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1962–Writer, Mabel Dodge Luhan, dies in Taos, New Mexico. In her autobiographical work, including Background, European Experiences, Movers and Shakers, and Edge of Taos Desert, she writes of many well-known Americans, including Gertrude Stein, John Reed, and Walter Lippmann, who were often guests at the Luhan home, which was a Mecca for artists of the day.


BC 29–Octavian holds the first of three consecutive triumphs in Rome, Italy, to celebrate the victory over the Dalmatian tribes.

523–John I becomes the new Pope after the death of Pope Hormisdas.

554–Emperor Justinian I rewards Liberius for his long and distinguished service in the Pragmatic Sanction, granting him extensive estates in Italy.

582–Maurice becomes Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.

604–Emperor Wen of Sui dies at Renshou Palace in Baoji, Sui China, at age 63.

612–Byzantine Empress, Fabia Eudokia, dies of epilepsy in Constantinople, at age 32.

900–Count Reginar I of Hainault rises against Zwentibold of Lotharingia and slays him near present-day Susteren, Netherlands.

1099–Pope Paschal II succeeds Pope Urban II as the 160th pope.

1134–Irene of Hungary dies at age 46. She was later venerated as Saint Irene.

1311–Alfonso XI of Castile is born in Salamanca, Spain. He was the King of Castile, León, and Galicia.

1382–Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of John I of Castile, dies during childbirth in Cuéllar, Spain, at age 24.

1422–English printer, William Caxton, is born. He put a printing press in Westminster Abbey, in London, England, and printed an indulgence as his first job. He later published Chaucer’s works as well as Malory’s Morte D'Arthur.

1516–The Treaty of Noyon between France and Spain is signed. Francis I of France recognizes Charles's claim to Naples, and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, recognizes Francis's claim to Milan.

1521–After an extended siege, forces led by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés capture Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc and conquer the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.

1532–The Duchy of Brittany is absorbed into the Kingdom of France.

1536–Buddhist monks from the Enryaku-ji temple in Kyoto, Japan, set fire to 21 Nichiren temples in what will be known as the Tenbun Hokke Disturbance.

1553–Michael Servetus is arrested as a heretic by John Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland.

1624–King Louis XIII of France appoints Cardinal Richelieu as Prime Minister.

1704–In the War of the Spanish Succession, English and Imperial forces are victorious over French and Bavarian troops in the Battle of Blenheim.

1717–Louis François, Prince of Conti, is born in Paris, France.

1752–Maria Carolina of Austria is born Maria Carolina Louise Josepha Johanna Antonia at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria. She was Queen of Naples and Sicily as the wife of King Ferdinand IV & III.

1792–King Louis XVI of France is formally arrested by the National Tribunal and declared an enemy of the people.

1792–Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen is born Adelaide Amelia Louise Theresa Caroline in Meiningen, Thuringia, Germany. Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is named after her.

1814–The Convention of London, a treaty between the United Kingdom and the United Provinces, is signed in London, England.

1826–Physician, René Laennec, dies. He invented the stethoscope.

1831–Nat Turner sees a solar eclipse, which he believes is a sign from God. Eight days later, he and 70 other slaves kill approximately 55 whites in Southampton County, Virginia.

1860–Sharp-shooter and Western star, Annie Oakley, is born Phoebe Ann Mosey in North Star, Ohio. Oakley's amazing talent led to a starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Her timely rise to fame allowed her to become one of the first American women to be a "superstar."

1863–Painter, Eugène Delacroix, dies in Paris, France, at age 65. He was a Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school. As a painter and muralist, Delacroix's use of expressive brushstrokes and his study of the optical effects of color profoundly shaped the work of the Impressionists, while his passion for the exotic inspired the artists of the Symbolist movement. A fine lithographer, Delacroix illustrated various works of William Shakespeare.

1868–A massive earthquake near Arica, Peru, kills an estimated 25,000 people. The subsequent tsunami causes considerable damage as far away as Hawaii and New Zealand.

1895–Actor, Bert Lahr, is born Irving Lahrheim in New York, New York. He is best known for the role of the Cowardly Lion and Kansas farmworker Zeke in the classic film The Wizard of Oz. He was well known for his explosive humor, but also adapted well to dramatic roles and his work in burlesque, vaudeville, and on Broadway.

1898–Spanish and American forces engage in a mock battle for Manila, after which the Spanish commander surrenders in order to keep the city out of Filipino rebel hands.

1898–Carl Gustav Witt discovers 433 Eros, the first near-Earth asteroid to be found.

1899–Film director, Alfred (Joseph) Hitchcock, is born in Leytonstone, Essex, England. He was known as “The Master of Suspense.” He presented two TV series in the 1960s: Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. His films include The 39 Steps, Sabotage, The Lady Vanishes, Foreign Correspondent, Suspicion, Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt, Lifeboat, Spellbound, Notorious, Rope, Strangers on a Train, I Confess, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, The Trouble with Harry, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Wrong Man, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie, and Torn Curtain. When he was young, his father once disciplined him by having a policeman lock him in a jail cell, causing Hitchcock to have a lifelong phobia of the police: this was sometimes an aspect in his storytelling. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, appropriately enough, on Friday the 13th.

1899–Super-centenarian, Soledad Mexia, is born in La Noria, Sinaloa, Mexico. She would live to the age of 114 years (17 days). She was also the oldest verified Mexican-born person ever, until being surpassed by Dominga Velasco on May 30, 2015.

1904–Actor, Buddy Rogers, is born Charles Edward Rogers in Olathe, Kansas. During the peak of his popularity in the late 1920s and early 1930s, he was publicized as "America's Boy Friend." He was married to actress, Mary Pickford.

1906–The all black infantrymen of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Regiment are accused of killing a white bartender and wounding a white police officer in Brownsville, Texas. All are later dishonorably discharged, but there were no financial settlements.

1910–Nurse, Florence Nightingale, dies peacefully in her sleep in Park Lane, London, England, at age 90. She was a celebrated English social reformer and statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. She gave nursing a highly favorable reputation and became an icon of Victorian culture, especially in the persona of "The Lady with the Lamp," making the rounds of wounded soldiers at night.

1913–Otto Witte, an acrobat, is purportedly crowned King of Albania.

1913–Stainless steel goes into production in the U.K. due to Harry Brearley.

1913–Politician, Makarios III, is born Michail Christodoulou Mouskos in Panayia, Paphos, Cyprus. He was the first President of Cyprus. In his three terms as President of Cyprus (1959-1977), he survived four assassination attempts and a 1974 coup d'état.

1918–Women enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps for the first time. Opha May Johnson is the first woman to enlist.

1918–Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) is established as a public company in Germany.

1918–Politician, Noor (Mohamed) Hassanali, is born in San Fernando, Victoria County, British Trinidad and Tobago. He was the second President of Trinidad and Tobago. He was the first Muslim head of state in the Western Hemisphere.

1919–Evangelist and TV host, Rex Humbard, is born Alpha Rex Emmanuel Humbard in Little Rock, Arkansas. His Cathedral of Tomorrow show was aired on over 600 stations in America at the peak of its popularity. His ministry eventually extended to Canada, Europe, the Middle and Far East, Australia, Latin America, and Africa, giving it a worldwide reach of eight million viewers.

1919–Pianist, George Shearing, is born in Battersea, London, England. He was a jazz pianist who led a popular jazz group that recorded for Discovery Records, MGM Records, and Capitol Records. He composed over 300 songs, including the jazz standard Lullaby of Birdland.

1920–In the Polish-Soviet War, the Battle of Warsaw begins.

1920–Actor, (Lawrence) Neville Brand, is born in Griswold, Iowa. He appeared in the films D.O.A., Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, Halls of Montezuma, Kansas City Confidential, Stalag 17, Riot in Cell Block 11, Love Me Tender, The Tin Star, Birdman of Alcatraz, and That Darn Cat!

1926–Dictator, Fidel Castro, is born Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz in Birán, Holguin Province, Cuba. He was a politician and revolutionary who governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976, and then as President from 1976 to 2008. Politically a Marxist-Leninist and Cuban nationalist, he also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1961 to 2011. Under his administration, Cuba became a one-party socialist state: industry and business were nationalized and state socialist reforms were implemented throughout society.

1929–Actor, Pat Harrington, Jr., is born Daniel Patrick Harrington, Jr. in New York, New York. He is best known for the role of Dwayne F. Schneider on the TV sitcom One Day at a Time. He was also cast in the TV series Make Room for Daddy and dozens of other shows. He appeared in the films The Wheeler Dealers, Move Over, Darling, Easy Come Easy Go, The President’s Analyst, and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.

1930–Entertainer, Don Ho, is born Donald Tai Loy Ho in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is best known for his hit Tiny Bubbles.

1934–The satirical comic strip “Li’l Abner,” created by Al Capp, makes its debut.

1934–Novelist and poet, Mary Austin, dies in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was noted for her writing about the Native American culture.

1937–The Battle of Shanghai begins.

1938–Keyboardist, Dave "Baby" Cortez, is born David Cortez Clowney in Detroit, Michigan. His biggest hit was The Happy Organ.

1942–Major General Eugene Reybold of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorizes the construction of facilities that would house the "Development of Substitute Materials" project, better known as the Manhattan Project.

1942–Walt Disney's fifth full-length animated film, Bambi, has its premiere.

1946–British writer, H.G. Wells, dies of unspecified causes in Regent's Park, London, England, at age 79. Wells is best remembered for his science fiction novels and is called a "father of science fiction," along with Jules Verne and Hugo Gernsback. His works include The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The First Men in the Moon, and The Shape of Things to Come. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times.

1949–Tightrope walker, Philippe Petit, is born in Nemours, Seine-et-Marne, France. He gained fame for his high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, on the morning of August 6, 1974. He performed for 45 minutes, making eight passes along the wire.

1951–Singer-songwriter, Dan Fogelberg, is born Daniel Grayling Fogelberg in Peoria, Illinois. He is best known for his early 1980s hits, including Longer, Leader of the Band, and Same Old Lang Syne.

1952–Big Mama Thornton records the first version of Hound Dog. It's the first composition by the young rock 'n' roll songwriting team of Leiber & Stoller to make an impact on the music charts.

1952–Photographer, Herb Ritts, is born Herbert Ritts, Jr. in Los Angeles, California. He is known for his black-and-white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture. He photographed fashion models Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford. His work was seen in Interview, Esquire, Mademoiselle, Glamour, GQ, Newsweek, Harper's Bazaar, Rolling Stone, Time, Vogue, Allure, Vanity Fair, Details, and Elle magazines.

1952–Hughie Thomasson, of Lynyrd Skynyrd, is born Hugh Edward Thomasson, Jr. in Buchanan, Virginia.

1954–Radio Pakistan broadcasts the "Qaumi Tarana,” the national anthem of Pakistan, for the first time.

1958–German acrobat, Otto Witte, dies at age 85. He claimed to have been crowned the King of Albania in 1913. He also claimed to have founded a political party and that he was a candidate for the German presidency in 1925. None of the above claims were proven to be true.

1959–Child actor, Danny Bonaduce, is born Dante Daniel Bonaduce in Broomall, Pennsylvania. He is best known for the role of Danny Partridge on the TV series The Partridge Family. His father was writer-producer, Joseph Bonaduce.

1960–The Central African Republic declares independence from France.

1961–Construction on the Berlin Wall begins in East Germany. The German city of Berlin was divided by a barbed wire fence. The East Berlin government was adamant in its effort to keep those in the eastern sector from moving into the non-Communist western sector. Even regular telephone and postal service between the sectors was stopped. Several days later, the barbed wire was reinforced with a concrete wall between official crossing points. By the time it fell in 1989, it was a 15-foot-high wall running 28 miles through the middle of Berlin, topped with barbed wire and guarded with watchtowers and mines. Another set of walls ran 75 miles around West Berlin, separating it from the rest of East Germany.

1962–Writer, Mabel Dodge Luhan, dies in Taos, New Mexico. In her autobiographical work, including Background, European Experiences, Movers and Shakers, and Edge of Taos Desert, she writes of many well-known Americans, including Gertrude Stein, John Reed, and Walter Lippmann, who were often guests at the Luhan home, which was a Mecca for artists of the day.

1964–The last hangings in Britain take place when two men are executed for murder in Liverpool and Manchester.

1964–Actress, Debi Mazar, is born in Jamaica, Queens, New York. She appeared in the films Goodfellas, The Doors, Jungle Fever, Little Man Tate, Singles, Malcolm X, So I Married an Axe Murderer, Bullets Over Broadway, Empire Records, Meet Wally Sparks, She’s So Lovely, Hush, and The Insider.

1965–The Beatles arrive at Kennedy International Airport for a tour of North America. The support acts for the tour are Brenda Holloway and The King Curtis Band, Cannibal and the Headhunters, and Sounds Incorporated. The tour will not be a happy one for The Beatles, whose safety requires that their arrival, performance, and departure from concert locations be conducted like military operations. Press conferences become an ordeal as the Beatles are forced to answer a barrage of inane questions. As the interaction with their audiences becomes almost completely severed, The Beatles’ playing will suffer terribly, to the point where they no longer rehearse. Frustrated at the absurdity of it all, John Lennon begins screaming off-microphone obscenities at the audiences. Yet the public remains oblivious to the discontent of the not-so-happy-go-lucky “Fab Four.” When the tour is over, the Beatles will go home $1 million richer, but they will be completely disillusioned about continuing to perform live.

1965–Politician, Hayato Ikeda, dies of pneumonia in Tokyo, Japan, at age 65. He was the 58th, 59th, and 60th Prime Minister of Japan from July 19, 1960 to November 9, 1964. He was the last Prime Minister born in the 19th century.

1968–Alexandros Panagoulis attempts to assassinate Greek dictator, Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos, in Varkiza, Athens, Greece.

1969–The Apollo 11 astronauts are released from a three-week quarantine to enjoy a ticker tape parade in New York, New York. That evening, at a state dinner in Los Angeles, California, they are awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Richard Nixon.

1971–Engineer, W.O. Bentley, dies in Woking, England, at age 82. He was a racecar driver and founder of Bentley Motors Limited.

1971–Saxophonist, King Curtis, dies from stabbing by drug dealers outside his apartment in New York, New York, at age 37. His most famous playing can be heard on Yakety Yak by The Coasters. He worked as a session musician on the recordings of dozens of artists during his highly successful career.

1972–John Lennon and Yoko Ono play a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City to assist the mentally challenged. Also on the bill are Stevie Wonder and Sha-Na-Na. This is the now-legendary One to One concert that was filmed and later released on video, DVD, and CD as John Lennon: Live in New York City.

1977–Members of the British National Front (NF) clash with anti-NF demonstrators in Lewisham, London, England, resulting in 214 arrests and at least 111 injuries.

1978–One-hundred-fifty Palestinians in Beirut are killed in a terrorist attack during the second phase of the Lebanese Civil War.

1979–The roof of the incompleted Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois, collapses, killing five workers and injuring 16 others.

1980–Todd Rundgren’s home in Woodstock, New York, is invaded by four masked men. Rundgren, his girlfriend, and three house guests are bound and gagged while the masked men strip the house of valuables.

1982–Comic actor, Joe E. Ross, dies of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, at age 68. He is best known for his roles on the TV shows The Phil Silvers Show and Car 54, Where Are You?

1982–Soul singer, Joe Tex, dies of a heart attack in Navasota, Texas, at age 47. His biggest hit was Hold On to What You’ve Got. In 1966, he converted to Islam, changed his name to Yusuf Hazziez, and toured as a spiritual lecturer.

1986–Make-up artist, Way Bandy, dies of AIDS-related pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in New York, New York, at age 45. During the 1970s, he became one of the most well known and highest paid make-up artists in the fashion industry.

1995–Baseball player and sportscaster, Mickey Mantle, dies of physical damage related to alcoholism in Dallas, Texas, at age 63. Mantle played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees as a center fielder and first baseman, from 1951 through 1968. He was one of the best players and sluggers, and is regarded by many as the greatest switch hitter in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.

1997–The animated TV series, South Park, premieres on Comedy Central.

2004–Hurricane Charley, a category 4 storm, strikes Punta Gorda, Florida, devastatibg the surrounding area.

2004–One hundred fifty-six Congolese Tutsi refugees are massacred at the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi.

2004–Chef, author, and TV personality, Julia Child, dies of kidney failure at her home in Montecito, California, at age 91. Her last meal was French onion soup. She is credited with bringing French cuisine to the American kitchen through her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She also hosted several television cooking programs, the best known being The French Chef, which premiered in 1963.

2007–Super-centenarian, Yone Minagawa, dies in Fukuchi, Fukuoka, Japan, at age 114 (and 221 days).

2010–Edwin Newman, newscaster, journalist, and author, dies of pneumonia in Oxford, England, at age 91. He is known for a 23-year career in television news with NBC-TV from 1961 to 1984.

2012–Former Cosmopolitan editor, Helen Gurley Brown, dies at age 90. Brown became the editor-in-chief of the magazine in 1965, three years after publishing her bestselling book Sex and the Single Girl.

2014–Three train cars derail after a landslide hits a mountain train in the Swiss Alps. Eleven people are injured.

2015–At least 76 people are killed and 212 others are wounded in a truck bombing in Baghdad, Iraq.

2016–Six people are injured by a man wielding a knife, who then sets fire to a train at Salez, Switzerland.

2016–Actor, Kenny Baker, dies after a long illness in Preston, England, at age 81. Baker stood only 3 feet, 8 inches tall. He is best known for the role of R2-D2 in the Star Wars franchise. He appeared in the films Circus of Horrors, Flash Gordon, The Elephant Man, Time Bandits, Amadeus, Mona Lisa, Labyrinth, Sleeping Beauty, and Willow.


PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM: Octavian; William Caxton; Maria Carolina of Austria; Annie Oakley; Alfred Hitchcock; bars of stainless steel; George Shearing; the cartoon "Li'l Abner" by Al Capp; Dan Fogelberg; Danny Bonaduce; Mabel Dodge Luhan; Hayato Ikeda; King Curtis; Joe E. Ross; and Edwin Newman.
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