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What happened in history on this day: March 2?
On March 2 in ...
- 537 - Goths with an army ten times the size of Roman general Belisarius lay siege to Rome.
- 871 - Battle at Marton: Ethelred of Wessex beats Danish invasion army.
- 986 - Lotharius King of France (954-86), dies at age 44.
- 1121 - Dirk VI becomes count of Holland.
- 1122 - Floris II the fat one, count of Holland, dies.
- 1127 - Charles the Good, Count of Vlanderen, murdered.
- 1316 - Birth of Robert II the Steward, King of Scotland (1371-90).
- 1333 - Wladyslaw IV the Short One/Great, duke/king of Poland, dies.
- 1409 - Birth of John II French duke of Alençon/co-fighter of Jeanne d'arc.
- 1458 - Hussite George van Podiebrad chosen king of Bohemia.
- 1459 - Birth of Adrian VI [Adriaan F Boeyens], Netherlands, Pope (1522-23).
- 1481 - Birth of Franz von Sickingen in Ebernburg; German defender of the Protestant cause.
- 1498 - Vasco da Gama's fleet visits Mozambique Island.
- 1609 - Birth of Hadji Chalfa/Kâtib Tsjelebi Turkish literary (Djihannüma).
- 1619 - Anne of Denmark daughter of Danish king Frederik II, dies at age 44.
- 1629 - English King Charles I leaces house of commons.
- 1675 - Prince William III installed as Governor of Overijssel.
- 1725 - Georg F Händels opera "Giulio Cesare in Egitto" premieres in London.
- 1758 - Johann Baptist Zimmermann German stucco worker, buried at age 78.
- 1760 - Birth of Camille Desmoulins France, journalist/pamphleteer/revolution leader.
- 1769 - Birth of DeWitt Clinton (Governor/Senator-New York).
- 1772 - Robert J Pothier French lawyer, dies at age 73.
- 1776 - Americans begin shelling British troops in Boston.
- 1793 - Birth of Samuel Houston; first president of Texas (1836-38, 1841-44).
- 1807 - US Congress bans slave trade effective January 1, 1808.
- 1810 - Birth of Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci; Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903).
- 1817 - First Evangelical church building dedicated, New Berlin, Pennsylvania.
- 1817 - Birth of János Arany in Hungary; epic poet (Toldi, Death of King Buda).
- 1819 - Territory of Arkansas is organized.
- 1819 - US passed its first immigration law.
- 1824 - Birth of Bedrich Friedrich Smetana; Bohemian composer (Bartered Bride, Moldau).
- 1824 - Birth of Henry Beebee Carrington; US Brigadier General (Union volunteers) (dies 1912).
- 1824 - US Interstate commerce comes under federal control.
- 1828 - Birth of Jefferson Columbus Davis; US Brevet Major General (US Army) (dies 1879).
- 1829 - Birth of Carl Schurz; Major General (US volunteers) journalist/political reformer/Civil War general.
- 1829 - New England Asylum for the Blind, first in US, is incorporated in Boston, Massachusetts.
- 1829 - Birth of William B. Allison; US Senator for Ohio, co-author of Bland-Allison silver dollar act.
- 1836 - Republic of Texas declares independence from Mexico.
- 1840 - Heinrich Olbers, German astronomer (discoverer of comets and asteroids), dies at age 81.
- 1853 - Territory of Washington organized after separating from Oregon Territory.
- 1855 - Nicholas I Pavlovitch, tsar of Russia (1825-55), dies at age 58.
- 1855 - Aleksandr Romanov becomes tsar of Russia.
- 1861 - US Congress creates Dakota and Nevada Territories out of the Nebraska and Utah territories.
- 1861 - US Government Printing Office purchases first printing plant, Washington DC.
- 1862 - Birth of John Jay Chapman; US advocate/poet/writer (Learning and Other Essays).
- 1862 - Frederick West Lander, US Brigadier-General/poet, dies at age 40.
- 1863 - US Congress authorizes track width of 4 feet 8.5 inches for Union Pacific railroad.
- 1865 - Freedman's Bureau founded for Black Education.
- 1865 - General Early's army is defeated at Waynesborough.
- 1867 - US Congress abolishes peonage in New Mexico.
- 1867 - Jesse James gang robs bank in Savannah, Missouri, one dead.
- 1867 - US Congress creates the Department of Education.
- 1867 - US Congress passes the first Reconstruction Act.
- 1868 - University of Illinois opens.
- 1871 - White Star Line's Oceanic ship makes its maiden voyage.
- 1874 - Baseball batter's box is officially adopted.
- 1875 - Birth of Hans Lietzman; German theologist/church historian.
- 1876 - Birth of Euhenio MGG Pacelli AKA Pope Pius XII; 260th Pope (1939-58).
- 1877 - US Electoral College declares Rutherford B Hayes (Republican) US President despite Samuel J Tilden (Democrat) winning the popular vote (one electoral vote shy of victory).
- 1882 - Birth of Wallis Clark in Essex, England; actress (Postal Inspector).
- 1887 - American Trotting Association organized in Detroit, Michigan.
- 1890 - Oscar Fredriksen skates world record 5 km (9:19).
- 1895 - Birth of Felix Bressart Eydtkuhnen in East Prussia, Germany; actor (Ninotchka, Escape, Crossroads).
- 1895 - Ismail Pasha, kedive of Egypt (1863-79), dies at age 64.
- 1898 - Australia complete a 4-1 cricket series annihilation of England.
- 1899 - President William McKinley signs bill creating Mount Rainier National Park (5th in US).
- 1900 - Birth of Kurt J Weill in Dessau, Germany; composer/Brecht collaborator (Mahogany).
- 1902 - Birth of Edward Uhler Condon; atomic scientist (Manhattan Project).
- 1904 - "Official Playing Rules of Professional Base Ball Clubs" is adopted.
- 1904 - Birth of Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA; author and illustrator of children's books (The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Horton Hears a Who).
- 1905 - Birth of Marc Blitzstein in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; composer (Cradle Will Rock).
- 1907 - General Louis Botha is named premier of Transvaal.
- 1908 - Birth of Jan Brasser; Dutch resistance fighter (Witte Ko)/communist.
- 1909 - Birth of Mel Ott; first National League player to hit 500 homeruns, hall of famer (New York Giants).
- 1909 - Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy ask Serbia to set no territorial demands.
- 1911 - Birth of William Hansen in Washington, DC, USA; actor (Homebodies).
- 1912 - Birth of Arthur Beaumont C Langton; cricket player (South African pace bowler of 1930s).
- 1913 - Birth of Godfried [Jan Arnold] Bomans; Dutch humorist/writer (Pieter Bas).
- 1913 - Birth of Marjorie Weaver in Crossville, Tennessee, USA; actress (Young Mr Lincoln).
- 1913 - Birth of Mort Cooper; baseball player (National League Most Valuable Player 1942).
- 1915 - Birth of Lona Andre; actress (Case of Baby Sitter).
- 1915 - British Vice Admiral Carden begins bombing of Dardanelles forts.
- 1915 - Vladmir Jabotinsky forms a Jewish military force to fight in Palestine.
- 1916 - Elisabeth OL [Carmen Sylva], Queen of Romania, dies at age 72.
- 1917 - Birth of Desi Arnaz in Santiago, Cuba; singer/actor (Ricky Ricardo - I Love Lucy).
- 1917 - Birth of Jim Konstanty; baseball player (National League Most Valuable Player 1950).
- 1917 - Jones Act: Puerto Rico territory created, US citizenship granted.
- 1918 - New York Yankees purchase 1st baseman George Burns from Detroit Tigers and immediately trades him to Philadelphia Athletics.
- 1919 - First congress of Communist International opens at the Kremlin, Russia.
- 1919 - Birth of Phyllis Lee Isley AKA Jennifer Jones in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; actress (Farewell to Arms).
- 1923 - Birth of Don Taylor; cricket player (New Zealand 3 Tests, Auckland stands with Sutcliffe in Wisden).
- 1923 - Birth of Robert H Michel; American politician (Representative-Republican-Illinois, 1957-).
- 1924 - Birth of Rénos Apostolidis; Greek author/poet (Katigoró).
- 1925 - Japan's House of Representatives recognizes male suffrage.
- 1925 - Nationwide road numbering system and US shield marker are adopted.
- 1925 - SDAP-Second-Faction (Dutch Socialists) of parliament demands drastic disarmament.
- 1926 - Birth of Murray Newton Rothbard; economist/Libertarian Party founder.
- 1927 - Babe Ruth becomes highest paid baseball player ($70,000 per year).
- 1929 - Birth of Donald Gosling; English parkeerplaatsenmagnaat/multi-millionaire.
- 1929 - Chicago Black Hawks are shut-out for NHL record 8th straight game.
- 1929 - US Congress creates Court of Customs and Patent Appeals.
- 1930 - First US indoor glider flight, Saint Louis Terminal Building.
- 1930 - Birth of Jan van Noor; Dutch second Chamber member (CDA).
- 1930 - Birth of John Cullum in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; actor (Hamlet, Hawaii, Northern Exposure).
- 1930 - David H Lawrence, poet/writer (Lady Chatterley's Lover), dies at age 44.
- 1931 - Birth of Mikhail S Gorbachev in Privolnoye, USSR; Soviet Secretary-General (1985-91), recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
- 1931 - Birth of Tom Wolfe in Richmond, Virginia, USA; journalist/author (Right Stuff).
- 1933 - Most powerful earthquake in 180 years hits Japan.
- 1934 - Birth of Bernard Rands in Sheffield, England; composer (Wildtrack).
- 1934 - Union Pacific tests light-weight high-speed passenger train in Omaha, Nebraska.
- 1935 - Birth of Al Waxman in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; actor (CBC Radio, King of Kensington TV show, Cagney and Lacey, Meatballs 3, Spasms).
- 1936 - Birth of Henny Boskamp [Hoelscher]; actor (Troeleke).
- 1936 - Donald Bradman scores 369 in 253 minutes, South Africa versus Tasmania, 46 fours 4 sixes.
- 1936 - Adolf Hitler issues final orders for troops to re-occupy their former garrison posts in Rhineland towns. If French forces take action, the troops are instructed to withdraw.
- 1937 - Mexico nationalizes oil.
- 1938 - Birth of Alan Lewis; English textile factory/multi-millionaire.
- 1938 - Birth of Donald Schwall; baseball player (1961 American League rookie of year).
- 1938 - Birth of Simon Estes in Centerville, Iowa, USA; bass/baritone (Wonton, Don Carlos).
- 1938 - Landslides and floods in Los Angeles, California, USA cause over 200 deaths.
- 1938 - Trials of Soviet leaders begins in the Soviet Union.
- 1939 - Birth of Barbara Luna in New York City, New York, USA; actress (Five Weeks in a Balloon, Gentle Savage).
- 1939 - Birth of Gerard van Tongeren; Dutch singer (Buffoons).
- 1939 - Eugenio Pacelli chosen as Pope Pius XII.
- 1939 - Howard Carter, British archaeologist/Egyptologist (King Tut), dies at age 65.
- 1939 - Massachusetts Legislature votes to ratify the Bill of Rights; 147 years late.
- 1940 - First intercollegiate track meet telecast, Madison Square Garden, New York City.
- 1940 - Birth of Frederik van Zyl Slabbert; chairman (South African Progressive Federal Party, 1979-86).
- 1940 - Soviet armies conquer Tuppura Island, Finland.
- 1942 - Birth of John Irving in Exeter, New Hampshire, USA; writer (The World According to Garp).
- 1942 - Birth of Lou Reed [Louis Firbank] in Freeport, New York, USA; vocalist/guitarist ("Walk on the Wild Side", Velvet Underground).
- 1942 - Birth of Tony Meehan [Daniel Meehan] in London, England; rocker (The Drifters, The Vipers).
- 1943 - First transport from Westerbork Netherlands to Sobibor concentration camp.
- 1943 - Alexandre Yersin, Swiss bacteriologist (bacteria plague), dies at age 79.
- 1943 - Birth of George Benson; jazz/blues guitarist ("Breezin'", "This Masquerade").
- 1943 - Birth of Rosa DeLauro; American politician (Representative-Democrat-Connecticut).
- 1943 - Sea battle in Bismarck Sea finishes, US and Australia win over Japan.
- 1944 - The 16th Academy Awards celebration is held in Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, hosted by comedian/actor Jack Benny. Some winners:
- Outstanding Motion Picture: Casablanca;
- Best Actor: Paul Lukas for Watch on the Rhine;
- Best Actress: Jennifer Jones for The Song of Bernadette.
- 1944 - Birth of Katherine Crawford; actress (Captains and Kings, Gemini Man).
- 1944 - Fumes from locomotive stalled in a tunnel suffocates 521 in Italy.
- 1945 - US 8th Air Force bombs Dresden.
- 1945 - Birth of Gordon Thomson in Ottawa, Canada; actor (Adam Carrington - Dynasty, The Colbys, Santa Barbara).
- 1945 - Birth of Joy Garrett; actress (Jo - Days of Our Lives).
- 1945 - King Michael of Romania gives in to Communist government.
- 1946 - Birth of Brian J Donnelly; American politician (Representative-Democrat-Massachusetts, 1979-).
- 1946 - Dutch troops land on East Bali.
- 1946 - Ho Chi Minh elected President of North Vietnam.
- 1946 - Kingman Douglass becomes deputy director of US Central Intelligence Agency.
- 1948 - Birth of Larry Carlton; rock composer ("Against All Odds", "Who's The Boss?").
- 1949 - First automatic street light (New Milford, Connecticut, USA).
- 1949 - Birth of Gates McFadden; actress (Beverly Crusher - Star Trek: The Next Generation).
- 1949 - Birth of Rory Gallagher in Ballyshannon, Ireland; rock guitarist (See Here).
- 1949 - Lucky Lady II (US Air Force B-50 Superfortress) completes first nonstop round-the-world flight at Fort Worth Texas, covering 23,452-miles in 94 hours.
- 1950 - Birth of Karen Carpenter in New Haven, Connecticut, USA; singer/drummer (The Carpenters - Close to You, We've Only Just Begun, Top of the World, Please Mr. Postman).
- 1950 - Birth of Matthew Laurance in Queens, New York, USA; actor/identical twin of Mitchell (Mel - Beverly Hills 90210, Ben - Duet).
- 1950 - Birth of Mitchell Laurance in Queens, New York, USA; actor/identical twin of Matthew (L.A. Law, Not Necessarily the News).
- 1950 - M Joseph V d'Arbaud, French poet/author (Li cant palustre), dies at age 76.
- 1951 - First NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 111-94 at Boston.
- 1951 - Birth of Cassie Yates in Macon, Georgia, USA; actress (Osterman Weekend, Dynasty, Simon and Simon, Barnaby Jones).
- 1952 - Birth of Laraine Newman in Los Angeles, California, USA; comedienne/actress (Saturday Night Live, As Told By Ginger, Seventh Heaven).
- 1952 - Marlene Hagge wins LPGA Sarasota Golf Open.
- 1953 - Birth of William Simmons; sax/keyboardist (Midnight Star - "No Parking").
- 1954 - Birth of Stone Phumelele Sizani; South African treasurer (UDF).
- 1955 - Birth of Dale Bosworth; TV host (America's Most Wanted).
- 1955 - Birth of Dale Bozzio in Boston, Massachusetts, USA; rock vocalist (Missing Persons - "Destination Unknown").
- 1955 - Birth of Jay Osmond in Ogden, Utah, USA; singer (Osmond Brothers, Donny and Marie).
- 1955 - Birth of Shoko Asahara [Chizuo Matsumoto]; Japanese sect leader.
- 1955 - Birth of Steve Small; cricket player (stalwart New South Wales opening batsman).
- 1955 - King Norodom Sihanukh of Cambodia succeeded by his father.
- 1956 - Birth of John Cowsill in Newport, Rhode Island, USA; rock drummer (The Cowsills - "We Can Fly").
- 1956 - Birth of Mark Evans in Melbourne, Australia; rock bassist (AC/DC - "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", Warrior Soul - "Last Decade of The Century").
- 1956 - Morocco tears up the Treaty of Féz, declares independence from France.
- 1957 - Harry E Soref, inventor (padlock), dies at age 70.
- 1958 - First surface crossing of Antarctic continent is completed in 99 days.
- 1958 - Marilynn Smith wins LPGA Jacksonville Golf Open.
- 1958 - Yemen announces it will join the United Arab Republic.
- 1959 - Birth of Andrew Farriss in Australia; rock keyboardist (Inxs - "Kiss the Dirt").
- 1959 - Birth of Larry Stewart in Paducah, Kentucky, USA; country singer (Restless Heart - "Wheels").
- 1959 - Eric Blore, actor (Abie's Irish Rose, Love Happy), dies at age 70.
- 1962 - Birth of Al Del Greco; NFL kicker (Houston/Tennessee Oilers).
- 1962 - Birth of Jon Bon Jovi [Bongiovi] in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA; rocker (Bon Jovi - "You Give Love a Bad Name").
- 1962 - Birth of Philip Jonas in Johannesburg, South Africa; Canadian Tour golfer (1993 Payless-second).
- 1962 - Birth of Terry Steinbach in New Ulm, Minnesota, USA; catcher (Oakland Athletics).
- 1962 - Charles-Jean baron de la Vallée-Poussin, Belgian engineer, dies at age 96.
- 1962 - US President John Kennedy announces US will resume above ground nuclear testing.
- 1962 - Wilt Chamberlain scores incredible 100 points in an NBA game.
- 1963 - Birth of Suzette Charles in Mays Landing, New Jersey, USA; replaced Vanessa Williams as Miss America (1984).
- 1965 - Birth of Ron Gant in Victoria, Texas, USA; outfielder (Saint Louis Cardinals).
- 1966 - Birth of Judith Wiesner in Hallein, Austria; tennis star (1994 Schenectady).
- 1966 - Birth of Stevie Rachelle; rock vocalist (Tuff - "What Comes Around Goes Around").
- 1967 - Birth of Allan Boyko; Canadian Football League slot back/twin of Bruce (Winnipeg Blue Bombers).
- 1967 - Birth of Bruce Boyko; Canadian Football League fullback/twin of Allan (Winnipeg Blue Bombers).
- 1967 - Birth of Leo Gomez in Canovanas, Puerto Rica; infielder (Chicago Cubs).
- 1967 - The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presents the 9th Annual Grammy Awards. Some winners:
- Record of the Year: Frank Sinatra for "Strangers In The Night";
- Best Vocal Performance, Female: Eydie Gorme for "If He Walked Into My Life";
- Best Vocal Performance, Male: Frank Sinatra for "Strangers In The Night";
- Best Contemporary (Rock and Roll) Recording: New Vaudeville Band for "Winchester Cathedral";
- Best Contemporary (Rock and Roll) Solo Vocal Performance - Male or Female: Paul McCartney for "Eleanor Rigby";
- Best Contemporary (Rock and Roll) Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental: The Mamas And The Papas for "Monday, Monday";
- Best Rhythm and Blues Recording: Ray Charles for "Crying Time";
- Best Country and Western Recording: David Houston for "Almost Persuaded";
- Bing Crosby Award: Ella Fitzgerald.
- 1967 - Gordon Harker, actor (Inspector Hornleigh), dies at age 81.
- 1967 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.
- 1968 - Birth of Penny "Stamper" Davis in Carlisle, England; Canadian 470 yachter (Olympics-1996).
- 1968 - US Air Force displays Lockheed C-5A Galaxy, biggest plane in the world.
- 1968 - USSR launches space probe Zond 4; it fails to leave Earth orbit.
- 1968 - World Ice Dance Championship in Geneva, Switzerland won by Diane Towler and Bernard Ford (Great Britain).
- 1968 - World Ice Pairs Figure Skating Championship in Geneva, Switzerland won by Lyudmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov (USSR).
- 1968 - World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Geneva, Switzerland won by Peggy Fleming (USA).
- 1968 - World Men's Figure Skating Championship in Geneva, Switzerland won by Emmerich Danzer (Austria).
- 1969 - First test flight of the supersonic Concorde.
- 1969 - Chinese and Russians clash on Zhenbao Island on their border at the far east of PRoChina.
- 1969 - Phil Esposito becomes first NHL Player to score 100 points in a season.
- 1969 - Birth of Daniel Craig; actor (Casino Royale).
- 1970 - American Airlines' first flight of a Boeing 747.
- 1970 - Birth of Kevin Miniefield; NFL defensive back (Chicago Bears).
- 1970 - US Supreme Court rules draft evaders can not be penalized after five years.
- 1971 - Birth of Amber Smith in Tampa, Florida, USA; actress (Faithful, Funeral, Mirror Has two Faces).
- 1971 - Birth of James Hammerstrand in LaMesa, California, USA; volleyball middle blocker (Olympics-1996).
- 1971 - Birth of Ray Hall; NFL defensive tackle (Jacksonville Jaguars).
- 1971 - Birth of Ruffin Hamilton; NFL linebacker (Atlanta Falcons).
- 1971 - Charles W Engelhard; US silver multi-millionaire, dies at age 54.
- 1972 - Death of Bill Lawrence at age 56; news anchor (ABC), covered the White House through six US Presidents.
- 1972 - Jean-Bédel Bokassa appoints himself President for life of Central African Republic.
- 1972 - Pioneer 10 launched for Jupiter flyby.
- 1973 - "Black September" terrorists occupy Saudi Embassy in Khartoum.
- 1973 - Birth of John Elmore; guard (Baltimore Ravens).
- 1973 - Birth of Paul Popowich; actor (Tommy Tricker and Stamp Traveler).
- 1973 - Cleo Noel, US ambassador to Sudan, is assassinated.
- 1974 - CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 16th Annual Grammy Awards. Some winners:
- Record of the Year: Roberta Flack for "Killing Me Softly With His Song";
- Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: Roberta Flack for "Killing Me Softly With His Song";
- Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: Stevie Wonder for "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life";
- Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus: Gladys Knight and The Pips for "Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)";
- Best Pop Instrumental Performance: Eumir Deodato for "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)";
- Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Female: Aretha Franklin for "Master Of Eyes";
- Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Male: Stevie Wonder for "Superstition";
- Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus: Gladys Knight and The Pips for "Midnight Train To Georgia";
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Female: Olivia Newton-John for "Let Me Be There";
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Male: Charlie Rich for "Behind Closed Doors";
- Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group: Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge for "From The Bottle To The Bottom";
- Best Country Instrumental Performance: Steve Mandell and Eric Weissberg for "Dueling Banjos".
- 1974 - Birth of Martine Dessureault in Montréal, Québec, Canada; 50-metre swimmer (Olympics-1996).
- 1974 - Grand jury concludes US President Richard Nixon is involved in Watergate cover-up.
- 1974 - Greg Chappell makes 247 versus New Zealand, 410 minutes, 29 fours 1 six.
- 1975 - Birth of Arleen McDonald; Miss Mississippi-USA (1997).
- 1976 - Birth of Lars Bruggemann; hockey defenseman (Team Germany 1998).
- 1976 - Walt Disney World welcomes its 50 millionth guest.
- 1976 - Birth of Casey; rock musician (Jimmie's Chicken Shack).
- 1977 - Bette Davis receives acting Life Achievement Award.
- 1977 - Future The Tonight Show host Jay Leno debuts with host Johnny Carson.
- 1977 - Libya amends constitution.
- 1977 - Birth of Chris Martin; singer (Coldplay).
- 1978 - Soyuz 28 (Aleksei Gubarev, Vladimir Remek) is launched on a rendezvous with Salyut 6, with the first cosmonaut from a third country (besides the Soviet Union and United States) - Czechoslovak citizen Vladimír Remek.
- 1978 - TV show Dallas premieres on CBS (as a five week mini-series).
- 1979 - Edith Craig, actress (Harmony Lane, Smashing Rackets), dies at age 71.
- 1979 - Sir Richard Sykes, British ambassador, is assassinated in Holland.
- 1980 - Jan Stephenson wins LPGA Sun City Golf Classic.
- 1980 - Mike Bratz (Phoenix Suns) ends NBA free throw streak of 57 games.
- 1980 - Birth of Vince Walker; singer (Suburban Legends).
- 1981 - Janear Hines, actress (Roberta - Julia), dies at age 30.
- 1981 - Aircraft hijacked by three Pakistani terrorists.
- 1982 - Birth of Mike Nugent; American football player (New York Jets).
- 1982 - 60th hat trick in New York Islanders' history-Bryan Trottier.
- 1982 - Philip K[indred] Dick, American author (Hugo-1963, Dr Futurity), dies at age 53 (born 1928).
- 1982 - Terror group "The Illuminated Path" frees 260 prisoners in Peru.
- 1982 - Birth of Ben Roethlisberger; American football player (Pittsburgh Steelers).
- 1983 - USSR performs underground nuclear test.
- 1983 - Sony and Philips introduce their jointly-developed compact disc system.
- 1984 - Louis Basile, actor (Louie - The Super), dies at age 48.
- 1984 - Iranian offensive against Iraq fails.
- 1985 - John B Kelly Junior, chairman US Olympics Committee, dies at age 57.
- 1985 - US approves screening test for AIDS.
- 1985 - Birth of Robert Iler; actor (The Sopranos).
- 1986 - First million-dollar purse for a handicap race won at Santa Anita.
- 1986 - Mary Beth Zimmerman wins Uniden LPGA Golf Invitational.
- 1986 - Protesters try to stop Land Rover motor company being sold to US.
- 1986 - Zafer Masri, mayor of Nablus, murdered.
- 1987 - Randolph Scott, American actor (Fort Worth, Gung Ho, Jesse James), dies at age 89 (born 1898).
- 1987 - Apple Computer introduces the expandable Macintosh SE, and open architecture Macintosh II with color graphics.
- 1987 - American Motors Corporation is acquired by the Chrysler Corporation.
- 1988 - Dutch Liberal Party merges with SDP.
- 1988 - CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 30th Annual Grammy Awards. Some winners:
- Record of the Year: Paul Simon for "Graceland";
- Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: Whitney Houston for "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)";
- Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: Sting for "Bring On The Night";
- Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley for "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life";
- Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo: Bruce Springsteen for "Tunnel Of Love";
- Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: U2 for "The Joshua Tree".
- 1989 - Twelve European Community nations agree to ban the production of all chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by 2000.
- 1989 - Exxon Houston runs aground in Hawaii, spills 117,000 gallons of oil.
- 1989 - Madonna's "Like a Prayer" premieres on worldwide Pepsi commercial.
- 1989 - NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers win 22nd straight home game.
- 1989 - New York Mets' Darryl Strawberry swings at teammate Keith Hernandez.
- 1990 - Greyhound Bus workers go on strike.
- 1990 - Mark Tewsksbury swims world record 50 metre backstroke (25.06 seconds).
- 1991 - Clark Mollenhoff, US journalist (Pulitzer Prize), dies.
- 1991 - Deb Richard wins LPGA Women's Kemper Golf Open.
- 1991 - Del Ballard Junior, throws most famous gutter ball in PBA Tour history.
- 1991 - Freek Zoetmulder, publisher (Austrian Encyclopedia)/neo-Nazi, dies.
- 1991 - James "Cool Papa" Bell, Negro baseball league great, dies at age 87.
- 1991 - North Carolina State Chris Corchiani becomes first NCAA player to get 1,000 assists.
- 1991 - Death of Serge Gainsbourg at age 62; French singer, composer, actor (Fury of Hercules) (born 1928).
- 1991 - United Nations votes in favor of US resolutions for cease fire with Iraq.
- 1992 - Anita Hall swims female world record 200 metre freestyle (2:05.35).
- 1992 - Death of Sandy Dennis of ovarian cancer at age 54 in Connecticut, USA; actress (Guiding Light, Up the Down Staircase).
- 1992 - The highest-paid player in baseball is now Ryne Sandberg, after signing a four-year contract extension worth US$7.1 million per season.
- 1992 - An oil well at Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan spills an estimated 333 million litres of oil.
- 1992 - Turkmenistan becomes a member of the United Nations.
- 1993 - Floortje Peneder, Dutch poet (Diary), dies at age 15.
- 1993 - Paul D Zimmerman, US screenwriter (King of Comedy), dies at age 54.
- 1994 - Branch Davidian cult leader David Koresh promises to surrender if taped statement is broadcast; it is, but he doesn't.
- 1994 - CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 36th Annual Grammy Awards. Some winners:
- Record of the Year: Whitney Houston for "I Will Always Love You";
- Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: Sting for "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You";
- Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle for "A Whole New World";
- Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo: Meat Loaf for "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)";
- Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Aerosmith for "Livin' On The Edge";
- Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal: Stone Temple Pilots for "Plush";
- Best Metal Performance with Vocal: Ozzy Osbourne for "I Don't Want To Change The World".
- 1994 - Miami, Florida, begins a Latin Walk of Fame; first star for Gloria Estefan.
- 1994 - William Natcher (Representative-Democrat-Kentucky) casts his 18,401st and last consecutive vote.
- 1995 - British stock trader Nick Leeson is arrested for collapse of Barings Bank PLC.
- 1995 - Ferry boat sinks off Sumbe Angola, 42+ killed.
- 1995 - Space shuttle STS-67 (Endeavour 8), launches.
- 1996 - Jacobo Majluta, President of Dominican Republic (1982), dies at age 61.
- 1996 - Tendulkar scores 137 for India versus SL in Cricket World Cup, but still lose.
- 1996 - John Howard is elected Prime Minister of Australia in a landslide, over the Labor Party's Paul Keating.
- 1996 - Ranabima Royal College, Sri Lanka, is established.
- 1996 - All five members of one of Brazil's top rock bands, Mamonas Assassinas, die in a plane crash returning to Sao Paulo from a concert in Brasilia.
- 1997 - Gail Graham wins LPGA Alpine Australian Ladies Masters.
- 1997 - Nick Faldo wins Nissan Golf Open.
- 1997 - Saudi Arab billionaire Prince al-Waleed bin Talal aquires 5 percent of Apple computer company.
- 1997 - Soyuz TM-24 returns to Earth (Russia).
- 1998 - Data sent from the Galileo probe indicates that Jupiter's moon Europa has a liquid ocean under a thick crust of ice.
- 1999 - Death of Jack Webster at age 84; BC, Canada's most famous radio and TV talk-show host, longtime panellist on CBC TV's Front Page Challenge).
- 1999 - Death of Dusty Springfield of breat cancer at age 59 in England; British singer ("Son of a Preacher Man", "Wishin' and Hopin'", "I Only Want to Be With You", "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", "What Have I Done To Deserve This?", Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame (1999)).
- 2000 - Hans Blix assumes the position of Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC.
- 2003 - Death of Hank Ballard from throat cancer; American singer, songwriter ("The Twist").
- 2004 - NASA announces that the Mars rover MER-B (Opportunity) has confirmed that its landing area was once drenched in water.
- 2004 - Death of Mercedes McCambridge at age 85; American actress (Abie's Irish Rose radio show, I Love a Mystery radio show, Big Sister radio show, Betty & Bob radio show, This is Nora Drake radio show, One Man's Family TV show, The Exorcist movie, CBS Mystery Theatre radio show).
- 2005 - President George W. Bush awards the nation's highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, posthumously to Jackie Robinson's widow. Robinson died in 1972.
- 2005 - Death of Martin Denny at age 93 in Hawaii, USA; composer/pianist ("Quiet Village", "The Enchanted Sea", "A Taste of Honey", "Ebb Tide").
- 2007 - Mike Young signs an $80 million, five-year contract extension offered by American baseball's Texas Rangers.
- 2007 - Five Bluffton University baseball players and the driver and his wife are killed in a chartered bus accident in Atlanta. The players, Zach Arend, David Betts, Scott Harmon, Cody Holp, and Tyler Williams, were en route to to Sarasota, Florida.
- 2008 - Venezuela and Ecuador move troops to the Colombian border, following a Colombian raid against FARC guerrillas inside Ecuador's national territory.
- 2008 - Intel announces the name for its new low-power microprocessor family: "Atom".
- 2008 - The Isle of Man releases a triangular coin containing sand from the tomb of Egyptian pharoah Tutankhamun.
- 2008 - Dmitry Medvedev is elected President of Russia with 72 percent of total votes, to succeed Vladimir Putin in May.
- 2009 - The Standard & Poor's 500 stock market index drops below 700 for the first time since October 1996.
- 2009 - American International Group reports a US company record US$61.7 billion quarterly loss, equivalent to US$27.9 million per hour. The US government promises another US$30 billion of new capital, following 2008's commitment for $150 billion in aid.
- 2009 - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes below 7,000 for the first time since May 1997, dropping 299.64 points, or 4.24 percent, to 6,763.29.
- 2009 - The President of Guinea-Bissau, João Bernardo Vieira, is assassinated during an armed attack on his residence in Bissau.
- 2010 - Wade McGilberry of Alabama pitches a perfect game in video game MLB 2K10, winning $1 million in a contest sponsored by the gamemaker's company, 2K Sports.
- 2012 - Death of Norman Saint John-Stevas at age 82; academic, journalist, Conservative politician, Lord Saint John of Fawsley, Leader of the House of Commons in England.
- 2012 - Death of James Q. Wilson at age 80; Harvard professor of government for 26 years, author of Bureaucracy in 1989.
- 2016 - Birth of Prince Oscar, Duke of Skåne.
- 2016 - Death of Berta Cáceres by hired hitmen in Honduras; Indigenous environmentalist (winner of Goldman prize for environmental defenders).
- 2020 - Death of James Lipton at age 93 of bladder cancer in New York; American lyricist, host (Inside the Actors Studio TV show (1994-2019)), actor (Arrested Development TV show).
- 2020 - General elections in Guyana, won by President David Granger of the Partnership for National Unity party.
- 2022 - An expedition aboard SA Algulhas II locates Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance, which sunk in the Weddell Sea in 1914.
- 2022 - Death of Johnny Brown at age 84 in Los Angeles, California, USA; actor (Nathan Bookman - Good Times TV show).
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