Today in History for 5th September 2025

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Historical Events

1942 - American sailor Charles J. French (22) swims for over six hours in waters near Guadalcanal while towing a life raft with fifteen survivors from his US Navy ship, which is sunk by Japanese gunfire
1973 - Limited-run revival of Sigmund Romberg, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Frank Mandel's musical "The Desert Song" opens at Uris Theater, NYC, for 15 performances
1982 - US Men's Amateur Golf Championship, The Country Club: Jay Sigel wins 8 and 7 over David Tolley
1994 - Jingyi Le swims a world record in the 100 m women's freestyle in 54.01 seconds
2018 - UK Prime Minister Theresa May confirms in Parliament that two Russian military intelligence officers undertake a Novichok nerve agent attack, prompting international condemnation

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Famous Birthdays

1876 - Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, German field marshal, born in Landsberg am Lech, Germany (d. 1956)
1946 - Freddie Mercury [Farrokh Bulsara], British singer-songwriter (Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody"), born in Stone Town, Sultanate of Zanzibar (d. 1991)
1946 - Dennis Dugan, American actor and director (Can't Buy Me Love, Howling), born in Wheaton, Illinois
1951 - Paul Breitner, German footballer, born in Kolbermoor, Germany
1971 - Carlester Crumpler, American NFL tight end (Seattle Seahawks), born in Greenville, North Carolina

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Famous Deaths

1890 - Ludwig Deppe, German composer, dies at 61
1931 - John Thomson, football player who died in an accidental collision during a match (b. 1909)
1939 - Cornelis J "Cor" van Ast, Dutch actor and director (Ghost Hotel, Two Boys), dies at 67
1965 - Thomas Johnston, Scottish-born politician (b. 1882)
2016 - Duane Graveline, American doctor and astronaut, dies at 85

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