This Day in History
January 20

What happened in history on this day: January 20? On January 20 in ... 250 - Saint Fabian dies, ending his reign as Catholic Pope (236-50). 820 - Abu Abdallah M ibn Idris al-Sjafi'i, Islamic (Book of Mother), dies. 820 - The Book of Mother is published. 842 - Theophilus, Byzantine kaiser (829-42), dies. 882 - Louis II/III the Younger, German king (876-82), dies. 1045 - Giovanni di Sabina elected Pope Sylvester III. 1265 - First English Parliament called into session by Earl of Leicester. 1320 - Duke Wladyslaw Lokietek becomes king of Poland. 1356 - Scottish king Edward Baliol resigns. 1488 - Birth of Sebastian Münster in Ingelheim, Germany; professor of Hebrew at the University of Basel, author (Cosmography). 1503 - Casa Contratacion (Board of Trade) found (Spain) to deal with American affairs. 1513 - Christian II succeeds Johan I as Danish/Norwegian king. 1569 - Miles Coverdale English bible translator Great bible, dies at age 80. 1586 - Birth of Johann Hermann Schein German composer (Fontana d'Israel). 1612 - Rudolf II von Habsburg emperor of Germany (1576-1612), dies at age 59. 1613 - The Peace of Knäred is signed between Sweden and Denmark in Halland, mediated by King James I of England. Kalmar is retured to Sweden, but Denmark retains the fortress of Älvborg and Göteborg at the mouth of the Göta river for six years or until one million riksdaler (25,000 kg silver) is paid. Sweden surrenders claims to the far north of Norway. 1622 - Birth of Susanna van Baerle Dutch poet/wife of Geeraert Burns. 1639 - Mustapha I sultan of Turkey (1622-23), dies. 1648 - Cornerstone of Amsterdam town hall laid. 1654 - Birth of Michiel de Swaen South Netherlands physician/poet. 1666 - Anna of Austria queen of France/daughter of Philip III, dies at age 64. 1667 - Treaty of Andrussovo-ends 13 year war between Poland and Russia. 1681 - Birth of Francesco Bartolomeo Conti composer. 1687 - Ships under the command of William Phips locate the wreck of the Spanish treasure galleon Concepción, off the Bahama Islands. 1691 - Christian de Placker composer, dies at age 77. 1703 - Birth of Joseph-Hector Fiocco composer. 1713 - Pavao Vitezovic Croatian historian, dies. 1716 - Birth of Carlos III king of Naples/Spain (1759-88) Pompei/Jesuits. 1716 - Birth of Jean-Jacques Barthélemy French historical writer (Greek Antiquity). 1727 - John van Bylevelt Catholic apostle, dies. 1732 - Birth of Richard H Lee US farmer (signed Declaration of Independence). 1743 - Birth of Pascal Boyer composer. 1745 - Charles VII Albert German emperor (1742-45), dies at age 47. 1760 - Birth of Charles III king of Spain (1759-88). 1761 - Birth of Giovanni Domenico Perotti composer. 1762 - Birth of Jerome-Joseph de Momigny composer. 1763 - Birth of Theobald Wolfe Tone Irish patriot. 1775 - Birth of Andre-Marie Ampere Lyon France, discovered electromagnetism. 1778 - First American military court martial trial begins, Cambridge Massachusetts. 1779 - John Burman Dutch botanist/director (botanical gardens), dies at age 71. 1781 - First edition of Pieter It Hoens "Post of Neder-Rhijn" published. 1782 - Birth of Johan B J F S archduke of Austria. 1783 - Hostilities cease in Revolutionary War. 1785 - Samuel Ellis advertises to sell Oyster Island (Ellis Island), no takers. 1788 - Pioneer African Baptist church organizes in Savannah Georgia. 1789 - Johann Christoph Oley composer, dies at age 50. 1798 - Christian Cannabich German composer/royal chaplain master, dies at age 66. 1800 - Napoleon I's sister Carolina marries King Joachim Murat of Naples. 1801 - John Marshall appointed US chief justice. 1806 - Birth of Nathaniel Willis writer/editor/founder (American Monthly Magazine). 1807 - Napoleon convenes the great Sanhedrin, Paris. 1809 - First US geology book published by William Maclure. 1809 - Birth of Sebastian de Iradier Spanish composer (La Paloma). 1812 - Birth of Ralph Pomeroy Buckland Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1892. 1813 - Birth of Jacon Gartner Lauman Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1867. 1813 - C M Wieland writer, dies at age 79. 1819 - Carlos IV King of Spain (1788-1808), dies at age 70. 1820 - Birth of Anne Jemima Clough England, promoted higher education for women. 1830 - Michal Bogdanowicz composer, dies at age 50. 1831 - Birth of Pieter J Joubert General (South Africa). 1837 - John Soane English architect (Book of Designs), dies at age 84. 1838 - Pierre-Louis Hus-Desforges composer, dies at age 64. 1840 - Dumont D'Urville discovers Adélie Land, Antarctica. 1840 - Dutch King Willem II crowned. 1841 - China cedes Hong Kong to the British. 1843 - Birth of Pierre-Paul Cambon French diplomat (Madrid, Constantinople, London). 1844 - Birth of Johan Peter Selmer composer. 1847 - Birth of W R Pettiford Founder (Alabama Penny Savings Bank). 1850 - Investigator, first ship to effect northwest passage, leaves England. 1855 - Birth of Amedee-Ernest Chausson Paris France, composer (Poème for Violin and Orchestra). 1857 - Edward Francis Fitzwilliam composer, dies at age 32. 1859 - B v Arnim writer, dies at age 73. 1859 - Bettina Brentano composer, dies at age 73. 1860 - Dutch troops conquer Watampone in Celebes. 1862 - General Felix Zollicoffer killed after mistakenly riding into union lines. 1865 - Birth of Friedrich A H von Waldeck brother of queen Emma/last ruler of Waldeck. 1866 - Birth of Richard Le Gallienne English writer (Maker of Gainborg). 1866 - Prim's Insurrection in Spain ends. 1868 - Birth of Wilhelm Schäfer German writer (Ein Totschläger). 1868 - Florida constitutional convention meets in Tallahassee. 1869 - Elizabeth Cady Stanton becomes first woman to testify beforeUS Congress. 1870 - Ship City of Boston vanishes at sea with all 177 aboard. 1870 - Birth of Guillaume Jean Joseph Nicolas Lekeu composer. 1870 - Hiram R Revels elected to fill unexpired term of Jefferson Davis. 1871 - The Boston Red Stockings baseball team are incorporated by Ivers Whitney Adams. 1872 - California Stock Exchange Board organized. 1873 - Birth of Charles A Ellwood US, sociologist/psychologist. 1873 - Birth of Johannes V Jensen Denmark, novelist/poet/essayist (Energy Storage, Nobel Prize 1944). 1877 - Birth of Ruth Saint Denis Newark New Jersey, ballerina (Dances of the Five Senses). 1878 - Birth of Finlay Currie Scotland; actor (Quo Vadis, Ivanhoe, Avengers). 1879 - British troops under Lord Chelmsford set camp at Isandlwana. 1882 - John Linnell British painter/miniaturist/engraver, dies. 1883 - Billy Barnes takes a hat-trick, England versus Australia Melbourne Cricket Ground. 1883 - Birth of Betram Home Ramsay English admiral/Commander Allied Naval Forces. 1884 - Birth of A[braham P] Merritt US, sci-fi author (Moon Pool, Creep Shadow!). 1887 - US Senate approves the naval base lease of Pearl Harbor. 1889 - Birth of Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter Mooringsport Louisiana, blues 12 string guitarist (Rock Island Line). 1890 - Franz Paul Lachner composer, dies at age 86. 1891 - Birth of Mischa Elman Talnoye Ukraine, US violinist. 1891 - David Kalakahua emperor of Hawaii, dies. 1892 - First basketball game played (Massachusetts). 1892 - Birth of Roscoe Ates Grange Mississippi; actor (Deputy Roscoe-Marshal of Gunsight Pass). 1893 - Birth of Kaj Birket-Smith Danish etnologist/anthropologist (Eskimos). 1894 - Birth of Harold L Gray creator (Little Orphan Annie). 1894 - Birth of Walter Hamor Piston Rockland Maine, composer (Incredible Flutis). 1895 - Birth of Eva A Jessye US singer/actress/songwriter (Hallelujah). 1896 - Birth of Elmer R Diktonius Finnish musicologist/author (Janne Kubik). 1896 - Birth of George Burns [Nathan Birnbaum], New York City, New York; actor/comedian (Oh God). 1896 - Birth of Rolfe Sedan New York City, New York; actor (Mailman-George Burns Show). 1896 - Heinrich M von Battenberg German son-in-law of Victoria, dies at age 37. 1897 - Birth of Mae Busch Australian/US actress (Cowboy Socialist). 1898 - Birth of Colin Clive [Greig], Saint Malo France; actor (Bride of Frankenstein). 1899 - Birth of Alexander Tcherepnin composer. 1899 - Birth of Kenjiro Takayanagi Vice President (JVC). 1900 - Birth of Boris Semyonovich Shekhter composer. 1900 - Birth of Doris Deane Wisconsin, entertainer. 1900 - John Ruskin English writer/critic (Dearest Mama Talbot), dies of influenza at age 81. 1900 - R D Blackmore English novelist (Lorna Doone), dies at age 74. 1900 - Richard D Blackmore English novelist (Lorna Doone), dies at age 74. 1903 - Birth of Leon Ames Portland Indiana; actor (Mr Ed, Father of the Bride). 1903 - Birth of Sybil Marion Rosenfeld theatre historian. 1904 - Birth of Alexandra Danilova Peterhof Russia, ballerina (Turning Point). 1904 - Birth of Renato Caccioppoli Italian mathematician/grandson of Bakunin. 1904 - Birth of Theodore Brameld author/educator (Use of Explosive Ideas). 1905 - Stanislaw Pilinski composer, dies at age 65. 1907 - Birth of Roy Welensky Premier (Rhodesia/Nyasaland 1956-63). 1908 - Birth of Ian Peebles cricket player (Scottish leg-spinner, England 1927-31). 1908 - Birth of Paula Wessely Austrian actress/producer (Masquerade). 1908 - Birth of Wilfred Conwell Bain composer. 1910 - Birth of Abram Hill director/playwright/founder (American Negro Theater). 1910 - Birth of Ennio Porrino composer. 1910 - Birth of Joy Adamson naturalist/author (Born Free). 1910 - Birth of Lauritz Lauritzen German politician. 1910 - Birth of Nina Verchinina dancer choreographer/teacher. 1910 - Ottawa Senators sweep Edmonton in two for the Stanley Cup (second of 1910). 1912 - Birth of Christopher Casson Irish actor (Zardoz, Educating Rita). 1914 - Birth of Wensley Pithey Cape Town South Africa; actor (Winston Churchill-Ike). 1914 - Emil Liebling composer, dies at age 62. 1914 - Henry Southwick Perkins composer, dies at age 80. 1915 - Birth of C W Ceram [Kurt W Marek], German/US writer (March of Archaeology). 1915 - Birth of Joe Hitchcock darts player (leader of Saint Dunstan's Four). 1916 - Birth of Jopie [Johan A] Pengel premier of Suriname (1963-69). 1916 - Birth of Walter Bartley biochemist. 1919 - Birth of Alex Nicol Ossining New York; actor (Man From Laramie, Air Cadet). 1919 - Birth of Royalton Kisch British conductor. 1919 - Birth of Stepan Lucky composer. 1920 - Birth of DeForest Kelley Atlanta Georgia, USA; actor (Dr McCoy-Star Trek). 1920 - Birth of Federico Fellini Rimini Italy, director (8 1/2, Satyricon, La Dolce Vita). 1920 - Birth of Peter Clemoes anglo-Saxon scholar. 1920 - Birth of Richard John Copeland Atkinson archaeologist. 1920 - Birth of Sam M Gibbons (Representative-Democrat-Florida, 1963-). 1920 - Dutch second Chamber passes school laws. 1921 - Birth of Bernt Engelmann Germany, writer. 1921 - British submarine K5 leaves with man and mouse. 1921 - Dagestan ASSR forms in RSFSR. 1921 - Mountain Autonomous Republic established in RSFSR. 1921 - Turkey declared in remnants of the Ottoman Empire. 1922 - Arthur Honegger's ballet "Skating Rink" premieres, Paris. 1922 - Birth of Lord James Hanson English industrialist/House of Lords (Conservative). 1922 - Birth of Ray Anthony Pennsylvania, orchestra leader (Ray Anthony Show, Peter Gunn Theme). 1924 - Birth of Yvonne Loriod Houilles France, pianist. 1925 - Birth of E Cardenal writer. 1925 - Birth of Edwin Gordon New York City, New York, VOA correspondent. 1925 - Birth of Eugen Gomringer writer. 1925 - Birth of George Connol NFL Hall-of-Famer. 1925 - USSR and Japan sign treaty of Peking, Seychelles back to USSR. 1926 - Second German government of Luther begins. 1926 - Birth of David Eugene Tudor Philadelphia Pennsylvania, composer. 1926 - Birth of Michael Higgins Brooklyn New York; actor (1918, Wanda, Black Stallion). 1926 - Birth of Patricia Neal Packard Kentucky, actress (Hud, Subject Was Roses). 1926 - Birth of Robert L Van Citters cardiology/advisory panelist/UW dean. 1927 - Birth of Geoffrey WT Atkins British World Champion racket player (1954-72). 1927 - Birth of Olivier Strebelle Belgian sculptor/ceramist. 1928 - Birth of Peter Donat Kentville Nova Scotia; actor (Flamingo Road, Different Story). 1928 - Birth of William Berger Austria, actress (Adventure of Hercules). 1929 - First feature talking motion picture taken outdoors, "In Old Arizona". 1929 - Birth of Arte Johnson Chicago Illinois, comedian (Laugh-in, Don't Call Me Charlie). 1930 - First radio broadcast of "Lone Ranger" (WXYZ-Detroit). 1930 - Birth of Edwin E "Buzz" Aldrin Jr Montclair New Jersey, US Air Force/astronaut (Gemini 12, Apollo 11). 1931 - Birth of Sawako Ariyoshi Japanese writer (Compound Pollution, Doctor's Wife). 1931 - Birth of Thomas Roy Garrett museum curator. 1931 - Birth of David Lee; American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate. 1933 - Birth of Ron Townson Saint Louis Missouri, rock vocalist (5th Dimension-Up Up and Away). 1934 - Birth of Tom Baker actor (Angels Die Hard, Vault of Horror). 1934 - Japan sends Henry Pu Yi as regent to emperor of Manchuria. 1936 - Birth of Eldred G Maduro minister (Netherlands Antilles). 1936 - King George V of Britain dies at age 70, succeeded by Edward VIII. 1937 - -45 degrees F (-43 degrees C), Boca California (state record). 1937 - First Inauguration day on January 20th, (held every fourth years thereafter). 1937 - Birth of Dorothy Provine Deadwood South Dakota, actress (Good Neighbor Sam, Darn Cat). 1939 - Birth of Murle Breer LPGA golfer. 1939 - Birth of Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe Indian astronomer. 1939 - Charles Ives' first sonata "Concord" premieres. 1939 - Hitler proclaims to German parliament to exterminate all European Jews. 1940 - Birth of Carol Heiss Jenkins New York City, New York, figure skater (Olympics-gold/silver-1956, 1960). 1940 - Birth of Jorge Peixinho composer. 1941 - Birth of Ronald Townson rock vocalist (5th Dimension-Aquarius). 1941 - Béla Bartók's 6th string quartet, premieres in New York City, New York. 1942 - Birth of Slim Whitman yodeler/country singer (Home on the Range). 1942 - Japanese air raid on Rabaul New Britain. 1942 - Japanese forces cross the Thai border into Burma, making a major thrust toward Rangoon. 1942 - Nazi officials hold notorious Wannsee conference in Berlin deciding on "final solution" calling for extermination of Europe's Jews. 1943 - Birth of Roeland HG "Roel" van Duyn Dutch Provo politician. 1943 - Giacomo Benvenuti composer, dies at age 57. 1943 - Lead South Dakota, temp is 52 degrees F, while 1.5 miles away Deadwood South Dakota records -16 degrees F. 1943 - Operation-Weiss Assault of German, Italian, Bulgarian and Croatian. 1944 - Birth of Eddie Shah English publisher (Today, Post). 1944 - Birth of Isao Okano Japan, middleweight judo (Olympics-gold-1964). 1944 - Birth of Lieven Soete Dutch publicist (Molotov-Ribbentrop-pact). 1944 - RAF drops 2300 ton bombs on Berlin. 1944 - The Soviet Red Army captures Novgorod. 1944 - The German siege of Leningrad is lifted. 1945 - Birth of Eric Stewart; rock guitarist (10CC - "I'm Not in Love"). 1945 - Birth of Peter Beckwith; English real estate developer/multi-millionaire. 1945 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt sworn-in for an unprecedented fourth term as US President. 1945 - German forces in Hungary surrender to the Soviet army. 1946 - Birth of David Lynch in Missoula, Montana, USA; actor/director (Blue Velvet, Dune, Eraserhead, Twin Peaks). 1946 - F Gouin follows Charles De Gaulle as temporary leader of French government. 1947 - Birth of George Grantham; rocker (Poco - "Crazy Eyes"). 1947 - Birth of Malcolm McLaren; founded rock group (Sex Pistols - "God Save the Queen"). 1947 - Brigadier General Edwin K Wright becomes deputy director of US Central Intelligence Agency. 1947 - Josh Gibson, Negro League slugger, dies of a brain tumor at age 35. 1948 - Birth of Anatoly Shcharansky; Soviet human rights activist/émigré. 1948 - Birth of Jerry L Ross in Indiana, USA; Lieutenant-Colonel US Air Force/astronaut (STS 61B, 27, 37, 55, 74, 88). 1948 - Birth of Melvyn John Pritchard in England; rocker (Barclay James Harvest). 1949 - Birth of Kieron Walsh; academic. 1949 - J Edgar Hoover gives Shirley Temple a tear gas fountain pen. 1949 - Josephus T J Cuypers, architect (Amsterdam Stock Exchange), dies at age 87. 1949 - US President Harry Truman announces his four-point program. 1950 - Birth of Henk Batenburgh; cabaret performer/singer (Waaldrecht). 1950 - Suriname becomes independent part in Realm of Netherlands. 1951 - Birth of Magomed Omarovich Tolboyev; Russian cosmonaut. 1952 - Arthur Farwell, composer, dies at age 74. 1952 - Birth of Ian Hill; bass guitarist (Judas Priest - "Breakin the Law"). 1952 - Birth of Paul Stanley [Eisen]; rock guitarist (KISS - "Beth"). 1952 - British army occupies Ismailiya, Suez Canal Zone. 1952 - Louise Suggs wins LPGA Tampa Golf Open. 1953 - First US telecast transmitted to Canada from Buffalo, New York, USA. 1953 - First live coast-to-coast inauguration address (US President Dwight Eisenhower). 1954 - -70 degrees F (-57 degrees C), Rogers Pass, Montana (state 48 record). 1954 - Fred Root, cricket player (England pace bowler in three Tests vs Australia 1926), dies. 1954 - Warren Bardsley, cricket player (41 Tests for Australia, 2469 runs), dies. 1954 - The General Motors' Motorama show goes on display at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Chevrolet shows the Corvette Nomad prototype, with Corvette front and station wagon back. Chevrolet also shows a cherry red Corvair prototype, a two-seat fastback coupe with a Corvette front end. The name is a combination of "Corvette" and "Bel Air". Oldsmobile shows the F-88 two-seater convertible with fiberglass body. Pontiac shows the Bonneville Special, a two-seater with fiberglass body, straight 8-cylinder engine, mostly clear roof, similar headlights to Corvette. 1955 - Birth of Joe Doherty in Ireland; Irish Republican Army activist (jailed in US). 1956 - Birth of Bill Maher; comedian (Politically Incorrect). 1956 - Birth of John McNally Naha in Okinawa, Japan; US rapid fire pistol (Olympics-1984, 1988, 1992, 1996). 1956 - Birth of John Phillips Naber in Evanston, Illinois, USA; American 100m/200m backstroke swimmer (Olympics-4 gold/silver-1976). 1956 - Buddy Holly records "Blue Days Black Night" in Nashville, Tennessee. 1957 - Betsy Rawls wins LPGA Tampa Golf Open. 1957 - Birth of Leonard C Clements in Cherry Point, North Carolina, USA; PGA golfer (1994 Bob Hope-second). 1957 - Gomulka wins Poland's parliamentary election. 1957 - James Connolly, first Olympic winner (1896) since Barasdates (369 CE), dies. 1958 - Betsy Rawls wins LPGA Tampa Golf Open. 1958 - Birth of Lorenzo Lamas in Los Angeles, California, USA; actor (Lance - Falcon Crest, California Fever). 1959 - Birth of Lea Antonoplis in West Covina, California, USA; tennis star. 1959 - Carl Switzer, actor (Alfalfa - Our Gang), shot to death at age 31. 1960 - Matt Moore, actor (Deluge, Coquette), dies at age 72. 1960 - Birth of Will Wright, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA; creator of software games SimCity, The Sims. 1960 - Patrice Lumumba sentenced to six months in Belgian, Congo. 1961 - Arthur M Ramsay becomes archbishop of Canterbury. 1961 - Robert Frost recites The Gift Outright at US President John Kennedy's inauguration. 1961 - Yugoslav ex-Vice-President Milovan Djilas flees. 1962 - Robinson Jeffers, poet/playwright (Dear Judas), dies at age 75. 1963 - Birth of Scott Fisher in San Jose, California, USA; Australian basketball forward (Olympics-1996). 1964 - "Meet The Beatles" album released in US. 1964 - Birth of Ozzie Guillen in Oculare del Tuy, Venezuela; shortstop (Chicago White Sox). 1964 - Birth of Roger Smith in Freeport, Bahamas; tennis doubles player. 1964 - Birth of Ron Harper; NBA guard (Chicago Bulls). 1964 - Birth of Victoria Sellers in London, England; actress (Crime Zone, Warlords). 1964 - Jan Rychlik, composer, dies at age 47. 1965 - Alan Freed, disc-jockey (Big Beat), dies at age 42. 1965 - Birth of Brad Brink; US baseball pitcher (San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies). 1965 - Spain's Generalissimo Francisco Franco meets with Jewish representatives to discuss legitimizing Jewish communities in Spain. 1965 - American Jet Propulsion Laboratory proposes modified Apollo flight to fly around Mars and return. 1965 - The Beatles appear on Shindig (ABC-TV). 1966 - Birth of Bert Weidner; NFL guard (Miami Dolphins). 1966 - Birth of Chris Morris; NBA forward (Utah Jazz). 1966 - Birth of Rich Gannon; NFL quarterback (Kansas City Chiefs). 1966 - Birth of Tracii Guns; rock guitarist (LA Guns-It's Over Now). 1967 - Birth of Joe Pasquale; rocker (Prey). 1967 - Birth of Mark Stepnoski; NFL center (Houston/Tennessee Oilers). 1967 - Birth of Stacey Dash in Bronx, New York, USA; actress (Dionne - Clueless). 1968 - Birth of Junior Murray; cricket player (West Indies keeper). 1968 - Birth of Nick Anderson; NBA guard/forward (Orlando Magic). 1968 - Houston ends UCLA's 47-game basketball winning streak, 71-69. 1968 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Peggy Fleming. 1968 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Tim Wood. 1969 - Birth of Andre Romal Cason in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA; 100m runner. 1969 - Birth of Melissa Rivers in New York City, New York, USA; TV hostess (MTV, CBS Morning News). 1969 - Birth of Tia Marie Zorne in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Miss America-Nevada (1990). 1969 - Richard M Nixon inaugurated as President of the United States. 1969 - University of Arizona reports first optical identification of pulsar (in Crab Nebula). 1970 - 20th NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 142-135 at Philadelphia. 1970 - 23rd NHL All-Star Game: East beat West 4-1 at Saint Louis. 1970 - Birth of Anita Saint Rose; Miss Great Britain-Universe (1996). 1970 - Birth of Dennis Hulshof; soccer player (Go Ahead Eagles). 1970 - Birth of Deon Figures; cornerback (Jacksonville Jaguars). 1970 - Birth of Marvin Benard in Bluefields, Nicaragua; outfielder (San Francisco Giants). 1970 - Birth of Rob Gaudreau in Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA; NHL center (Ottawa Senators). 1970 - Birth of Ron Carpenter; NFL/WLAF safety (New York Jets, Amsterdam Admirals). 1970 - Birth of Skeet Ulrich; actor (Scream). 1970 - Birth of Terry Kirby; NFL running back (Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers). 1970 - Birth of Thomas "Tom" Murray in Buffalo, New York, USA; rower (Olympics-1996). 1970 - In Hokkaido, Japan, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. One person killed, 38 injured. 1970 - Super Fight, computer mock championship between Muhammed Ali and Marciano. 1971 - Ard Schenk skates world record 1000m (1:18.8). 1971 - Birth of Alan Young; NFL defensive end (New York Jets). 1971 - Birth of Andrei Skabelka; NHL forward (Belarus, Olympics-1998). 1971 - Birth of Johnny Mitchell; NFL tight end (New York Jets). 1971 - Birth of Karin Smith; Miss Minnesota USA (1996). 1971 - Gilbert M Anderson, actor (first Movie Cowboy), dies at age 88. 1972 - Birth of Alcides Catanho; NFL outside linebacker (New England Patriots). 1973 - Amilcar L Cabral, fought for Guinea Bissau independence, murdered 51. 1973 - Birth of Eddie Kennison; wide receiver (Saint Louis Rams). 1973 - Birth of Jalen Rose; NBA guard (Denver Nuggets). 1974 - 4th NFL Pro Bowl: AFC beats NFC 15-13. 1974 - 7th ABA All-Star Game: East 128 beats West 112 at Virginia. 1974 - Birth of Calvin Harrison in Orlando, Florida, USA; 200m/400m runner. 1974 - Birth of Rae Carruth; wide receiver (Carolina Panthers). 1974 - Edmund Blunden, British poet/critic, dies at age 77. 1974 - Essex Community College beats Englewood Cliffs 210-67 in basketball. 1975 - 5th NFL Pro Bowl: NFC beats AFC 17-10. 1975 - Franz André, Belgian conductor, dies at age 81. 1976 - 29th NHL All-Star Game: Wales beat Campbell 7-5 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1977 - Birth of Paul "Goggo" Adams, cricket player (lefty very unorthodox bowler for South Africa). 1977 - George Bush ends term as 11th director of US Central Intelligence Agency. 1978 - Columbia Pictures pays US$9.5 million for movie rights to Annie. 1980 - NFL Super Bowl XIV at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California: Pittsburgh Steelers beat Los Angeles Rams, 31-19; Most Valuable Player: Terry Bradshaw, quarterback. The Pittsburgh Steelers become the first NFL franchise to win four Super Bowls. 1980 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Linda Fratianne. 1980 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Charles Tickner. 1980 - Birth of Jenson Button; British racecar driver. 1981 - Birth of Owen Hargreaves; Canadian-born football player. 1981 - Admiral Stansfield Turner, US Navy (Retired), ends term as 12th director of US Central Intelligence Agency. 1981 - New York Islanders' Glenn Resch's 25th and last shut-out opponent-Calgary Flames 5-0. 1981 - Ronald Reagan succeeds Jimmy Carter, becoming the 40th President of the United States. 1981 - Minutes after Ronald Reagan takes office as US President, the United States frees almost $8 billion in frozen Iranian assets, and Iran releases the 52 Americans held for 444 days, ending the Iran hostage crisis. 1981 - Birth of Jason Richardson; American basketball player. 1982 - Piet Dankert elected chairman of European Parliament. 1982 - Seven miners killed in an explosion in Craynor, Kentucky. 1982 - Honduras constitution goes into effect. 1983 - Birth of Mari Yaguchi; Japanese singer and DJ. 1984 - Jackie Wilson, rocker, dies at age 49 from a heart attack. 1984 - Peter John [Johnny] Weissmuller, Austrian-born swimmer and actor (Tarzan, Jungle Jim), dies after a series of strokes in Acapulco, Mexico at age 79. 1984 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Rosalynn Sumners. 1984 - Birth of Toni Gonzaga, Filipina actress and singer. 1985 - Cold front strikes US, at least 40 die (-27 degrees F (-33 degrees C) in Chicago, Illinois). 1985 - Jo Juda, Dutch musician, dies at age 75. 1985 - Super Bowl XIX: San Francisco 49ers beat Miami Dolphins, 38-16 in Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California; Most Valuable Player: Joe Montana, quarterback. 1985 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan is privately sworn in for a second term in office (publicly sworn in January 21). 1986 - The first US federal Martin Luther King Day holiday, honoring Martin Luther King Jr., is observed. 1986 - The United Kingdom and France announce plans to construct the Channel Tunnel (railroad tunnel under English Channel). 1986 - Military coup in Lesotho under General-Major Lekhanya and premier Leabua Jonathan. 1987 - Shiite Muslims in Beirut, Lebanon kidnap Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite (released November 1991). 1987 - Tom Dollery, cricket player (4 Tests for England 1947-50), dies. 1988 - André Hoffman skates world record 1500m (1:52.06). 1988 - Arizona committee opens hearing on impeachment of Governor Evan Mecham. 1988 - Philippe de Rothschild, Bordeaux Vineyard manager, dies in Paris, France at age 86 (born 1902). 1989 - Beatrice Lillie, actress (Thoroughly Modern Millie), dies at age 94. 1989 - George H.W. Bush succeeds Ronald Reagan as the 41st President of the United States of America. 1989 - Wayne Holdsworth takes a wicket first ball in first-class cricket. 1989 - The Soviets begin to airlift supplies to Afghanistan as they pull out. 1989 - Birth of Nadia Di Cello, Argentine actress. 1990 - 47th Golden Globes: Born on Fourth of July, Driving Miss Daisy win. 1990 - Barbara Stanwyck [Ruby Stevens], American actress (Big Valley), dies at age 82 (born 1907). 1990 - Miloslav Istvan, composer, dies at age 61. 1990 - Naruhito Higashi-Kuni, Japanese Prime Minister (1945), dies. 1990 - US 64th manned space mission STS 32 (Columbia 10) returns from space. 1990 - Soviet troops occupy Baku, Azerbaijan, under the state of emergency decree issued by Gorbachev, and kill over 130 and wound over 700 protesters for national independence. 1991 - Bill Riordon, US tennis promoter (Jimmy Connors), dies. 1991 - Buffalo Bills beat Los Angeles Raiders 51-3 for AFC title. 1991 - Iraq parades captured Allied airmen on TV. 1991 - Jane Geddes wins LPGA Jamaica Golf Classic. 1991 - Louis Seigner, actor (Eclipse, Special Section), dies in a fire at age 87. 1991 - Matt Barr's field goal with no time left gives New York Giants 15-13 victory over defending champions San Francisco 49ers, for NFC title. 1991 - US Patriot missiles begins shooting down Iraqi missiles. 1992 - Australia beats India 2-0 to win the World Series Cup. 1992 - Muhammad Abd al-Khaliq Hassuna, Secretary-General of Arab League (1952-72), dies. 1992 - Roberto d'Aubuisson, leader of El Salvador, dies. 1992 - Score company begins selling international soccer cards. 1993 - Admiral Studeman, serves as acting director of US Central Intelligence Agency. 1993 - Audrey Hepburn, Belgian actress (Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday), dies of colon cancer in Tolochenaz, Switzerland at age 63 (born 1929). 1993 - Bill Clinton inaugurated as 42nd President of the USA. 1993 - Joseph Anthony [Deuster], US director/actor (Rainmaker), dies at age 80. 1993 - Market value of Microsoft reaches US$26.78 billion, above IBM at US$26.76 billion for the first time. Microsoft becomes the highest valued computer industry company, 14th among all public companies. 1993 - Mercer McCleod, entertainer, dies of heart failure at age 86. 1994 - Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenyan Vice-President (1963-66), dies at about age 81. 1994 - Matt Busby, Scottish soccer coach (Manchester United), dies at age 84 (born 1909). 1995 - 1994-95 NHL Season begins after a lengthy strike. 1995 - John Halas, Hungarian/US cartoonist (Animal Farm), dies at age 81. 1995 - Mehdi Bazargan, director Iranian oil corp/premier (1979), dies at age 86. 1995 - Robert Shaw, town planner, dies at age 81. 1995 - Russian ruble drops to 3,947 per dollar (record). 1996 - 46th NHL All-Star Game: East beat West 5-4 at Fleet Center in Boston, Massachussetts. 1996 - Australia defeats Sri Lanka 2-0 to win World Series Cup. 1996 - Buster Benton, singer/guitarist, dies at age 63. 1996 - David Robin Francis Guy Greville, 8th Duke of Warwick, dies at age 61. 1996 - Ellis Hillman, politician, dies at age 68. 1996 - Yasser Arafat is re-elected president of the Palestinian Authority. 1996 - Gerald Joseph Mulligan, American baritone saxophonist/composer, dies at age 68 (born 1927). 1996 - Liesbeth Askonas, concert agent, dies at age 83. 1996 - Peter Stadlen, pianist/critic, dies at age 85. 1996 - Sidney Korshak, lawyer, dies at age 87. 1996 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Michelle Kwan. 1996 - The last episode of The Stephanie Miller Show airs. 1997 - Comet Hale-Bopp crosses Mars' orbit. 1997 - Death of Curt Flood, American baseball player (centerfielder, Saint Louis Cardinals), at age 59 of throat cancer (born 1938). 1997 - Edith Haisman, the oldest survivor of Titanic, dies at age 100. 1997 - Pakistan defeats West Indies 2-0 to win Australia one-day Series. 1997 - Vladimir Yamnikov, owner of Kristall vodka, dies of cirrhosis at age 56. 1997 - Bill Clinton starts his second term as President of the United States. 1998 - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts The Mama and The Papas, The Eagles. 1998 - Nepalese police intercept a shipment of 272 human skulls in Kathmandu. 1998 - Zevulun Hammer, Vice Prime Minister of Israel, dies. 1999 - The China News Service announces new government restrictions on Internet use aimed especially at Internet cafes. 2001 - Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is sworn in by Chief Justice Hilario Davide as the 14th President of the Republic of the Philippines after the Armed Forces of the Philippines and several cabinet members withdraw their support for Joseph Estrada. 2001 - George W. Bush is sworn in as the 43rd President of the United States. 2002 - Death of Carrie Hamilton, American actress (born 1963). 2003 - Death of Al Hirschfeld, American cartoonist (born 1903). 2003 - Death of Bill Werbeniuk, Canadian snooker player (born 1947). 2005 - Eric Gagne and the Los Angeles Dodgers agree to a $19-million, two-year deal. 2005 - Death of Per Borten, Prime Minister of Norway (born 1913). 2005 - George W. Bush is inaugurated in Washington, D.C. for his second term as the 43rd President of the United States. 2005 - Ireland completes conversion to the metric system. 2006 - Baseball's second application to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control to allow Cuba to play in the World Baseball Classic is approved. 2006 - In Quang Tri province, Viet Nam, just south of the demilitarized zone, the country's first baseball field is dedicated. The former soccer field was transformed into a diamond for the Le Loi High School using money donated from Major League Baseball and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. 2009 - Italian carmaker Fiat and American carmaker Chrysler agree to a global strategic alliance. Fiat will get a 35 percent stake in Chrysler, which will get access to Fiat's fuel-efficient vehicle technologies. 2009 - Israeli troops complete their pullout from Gaza, ending their 22-day offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. 2009 - The Bank of Canada cuts borrowing costs to a record low to one percent. The previous record low was 1.12 percent in 1958. 2009 - Barack Hussein Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States. 2009 - Death of Stéphanos II Ghattas, Egyptian Patriarch of Alexandria (born 1920). 2010 - Republican Scott Brown wins the vacated Senate seat in Massachusetts, reducing the Democrats' majority to 59 seats to the Republicans' 41. 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 Chronology of World War II Chronology of Personal Computers