Today in History for 8th July 2024

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Historical Events

1862 - Theodore R. Timby is granted a US patent for discharging guns in a revolving turret, using electricity
1913 - Alfred Carlton Gilbert's patent for the Erector Set is issued, it becomes one of the most popular toys of all time
1971 - During street disturbances, British soldiers shoot dead two Catholic civilians in Free Derry; riots erupt, the Social Democratic and Labour Party withdraw from Stormont in protest
2008 - American businessman T. Boone Pickens announces his "Pickens Plan", an energy policy that moves away from imported oil
2012 - US Open Women's Golf, Blackwolf Run: Na Yeon Choi of South Korea wins her first major championship, 4 strokes ahead of compatriot Amy Yang
2021 - Global known death toll from COVID-19 passes 4 million (equal to all deaths in battle since 1982)

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Famous Birthdays

1545 - Don Carlos, Prince of Asturias, son of Spanish King Philip II, born in Valladolid, Spain (d. 1568)
1760 - Christian Kramp, French mathematician known for his work with factorials, born in Strasbourg, France (d. 1826)
1838 - Ferdinand von Zeppelin, German general and inventor (rigid dirigibles) who founded the Zeppelin airship company, born in Konstanz, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany (d. 1917)
1913 - Walter Kerr, American actor, writer (Goldilocks) and Broadway theatre critic, born in Evanston, Illinois (d. 1996)
1944 - Jeffrey Tambor, American character actor (Larry Sanders - "Hank"; Arrested Decelopment), born in San Francisco, California
1960 - Mal Meninga, Australian rugby league centre (46 Tests, 32 games Queensland; St. Helens, Canberra; RL "Immortal") and coach (Australia, 30 games Queensland, Canberra), born in Bundaberg, Australia

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Famous Deaths

1933 - Anthony Hope, British novelist and playwright (The Prisoner of Zenda), dies of cancer at 70
1956 - Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, Dutch politician (1954 Nobel Peace Prize as High Commissioner for Refugees of the UN), dies at 55
1974 - Morris "Moose" Charlap, American Broadway composer (Peter Pan; Kelly), dies at 45
1977 - Rie Cramer, Dutch writer and illustrator, dies at 89
2015 - Ken Stabler, American Pro Football HOF quarterback (4 x Pro Bowl; NFL MVP, First-team All-Pro 1974; Super Bowl 1976; Oakland Raiders), dies of colon cancer at 69
2020 - Abdelmajid Tlemçani, Tunisian soccer striker (54 caps; Espérance Sportive de Tunis), dies at 82

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