Today in History for 8th August 2024

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Historical Events

1911 - The millionth patent is filed in the United States Patent Office by Francis Holton for a tubeless vehicle tire.
1918 - World War I: The Allies launch the Hundred Days Offensive, beginning with the Battle of Amiens where 500 tanks and 10 Allied divisions attacked German lines
1929 - German airship Graf Zeppelin begins the first round-the-world flight by airship, leaving Lakehurst, New Jersey
1981 - At a summit South African Trade Unions resolve to defy apartheid and labour laws
1988 - Jennifer Levin's parents file $25M suit against Dorrian Red Hand Bar
2018 - Malaysia charges former prime minister Najib Razak with three counts of money laundering

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Famous Birthdays

1861 - William Bateson, English biologist (originator of term "genetics"), born in Whitby, England (d. 1926)
1911 - Rosetta LeNoire, American actress (Family Matters, The Brother from Another Planet), born in New York City (d. 2002)
1928 - Ken Scowcroft, English insurance magnate (Swinton) (d. 2018)
1930 - Joan Mondale (née Adams;), American artist, author, and wife of US vice-president Walter Mondale, born in Eugene, Oregon (d. 2014)
1944 - John Renbourn, British jazz and folk guitarist and songwriter (Pentangle), born in Marleylebone, London, England (d. 2015)
1981 - Roger Federer, Swiss tennis player (20 x Grand Slam singles titles; Olympic gold doubles 2008; Davis Cup 2014; 6 x Tour Finals), born in Bottmingen, Switzerland

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Famous Deaths

1940 - Johnny Dodds, American early jazz clarinetist, dies at 48
1944 - Juliusz Kaden-Bandrowski, Polish novelist and satirist (Black Wings), dies of wounds received during the Warsaw Uprising at 59
1997 - Duncan Swift, English jazz pianist, dies at 74
2005 - Ahmed Deedat, Islamic scholar (b. 1918)
2009 - Daniel Jarque, Spanish football player, dies of a heart attack at 26
2010 - Jack Parnell, British jazz drummer, and orchestra leader (The Benny Hill Show; The Englebert Humperdick Show; Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments), dies of cancer at 87

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