Ken Fussichen's History Of The Day For
December 18th

Home Click on * for the link to the relevant chronology. New Date
1352*Etienne Aubert elected as Pope Innocent VI.Ref: 69
1378*Charles V denounces the treachery of John IV of Brittany and confiscates his duchy.Ref: 2
1406*Anton van Bourgondies becomes duke of Brabant.Ref: 5
1603 Admiral Steven van der Haghens fleet departs to East-Indies.Ref: 5
1621*English parliament accept unanimously, Protestation.Ref: 5
1764*The Virginia General Assembly reacts to threats of a stamp tax by writing an address to the king and sending memorials to both houses of Parliament. They argue that only the House of Burgesses had the right to tax Virginians. This remained a basic point of contention through the Revolutionary period. 
1774*Jews expelled from Prague, Bohemia & Moravia by Empress Maria Theresa.Ref: 5
1777*The Continental Congress authorizes the first national day of Thanksgiving to celebrate the surrender of British General John Burgoyne at Saratoga. (XDG, p 4A, 12/18/2000)Ref: 83
1783*English king George III fires government of Portland.Ref: 5
1787*(new state) New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.Ref: 70
1834*Emory College was chartered in Oxford, GA, under Methodist auspices. In 1915 it changed its name to Emory University and in 1919 the campus was relocated in Atlanta, GA.Ref: 5
1859*South Carolina declared an "independent commonwealth".Ref: 5
1865*First US cattle importation law passed.Ref: 5
1865*“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, save as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist in the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” With these words, slavery was abolished in the United States. Seq: 1Ref: 4
1890*Uganda occupied by British East Africa Company.Ref: 10
1892*Rabbi H. Rosenberg was expelled from Temple Beth-Jacob in Brooklyn, NY, for eating pork.Ref: 5
1903*U.S.-Panama Treaty places Canal Zone in U.S. hands.Ref: 10
1907*French aviator Louis Bleriot demonstrates new plane at Issy and wrecks it.Ref: 10
1915*President Woodrow Wilson, widowed the year before, married Edith Bolling Galt at her Washington home. (Braeman, John, "Wilson", 1972, ISBN 0-13-960260-7) 
1917 Soviet regiment (Stalin/Lenin) declares Finland Independent.Ref: 5
1917*The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution is passed by Congress. It will be ratified by the states on January 16th, 1919.Ref: 3
1920*First US postage stamps printed without the words United States or US.Ref: 5
1920*Conductor Arturo Toscanini made his first recording for Victor Records in Camden, New Jersey.Ref: 4
1923 International zone of Tangier set up in Morocco.Ref: 5
1925*Soviet leaders Lev Kamenev and Grigori Zinoviev break with Joseph Stalin.Ref: 2
1935*Edward Benes becomes President of Czechoslovakia.Ref: 5
1935*A $1 silver certificate was issued. It was the first currency to depict the front and back sides of the Great Seal of the United States.Ref: 4
1936*Su-Lin arrived in San Francisco, California. She was the first giant panda to come to the U.S. from China. The bear was sold to the Brookfield Zoo for $8,750.Ref: 4
1941*The first meeting of the S-1 project is held, sponsored by the OSRD. S-1 is dedicated to the full scale research development of fission weapons.Ref: 91
1945*Uruguay joins the United Nations.Ref: 5
1947*Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Optissima Pax.Ref: 5
1948 Indonesia begins it's 2nd political election.Ref: 5
1951*North Koreans give the United Nations a list of 3,100 POWs.Ref: 2
1956 Israeli flag hoisted on Mount Sinai.Ref: 5
1956*Japan was admitted to the United Nations.Ref: 70
1957*Shippingport Atomic Power Station, PA was the first commercial central electric-generating station in the United States to use nuclear energy. It started producing juice this day, feeding electricity into the grid for the Pittsburgh area. On December 2, 1977, the first U.S. light water breeder reactor went to full power at Shippingport. (The power station was taken out of service October 1, 1982.)Ref: 4
1958*Niger gains autonomy within French Community (National Day).Ref: 5
1960*A rightist government is installed under Prince Boun Oum in Laos as the United States resumes arms shipments.Ref: 2
1960*General Meeting of United Nations condemns apartheid.Ref: 5
1962*USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR.Ref: 5
1963*Muskegon MI gets 3' of snow.Ref: 5
1964*US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.Ref: 5
1964*Cleveland State University is established. 
1964 During services held for Sam Cooke, fans caused damage to Funeral Home.Ref: 5
1966*USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk USSR.Ref: 5
1968*USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk USSR.Ref: 5
1969*US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.Ref: 5
1969*Britain's Parliament abolished the death penalty for murder.Ref: 70
1970 Polish uprising fails.Ref: 5
1970*An atomic leak in Nevada forces hundreds of citizens to flee the test site.Ref: 2
1970*US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.Ref: 5
1971*US dollar devalued 7.9% in Holland ($1=ƒ3,245).Ref: 5
1971*The Reverend Jesse Jackson announced in Chicago the founding of Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity). (XDG, p 4A, 12/18/2003)Ref: 83
1974*San Francisco Visitors Center at City Hall opens.Ref: 5
1976 Soviet dissident Viktor Bukovski exchanged for Chile CP-leader Corvalan.Ref: 5
1978*France performs nuclear test at Muruora Island.Ref: 5
1978*USSR performs underground nuclear test.Ref: 5
1980 IRA's Sean McKenna becomes critically ill, ends hunger strike.Ref: 5
1980*Dutch 2nd Chamber accepts minister Van Agts abortion laws.Ref: 5
1980*Vietnam adopts constitution.Ref: 5
1985*UN Security Council unanimously condemns "acts of hostage-taking".Ref: 5
1986*Mr Gates serves as acting director of CIA.Ref: 5
1987*Ivan F. Boesky was sentenced to three years in prison for plotting Wall Street's biggest insider-trading scandal.Ref: 70
1987*USSR performs underground nuclear test.Ref: 5
1987*Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's future president, marries Asif Ali Zardari.Ref: 5
1991*General Motors announced it would close 21 North American plants over the next four years and slash tens of thousands of jobs in a sweeping restructuring of the world's largest company.Ref: 4
1992*Kim Young-Sam is elected president of South Korea, the first civilian to hold that office since the early 1960s. (XDG, p 4A, 12/18/2000)Ref: 83
1993 The US and Germany pledge close cooperation to help Boris Yeltsin through Russia's political and economic crises in a two-hour meeting in Oggersheim between VP Al Gore and Chancellor Helmut Kohl. (XDG, p 4A, 12/18/2003)Ref: 83
1994 Socialist Party (ex-communist) wins Bulgaria parliamentary election.Ref: 5
1996*FBI agent Earl Edwin Pitts was arrested, accused of selling secrets to the Russians. (Pitts was sentenced in June 1997 to 27 years in prison after admitting that he'd conspired and attempted to commit espionage.)Ref: 64
1996*Aides to President Clinton disclosed that Asian-American businessman Charles Yah Lin Trie, who delivered $460,000 in questionable donations to the Clintons' legal defense fund, had been to the White House at least 23 times since 1993.Ref: 64
1997*A unique bridge-and-tunnel expressway across Tokyo Bay opened. The Trans-Tokyo Bay Motorway was named the Tokyo Bay Aqualine, a toll highway that spans the narrowest gap of Tokyo Bay. It opened to traffic this day, after 31 years of studies and construction at a total cost of 1.44 trillion yen (some $10.8 billion at the time). The 15-kilometer (9.3-mile) expressway, connecting Kisarazu City of Chiba Prefecture and Kawasaki City of Kanagawa Prefecture, makes it possible to make a round-trip of the bay by car. Of the total length, 4.4 kilometers (2.7 miles) from the Kisarazu side is a bridge and 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) from the Kawasaki side is an undersea tunnel, which is the world’s longest undersea tunnel, running 60 meters (197 feet) deep under the surface of the water.Ref: 4
1998*The House of Representatives began debate on four articles of impeachment against President Clinton.Ref: 70
1999 After living atop an ancient redwood in Humboldt County, CA., for two years, environmental activist Julia "Butterfly" Hill came down, ending her anti-logging protest.Ref: 70
2000*The Electoral College cast its ballots, with President-elect Bush receiving the expected 271; Al Gore, however, received 266, one fewer than expected, because of a District of Columbia Democrat who left her ballot blank to protest the district's lack of representation in Congress. Antitrust regulators approved the merger of British drug companies Glaxo Wellcome PLC and SmithKline Beecham PLC. Newspaper heir Randolph Apperson Hearst, the last surviving son of William Randolph Hearst, died in NY at age 85.Ref: 70
2002*Embattled Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott sustained a double-barreled setback as Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee broke ranks to call for a change in party leadership and Secretary of State Colin Powell forcefully criticized Lott's controversial remarks on race. (XDG, p 4A, 12/18/2003)Ref: 83
2003*The US Census Bureau reports that the population grew an estimated 1% or 2.8M to 290.8M in the 12 months that ended July 1, 2003. (USA Today, p 3A, 12/19/2003)Ref: 13
2003*(DC Sniper) Lee Malvo, the 18-year old Washington DC serial sniper is convicted of two counts of capital murder. (USA Today, p 3A, 12/19/2003)Ref: 13
1839*First photograph of the moon taken by John William Draper of New York City.Ref: 5
1849*Ten years after Draper, William Bond takes first photo of moon through a telescope.Ref: 5
1862*The first orthopedic hospital was organized -- in NY City. It was called the Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled.Ref: 4
1890*Lugards expedition to Mengo/Kampala, Uganda.Ref: 5
1912*Discovery of Piltdown Man announced, later discovered to be a hoax.Ref: 10
1958*First test project of SCOR (Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment).Ref: 5
1958*First voice from space: recorded Christmas message by Eisenhower.Ref: 5
1965*Gemini VII splashed down in the western Atlantic Ocean with command pilot Frank Borman and pilot Jim Lovell Jr. on board. They had blasted off Dec 4 on a mission of physiological testing and spacecraft performance evaluation.Ref: 4
1973*Soyuz 13 launched into Earth orbit for 8 days.Ref: 5
1982*Flight readiness firing of Challenger's main engines; 20 seconds.Ref: 5
1994*Enormous underground cavern with Stone Age murals discovered in mountains of southern France.Ref: 10
1118*Afonso the Battler, the Christian King of Aragon captures Saragossa, Spain, a major blow to Muslim Spain.Ref: 2
1745*The Scots are defeated at Clifton Moor.Ref: 62
1812*Napoleon Bonaparte arrives in Paris after his disastrous campaign in Russia.Ref: 2
1813*The British take Fort Niagara in the War of 1812.Ref: 5
1862*Union General Ulysses S. Grant announces the organization of his army in the West. Sherman, Hurlbut, McPherson, and McClernand are to be corps commanders.Ref: 2
1862*Nathan B. Forrest engages and defeats a Federal cavalry force near Lexington in his continued effort to disrupt supply lines.Ref: 2
1899*Fieldmarshal Lord Roberts appointed British supreme commander in South Africa.Ref: 5
1915*In a single night, about 20,000 Australian and New Zealand troops withdraw from Gallipoli, Turkey, undetected by the Turks defending the peninsula.A balance between accuracy and artistic license in historical film.Ref: 2
1916*US President Wilson requests statement of war objectives from warring nations in peace note; British offended by implication that their war aims are no more moral than Germany's.Ref: 38
1916*The Battle of Verdun ends with the French and Germans each having suffered more than 330,000 killed and wounded in 10 months.Ref: 2
1939*Finnish army recaptures Agläjärvi.Ref: 5
1940*Adolf Hitler signed a secret directive ordering preparations for a Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. (Operation Barbarossa was launched in June 1941.)Ref: 70
1941*Japanese forces begin the invasion of Hong Kong Island, crossing the strait of Lye Mun Passage.Ref: 5
1941*German submarine U-434 sinks.Ref: 5
1941*Defended by 610 fighting men, the American-held island of Guam falls to more than 5,000 Japanese invaders in a three-hour battle.Ref: 5
1942*Adolf Hitler meets with Benito Mussolini and Pierre Laval.Ref: 2
1944*Nazi occupiers of Amsterdam destroy electricity plants.Ref: 5
1944*Destroyers "Hull", "Spence" & "Monaghan" sink in typhoon (Philippines).Ref: 5
1944*Japanese forces are repelled from northern Burma by British troops.Ref: 2
1944*The Supreme Court upheld the wartime relocation of Japanese-Americans, but also said undeniably loyal Americans of Japanese ancestry could not be detained.Ref: 70
1961 India annexes Portuguese colonies of Goa, Damao & Diu.Ref: 5
1965*U.S. Marines attack VC units in the Que Son Valley during Operation Harvest Moon.Ref: 2
1972*The United States began the heaviest bombing of North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The bombardment ended 12 days later.Ref: 70
1972*President Richard M. Nixon declares that the bombing of North Vietnam will continue until an accord can be reached.Ref: 2
1998*US and British forces blast Iraq with a third day of air strikes. (XDG, p 4A, 12/18/2003)Ref: 83
1869*Canada's Hamilton Foot Ball Club plays its first game.Ref: 5
1898*Automobile speed record set-63 kph (39 mph).Ref: 5
1932*Beau Jack defeated Tippy Larkin in New York City. Beau beat Tippy to a pulp to win the World Lightweight Boxing Championship.Ref: 4
1932*Chicago Bears beat Portsmouth Spartans 9-0 in first NFL playoff game.Ref: 5
1949*Philadelphia Eagles beat Los Angeles Rams 14-0 in NFL championship game.Ref: 5
1952*Indian president Ellis W. Ryan resigns after losing a showdown with general manager Hank Greenberg.Ref: 1
1956*Phil Rizzuto signs as NY Yankee radio-TV announcer.Ref: 5
1959*Sammy Baugh named first coach of NY Titans (AFL).Ref: 5
1961 For 2nd consecutive year, AP names Wilma Rudolph female athlete of year.Ref: 5
1961*Wilt Chamberlain of NBA Philadelphia Warriors scores 78 points vs Los Angeles.Ref: 5
1963*Australia's Ron Clarke set a world record. He ran 10,000 meters in 28 minutes, 15.6 seconds.Ref: 4
1965 Kenneth LeBel jumps 17 barrels on ice skates.Ref: 5
1973*Despite an impending legal showdown with Charlie Finley, the Yankees announce the signing of manager Dick Williams. American League president Joe Cronin will void deal two days laterRef: 1
1975*Chuck Tanner signs a three-year deal to manage the A's.Ref: 1
1977*Cleveland Cavaliers retire jersey #42 (Nate Thumond).Ref: 5
1979*Stanley Barrett first to exceed land sonic speed (739.666 MPH).Ref: 5
1981*The Reds swap third baseman Ray Knight to the Astros for outfielder Cesar Cedeno.Ref: 1
1983*NBA San Diego Clippers ends 29 game road losing streak.Ref: 5
1984*73rd Davis Cup: Sweden beats USA in Gothenburg (4-1).Ref: 5
1985*The Giants trade Rob Deer to the Brewers for farmhands Eric Pilkington and Dean Freeland.Ref: 1
1988*Seattle Seahawks win their first ever division title with 9-7 record.Ref: 5
1988*5th meeting of Giants-Jets, Jets win & eliminate Giants from playoffs.Ref: 5
1990*The National League announces the six finalist cities for the two 1993 expansion teams. The locations include Buffalo, Denver, Miami, Orlando, Tampa-St. Petersburg and Washington, DC.Ref: 1
1991*Toronto signs pitcher Jack Morris to the richest contract in Blue Jays history.Ref: 86
1993 Kevin Scott skates world record 1K (1:12.54).Ref: 5
1993*Julio Cesar Chavez retained his WBC super lightweight title with a five-round victory over Britain’s Andy Holligan. It was the 27th time Chavez fought for a title without a loss since 1984, breaking Joe Louis’ record of 26.Ref: 4
1994*Darryl Strawberry pleads not guilty on tax evasion charges.Ref: 5
1994*Norman, Couples & Azinger win LPGA Wendy's 3-Tour Golf Challenge.Ref: 5
1998*The Colorado Rockies management promotes Brandy Lay to director of team travel, the third in franchise history.Ref: 86
2000*Free agent Sandy Alomar Jr. agrees to a $5.4 million, two-year deal with the White Sox. The former Indians catcher will replace Charles Johnson, who earlier in the day signed to a $35 million, five-year contract with the Marlins.Ref: 1
2001*Filling the void created by Mark McGwire's unexpected retirement, the Cardinals sign first baseman Tino Martinez to a $21 million, three-year contract. After he was replaced in the Yankees lineup by Jason Giambi, the former Bronx Bomber said the Cardinals were his first choice as a free agent.Ref: 1
2001*John Rocker is traded to the Rangers from the Indians for minor league pitcher David Elder. The reliever, not known for his clubhouse dipolmacy, will join recently acquired Carl Everett, who also has had difficulties with management and teammates.Ref: 1
2001*Police were today investigating claims that boxer Mike Tyson assaulted an ex-boxer outside a New York nightclub. Retired heavyweight Mitchell Rose has filed a complaint, claiming Tyson attacked him after he made a joke about the former champion's entourage of women. Police in New York are investigating the claims but have not yet interviewed Tyson, a convicted rapist, or pressed any charges following the alleged incident early on Sunday morning.Ref: 98
2002*After spending the previous six seasons with the Giants, the 2000 National League MVP Jeff Kent (.313, 37,108 ) signs an $18.2 million, two-year contract with the Astros. The 34-year old Texan resident's presence on the team moves four-time second base Gold Glove winner, Craig Biggio to the outfield.Ref: 1
2002*Robert L. Johnson becomes first black to own major pro sports team, the NBA's basketball team in Charlotte.Ref: 10
1719 Thomas Fleet publishes "Mother Goose's Melodies For Children".Ref: 5
1796*The Monitor of Baltimore, Maryland was published as the first Sunday newspaper.Ref: 4
1892*Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite" publicly premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia.Ref: 70
1892*Anton Bruckner's 8th Symphony, premieres.Ref: 5
1924*The first radio broadcast of a livestock auction takes place from Chicago. (XDG, p 4A, 12/18/2000)Ref: 83
1934*Willie Smith sang with Jimmy Lunceford and his orchestra on Rhythm is Our Business on Decca Records (serial number 369).Ref: 4
1946*TV's first network dramatic serial "Faraway Hill" ends 2 month run.Ref: 5
1953*WPTZ in Philadelphia, PA presented a Felso commercial, marking the first color telecast seen on a local station. What’s Felso? We remember it well. Felso was a laundry detergent.Ref: 4
1956*"To Tell The Truth", hosted by Bud Collyer, premiers on CBS-TV.Ref: 4
1961*Britain's EMI Records originally rejects the Beatles.Ref: 5
1961 The Tokens celebrated their first #1 hit single. The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh for you purists) was a chart topper for four weeks in a row.Ref: 4
1962*Dmitri Shostakovich's 13th Symphony, premieres in Moscow.Ref: 5
1964*"The Pink Panther" cartoon series premieres (Pink Phink).Ref: 5
1964*"I Had a Ball" opens at Martin Beck Theater NYC for 199 performances.Ref: 5
1965*"La Grusse Valise" closes at 54th St Theater NYC after 7 performances.Ref: 5
1966*Chuck Jones' holiday classic, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", first aired.Ref: 73
1969*"Coco" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC for 333 performances.Ref: 5
1970*"Me Nobody Knows" opens at Helen Hayes Theater NYC for 587 performances.Ref: 5
1971 CBS radio cancels Saturday morning band concerts.Ref: 5
1972*Helen Reddy received a gold record for the song that became an anthem for women’s liberation, I Am Woman. The song had reached number one on December 9, 1972.Ref: 4
1975*Rod Stewart announced that he was leaving the group, Faces, and was going solo in a deal with Warner Brothers.Ref: 4
1976*"A Star is Born", with Barbra Streisand, premieres.Ref: 5
1976*"Wonder Woman" debuts on ABC.Ref: 5
1980*Bruce Sprinsteen's concert at Madison Square Garden.Ref: 5
1981*More Rod Stewart news: Stewart gave a concert at the Los Angeles Forum, which was televised to 23 countries and carried by FM radio stations in the US -- an audience of about 35 million.Ref: 4
1982*Daryl Hall and John Oates reached the #1 spot on the music charts for the fifth time with Maneater. The song stayed in the top spot for four weeks, making it Hall and Oates’ most popular hit.Ref: 4
1984*Christopher Guest of Saturday Night Live and actress Jamie Lee Curtis were married in the Los Angeles home of comedian Rob Reiner this day.Ref: 4
1985 Beverly Hills Cop became the top movie grosser of the year with $229.9 million in tickets sold. Back to the Future, with Michael J. Fox, was second, followed by Rambo: First Blood, Part 2, starring Sylvester Stallone, gunning its way into third place.Ref: 4
1985*"Jerry's Girls" opens at St James Theater NYC for 139 performances.Ref: 5
1989*"I Love Lucy" Christmas episode, shown for first time in over 30 years.Ref: 5
1989*Athol Fugard's "My Children, My Africa" premieres in New York NY.Ref: 5
1991*DeForest Kelly (Dr McCoy on Star Trek) gets a star in Hollywood.Ref: 5
1992*FCC vote 4-1 to allow Infinity to purchase Cook Inlet stations.Ref: 5
1994*"Comedy Tonight" opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theater NYC for 8 performances.Ref: 5
1994*"What's Wrong With this Pic?" closes at Circle in Square NYC after 12 performances.Ref: 5
1994*General Hospital stars Kristina Malandro & Jack Wagner wed.Ref: 5
1996*TV industry executives agree to adopt a ratings system.Ref: 5
2003*Pop singer Michael Jackson, 45, is charged with seven counts of felony child molestation in Santa Maria, CA. (USA Today, p 1A, 12/19/2003)Ref: 13
1562*Philipp Dulichius composer, is born.Ref: 5
1569*Jakob Hassler composer, is born.Ref: 5
1610*Charles Du Fresne Du Cange French scholar/philologist, is born.Ref: 5
1633*Adriaen Melar Flemish engraver, baptised, is born.Ref: 5
1633*Willem van de Velde the Young Dutch seascape painter, baptised, is born.Ref: 5
1635*Antonius Matthaeus Dutch lawyer/historian, is born.Ref: 5
1667*Wenzel Ludwig von Radolt composer, is born.Ref: 5
1707*Charles Wesley co-founder (Methodist movement), is born.Ref: 5
1707*Empress Elizabeth RussiaRef: 10
1709*Elizabeth empress of Russia (to Peter the Great & Catherine I), is born.Ref: 5
1734*Jean-Baptiste Rey composer, is born.Ref: 5
1760*Knud L Rahbek Danish literary (Om sku skuespillerkunsten), is born.Ref: 5
1779*Joseph Grimaldi England, pantomimist ("greatest clown in history"), is born.Ref: 5
1786*Karl Maria von Weber opera composer: Der Freischutz; is born.Ref: 4
1788*Camille Pleyel Austria, piano builder/composer, is born.Ref: 5
1803*William Allen (Representative/Governor-OH), is born.Ref: 5
1811*Alexander Sandor Asboth Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1868, is born.Ref: 5
1812*Wiktor Kazynski composer, is born.Ref: 5
1816*Alfred Elzey Jones Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1871, is born.Ref: 5
1819*Jakov P Polonski Russian poet (Stichotvorenija), is born.Ref: 5
1819*Birth of Isaac Thomas Hecker, American Roman Catholic leader. He entered the Redemptorist Order in 1845, and in 1858 founded the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (the Paulist Fathers). He was superior general of the Paulist Society during his last 30 years (1858-88).Ref: 5
1825*Charles Griffin Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1867, is born.Ref: 5
1826*Charles-A Chatrian [Erckmann-C] French writer (L'ami Fritz), is born.Ref: 5
1826*Mercer Brooke John (Confederate Navy), died in 1906, is born.Ref: 5
1835*George Dashiell Bayard Brigadier-General (Union volunteers), died in 1862, is born.Ref: 5
1837*A Adolf Daens Belgian priest/Dutch party founder (CVP), is born.Ref: 5
1844*Lujo [Ludwig J von] Brentano German economist, is born.Ref: 5
1848*Karl Schroder composer, is born.Ref: 5
1852*Gaetano Coronaro composer, is born.Ref: 5
1856*Joseph John Thomson England, physicist discovered electron (Nobel 1906), is born.Ref: 5
1861*Edward Alexander MacDowell New York NY, composer (Indian Suite, Cairo), is born.Ref: 5
1861*Lionel Monckton composer, is born.Ref: 5
1863*Franz Ferdinand archduke of Austria (Sarajevo/WWI), is born.Ref: 5
1867*Antoon van Welie Dutch painter, is born.Ref: 5
1870*Saki (Hector Hugo Munro) Burma, author (Reginald, When William Came), is born.Ref: 5
1870*Andres Randolf Denmark, actor (The Kiss), is born.Ref: 5
1870*D T Suzuki Kanazawa Japan, Zen Buddhist scholar, is born.Ref: 5
1873*Adolf Vogl composer, is born.Ref: 5
1877*Max Pallenberg Austria, actor (Brave Suender)/husb of Fritzi Massary, is born.Ref: 5
1879*Paul Klee Switzerland, abstract painter (Twittering Machine), is born.Ref: 5
1884 Philippe van Isacker Belgian minister, is born.Ref: 5
1886*Ty (Tyrus Raymond) Cobb ‘The Georgia Peach’: baseball: Detroit Tigers [World Series: 1907-1909/American League MVP: 1911], Philadelphia Athletics; played in 3,000+ games [1905-1928]; .367 batting average; is born.Ref: 4
1888*Robert Moses, the American public servant who supervised the construction of many New York landmarks, including the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Shea Stadium, is born.Ref: 68
1888*Dame Gladys Cooper, English actress, is born.Ref: 70
1888*Gladys Cooper Lewisham England, actress (My Fair Lady), is born.Ref: 5
1889*Gladys CooperRef: 10
1890*Edwin Howard Armstrong New York NY, radio pioneer inventor (FM), is born.Ref: 5
1897*Fernand J Collin Belgian economist/banker, is born.Ref: 5
1898 Jacob Kruijt Dutch sociologist, is born.Ref: 5
1904*George Stevens US director (Alice Adams, Penny Serenade), is born.Ref: 5
1904*Wilf Carter country singer, is born.Ref: 5
1905*Richard Sturzenegger composer, is born.Ref: 5
1906*Edwin H "Buddy" Morris music publisher, is born.Ref: 5
1906*Kam Tong actor (Across the Pacific, Flower Drum Song), is born.Ref: 5
1907 Christopher Fry is born.Ref: 10
1907*Christopher Fry (Harris), Bristol England, playwright (Ring Around the Moon), is born.Ref: 5
1908*Celia Johnson England, actress (Happy Breed, Brief encounter), is born.Ref: 5
1909*Mona Barrie [Smith] London England, actress (Dawn on the Great Divide), is born.Ref: 5
1910*Abe (Abram Solman Borowitz) Burrows Tony Award-winning director and playwright: How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying [1962]; is born in Brooklyn NY.Ref: 4
1911*Helen Vlachos journalist, is born.Ref: 5
1911*Jules Dassin Middletown CT, director (Circle of Two, Never on Sunday), is born.Ref: 5
1913*Willy Brandt [Herbert Frahm] German chancellor (1969-74, Nobel 1971), is born.Ref: 5
1913*Willy Brandt, Mayor of Berlin and Chancellor of West Germany.Ref: 2
1913*Alfred Bester US, science fiction author (Deceivers, Starlight), is born.Ref: 5
1913*Lynn Bari (Marjorie Schuyler Fisher) actress: The Young Runaways, Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops, Sunny Side of the Street, The Bridge of San Luis Rey; is born in Roanoke VA.Ref: 4
1913*Donald Phillips pianist/composer, is born.Ref: 5
1913*Saburo Takata composer, is born.Ref: 5
1914 Jerry Zipkin socialite, is born.Ref: 5
1915*Dario Mangiarotti Italy, fencing, gold, 2 silver (Olympics-1948, 52), is born.Ref: 5
1916*Betty Grable St Louis MO, great legs/actress (Gay Divorcee), is born.Ref: 5
1917*Ossie Davis Cogdell GA, actor/playwright (Hot Stuff, Man Called Adam), is born.Ref: 5
1919*Anita O’Day (Anita Belle Colton) jazz singer: Chickery Chick, Boogie Blues; films: The Gene Krupa Story, Jazz on a Summer’s Day, Zigzag, The Outfit, is born in Chicago IL.Ref: 4
1920*Rita Streich German singer, is born.Ref: 5
1920*Willis Conover broadcaster, is born.Ref: 5
1922*Larry D Mann Toronto Ontario, actor (Marty-Accidental Family), is born.Ref: 5
1923*Lotti [Charlotte] van der Gaag Dutch sculptor/painter, is born.Ref: 5
1926*Peggy Cummins North Wales, actress (Curse of the Demon), is born.Ref: 5
1927*Ramsey (William) Clark U.S. Attorney General under President Lyndon Johnson [1967-1969], is born.Ref: 4
1927*Sterling Lanier US, writer (Hiero's Journey), is born.Ref: 5
1930*Theodore C Freeman PA, astronaut, is born.Ref: 5
1930*Bill (William Joseph) ‘Moose’ Skowron baseball: NY Yankees [World Series: 1955-1958, 1960-1962/all-star: 1957-1961], LA Dodgers [World Series: 1963], Chicago White Sox [all-star: 1965], Washington Senators, California Angels, is born.Ref: 4
1931*Gene Shue basketball: Univ. of Maryland, Golden State Warriors, Baltimore Bullets, Washington BulletsRef: 4
1931*Gunnel Lindblom Goeteborg Sweden, actor (Hunger, Virgin Spring), is born.Ref: 5
1932*Roger Smith, South Gate CA, actor (77 Sunset Strip), is born. (TWA, 1988)Ref: 95
1934*Boris Valentinovich Volynov USSR, cosmonaut (Soyuz 5, 21), is born.Ref: 5
1938*[Bryan] Chas Chandler rocker (The Animals-House of the Rising Sun), is born.Ref: 5
1939*Zoilo (Casanova Rodriguez) ‘Zorro’ Versalles baseball: Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins [all-star: 1963, 1965/World Series: 1965/Baseball Writers’s MVP Award: American League: 1965], LA Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves; is born.Ref: 4
1939*Sandro Lopopolia Italy, lightweight boxer (Olympics-silver-1960), is born.Ref: 5
1939*Christoffel "Stoffel" van de Merwe South Africa minister of Education, is born.Ref: 5
1939*Henrica M L "Wiesje" Backer Dutch dancer/actress/playwright, is born.Ref: 5
1939*Michael J Moorcock England, sci-fi author (Alien Heat, Bull & Spear), is born.Ref: 5
1941*Sam Andrew rocker (Big Brother & the Holding Company-Cheap Thrills), is born.Ref: 5
1942*William HAF English prince/grandson of George V, is born.Ref: 5
1943*Keith Richards guitar: group: The Rolling Stones: Time is on My Side, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Get Off of My Cloud, Start Me Up, is born.Ref: 4
1943*Alan Rudolph actor (Endangers Species, Love at Large, Made in Heaven), is born.Ref: 5
1943*Bobby Keyes rocker, is born.Ref: 5
1945*Carolyn Wood US, 4 X 100 meter freestyle swimmer (Olympics-gold-1960), is born.Ref: 5
1945*Birenda Bir Bikram King of Nepal (1972- ), is born.Ref: 5
1946*Stephen (Steve) Biko South African anti-apartheid activist, is born.Ref: 5
1946*Greg Landry football: Univ. of Massachusetts; Detroits Lions QB/QB coach, is born.Ref: 4
1946*Hubie Green Birmingham AL, PGA golfer (US Open 1977), is born.Ref: 5
1947*Stephen Spielberg, the movie director, is born in Cincinnati, OHRef: 68
1947*Eddie Antar founder/CEO (Crazy Eddie Electronics Store), is born.Ref: 5
1948*Bryan ‘Chas’ Chandler musician: bass: group: Animals: House of the Rising Sun; manager: Jimi Hendrix, then Slade, is born.Ref: 4
1948*Len Garrett football: Green Bay PackersRef: 4
1949*Joni Flynn Assam India, actress (Octopussy), is born.Ref: 5
1950*Leonard Maltin New York NY, movie critic (Entertainment Tonight), is born.Ref: 68
1950*Gillian Armstrong Melbourne Australia, director (High Tide, Mrs Soffel), is born.Ref: 5
1950*Martha Johnson Toronto Ontario, rocker (M+M), is born.Ref: 5
1951*Andrew S W Thomas Adelaide Australia, PhD/astronaut (STS 77, STS 89/91), is born.Ref: 5
1951*Doug Dennison football: Dallas Cowboys, is born.Ref: 4
1951*Candice Rialson Santa Monica CA, actress (Chatterbox), is born.Ref: 5
1953*Elliot Easton (Shapiro) musician: guitar: group: The Cars: My Best Friend’s Girl, Just What I Needed, Let’s Go, You Might Think, Magic, Drive, Tonight She Comes, is born in Brooklyn NY.Ref: 4
1955*Ray Liotta actor: Unforgettable, Operation Dumbo Drop, Corrina, Corrina, Goodfellas, Field of Dreams, Dominck & Eugene, Something Wild, The Lonely Lady, Our Family Honor, Casablanca, is born in Neward NJ.Ref: 4
1956*Reinhold Ewald Germany, cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-25), is born.Ref: 5
1957*John Webster rocker (Red Ryder-Light in the Tunnel), is born.Ref: 5
1959*Barrie Chase actress (Mardi Gras, Cape Fear), is born.Ref: 5
1961*Ken Foreman rocker (Thrashing Doves-Reprobate's Hymn), is born.Ref: 5
1961*Brian Orser Canada, figure skater (Olympics-silver-88), is born.Ref: 5
1961*Thomas Strittmatter writer, is born.Ref: 5
1963*Charles Oakley basketball: Virginia Union College, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, is born.Ref: 4
1963*Lori McNeil San Diego CA, tennis star (1995 Oakland doubles), is born.Ref: 5
1964*Brad Pitt Shawnee OK, actor (Fight Club, Meet Joe Black, Legends of the Fall), is born.Ref: 68
1964*Steve Austin pro wrestler/actor: WCW Saturday Night, King of the Ring, Survivor Series, WWF Judgement Day, Wrestlemania, Summerslam, Beyond the Mat, Hell Yeah, Armageddon, Royal Rumble, Lita: It Just Feels Right, Joplin: The Movie, is born.Ref: 4
1964*Don Beebe NFL wide receiver (Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31), is born.Ref: 5
1965*Fawna Maclaren Santa Monica CA, playmate (January 1989), is born.Ref: 5
1965*Angeliki Kaneltopoutous Greece, tennis star, is born.Ref: 5
1965*Brian Walton Ottawa Ontario, points race cyclist (Olympics-silver-96), is born.Ref: 5
1965*Willie Blair Paintsville KY, pitcher (San Diego Padres), is born.Ref: 5
1966*Kiefer Sutherland actor (Young Guns, Stand by Me, Lost Boys), is born.Ref: 5
1966*Steve Dullaghan rocker (Primitives-Lovely, Lump of Coal), is born.Ref: 5
1966*Aaron Jones NFL defensive end (New England Patriots), is born.Ref: 5
1966*Gianluca Pagliuca Italian actress (Ugly Dirty & Bad), is born.Ref: 5
1966*Patricia Neder Wauykesha WI, team handball right wing (Olympics-92, 96), is born.Ref: 5
1966*Terry Phelps Larchmont NY, tennis star, is born.Ref: 5
1966*Tracy Byrd country singer (Keeper of the Stars), is born.Ref: 5
1967*Nikki Sinn actress: X-rated films:, is born.Ref: 4
1967*Bob Corkum Salisbury, NHL center (Philadelphia Flyers), is born.Ref: 5
1967*Charles Christopher Rymer Cleveland TN, PGA golfer (1995 Shell-3rd), is born.Ref: 5
1967*Dan McGwire NFL quarterback (Miami Dolphins), is born.Ref: 5
1967*Tracy Hayworth NFL linebacker (Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons), is born.Ref: 5
1968*Aaron Craver NFL running back (Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers), is born.Ref: 5
1968*Casper Van Dien actor: Tarzan and the Lost City, Beverly Hills, 90210, Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus, Starship Troopers, Sleepy Hollow, Titans, is born.Ref: 4
1969*Andrew Murphy Australian long jumper/triple jumper (Olympics-96), is born.Ref: 5
1969*Chris Dausin WLAF corner/guard (Scottish Claymores), is born.Ref: 5
1969*Joanne Mills Sydney Australia, golfer (T25 Holden 1994 Women's Australian Open), is born.Ref: 5
1969*Joe Randa Milwaukee WI, infielder (Kansas City Royals), is born.Ref: 5
1969*Marco Coleman NFL defensive end (Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers), is born.Ref: 5
1969*T C Wright WLAF running back (Amsterdam Admirals), is born.Ref: 5
1970*Lucious Harris NBA guard (New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks), is born.Ref: 5
1971*Tennis player Arantxa Sanchez Vicario is born.Ref: 64
1971*Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Barcelona, tennis star (Olympics-silver/bronze-92), is born.Ref: 5
1971*Frank Pimiskern CFL safety (British Columbia Lions), is born.Ref: 5
1971*Joe Dziedzic Minneapolis MN, NHL left wing (Pittsburgh Penguins), is born.Ref: 5
1971*Markus Finke WLAF running back (Rhein Fire), is born.Ref: 5
1971*Neil Little Medicine Hat, NHL goalie (Philadelphia Flyers), is born.Ref: 5
1972*Eric Unverzagt NFL/WLAF linebacker (Sea Seahawks, Scotland Claymores), is born.Ref: 5
1972*Jeff Nelson Prince Albert, NHL center (Washington Capitals), is born.Ref: 5
1972*Marcos Ondruska South Africa, tennis star, is born.Ref: 5
1973*Jason Williams Gonzales LA, baseball infielder (Olympics-bronze-96), is born.Ref: 5
1973*Keith Washington NFL defensive end (Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens), is born.Ref: 5
1974*Peter Boulware linebacker (Baltimore Ravens), is born.Ref: 5
1975*Michael Barry Toronto Ontario, cyclist (Olympics-96), is born.Ref: 5
1978*Katie Holmes actress: Dawson’s Creek, Wonder Boys, The Gift, is born.Ref: 4
1978*Naomi Lang Arcata CA, dance skater (& Peter Tchernyshev), is born.Ref: 5
1980*Christina Aguilera, Staten Island, NY, singer (Genie in a Bottle, What A Girl Wants)Ref: 5
468*Huna Mari bar Mar Zutra, rabbi, executed in Pumpedita.Ref: 5
1290*Magnus I Ladulås [Barn Bolt] king of Sweden (1277-90), dies.Ref: 5
1505*John IX van Horne prince-bishop of Lieges, executed.Ref: 5
1565*Benedetto Varchi Italian humanist/historian (L'Ercolano), dies at 62.Ref: 5
1577*Anna duchess of Saxon/wife of prince Willem of Orange, dies at 32.Ref: 5
1597*Barbara Blomberg German mistress of emperor Karel, dies at 67.Ref: 5
1633*Theodoor Galle Flemish engraver, buried at 62.Ref: 5
1638*Le Père Joseph French mystic, dies.Ref: 5
1651 Francisco the Melo Portuguese/Spanish earl of Assumar, dies at 54.Ref: 5
1710*Peter Codde apostile vicar (1688-1704), dies at 62.Ref: 5
1732*Johann Valentin Eckelt composer, dies at 59.Ref: 5
1737*Violin maker Antonio Stradivari died in Cremona, Italy at age 93.Ref: 70
1751*Kilian I von Dientzenhofer builder (Nepomukkerk, Prague), dies at 62.Ref: 5
1779*Jan Punt engraver/illustrator/actor (Gideonschool), dies at 68.Ref: 5
1799*George Washington's body interred at Mount Vernon.Ref: 5
1803*Johann G von Herder German philosopher/theologist/poet, dies at 59.Ref: 5
1829*Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, French biologist, believed in inheritance of acquired traits, dies at age 85Ref: 70
1831*Willem Bilderdijk Dutch poet/literary (My Relief), dies at 75.Ref: 5
1835*Johann Georg Anton Mederitsch-Gallus composer, dies at 82.Ref: 5
1839*Charles-Henri Plantade composer, dies at 75.Ref: 5
1841*Felice Blangini composer, dies at 60.Ref: 5
1858*Joseph-Henri-Ignace Mees composer, dies at 81.Ref: 5
1862*Johnson Kelly Duncan architect/Confederate Brigadier-General, dies at 35.Ref: 5
1865*Francisco Manuel da Silva composer, dies at 70.Ref: 5
1869*Louis Moreau Gottschalk composer, dies at 40.Ref: 5
1878*French SS Byzantin sinks after collision in Dardanellen, 210 killed.Ref: 5
1882*Henry James, American philosophical theologian, dies at age 71.Ref: 70
1892*Richard Owen English zoologist (Dinosaurus), dies at 88.Ref: 5
1897 Carlo A Alfieri Italian Member of parliament, dies at 70.Ref: 5
1899*John William Glover composer, dies at 84.Ref: 5
1911*Alberto Randegger composer, dies at 79.Ref: 5
1913*Louise Blanchard Bethune, American architect, dies at age 57.Ref: 70
1915*Èdouard Vaillant French socialist politician/communard, dies at 75.Ref: 5
1918*Henryk Jarecki composer, dies at 72.Ref: 5
1919*John Alcock pilot (1st non-stop over Atlantic), dies in a crash at age 27.Ref: 5
1919*Horatio William Parker composer, dies at 56.Ref: 5
1928*Lucien Capet composer, dies at 55.Ref: 5
1931*John T "Legs" Diamond US gangster, murdered at 35.Ref: 5
1932 Eduard "Ede" Bernstein German marxist/revisionist, dies at 82.Ref: 5
1935*Juan V Gómez general/dictator of Venezuela (1908-35), dies.Ref: 5
1939 Heywood Braun dies.Ref: 10
1939*Joyce Cary, English novelist, dies at age 51.Ref: 70
1939*Matthew Brown Journalist, dies at 51.Ref: 5
1947*Victor Emmanuel III, king of Italy, dies.Ref: 68
1948*Janet Fay hammered to death by the Honeymoon Killers.Ref: 5
1963*Winifried P I Zillig German composer/conductor (Opfer), dies at 58.Ref: 5
1966*Gene Gauntier dies in Cuernavaca México.Ref: 5
1968*Dorothy Garrod, English archaeologist, dies at age 76.Ref: 70
1971*Diana Lynn (Dolores ‘Dolly’ Loehr) actress: Bedtime for Bonzo, The Kentuckian, The Annapolis Story, My Friend Irma, Miracle of Morgan’s Creek; dies at age 45.Ref: 4
1971*Bobby (Robert Tyre) Jones World Golf and PGA Hall of Famer: first golfer to win the four major British and American tournaments in one year: the Grand Slam [1930]; PGA Hall of Famer, World Golf Hall of Famer; dies at age 69.Ref: 4
1971*Aleksandr T Tvardovski Russian editor in chief (Novyj Mir), dies at 61.Ref: 5
1973*Giulio Cesare Brero composer, dies at 64.Ref: 5
1977*Cyril Ritchard Tony Award-winning actor: Peter Pan [1955]; films: Hans Brinker, Half a Sixpence, Peter Pan, Blackmail; Kraft Television Theatre, Goodyear TV Playhouse; dies at age 80.Ref: 4
1977*Louis Untermeyer poet/critic/TV panelist (What's My Line), dies at 92.Ref: 5
1980*Aleksey Nikolayevich Kosygin, Premier of the Soviet Union (1964-1980), dies at age 76.Ref: 70
1981*Mehmet Shehu PM Albania (1954-81)/"US-Russian spy", commits suicide.Ref: 5
1982*TV game show producer Mark Goodson dies.Ref: 68
1982*Tibor de Machula Hungary/Netherlands cellist, dies at 70.Ref: 5
1986*Mamo Clark actor (1 Million BC, Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island), dies.Ref: 5
1990*Anne Revere Tony Award-winning actress: Toys in the Attic [1960]; Academy Award winner [1944]: National Velvet; A Place in the Sun, Gentlemen’s Agreement, Forever Amber, The Song of Bernadette, The Howards of Virginia; dies of pneumonia at age 87.Ref: 4
1990*Paul Tortelier composer, dies at 76.Ref: 5
1991*June Storey actress (South of the Border), dies of cancer at 73.Ref: 5
1992*Dana Andrews actor (Best Years of Our Lifes), dies at 83.Ref: 5
1992*Richard H Ichord US leader of House Un-American Activities Committee, dies.Ref: 5
1992*Mother Clare Hale cared for NYC AIDS babies (Hale House), dies at 87.Ref: 5
1992*Mark Goodson TV game show producer (Goodson-Toddman), dies at 77.Ref: 5
1993*Sam Wanamaker actor: Superman 4, Private Benjamin, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Taras Bulba; director: The Executioner, Killing of Randy Webster, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, dies of prostate cancer at 74.Ref: 4
1994*Heinz Bernard Lowenstein actor/director, dies at 71.Ref: 5
1994*Lilia Skala Austrian/US actress (Ship of Fools, Caprice), dies at 98.Ref: 5
1994*Peter Hebblethwaite English editor-in-chief (The Month), dies at 64.Ref: 5
1995*-Konrad Zuse, German inventor of the Z3 computer (the first binary computer), dies in Hunfield Germany. 
1995*Chaim Pearl rabbi, dies at 76.Ref: 5
1995*Georgio Fini restaurateur, dies at 70.Ref: 5
1995*Ross Thomas author, dies at 69.Ref: 5
1996*Arthur Jacobs musicologist, dies at 74.Ref: 5
1997*Comedian Chris Farley is found dead in his Chicago apartment; he was 33.Ref: 70
1998*William Gaddis novelist: The Recognitions, JR, Carpenter’s Gothic, A Frolic of His Own; dies.Ref: 4
1998*South Carolina carries out the 500th execution since capital punishment resumed in 1977. (XDG, p 4A, 12/18/2003)Ref: 83

Last Update: October 27th, 2005
© 2000-2005   Kenneth Fussichen