paul Young, British rock singer and percussionist (Mike + The Mechanics - "All I Need Is A Miracle"), born in Manchester, England (d. 2000)
1970 - Stéphane Fiset, Canadian NHL goalie, 1998-2002 (Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings), born in Montreal, Quebec
1987 - Kendrick Lamar, American hip hop singer-songwriter (Damn), born in Compton, California

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Famous Deaths

1871 - Clement Vallandigham, American politician (Rep-D-Ohio, convicted of opposing civil war, exiled to Confederate States), dies after accidentally shooting himself at 50
1994 - Joeri Nagibin, Russian screenwriter (Babje Karstvo), dies at 74
1995 - Claire Sterling, American journalist and writer (The Terror Network), dies at 75
1996 - Thomas Kuhn, American philosopher of science (paradigm shift), dies at 73
2004 - Sara Lidman, Swedish author (Jag Och Min Son, Samtal in Hanoi), dies at 80
2015 - Suleyman Demirel, Turkish leader, President (1993-2000) and Prime Minister, dies at 90

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