Today in History for 19th August 2024

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Historical Events

1796 - Spain and France sign anti-British alliance
1839 - Louis Daguerre's daguerreotype photographic process with complete working instructions is published "free to the world" in Paris as a gift to the world from the French government
1913 - Frenchman Adolphe Célestin Pégoud makes 1st parachute jump in Europe
1936 - Trial against Ljev Kamenev and Grigori Zinovjev because of "Trotskyism" opens in Moscow
1965 - The Yardbirds launch their first US tour
1970 - The Chinese Community in South Africa is granted 'White' status

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Famous Birthdays

1875 - Stjepan Seljan, Croatian explorer (Ethiopia, South America), born in Karlovac, Croatia (d. 1936)
1916 - Marie Wilson, American actress (The Story of Mankind, My Friend Irma), born in Anaheim, California (d. 1972)
1944 - Eddy Raven [Futch], American country singer ("Right Hand Man"), born in Lafayette, Louisiana
1946 - Charles F. Bolden Jr, American astronaut (STS 61C, 31, 45, 60), born in Columbia, South Carolina
1947 - Dave Dutton, English actor (Coronation Street), born in Atherton, England
1967 - Tabitha Soren, American MTV reporter (This Week in Rock), born in San Antonio, Texas

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Famous Deaths

1954 - Alcide de Gasperi, 30th Prime Minister of Italy (1945-53), dies at 73
1975 - Ima Hogg, American society leader, Texas arts patron, and founder of Houston Symphony, dies at 93
1991 - Richard Maltby Sr., American musician and orchestra leader ("(Themes from) The Man with the Golden Arm"; Vaughn Monroe Show), dies at 77
1992 - Norvel Lee, American boxer (Olympic gold 1952), dies at 67
1994 - Linus Pauling, American chemist, engineer and peace activist (1954 Nobel prize for Chemistry, 1962 Nobel Peace Prize), dies at 93
1995 - Danny Arnold, British TV producer, dies at 70

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