Today in History for 2nd July 2024

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Historical Events

1561 - Menas, Emperor of Ethiopia, defeats a revolt in Emfraz
1867 - 1st US elevated railroad begins service, NYC
1906 - Yanks win by forfeit for the 1st time
1934 - General Lazaro Cardenas elected president of Mexico
1949 - "High Button Shoes" closes at Century Theater NYC after 727 performances
2005 - Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Venus Williams beats fellow American Lindsay Davenport 4-6, 7-6, 9-7 for the 3rd of her 5 Wimbledon singles titles

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Famous Birthdays

1652 - Guillielmus "Willem" Kerricx, Flemish sculptor (Rozenkrans), born in Dendermonde, East Flanders (d. 1719)
1919 - Jean Craighead George, American writer (Julie of the Wolves), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 2012)
1925 - Patrice Lumumba [Isaïe Tawosa], Congolese politician and independence leader who was the 1st Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1960), born in Onalua, Belgian Congo (d. 1961)
1955 - Kevin Michael Grace, Canadian journalist, born in Toronto, Ontario
1981 - Alex Koroknay-Palicz, American youth rights activist, born in Kalamazoo, Michigan
1984 - Maarten Martens, Belgian footballer and coach (AZ Alkmaar), born in Eeklo, Belgium

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Famous Deaths

1857 - Carlo Pisacane, Italian patriot and revolutionary, killed leading an uprising (b. 1818)
1903 - Ed Delahanty, American Baseball HOF left fielder (NL batting champion 1899; NL home run leader 1893, 96; 3 × NL RBI leader; Philadelphia Phillies), dies intoxicated falling into Niagara Falls at 35
1988 - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, American blues, jazz, and RandB alto saxophonist, dies of a heart attack at 70
1994 - Andrés Escobar, Colombian soccer defender (51 caps, World Cup own goal vs US; SA Atlético Nacional), dies of a gunshot wound at 27
1994 - Ralph Rinzler, American folklorist (Greenbriar Boys), dies at 59
2015 - Charlie Sanders, American football player (Detroit Lions), dies at 68

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