This Day in History
February 8

What happened in history on this day: February 8? On February 8 in ... 412 - Birth of Saint Proclus, patriarch of Constantinople. 421 - Flavius Constantine becomes emperor Constantine III of West Roman empire. 1124 - Stefanus of Thiers/Muret founder of order of Grammond/saint, dies. 1245 - Johannes de Rupella/de la Rochelle French theologist, dies. 1291 - Birth of Afonso IV King of Portugal (1325-57). 1303 - Nanshu Zen teacher (Rinzai line)/founder (Zounan temple), dies. 1487 - Birth of Ulrich in Reichenweier, Germany; Herzog of Württemberg. 1513 - Alonso de Ojeda Spanish explorer (Curaçao and Bonaire), dies. 1526 - Heavy storm strikes Dutch coast, many die. 1552 - Birth of Théodore-Agrippa d'Aubigné French/Swiss historian/poet (Tragiques). 1575 - University of Leiden Netherlands opens. 1577 - Birth of Robert Burton writer, Anglican clergyman (Anatomy of Melancholy). 1586 - Birth of Jacob Praetorius composer. 1587 - Mary, Queen of Scots (1560-87), is beheaded at age 44 at Fotheringhay Castle in England for her complicity in a plot to murder Queen Elizabeth. 1600 - Vatican convicts scholar Giordano Bruno to death. 1601 - Earl Robert Devereux of Essex armies draws into London. 1611 - Jan H Van Linschoten traveller/writer (Reys-Gheschrift), dies. 1612 - Birth of Samuel Butler England, poet/satirist (Hudibras) (baptized). 1622 - King James I disbands the English parliament. 1650 - John Adriaensz hydraulic engineer (Haarlemmermeer), dies at about age 74. 1672 - Isaac Newton reads first optics paper before Royal Society in London. 1676 - Aleksei M Romanov Czar of Russia, dies at age 46. 1686 - François Tak Dutch diplomat on Java, murdered. 1690 - French and Indian troops set Schenectady settlement New York on fire. 1690 - Lord Halifax resigns as Lord Privy Seal. 1691 - Carlo di Girolamo Rainaldi Italian architect/composer, dies at age 79. 1693 - William and Mary college is second college chartered in America. 1708 - Birth of Vaclav Jan Kopriva composer. 1709 - Giuseppi Torelli Italian composer, dies at age 50. 1712 - Birth of L Joseph de Montcalm de Saint-Véran French General in America. 1725 - Peter I "the Great" Romanov czar of Russia (1682-1725), dies at age 52. 1725 - Peter the Great Tsar of Russia dies. 1735 - First opera in US, Flora, opens in Charleston, South Carolina. 1740 - Clement XII [Lorenzo Corsini], blind Pope (1730-40), dies at age 87. 1741 - Birth of Andre-Ernest-Modeste Gretry composer. 1743 - Comet C/1743 C1 approaches within 0.0390 astronomical units (AUs) of Earth. 1744 - French/Spanish fleet leaves Toulon. 1749 - Jan van Huysum Dutch still life painter, dies at age 66. 1750 - Minor earthquake in London. 1764 - Birth of Joseph Leopold von Eybler Austrian composer. 1771 - Augusta von Saxen-Gotha German prince Frederick Louis of Wales, dies. 1775 - Leidse University 400th anniversary dinner. 1776 - Wolfgang von Goethes' "Stella" premieres in Hamburg. 1789 - Birth of Ludwig Wilhelm Maurer composer. 1795 - Birth of Friedlieb F Runge German chemist (Chinoline). 1795 - Birth of Moritz G [Moses] Saphir Hungarian journalist/serial writer. 1797 - Johann Friedrich Doles composer, dies at age 81. 1801 - Johann Chrysostomus Drexel composer, dies at age 43. 1802 - Simon Willard patents banjo clock. 1807 - Birth of Franciscus J van Vree Dutch Catholic foreman. 1807 - Napoleon defeats Russians in battle of Eylau. 1809 - Franz I of Austria declares war on France. 1810 - Birth of Norbert Burgmuller composer. 1811 - Birth of Edwin Denison Morgan Secretary of War (Confederacy) (dies in 1883). 1813 - Birth of Jacob G Agarah Swedish algologist. 1817 - Birth of Richard Stoddert Ewell Lieutenant General (Confederate Army) (dies 1872). 1818 - Birth of Austin Blair Governor/MC (Union), died in 1894. 1819 - Birth of John Ruskin writer/critic/artist/Gothic Revivalist (Prerafaelite). 1820 - Birth of William Tecumseh Sherman Major General (Union Army) (dies 1891). 1821 - Paul Anton Wineberger composer, dies at age 62. 1822 - Birth of Maxime Du Camp France, writer/traveler (Les Buveurs de Cendres). 1824 - Birth of Barnard Elliot Bee Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1861. 1824 - Rhijnvis Feith Dutch mayor/writer (Zwolle, Julia), dies at age 71. 1828 - Birth of Antonio Cagnoni composer. 1828 - Birth of Antonio Cánovas del Castillo premier of Spain. 1828 - Birth of Jules Verne in France; pioneer of sci-fi (From the Earth to the Moon) (dies 1905). 1837 - First Vice President chosen by the Senate, Richard Johnson (Van Buren administration). 1849 - France Preseren Slovenian poet (Sonetni Venec), dies at age 48. 1849 - François-Antoine Habeneck composer, dies at age 68. 1851 - Birth of Kate O'Flaherty Chopin novelist. 1852 - Birth of Nikolai Garin [Michailovski] Russian author (Tjoma Kartashov). 1859 - Birth of John H Been town's archivist of Brielle (Baasje and Witkop). 1861 - Confederate States of America is proclaimed in Montgomery, Alabama. 1862 - Dion Boucicault's opera "The Lily of Killarney" is produced (London). 1862 - Battle of Roanoke Island, North Carolina, Federals gain control of Pamlico Sound. 1874 - David F Strauss German theologist, dies at age 66. 1876 - Birth of Paula Modersohn-Becker German "entartet" painter. 1878 - Birth of Martin Buber German/Israeli philosopher/theologist (Ich und Du). 1878 - Elias M Fries Swedish botanist (mycologicum), dies at age 83. 1879 - Sandford Fleming first proposes adoption of Universal Standard Time at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Institute. 1880 - Birth of Franz Marc German painter (Blaue Reiter). 1882 - Birth of George Siegmann actor (Birth of Nation, Queen of Sheba, Oliver Twist). 1883 - Birth of Joseph A Schumpeter Austria/US economist/minister of finance. 1883 - Louis Waterman begins experiments to invent the fountain pen. 1884 - Arnold Henry Guyot Swiss/US geologist/meteorologist, dies at age 76. 1885 - Birth of Dame Edith Evans London England, actress (Tom Jones, David Copperfield). 1886 - Birth of Charlie Ruggles Los Angeles California; actor (The Ruggles, Aesop-Bullwinkle Show). 1887 - Aurora Ski Club of Red Wing Minnesota became the first US ski club. 1887 - Dawes Act passed (Indians living apart from tribe granted citizenship). 1888 - Birth of Matthijs Vermeulen Dutch composer/music critic. 1889 - Flood ravages Dutch coast. 1890 - Birth of Claro Mayo Recto Filipino nationalist/opponent of US colonialism. 1891 - Birth of Edgar Palm Curaçao, pianist/composer. 1892 - Birth of Fritz Todt German Reichs minister (Organization Todt). 1894 - Birth of Ludwig Marcuse German philosopher. 1894 - Enforcement Act repealed, making it easier to disenfranchise blacks. 1895 - Birth of King Vidor director (War and Peace, Stella Dallas). 1895 - Tchaikovsky/Petipa's "Swan Lake" premieres in Petersburg. 1896 - Birth of Orville Caldwell California; actor (Patsy, French Doll, Last Warning). 1896 - Georges Feydeaus' "Le Dindon" premieres in Paris. 1896 - Western Conference forms of Midwestern University, later renamed Big 10 Conference. 1897 - Antonio Cánovas del Castillo premier of Spain, murdered at age 69. 1898 - John Ames Sherman patents first envelope folding and gumming machine (Massachusetts). 1901 - Birth of Janina Spychajowa-Kurkowska in Poland; women's world champion archer. 1902 - Birth of Lyle Talbot [Lysle Hollywood] in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; actor (Glen or Glenda). 1903 - Birth of Abdulrahman; minister of Internal affairs/premier of Malaysia. 1904 - Outbreak of hostilities in Russo-Japanese war. 1905 - Birth of Truman Bradley in Missouri, USA; TV host (Science Fiction Theater). 1905 - Cyclone hits Tahiti and adjacent islands, killing some 10,000 people. 1906 - Birth of Artur Balsam; Polish/US pianist (Begeleidde Menuhin, Milstein). 1906 - Birth of Chester F Carlson; inventor (xerography). 1906 - Birth of Henry Roth; Austria-Hungary/US writer (Call it Sleep). 1907 - Hendrik W Bakhuis Roozeboom, chemist (fasenleer), dies at age 52. 1908 - Birth of Leslie Kenneth O'Brien, Lord O'Brien of Lothbury; missionary. 1908 - Birth of Myron McCormick in Albany, New York, USA; actor (Hustler, Jolson Sings Again). 1909 - France and Germany sign treaty about Morocco. 1910 - Boy Scouts of America is incorporated and chartered (William D Boyce - Chicago, Illinois). 1911 - Birth of Anne Aitken [nee Hopkins] in Chicago, Illinois, USA; co-founder (Diamond Sangha). 1911 - Birth of Elizabeth Bishop; US poet (North and South), Pulitzer Prize (1956). 1911 - Birth of Henri Knap; Dutch resistance fighter/journalist/writer. 1911 - Gustaf Fröding, Swedish poet (Grabstänk), dies at age 50. 1911 - US helps overthrow President Miguel Dávila of Honduras. 1912 - First eastbound US transcontinental flight lands in Jacksonville, Florida. 1913 - Birth of Betty Field in Boston, Massachusetts, USA; actress (Kings Row, Bus Stop). 1913 - Birth of John Grandy; British Royal Air Force-marshal. 1914 - Birth of Jules van Ackere; Flemish musicologist (Eternal Music). 1914 - General Zamon becomes President of Haiti. 1916 - French cruiser Admiral Charner is torpedoed off Syrian coast, kills 374. 1916 - American baseball's National League votes down Charlie Ebbets proposal to limit 25-cent seats. 1918 - Stars and Stripes, weekly US armed forces newspaper, first published. 1918 - Birth of Lord Max Rayne; English broker/multi-millionaire. 1919 - Birth of Buddy Morrow; orchestra leader (Jimmie Rodgers Show). 1920 - Swiss men vote against women's suffrage. 1921 - Birth of Lana Turner in Wallace, Idaho, USA; actress (Survivors, Falcon Crest). 1921 - Peter Kropotkin, Russian Prince/geologist/revolutionary anarchist, dies at age 78. 1922 - Birth of Joeri Averbach; Russian chess grandmaster. 1922 - President Warren G. Harding introduces the first radio in the White House. 1923 - Coal mine explosion at Dawson, New Mexico, USA kills 120. 1924 - First coast-to-coast radio hookup: General John Joseph Carty speech in Chicago, Illinois. 1924 - US mobster Gee John is first executed in gas chamber, in Nevada. 1925 - Birth of Jack Lemmon in Boston, Massachusetts, USA; actor (Days of Wine and Roses, Missing). 1925 - Birth of Raimondo d'Inzeo in Italy; equestrian (Olympics-gold/2 silver/3 bronze-1948-1976). 1926 - Birth of Audrey Meadows in Wu Chang, China; actress (Alice - Honeymooners). 1926 - German Reichstag decides to apply for League of Nations membership. 1926 - Walt Disney Studios is formed. 1927 - Belgian-Swiss treaty signed. 1927 - Birth of John T Myers; American politician (Representative-Republican-Indiana, 1967-). 1927 - Birth of Stanley Baker in Ferndale, Wales; actor (Concrete Jungle, Zorro, Zulu). 1928 - First transatlantic TV image received, in Hartsdale, New York, USA. 1928 - Scottish inventor J Blaird demonstrates color-TV. 1930 - Birth of Alejandro Rey in Buenos Aires, Argentina; actor (Carlos - The Flying Nun). 1930 - Birth of Arlan Stangeland; American politician (Representative-Republican-Minnesota, 1977-). 1930 - Birth of Catherine Hardy in Carollton, Georgia, USA; 4x100 metre runner (Olympics-gold-1952). 1931 - Birth of James Dean in Marion, Indiana, USA; American stage/film actor (Giant, Rebel Without a Cause) (dies 1955). 1931 - Gas explosion, fire in Fushun-coal mine, Manchuria kills 3,000. 1932 - Birth of Jan H Christiaanse; president Dutch political party (CDA). 1932 - Birth of John Towner Williams in Flushing, New York, USA; composer/conductor (Boston Pops). 1932 - Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll, mobster, killed by Dutch Schultz gang. 1933 - -23 degrees F (-31 degrees C), Seminole, Texas (state record low). 1933 - First flight of all-metal Boeing 247. 1933 - Birth of Elly Ameling in Rotterdam, Holland; soprano (Ilya - Idomeneo). 1933 - Birth of Jack Larson in Los Angeles, California, USA; actor (Jimmy Olsen - Superman). 1934 - Birth of Elly Ameling in Rotterdam, Holland; soprano (Ilya - Idomeneo). 1934 - Export-Import Bank organizes in Washington DC. 1934 - Gaston Doumergue forms new French government. 1935 - First NFL draft; Jay Berwanger of University of Chicago is first pick (by Philadelphia Eagles); he never plays in the NFL. 1935 - Birth of Vincent Weir; third baron Inverforth Scottish, shipping magnate. 1935 - Max Liebermann, German impressionist painter/graphic artist, dies at age 87. 1936 - First ski jumping tournament, Red Wing, Minnesota, USA. 1936 - First successful Toronto Maple Leafs penalty shot, Conacher versus New York Rangers. 1936 - Birth of Cletis Boyer; third baseman (New York Yankees). 1936 - Birth of Larry Verne; singer (Custer). 1936 - Birth of Manohar Hardikar; cricket player (batted in two Tests India versus West Indies 1958-59). 1936 - Pandit Jawaharlal follows Gandhi as chairman of India Congress Party. 1937 - Birth of Joe Raposa; composer/songwriter (Sesame Street). 1937 - Birth of Manfred Krug in Duisburg, Germany; actor (Boxer). 1939 - Birth of Gerrit Lakmaaker; sculptor/painter (Leidsepleingroep). 1940 - Birth of Susan Clark in Ontario, Canada; actress (Katherine - Webster). 1940 - Birth of Ted Koppel in Lancashire, England; newscaster (ABC Nightline). 1940 - Germans establish Lodtz, first large ghetto in Poland. 1941 - Birth of Nick Nolte in Omaha, Nebraska, USA; actor (Under Fire, Lorenzo's Oil, Teachers, 48 Hours, North Dallas 40). 1941 - Birth of Tom Rush in New Hampshire, USA; rock guitarist/vocalist (Circle Game, Urge For Going). 1941 - Japanese armored barges cross Strait of Johore to attack Singapore. 1941 - NSB'er Max Blokzijl begins Nazi propaganda on Dutch radio. 1942 - Birth of Fritz Peterson; baseball pitcher (New York Yankees). 1942 - Birth of Robert Klein in the Bronx, New York, USA; comedian/actor (Hooper, Deadly Rivals). 1942 - US Congress advises President Franklin Roosevelt that Americans of Japanese descent should be locked up en masse so they wouldn't oppose the US war effort. 1942 - Fritz Todt, German Reichs minister (Organization Todt), dies at age 50. 1942 - (evening) Japanese assault troops cross from Johore and land on Singapore, attacking along an eight-mile stretch. 1943 - Birth of Creed Bratton in California, USA; rock guitarist (Grass Roots - "Sooner or Later"). 1943 - Soviet Red Army recaptures Kursk. 1944 - Birth of Jim Capaldi; rocker (Traffic). 1944 - Clem Wilson, cricket player (brother of Rockley, two Tests for England 1896), dies. 1944 - German submarine U-762 sunk off Ireland. 1945 - Allied air attack on Goch/Kleef/Kalkar/Reichswald. 1946 - Birth of "Fito" Adolpho De La Parra in Los Angeles, California, USA; rocker (Canned Heat - "Hot Money"). 1946 - Birth of Paul Wheatbread; rocker (Gary Puckett and Union Gap - "Young Girl"). 1946 - Miles Mander, actor/director (Murder, Three Musketeers), dies at age 57. 1946 - Premier Salazar of Portugal forbids opposition parties. 1946 - At the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg, Soviet Lieutenant General Roman Rudenko lists a summary of German property damages against the Soviet Union: complete or partial destruction of 2508 church buildings, 1710 towns, 70,000 villages/hamlets, 31,850 industrial establishments, 40,000 miles of railroad, 4100 railroad stations, 40,000 hospitals, 84,000 schools, and 43,000 public libraries. 7 million horses, and 17 million sheep and goats were slaughtered or driven off. Total damage is estimated at 679 billion rubles. 1947 - Birth of Sam Gannon; cricket player (Australia lefty quick, three Tests versus India 1977-78). 1947 - Jan van der Hoorn wins 8th Dutch 11-cities skating race (10:51). 1948 - V Olympic Winter Games close at Saint Moritz, Switzerland. 1948 - Birth of Dan Seals in McCamey, Texas, USA; vocalist (England Dan and John Ford Coley - "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight", "Nights Are Forever Without You", "Meet Me in Montana"). 1949 - Birth of Brooke Adams in New York City, New York, USA; actress (Cynthia - OK Crackerby, Body Snatchers). 1949 - Birth of Julia Barr in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA; actress (Brooke - All My Children). 1949 - Birth of Scott Allen, American skater (Olympics-bronze-1964). 1950 - Birth of Michael Goodroe; rock bassist (Motels - "Only the Lonely"). 1950 - Birth of Ted Turner; rocker (Wishbone Ash). 1952 - RCA Victor Show Starring Dennis Day debuts on NBC TV. 1952 - Birth of Hans Van de Lubbe; Dutch bassist/singer (Dike). 1952 - Birth of Nancy Lord; Libertarian Vice-Presidential candidate (1992). 1953 - Betty Jameson wins LPGA Serbin Golf Open. 1953 - Birth of Mary Steenburgen in Newport, Arkansas, USA; actress (Parenthood, Time After Time). 1953 - Cliff Clark, actor (Golden Hoofs, Kid Glove Killer), dies at age 63. 1954 - Birth of "Sensational" Sherri Martel [Russell] in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; wrestler (WWF/AWA). 1954 - Mabel Paige, actress (Lucky Jordan), dies at age 73. 1955 - Birth of Ethan Phillips; actor (Neelix - Star Trek: Voyager). 1955 - Birth of Jim "the Anvil" Neidhart; wrestler (WWF/WCW/NJPW/CWFI/Calgary). 1955 - Birth of John Grisham; writer (The Client, The Firm, The Pelican Brief). 1955 - Malenkov resigns as USSR premier, Bulganin replaces him. 1956 - Connie Mack, baseball manager (Philadelphia Athletics, 1901-50), dies at age 93. 1956 - Mine disaster in Quaregnon, Belgium; eight die. 1958 - Edgar Whitehead succeeds Garfield Todd as premier of South Rhodesia. 1958 - French planes bomb Sakiet, Tunisia; 75 die. 1959 - Birth of Heinz Gunthardt in Switzerland; tennis star. 1959 - Birth of Irina Kalinina in USSR; springboard diver (Olympics-gold-1980). 1959 - William J "Wild Bill" Donovan, Office Strategic Services, dies at age 76. 1960 - Birth of Alex Scott; British horse trainer. 1960 - Birth of Dino Ciccarelli in Ontario, Canada; NHL right wing (Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals). 1960 - Birth of Linda Fratianne in Los Angeles, California, USA; figure skater (Olympics-silver-1980). 1960 - Boston Celtics' Bill Russell becomes first NBA player with 50 rebounds (51). 1960 - US Congress opens hearings looking into payola. 1961 - Birth of Sammy Llanas; rocker (Bodeans). 1961 - Birth of Vince Neil [Wharton] in California, USA; rock vocalist (Mötley Crüe - "Girls Girls Girls"). 1961 - William Duncan, actor (Hopalong Rides Again), dies at age 81. 1962 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1963 - AFL's Dallas Texans become Kansas City Chiefs. 1963 - Abdul Karim Kassem, Prime Minister of Iraq (1958-63), assassinated in Baghdad at age 48. 1963 - First transmission of Clandestine Voice of Iraqi People (Communist). 1963 - Birth of Mohammad Azharuddin; cricket player (elegant Indian batsman 1984-). 1963 - Birth of Raleigh McKenzie; NFL center/guard (Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers). 1963 - George Dolenz, Italian actor (Count of Monte Cristo), dies at age 55. 1963 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1964 - Birth of Dennis Gibson; NFL inside linebacker (San Diego Chargers). 1964 - Representative Martha Griffiths' address gets civil rights protection for women added to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. 1964 - Tom Terriss, English director (His Buddy's Wife, Sumuru), dies at age 91. 1965 - Birth of Carmen Savy in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; golfer (1990 Brisbane and District). 1965 - Birth of Jim Thornton; NFL tight end (Houston Oilers). 1965 - Birth of Lee Knight; Canadian Football League full back (Hamilton Tiger Cats). 1965 - Birth of Mathilda May in Paris, France; actress (Lifeforce). 1965 - Birth of Rod Bernstine; NFL running back (Denver Broncos). 1965 - Birth of Terry McDaniel; NFL cornerback (Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Raiders). 1965 - Eastern DC-7B crashes into Atlantic Ocean off Jones Beach, New Jersey, USA; 84 dead. 1965 - Supremes release "Stop In the Name of Love". 1966 - Birth of Gary Coleman in Zion, Illinois, USA; actor (Arnold - Diff'rent Strokes). 1966 - Birth of Kirk Muller in Kingston, Ontario, Canada; NHL center (Toronto Maple Leafs). 1967 - Birth of Yvon Corriveau in Ontario, Canada; NHL left wing (Washington Capitals). 1967 - French Diadème D-1C satellite is launched into Earth orbit. 1967 - Longest losing streak in Toronto Maple Leaf history (ten games). 1967 - Peter (Asher) and Gordon (Waller) discontinue their singing partnership. 1967 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1968 - Birth of Joy Fawcett in Inglewood, California, USA; soccer defender (Olympics-1996). 1968 - Birth of Ron Goetz; Canadian Football League linebacker (Saskatchewan Roughriders). 1968 - J Borremans, Belgian politician (Communist), dies at age 56. 1968 - Officers kill three students demonstrating in South Carolina State (Orangeburg). 1969 - Birth of Herb Hohenberger; hockey defenseman (Team Austria 1998). 1969 - Birth of Mary McCormack; actress (Murder One, Private Parts). 1969 - Last edition of Saturday Evening Post. 1969 - Over 2 tons of stony carbonaceous meteorites (type CV3) fall near Pueblito de Allende in Mexico. 1970 - Birth of Alonzo Mourning; NBA center (Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets). 1970 - Birth of Cameron Cuffy; cricket player (Saint Vincent and West Indies fast bowler 1994-). 1971 - Pedro Morales beats Ivan Koloff in New York, to become WWF wrestling champion. 1971 - The Nasdaq stock market index debuts. 1972 - Birth of Adrian Rollins; cricket player (Derbyshire batsman, brother of Robert of Essex). 1972 - Birth of Marcus Pollard; NFL tight end (Indianapolis Colts). 1972 - Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard selected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1973 - Birth of Andreas Gliatis; soccer player (NEC). 1973 - Birth of Dave Dopek in Bolingbrook, Illinois, USA; 200 metre runner. 1973 - Birth of Eric Kresser; quarterback (Cincinnati Bengals). 1973 - Birth of Michelle Brogan; Australian basketball forward (Olympics-bronze-1996). 1973 - Birth of Tom King; Australian 470 class yachtsman (Olympics-1996). 1973 - Herbie Taylor, cricket player (2936 runs in 42 Tests for South Africa), dies. 1973 - Mushtaq and Asif Iqbal make 350 stand for fourth wicket versus New Zealand. 1973 - US Senate names seven members to investigate Watergate scandal. 1974 - Fritz Zwicky, Swiss/US astronomer (supernova), dies at age 75. 1974 - After 84 days in space, the crew of the first American space station Skylab return to Earth. 1974 - TV soap opera The Secret Storm ends a 20-year run. 1974 - Birth of Seth Green; American actor (Austin Powers movies, voice of Chris, Griffin in Family Guy), creator of Robot Chicken TV series). 1975 - 1800 Unification church couples wed in Korea. 1975 - Birth of Damon Denson; guard (New England Patriots). 1975 - Birth of Joshua Morrow in Juneau, Alaska, USA; actor (Nicholas Newman - The Young and the Restless). 1975 - The Washington Capitals get only one shot in a period against the New York Islanders. 1975 - Martyn Green, actor (Gilbert and Sullivan, Mikado), dies at age 75. 1976 - Birth of Holly Manthei in Edina, Minnesota; soccer midfielder/forward (Olympics-1996). 1976 - Birth of Jim Parque in Norwalk, California; baseball pitcher (Olympics-bronze-1996). 1976 - Hua Guofeng becomes premier of People's Republic of China. 1976 - Jan Stephens wins LPGA Sarah Coventry Naples Golf Classic. 1976 - Largest crowd at Cleveland Coliseum (Cleveland Cavaliers vs Washington Bullets - 21,130). 1977 - Earthquake in San Francisco, California, at 5.0, strongest since 1966. 1978 - Birth of Christa Williams in Houston, Texas; softball pitcher (Olympics-gold-1996). 1978 - Crown Prince Sad Abdallah al-Salim Al Sabah becomes Prime Minister of Kuwait. 1978 - The proceedings of the United States Senate are first broadcast on radio. 1979 - Birth of Tara Tucker; Miss Alabama Teen-USA (1997). 1979 - Nikolay Semyonovich Tikhonov, Russian poet, dies at age 82. 1979 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1981 - Birth of Tommy Michaels in Staten Island, New York; actor (Timmy Hutton - All My Children). 1981 - Sally Little wins LPGA Elizabeth Arden Golf Classic. 1981 - Operation Pipe Wrench begins, as the US government begins transfer of 56 tons (1.633 million troy ounces) of gold on three tractor-trailers from New York Assay Office to the Bank of England, as ransom payment to Iran for the release of hostages. 1981 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Elaine Zayak. 1981 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Scott Hamilton. 1981 - Nineteen fans of Olympiacos FC and two fans of AEK Athens are killed and 54 injured after a stampede at the Karaiskaki Stadium in Pireus, possibly because Gate 7 did not open immediately after the end of the game. 1982 - John Hay Whitney, US newspaper magnate, dies at age 76. 1982 - The longest-playing infield foursome is broken up as the Los Angeles Dodgers trade Davey Lopes to the Oakland Athletics for minor leaguer Lance Hudson. The second baseman had played with Steve Garvey, Ron Cey and Bill Russell since 1974. 1982 - Birth of Zersenay Tadese; Eritrean long distance track/road running athlete. 1983 - Champion thoroughbred Shergar kidnapped in Ireland; never found; Lloyds of London pays US$10.6 million insurance. 1983 - Eric Peters sets transatlantic sailboat record (East to West): 46 days. 1983 - Wayne Gretzky sets NHL all star record of four goals in one period. 1983 - Birth of Atiba Hutchinson; Canadian football player. 1983 - Birth of Jim Verraros; American singer. 1983 - 35th NHL All-Star Game: Campbell beats Wales 9-3 at New York Islanders. 1983 - Baseball orders Mickey Mantle to sever ties with Claridge Casino. 1984 - First time eight people in space. 1984 - Oakland Athletics take New York Yankees' pitcher Tim Belcher as Type A free agent compensation. 1984 - Soyuz T-10 launches with crew of three to Salyut 7. 1984 - Death of Karel Miljon, Dutch boxer (born 1903). 1984 - (to February 19) The XIV Olympic Winter Games are held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. 1985 - First-class cricket debut of Jimmy Adams (age 17), Jamaica versus Barbados. 1985 - Bruce Morris, Marshall University, makes a 92-foot 5.25-inch basketball shot. 1985 - Marvin Miller, American actor (Michael Anthony of The Millionaire), dies at age 71 (born 1913). 1985 - Michael Gross swims world record 800 metre freestyle (7:38.75). 1985 - Opposition leader Kim Dae Jung returns to South-Korea. 1985 - Tom Greenway, actor (Miami Story), dies of a heart attack at age 75. 1986 - Spud Webb (5 feet 7 inches tall) of Atlanta Hawks wins NBA Slam Dunk Competition. 1986 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Brian Boitano. 1987 - 37th NBA All-Star Game: West beats East 154-149 (overtime) at Seattle, Washington. 1987 - Harriet MacGibbon, actress (Mrs Drysdale - Beverly Hillbillies), dies. 1987 - Hendrik Koekoek, founder (Dutch Boer party), dies at age 74. 1987 - Nancy Lopez wins LPGA Sarasota Golf Classic. 1988 - Allan Cuthbertson, actor (Running Man, 7th Dawn), dies at age 67. 1988 - NASA launches DOD-2. 1988 - Birth of Ryan Pinkston, American actor. 1989 - Maurits Kok, Dutch writer/poet (Railroad Strike), dies at age 81. 1989 - US Boeing 707 crashes into Santa Maria mountain, 145 die. 1989 - Birth of Danielle Harmer, English actress. 1990 - 60 Minutes commentator Andy Rooney suspended by CBS for racial remarks attributed to him by a gay magazine. 1990 - Del Shannon, in Coopersville, Michigan, American rock vocalist ("Runaway"), shoots self at age 55 (born 1934). 1991 - Miran Bux, cricket player (two Tests for Pakistan 1954-55), dies at age 47. 1991 - Roger Clemens signs record $5,380,250 per year Boston Red Sox contract. 1992 - "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred peaks at #1. 1992 - (to February 23) XVI Olympic Winter Games are held in Albertville, France. 1992 - Baruch Lumet, actor (Killer Shrews), dies at age 93. 1992 - Ulysses spacecraft passes Jupiter. 1993 - Casper van den Berg, Dutch poet (Fashionable inconvenience), dies. 1993 - Douglas Heyes, director/writer (Kitten with a Whip), dies at age 73. 1993 - Eliot Janeway, financial columnist (Eliot Doomsday), dies at age 80. 1993 - Franz Schnyder, Swiss director (10th of May), dies at age 82. 1993 - General Motors sues NBC, after Dateline NBC allegedly rigged two crashes showing that some GM pickups can easily catch fire if hit in certain places. 1993 - Paul Brickhill, Dutch/US WWII pilot/physician, dies. 1993 - Suchoi-24 crashes into Tupolev passenger flight, 134 die. 1994 - Jacob Firet, Dutch theologist (Agogic Moment), dies at age 70. 1994 - Kapil Dev sets world record for Test Cricket wickets with 432. 1994 - Ken Hall, Australian director/producer (Kokoda front line), dies at age 92. 1994 - Raymond Scott, composer (Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm), dies at age 85. 1995 - 6.4 earthquake at Trujillo, Colombia (46+ killed). 1995 - Birth of Jordan Todosey, Canadian actress. 1995 - In Colombia, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurs. 42 people killed, nearly 400 injured, and over 2,000 buildings damaged or destroyed in the Cali-Pereira area. Felt throughout Colombia. 1995 - B G Hooghoudt, radio-telescope builder (Dwingeloo/Westerbork), dies at age 70. 1995 - Wilhelm J Soukop, Austrian/British sculptor, dies at age 88. 1996 - John Hartford Worlock, Roman Catholic Bishop (Liverpool), dies at age 76. 1996 - Mercer Kennedy Ellington, trumpeter bandleader/composer, dies at age 76. 1996 - NFL and Cleveland allows Art Modell to move his NFL franchise to Baltimore but he has to leave the Browns' name behind. 1996 - An Irish Republican Army ceasefire ends with a one-ton bomb in London's Canary Wharf District, killing two and causing over one billion pounds worth of damage. 1996 - The massive Internet collaboration "24 Hours in Cyberspace" takes place. 1997 - Roy George Elroy Josephs, jazz dance teacher, dies at age 57. 1998 - First female ice hockey game in Olympics history: Finland beats Sweden 6-0. 1998 - 48th NBA All-Star Game East beats West 135-114 at New York City. 1998 - NHL stops season until February 24th to accommodate the Olympics. 1998 - William Lambert, Pulitzer prize-winning reporter, dies at age 78. 1998 - Death of Halldór Laxness, Icelandic writer, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1902). 1998 - Death of Julian Lincoln Simon, American economist and author (born 1932). 1999 - Death of Iris Murdoch, Irish author (born 1919). 2000 - Death of Derrick Thomas, American football player (born 1967). 2001 - In Anaheim, California, Disney's California Adventure theme park opens, next to Disneyland. The 55-acre site includes three areas: Paradise Pier, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, and the Golden State. The theme park cost US$1.4 billion to build. Admission prices are US$43 for adults, and US$33 for children. 2002 - Death of Joachim Hoffmann, German historian (born 1930). 2005 - Danish parliamentary election: The center-right coalition led by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and his Liberal Party wins another term. 2006 - Wayne Krivsky is selected as the Cincinnati Reds' general manager, replacing Dan O'Brien. 2006 - Death of Ron Greenwood, English football manager (born 1921). 2007 - American model and television personality Anna Nicole Smith dies of combined drug intoxication in Hollywood, Florida at age 39 (born 1967). 2008 - In the USA, the Supreme Court of Nebraska rules the electric chair is unconstitutional (cruel and unusual). This is the last state in the country to have allowed death by the electric chair. 2009 - Death toll in Australia reaches 130 from brushfires, the deadliest fire disaster in Australia's history. 2009 - First baseman Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies agree to a three-year, US$54 million contract. 2009 - The Taliban releases a video of Polish geologist Piotr Stanczak, whom they had abducted a few months earlier, being beheaded. 2009 - In London, England, the British Academy Film Awards are presented: Best film: Slumdog Millionaire Best leading actress: Kate Winslet for The Reader Best supporting actor: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight Best leading actor: Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler Best British film: Man on Wire Best supporting actress: Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona Best director: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionare Best adapted screenplay: Simon Beaufoy for Slumdog Millionaire Best production design: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Best visual effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Best make-up and hair: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Best original screenplay: In Bruges Best short animated film: A Matter of Loaf and Death Orange Rising Star Award: Noel Clarke Best foreign language film: I've Loved You So Long Bafta Fellowship: Terry Gilliam 2009 - In Los Angeles, California, the Grammay Awards are presented: Best album: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss for "Raising Sand" Best pop vocal: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Best folk/Americana album: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Best country: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Best record: "Please Read The Letter" by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Best song: "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay Best rock album: "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends" by Coldplay Best new artist: Adele Best pop vocal album: Duffy Best female pop vocal song: "Chasing Pavements" by Adele Best rap album: "Tha Carter III" by Lil Wayne 2010 - The NASA space shuttle Endeavour blasts off from Florida, carrying six astronauts on a voyage to install the last two main pieces of the International Space Station. 2010 - US Democratic Representative John Murtha, chairman of the House of Representatives defense appropriations subcommittee, dies at age 77, from complications related to gallbladder surgery.         Your Ad Here         You can pick a particular day to view that day's events in history. Bookmark this URL:   http://thisdayinhistoryinfo.info/   and revisit each day. (this URL will automatically re-direct to the file containing the current day's events) Or, visit my Timelines of History page. Other web pages of interest: Chronology of World History Today in Sports History Today in USA History Today in Disney History Chronology of World War II Chronology of Personal Computers