Today in History for 7th August 2024

[CoM Moderators]

Historical Events

659 - Forces from the Mayan city of Palenque, under its leader Pakal, defeat nearby Santa Elena and take its ruler captive
1885 - Five German warships anchor off Zanzibar
1964 - Turkey begins air attack on Greek Cypriots
1991 - Courts rules Manuel Noriega, may access some secret US documents
2010 - Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, John Randle, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
2016 - American swimmer Katie Ledecky sets a new world record with a time of 3:56.46 to win the gold medal in the women's 400m freestyle at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics

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Famous Birthdays

1925 - M. S. Swaminathan, Indian agricultural scientist, leader of the green revolution in India, born in Kumbakonam, Madras Presidency (d. 2023)
1929 - Don Larsen, American MLB pitcher (only perfect game in World Series history, Game 5 1956; World Series MVP 1956; NY Yankees), born in Michigan City, Indiana (d. 2020)
1942 - Carlos Monzón, Argentine boxer (Undisputed world middleweight champion 1970-74, 76-77), born in San Javier, Argentina (d. 1995)
1975 - Gaahl [Kristian Eivind Espedal], Norwegian black metal vocalist (Gorgoroth), born in Sunnfjord, Norway
1978 - Vanness Wu, Taiwanese-American singer (F4, Kangta and Vanness), born in Santa Monica, California
1988 - Melody Oliveria, American internet blogger (bowiechick)

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Famous Deaths

1942 - Janusz Korczak [Henryk Goldszmit], Polish-Jewish educator and pedagogue (ran an orphanage in the Warsaw Ghetto), is gassed at Treblinka extermination camp along with the residents of his orphanage at 64
2011 - Hugh Carey, American politician and attorney (Gov-D-NY), dies at 92
2017 - David Maslanka, American composer (Angel Of Mercy; Sea Dreams), and educator, dies of colon cancer at 73
2018 - Stan Mikita, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame center (Stanley Cup 1961; Hart Memorial Trophy [MVP] 1967, 68; 6 x NHL First All-Star Team), dies of Lewy body dementia at 78
2022 - David McCullough, American author (Truman; John Adams), popular historian, TV documentary host and narrator (Seabiscuit; The Civil War), dies at 89
2023 - William Friedkin, American film director, producer, writer (The Exorcist; The French Connection), dies of heart failure at 87

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