This Day in History
January 11

What happened in history on this day: January 11? On January 11 in ... 314 - Death of Pope Militiades. 532 - Nika-revolt against Justianus and Theodora in Hippodrome Constantinople. 705 - John VI dies, ending his reign as Catholic Pope. 1055 - Constantine IX Monomachos emperor of Byzantium, dies. 1158 - Vladislav II of Bohemia becomes king. 1403 - Birth of Jan IV Duke of Brabant/Limburg. 1449 - Birth of Domenico Ghirlandajo Italy, renaissance painter. 1503 - Birth of Francesco Parmigianino Italian artist (Madonna with the Long Neck). 1552 - Johannes Cochlaeus [Dobeneck], German humanist/theologist, dies. 1558 - Westmunster Church in Middelburg destroyed by heavy storm. 1569 - The first British royal lottery draw begins, lasting until May 6, drawing every ticket with a name and a corresponding prize ticket. Tickets had been sold since 1566, but only 1/12th of expected 400,000 tickets are sold. Top prize is 1/12 of 5000 pounds Sterling. 1571 - Emperor Maximilian II grants Austrian adel freedom of religion. 1599 - Jacob van Necks fleet leaves Bantam Java with pepper, clove and muskaat. 1641 - Franciscus Gomarus [François Gomaer], French theologist, dies. 1650 - Paul Hallman composer, dies at age 49. 1672 - Isaac Newton is elected a member of Royal Society. 1674 - Jan Zoet actor/playwright/poet (Brutal-Roffel), dies at age 58. 1693 - In Sicily, Italy, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs, causing over 60,000 deaths and the total destruction of several villages and towns in the districts of Siracusa, Ragusa, and Catania. The earthquake was followed by a tsunami that struck the Ionian coasts of Sicily and the Messina Strait. 1693 - Mount Etna erupts, Sicily. 1703 - Birth of Columban Praelisauer composer. 1709 - Colley Cibber's "Rival Fools" premieres in London. 1720 - Birth of Gijsbert John van Hardenbroeck Utrechts regent. 1732 - Birth of Pehr Forskåhl Finish botanist. 1746 - Birth of Frantisek Adam Mica composer. 1746 - Birth of William Curtis English botanist/publisher (Botanical Magazine). 1750 - Birth of Johann Jakob Walder composer. 1753 - Ferdinand VI of Spain and Pope Benedictus XIV sign concord. 1753 - Hans Sloane English physician (British Museum), dies at age 92. 1757 - Birth of Alexander Hamilton West Indies, first US Secretary of Treasury ($10 face). 1758 - Russian troops occupy Königsberg, East-Prussia. 1759 - First American life insurance company incorporated, Philadelphia. 1765 - Frisia bans Voltaires "Traité sur la tolérance". 1771 - Jean-Baptiste de Boyer marquis d'Argens, French author, dies at age 66. 1774 - Messier adds M51 (spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici) to his catalog. 1775 - Francis Salvador becomes first Jew elected to office in America (South Carolina). 1775 - Yemelyan Pugachov Don Cossack rebel, executed by tsarist Russia. 1784 - Ferdinand Philipp Joseph Lobkowitz composer, dies at age 59. 1785 - Continental Congress convenes in New York City, New York. 1787 - William Herschel discovers Titania and Oberon, two moons of Uranus. 1790 - Statisten and Vonckisten unite as Belgium. 1797 - Francis Lightfoot Lee US farmer (signer Declaration of Independence), dies at age 62. 1801 - Birth of John Lodge Ellerton composer. 1801 - Domenico Cimarosa Italian composer (Matrimonio segreto), dies at age 51. 1803 - Monroe and Livingston sail for Paris to buy New Orleans; they buy Louisiana. 1805 - Michigan Territory is organized. 1807 - Birth of Alfred Eugene "Mudwall" Jackson Brigadier General (Confederate Army). 1807 - Birth of Ezra Cornell founder (Western Union Telegraph, Cornell University). 1808 - Birth of Antoine GB Schayes Belgian historian/archaeologist. 1813 - First pineapples planted in Hawaii. 1814 - Birth of James Paget English surgeon (disease of Paget). 1814 - Birth of Richard Griffith Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1862. 1815 - Birth of Sir John A MacDonald (Conservative) first Prime Minister of Canada (1867-73). 1816 - Birth of Fitz-Henry Warren Brevet Major General (Union volunteers) (dies 1878). 1818 - Birth of John Reese Kenly Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1891. 1831 - Birth of James Ronald Chalmers Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1898. 1837 - François Gérard French baron/painter, dies at age 66. 1837 - John Field Irish pianist/composer (Nocturnes), dies at age 54. 1839 - Birth of Eugenio Maria de Hostos Puerto Rico, patriot/scholar. 1839 - Earthquake at Martinique destroys half of Port Royal-700 die. 1841 - Birth of Otto von Gierke in Settin, Germany; professor of legal philosophy. 1842 - Birth of William James US, psychologist/philosopher. 1843 - Francis Scott Key composer (Star Spangled Banner), dies at age 63. 1847 - Caroline von Wolzogen [von Lengefeld] German author, dies at age 83. 1849 - Birth of Oskar Lassar German dermatologist (bath house). 1850 - Birth of J C Arthur Lowville New York, botanist (studied rusts). 1850 - Birth of Philipp la Renotiere von Ferrary famous philatelist. 1852 - Birth of Konstantin Fehrenbach in Wellendingen, Germany; member of the Catholic Center Party, president of the Reichstag in 1918, chancellor of the Weimar Republic 1920-21. 1853 - Birth of Gustav Falke in Luebeck, Germany; author/poet (Der Mann im Nebel). 1856 - Birth of Christian August Sinding Kongsberg Norway, composer. 1856 - Nikolai I Nadezjdin Russian archaeologist, dies. 1857 - Birth of Fred[erick J] Archer English jockey (won five Derbys). 1859 - Birth of [Gerard] Jan Ligthart Dutch educator (Nog bij mother, Ot and Sien). 1860 - Birth of Marie Bashkirtseff Russian/French painter/author (Journal). 1861 - Mexico City captured by Juárez (Liberal) in War of the Reform. 1861 - Alabama becomes fourth state to secede. 1863 - Naval engagement near Galveston between CSS Alabama and USS Hatteras. 1863 - Union forces capture Arkansas Post, or Fort Hindman, Arkansas. 1864 - Birth of Thomas Dixon US attorney/playwright (Flaming Sword). 1864 - Charing Cross Station opens in London. 1865 - Battle of Beverly, West Virginia. 1866 - Steamship London sinks in storm off Land's End England, kills 220. 1873 - First livestock market newspaper published, Drover's Journal, Chicago. 1873 - Birth of Joaquín Alvarez Quintéro Spanish dramatist/playwright (Los Galeotes). 1875 - Birth of Reinhold Gliere Kiev Ukraine, composer. 1877 - Pietro Romani composer, dies at age 85. 1878 - Birth of Theodorus Pangalos Greek General /dictator (1926). 1879 - Birth of Antonio Beltramelli writer. 1879 - Zulu war against British colonial rule in South Africa begins. 1880 - Birth of Rudolf T Palm Curaçao, pianist/composer. 1885 - Birth of Alice Paul ERA advocate/founder (National Woman's Party). 1885 - Henrik Ibsen's "Vildauden" premieres in Oslo. 1886 - Birth of George Zucco England; actor (Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Captain Fury). 1887 - Birth of Aldo Leopold founder (Wilderness Society). 1888 - Birth of Chester Conklin Oskaloosa Iowa; actor (Every Day's a Holiday, Greed). 1890 - Birth of Monte Blue Indianapolis Indiana, silent film actor (Montana, Oh Boy). 1891 - Georges-Eugène Haussmann French senator/baron, dies at age 81. 1892 - Hawaiian Historical Society founded. 1892 - Paul Gauguin marries a 13-year-old Tahitian girl. 1892 - William D McCoy of Indiana appointed US minister to Liberia. 1893 - Benjamin F Butler US General /presidential candidate (anti-monopoly), dies at age 74. 1893 - Jaap Eden skates world record 1500m (2 35). 1894 - Birth of Jaroslav Vogel composer. 1896 - Birth of Paddy Driscoll NFL quarterback/coach (Chicago Cardinals, Chicago Bears). 1898 - Birth of Hans Rudolf Krik Danish writer/critic (Fiskerne, Slaven). 1898 - Gaetano Capocci composer, dies at age 86. 1899 - Birth of Eva LeGallienne; actress/director (Resurrection). 1901 - Birth of Andries D Copier; Dutch glass manufacturer (Gildeglass). 1902 - Popular Mechanics magazine is first published, in the USA. 1902 - Johnny Briggs, cricket player (118 wickets for England), dies in an asylum. 1903 - Birth of Alan Paton in South Africa; writer (Cry, the Beloved Country). 1904 - Birth of Frederick Boland; Irish diplomat/President (UN General Assembly). 1905 - Birth of Manfred Bonnington Lee; detective writer (half of Ellery Queen). 1905 - Birth of Pierre Mendes-France; French Premier (1954-55). 1906 - Birth of Albert Hofmann in Switzerland; chemist (discovered LSD). 1908 - Birth of Lionel Stander in New York City, New York, USA; actor (Max - Hart to Hart, Unfaithfully Yours). 1908 - U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt declares the Grand Canyon in northwestern Arizona a national monument. 1909 - Birth of Marguerite Kelsey; English model/painter (Haunting). 1910 - Birth of Trygve Martin Bratteli; Norwegian Prime Minister (Labour, 1971-72, 1973-76). 1912 - Birth of Donald Barry in Houston, Texas, USA; actor (Mr Gallo - Mr Novak). 1912 - Birth of Roger Lewis; aviation executive (Lockheed, Curtiss Wright, Pan Am). 1912 - Birth of Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe in Waco, Texas, USA; pitcher (Detroit Tigers). 1913 - First sedan-type car (Hudson) goes on display at 13th Auto Show (New York City, New York). 1915 - Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Colonel Tillinghast Huston purchase New York Yankees for US$460,000. 1916 - Birth of Bernard Blier in Buenos Aires, Argentina; actor (Les Miserables). 1916 - Birth of James Henry Quillen AKA Jimmy Quillen in Scott County, Virginia, USA; American politician (Representative-Republican-Tennessee, 1963-1997). 1916 - French troops capture/Serbian army flees to Corfu. 1919 - Three-year-old German communist party (Spartacus) is crushed. 1919 - Birth of Veda Ann Borg in Boston, Massachusetts, USA; actress (Avalanche, Accomplice). 1919 - Romania annexes Transylvania. 1920 - French passenger ship Afrique sinks near La Rochelle, France; 553 die. 1922 - Birth of Kathleen Byron in London, England; actress (Abdication, Profile, Four Days). 1922 - Birth of Neville Duke; English test pilot. 1922 - Birth of Tony Charmoli in Minnesota, USA; choreographer (Cher, Julie Andrews). 1922 - Insulin first used in a human patient to treat diabetes (Leonard Thompson, 14, of Canada). 1923 - First Dutch Dada-evening (Theo Van Doesburg and Kurt Schwitters). 1923 - Constantine I, king of Greece (1913-17, 1920-22), dies at age 54. 1923 - French and Belgian troops occupy Ruhr to collect reparations. In protest, Berlin ceases payment of all reparations. 1924 - Birth of Don Cherry in Wichita, Texas, USA; singer (Dean Martin Summer Show). 1925 - Franc B Kellogg replaces Charles Hughes as US Secretary of State. 1926 - Birth of Elisabeth M J "Elly" Bakker; Dutch actress (The Miser). 1926 - Birth of Grant Tinker; broadcasting executive (NBC-TV). 1926 - Birth of Lev Stepanovich Dyomin in Russia; cosmonaut (Soyuz 15). 1927 - Birth of John Hayes; cricket player (New Zealand fast bowler in 15 Tests 1951-58). 1928 - Birth of David L Wolper; producer (Devil's Brigade). 1928 - Birth of Mitchell Ryan in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; actor (Chase, Executive Suite). 1928 - Thomas Hardy, novelist (Maddening Crowd), dies at his home near Dorchester, England at age 87. 1929 - Birth of Rod Taylor in Sydney, Australia; actor (Bearcats, Time Machine). 1929 - Julio Antonio Mella, Cuban revolutionary, murdered at about age 28. 1930 - At 12:00 PM, the first official theater-based Mickey Mouse Club begins, at the Fox Dome Theater in Ocean Park, California. 1931 - Birth of Ed Hall in Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA; actor (Dr Bicker - Medical Center). 1933 - Birth of Goldie Hill in Karnes County, Texas, USA; country singer (Grand Ole Opry). 1934 - Birth of Jean Chrétien in Canada; Prime Minister (Liberal, 1993-). 1935 - Birth of Chuck Barksdale; American singer (Dells - "I Can Sing a Rainbow"). 1936 - Birth of Linda Lawson in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; actress (Don't Call Me Charlie). 1936 - Birth of Meindert Leerling; Dutch TV director/Member of Parliament (RPF). 1938 - Donald Bradman scores a second inning 113 versus Queensland after a ton in the first. 1938 - Japanese sailors take Tsingtao, seaport of Shantung in Northern China. 1939 - Birth of Anne Heggtveigt in Canada; slalom (Olympics-gold-1960). 1941 - Princess Irene Brigade established in Congleton. 1942 - -23 degrees F (-31 degrees C), Kingston, Rhode Island (state record). 1942 - Birth of Clarence Clemons; rock saxophonist (Bruce Springsteen's E Steet Band). 1942 - Japanese forces invade the Netherlands East Indies on Borneo. 1942 - Japan conquers Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. 1943 - Carlo Tresca, New York's Italian newspaper editor/anti-fascist, is murdered. 1943 - US and Britain relinquish extraterritorial rights in China. 1944 - Crakow-Plaszow Concentration Camp established. 1944 - Galeazzo, count of Cortellazzo Ciano, Italian politician, dies. 1945 - Ada Negri, Italian poet/author (Fatalità), dies at age 74. 1945 - Birth of Christine Kaufmann in Austria; actress (Town Without Pity, Red Lips). 1946 - Bert Bell becomes second NFL commissioner, moves Chicago, Illinois, headquarters to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1946 - Birth of Ludmila Poradnik in USSR; team handball (Olympics-gold-1976, 1980). 1946 - Birth of Naomi Judd [Diana Ellen] in Ashland, Kentucky, USA; singer (Judds - "Why Not Me"). 1946 - Birth of Tony Kaye; rocker (Yes). 1946 - Enver Hoxha declares People's Republic of Albania with himself dictator. 1947 - Birth of Anna Calder-Marshall in Kensington, England; actress (Zulu Dawn). 1948 - Birth of Madeline Manning-Jackson-Mimms; American 800m runner (Olympics-gold-1968). 1949 - Birth of Caskey Swaim in Lexington, North Carolina, USA; actor (Sergeant Fitz - Project UFO, Friday the 13th Part V). 1949 - Birth of Tom Netherton in Munich, Germany; singer (Lawrence Welk Show). 1949 - Birth of [Frederick] Dennis Greene; rocker (Sha Na Na - "Shannon"). 1949 - The first snowfall in Los Angeles, California is recorded. 1952 - Birth of Ben Daniel Crenshaw in Austin, Texas, USA; PGA golfer (1974 Rookie of Year, 1976 Bing Crosby). 1952 - Birth of Lee Ritenour in Los Angeles, California, USA; jazz musician. 1952 - Birth of Massimo Lopez; Italian comedian. 1952 - Bollingen Prize for poetry awarded to Marianne Moore. 1952 - Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, General (North-Africa/Indo-China), dies at age 61. 1953 - Ernst H Ridder Rappard, Dutch Nazi founder (NSNAP), dies at age 53. 1953 - J Edgar Hoover declines six-figure offer to become president of the International Boxing Club. 1953 - Noach Zjordanija, Georgian Premier (1918-21), dies at age 84. 1954 - Two-ton locomotive swept into ravine by avalanche - ten die (Austria). 1954 - Birth of Saskia Ten Batenburg; Dutch actress (Factory, Hunk). 1954 - Edgar Tytgat, Flemish painter/etcher/drawer, dies at age 77. 1954 - Emmy Arbous, Dutch actress/cabaret performer (Boefje), dies at age 56. 1954 - Death of Oscar Straus in Vienna, Austria; composer, Der tapfere Soldat (1908), Ein Walzertraum (1907) Rund um die Liebe (1914). 1955 - Rodolfo Graziani, Italian East-Africa Minister of Defense, dies at age 72. 1956 - Birth of Kuniaki Kobayashi; wrestler (WAR/NJPW). 1957 - Birth of Bryan Robson; English international soccer star. 1957 - Birth of Darryl Dawkins; NBA center (Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets). 1958 - Birth of Vicki Peterson in Los Angeles, California, USA; rock guitarist/vocalist (Bangles). 1959 - Bollingen Prize for poetry awarded to Theodore Roethke. 1959 - Dr Mohammed Zakaria Ghonein, discoverer of 6,000-year-old pyramid, dies. 1959 - Hanif Mohammad completes 499 for Karachi, first class world record. 1959 - Marlene Hagge wins LPGA Mayfair Golf Open. 1959 - NFL Pro Bowl: East beats West 28-21. 1960 - Birth of Vicki Peterson in Los Angeles, California, USA; rocker (Bangles - "Walk Like an Egyptian"). 1960 - Johan E Elias, Dutch historian (Elias Family), dies at age 84. 1960 - Lamar Clark sets pro boxing record of 44 consecutive knockouts. 1961 - Birth of Paul Skansi; NFL wide receiver (Seattle Seahawks). 1961 - Racial riot at University of Georgia, USA. 1962 - Birth of Donn Pall in Evergreen Park, Illinois, USA; pitcher (Philadelphia Phillies, Florida Marlins). 1962 - Birth of Julie Moran; TV hostess (Entertainment Tonight, Independence Day). 1962 - Birth of Kim Coles in Brooklyn, New York, USA; actress (Synclaire - Living Single). 1963 - First discotheque opens, The Whiskey-a-go-go in Los Angeles, California, USA. 1963 - Arthur D Nock, English/American historian (Saint Paul), dies at age 60. 1963 - Birth of Jason Connery in London, England; actor (Robin Hood). 1963 - Birth of Kate Gompert in Ames, Iowa, USA; tennis star. 1963 - Birth of Petra Schneider; East German swimming star (world record 400m). 1963 - Birth of Tracy Caulkins in Winona, Minnesota, USA; swimmer (Olympics-3 gold-1984). 1964 - Panamá severs diplomatic relations with US. 1964 - US Surgeon General Luther Terry reports that smoking may be hazardous. 1965 - Birth of Barbara Belding in San Diego, California, USA; WPVA volleyball player (US Open-17th-1994). 1965 - Birth of Joely Richardson in London, England; actress (Body Contact, Wetherby). 1965 - Birth of Karl Van Calcar in Torrance, California, USA; 3k steeplechase. 1965 - Birth of Loredana Romito in Benevento, Italy; model/actress (Fatal Temptation). 1965 - Birth of Olivia Barash in Miami, Florida, USA; actress (Laura - Out of the Blue). 1965 - Birth of Steve Vancil in Oregon City, Oregon, USA; golfer (1989 City of Portland). 1966 - Daktari African adventure series premieres on CBS TV. 1966 - 550 die in landslides in mountains behind Rio de Janeiro after rain. 1966 - Albert Giacometti, Swiss/French painter/sculptor, dies at age 64. 1966 - Birth of Christian Pouget; hockey forward (Team France 1998). 1966 - Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indian premier (1964-66), dies at age 61. 1967 - Birth of Jeff Bankett in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; actor (Tyler - One Life to Live). 1967 - Birth of Richmond Webb; NFL tackle (Miami Dolphins). 1967 - Birth of Ronnie Stern in St-Agathe, Quebec, Canada; NHL right wing (Calgary Flames). 1967 - Romeinse Curie installs Council for Pontifical Study commission. 1968 - Birth of Ben Rivera; Dominican/US baseball pitcher (Philadelphia Phillies). 1968 - Birth of Sharon Brown in New York City, New York, USA; actress (Chantal - Generations). 1968 - Explorer 36 (GEOS-B) launched into earth orbit (1080/1570 km). 1969 - Birth of Darren Anderson; NFL cornerback (Kansas City Chiefs). 1969 - Birth of Dave Cruikshank in Northbrook, Illinois, USA; speed skater (Olympics-1994). 1969 - Birth of Frank Robinson; WLAF defensive back (Scottish Claymores). 1969 - Birth of Reemt Pyka; hockey forward (Team Germany 1998). 1970 - Birth of Franco Davin in Argentina; tennis star. 1970 - Super Bowl IV: Kansas City Chiefs beat Minnesota Vikings, 23-7 in New Orleans; Most Valuable Player: Len Dawson, Quarterback. 1971 - First "Quickie" Divorce granted in United Kingdom. 1971 - Birth of Alexander Delgado in Palmerejo, Venezuela; catcher (Boston Red Sox). 1971 - Birth of Karmeeleyah McGill; WLAF linebacker (Scottish Claymores). 1971 - Birth of Mary J Blige; singer. 1971 - Birth of Noah Cantor; Canadian Football League defensive tackle (Toronto Argonauts). 1971 - Birth of Stephen Smith in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; high jumper. 1971 - Detroit Tigers' ace reliever John Hiller, 27, suffers a heart attack, and misses the 1971 season. 1972 - Abu Sayeed Chudhury becomes president and sheik Mujib ur-Rahman premier. 1972 - Birth of Amber Medlin in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA; Miss Virginia-America (1995). 1972 - Birth of Dexter Seigler; NFL cornerback (Seattle Seahawks). 1972 - Birth of Huub Loeffen; Dutch soccer player (Vitesse). 1972 - Birth of Rey Ordonez in Havana, Cuba; infielder (New York Mets). 1972 - Birth of Yang Wenyi; Chinese swim star (World Record/Olympic Record 50m freestyle). 1972 - East-Pakistan becomes independent state of Bangladesh. 1973 - American League adopts designated hitter rule. 1973 - Birth of Dave Dickenson; Canadian Football League quarterback (Calgary Stampeders). 1973 - Birth of Rahul Dravid; cricket batter (prolific Karnataka, Tests for India 96). 1973 - Famous victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground Pakistan chasing 158 all out 106. 1973 - Isabel Randolph, actress (Missing Corpse), dies at age 83. 1973 - Trial of the Watergate burglars begins in Washington DC. 1974 - The ABC TV network airs the last Love, American Style TV show in the USA. 65 episodes aired. 1974 - Birth of Goran Lozanovski; Australian soccer midfielder (Olyroos, Olympics-1996). 1974 - Birth of Rod Jones; NFL guard (Cincinnati Bengals). 1974 - Birth of Rosenkowitz sextuplets in Cape Town, South Africa (first known to survive infancy). 1974 - Birth of Toderick Malone; WLAF wide receiver (London Monarchs). 1974 - Birth of Warren Morris in Alexandria, Louisiana, USA; baseball infielder (Olympics-bronze-1996). 1974 - The ABC TV network airs the last Room 222 TV show in the USA. 1975 - Birth of Brad Badger; guard (Washington Redskins). 1975 - Birth of Jacky Verbeek; Dutch soccer player (RKC). 1975 - Birth of Rory Fitzpatrick Rochester; NHL defenseman (Montreal Canadiens). 1975 - Soyuz 17 carries two cosmonauts to space station Salyut 4. 1976 - Mervyn Grell, cricket player (Test West Indies versus England 1930, 21 and 13, 0-17), dies. 1976 - Military coup in Ecuador, President Guillermo Lara leaves. 1976 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Dorothy Hamill. 1976 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Terry Kubicka. 1977 - Bollingen Prize awarded to David Ignatow. 1977 - Chicago Cubs trade outfielder Rick Monday to Los Angeles Dodgers for Bill Buckner. 1977 - France releases Abu Daoud, a Palestinian suspected of involvement in the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. 1978 - Governor Askew dedicates the RCUC solar office building. 1978 - Michael Bates, actor (Clockwork Orange, Salt and Pepper), dies at age 57. 1978 - Soyuz 27 links with Salyut 6 and Soyuz 26 (first time three spacecraft link). 1979 - Jack Soo, actor (Nick Yemana - Barney Miller, Green Berets), dies at age 63. 1980 - Debut of The Pretenders rock music group. 1980 - Nigel Short, 14, becomes the youngest chess player to be awarded the degree of International Master. 1981 - British team led by Ranulph Fiennes completes longest and fastest crossing of Antarctica, reaching Scott base after 75 days (2,500 miles). 1981 - Palau adopts constitution. 1981 - Birth of Jamelia; British singer. 1982 - Honduras adopts constitution. 1982 - (to January 17) A brutal cold snap sends temperatures to all-time record lows in dozens of cities throughout the Midwestern United States. 1982 - Mark Thatcher, son of the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, disappears in the Sahara during the Paris-Dakar rally. He is rescued January 14. 1982 - In Luzon, Philippine Islands, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurs. 1983 - Death of Shri Ghanshyam Das Birla, Indian industrialist and educator (born 1894). 1983 - Billy Martin named New York Yankees' manager for third time. 1983 - Nikolaj V Podgorny, president USSR, dies at age 79. 1983 - Billy Martin becomes the New York Yankees' manager for the third time, replacing Clyde King. 1984 - US Supreme Court reinstates US$10 million award to Karen Silkwood's family. 1984 - Denver Nuggets 163, San Antonio Spurs 155-highest-scoring NBA game. 1984 - Jack La Rue, TV narrator (Lights Out), dies at age 84. 1985 - Birth of Rie fu; Japanese singer and songwriter. 1986 - The Gateway Bridge, Brisbane officially opens in Queensland, Australia. 1986 - First US black Lieutenant-Governor since reconstruction sworn in (Douglas Wilder of Virginia). 1987 - Birth of David Allen; American actor/comedian/writer. 1987 - Largest crowd (76,633) at NFL New York Giants Stadium (beat Washington Redskins 17-0). 1988 - Birth of L'Esperance quintuplets: Alexandria, Danielle, Erica, Raymond, and Veronica. 1988 - Gregory (Pappy) Boyington, American ace WWII pilot, dies at age 75 of cancer (born 1912). 1988 - Isidor Isaac Rabi, nuclear physicist (Nobel Prize-1944), dies at age 89. 1988 - Test debut of Phil Simmons, West Indies versus India, Madras. 1988 - USSR announces it will participate in the Seoul Summer Olympics. 1989 - 140 nations agree to ban chemical weapons (poison gas, etc.). 1989 - Denver Nuggets' rookie Jerome Lane misses seven free throws in a game against Milwaukee Bucks, one missed by two feet. 1989 - Kindergarten student caught with loaded handgun at Bronx school, New York. 1989 - Birth of Chris Perry-Metcalf, British actor. 1989 - Death of August Koern, Estonian statesman and diplomat (born 1900). 1990 - In Lithuania, 300,000 demonstrate for independence. 1990 - Bobby Knight becomes basketball's Big 10 winningest coach (229). 1990 - Mary Jane Carr, actress (Forbidden Trail, Second Wife), dies. 1990 - Pat Lafontaine sets New York Islanders record of scoring goals in 11 straight. 1991 - Ben Johnson runs first race after being stripped of his 1988 Olympic Gold medal for steroid use; he finishes second. 1991 - US Congress empowers President George H.W. Bush to order attack on Iraq. 1991 - Jason Christmas dies of gunshot wound during robbery in New York at age 49. 1991 - Ric Flair wins NWA/WCW wrestling title. 1991 - Soviet forces storm buildings in Vilnius to block Lithuania independence. 1991 - Death of Carl David Anderson, American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1905). 1992 - Algeria's President Chadli announces his resignation. 1992 - Singer Paul Simon is the first major artist to tour South Africa after the end of the cultural boycott. 1992 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Kristi Yamaguchi. 1993 - American independent presidential candidate Ross Perot publicly returns to politics. 1993 - Lacey Fosburgh, author (Closing Time), dies of breast cancer at age 50. 1993 - Birth of Flora Cross, American actress. 1994 - Hyderabad score 6 for 944 against Andhra Pradesh in Ranji Trophy. 1994 - Irish government announces end of a 20-year broadcasting ban on Irish Republican Army. 1994 - John Bradley, raised US flag at Iwo Jima, dies at age 70. 1994 - The Fox TV network debuts the Monty show. 1994 - Roger "Ram" Ramirez, jazz piano player/composer, dies at age 80. 1994 - The Superhighway Summit is held in Los Angeles, California. It is the first conference to discuss the growing information superhighway and is presided over by U.S. Vice President Al Gore. 1995 - 5th US TV network Warner Brothers begins (WPIX-TV in New York City, New York). 1995 - Adrian J "Ad" Kaland, Dutch Member of Parliament (CDA 1977-93), dies at age 72. 1995 - Birmingham Barracudas granted Canadian Football League franchise. 1995 - DC-9 crashes near Maria La Baya, Colombia: 51 die, 9-year-old girl lives. 1995 - John AG Gere, English art historian (Raphael and his Circle), dies at age 73. 1995 - NHL Players Association and team owners agree to end NHL strike. 1995 - Onat Kutlar, Turkish screenplay/producer (Hazal), murdered at age 59. 1995 - Willem N "Pim" Koot, pianist (Concert Building), dies at age 76. 1995 - The WB TV network debuts the Disney series Unhappily Ever After. 1996 - Harold Walter Bailey, philologist, dies at age 96. 1996 - Hubert Nicholson, poet/novelist, dies at age 87. 1996 - Ike Isaacs, guitarist, dies at age 76. 1996 - Space Shuttle STS 72 (Endeavour 10), launches into space. 1997 - 23rd People's Choice Awards: Bill Cosby wins. 1997 - Duncan Wood, television director/producer, dies at age 71. 1997 - Joshua William Steward, polymath, dies at age 83. 1997 - Martina Hingis beats Jennifer Capriati at Sydney Tennis International. 1997 - Launch of Telstar 401 satellite fails. 1997 - In Michoacan, Mexico, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. One person killed and extensive damage in the Arteaga area, Michoacan. 1998 - 24th Annual People's Choice Awards: Seinfeld, Tim Allen win. 1998 - AFC Championship: Denver Broncos beat Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21. 1998 - Death of Klaus Tennstedt, German conductor, at age 71 (born 1926). 1998 - NFC Championship: Green Bay Packers beat San Francisco 49ers 23-10. 1998 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Michelle Kwan. 1998 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Todd Eldredge. 1998 - Sidi-Hamed massacre in Algeria: over 100 people are killed. 1999 - Death of Brian Moore, Irish-born writer (born 1921). 1999 - Death of Fabrizio de André, Italian singer and songwriter (born 1940). 2000 - The armed wing of Islamic Salvation Front concludes its negotiations with the government for an amnesty and disbands in Algeria. 2000 - Carlton Fisk and Tony Perez are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. 2001 - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission approves the merger of America Online and Time Warner to form AOL Time Warner. 2003 - Death of Maurice Pialat, French actor and director (born 1925). 2003 - Death of Richard Simmons, American actor (born 1913). 2004 - Death of Mairtín Crawford, Irish poet (born 1967). 2005 - Apple Computer releases the Mac mini computer, for $500. 2005 - Apple Computer releases the iPod shuffle music player. It features 512 MB RAM and USB 2.0 port. Weight is under one ounce. Battery life is about 12 hours. Price is US$99. 2006 - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays make their first agreement with a Japanese player as relief pitcher Shinji Mori signs a US$1.4 million, two-year contract. 2006 - The Augustine Volcano in Alaska erupts twice, marking its first major eruption since 1986. 2007 - Vietnam joins the World Trade Organization as its 150th member. 2007 - China successfully destroys one of its old weather satellite orbiting 850 km above the Earth by a mobile ground-based ballistic missile. 2007 - In Bangladesh, a state of emergency is declared by caretaker President Iajuddin Ahmed, following weeks of violent protests preceding upcoming parliamentary elections. 2007 - Death of Robert Anton Wilson, American author and conspiracy researcher (born 1932). 2008 - In Auckland, New Zealand, Sir Edmund Hillary dies of a heart attack in hospital at age 88. He was the first man to climb to the peak of Mount Everest, in 1953, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, and made an honorary Nepali citizen. 2009 - The Teartai Prima ferry sinks in high waves off central Indonesia, with the loss of about 225 people. 2009 - In Beverly Hills, California, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, presents the Golden Globe Awards. Best drama: Slumdog Millionaire Best director: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire Best screenwriter: Simon Beaufoy for Slumdog Millionaire Best musical score: Slumdog Millionaire Best film musical or comedy: Vicky Cristina Barcelona Best actress in a drama: Kate Winslet for Revolutionary Road Best supporting actress: Kate Winslet for The Reader Best actor in a drama: Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler Best actor in a musical or comedy: Colin Farrell for In Bruges Best actress in a musical or comedy: Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky Best supporting actor: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight Best animated film: Wall-E Best foreign language film: Waltz With Bashir Best original song: "The Wrestler" Best TV drama program: Mad Men Best TV comedy: 30 Rock Best TV comedy actor: Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock Best TV comedy actress: Tina Fey for 30 Rock Best TV drama actor: Gabriel Byrne for In Treatment Best TV drama actress: Anna Paquin for True Blood 2010 - Retired US baseball star Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals admits to using steroids during his career, including when he broke the sport's home run record in 1998. 2011 - Laos opens its first stock exchange.         Your Ad Here         You can pick a particular day to view that day's events in history. 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