This Day In History

April 10

Events

• 837 – Halley’s Comet and Earth experienced their closest approach to one another. The separating distance equalled 0.0342 AU (Astronomical Unit) equivalent to 3.2 million miles.
• 1815 - The Mount Tambora volcano begins a three-month-long eruption, lasting until July 15. The explosion could be heard in Sumatra, more than 2,000 KM away. The eruption ultimately kills 71,000 people and affects Earth’s climate for the next two years, creating a volcanic winter, and 1816 became known as the ‘The Year without Summer’.
• 1912 - The Titanic leaves port in Southampton, England for her first and only voyage. She was built in Ireland by Harland and Wolff and was part of the White Star Line. He passengers were some of the wealthiest people in the world and held over 1000 immigrants.

Birthdays

• 1837 - Joseph Pulitzer was born in the Kingdom of Hungary. He became a newspaper publisher, he published the St. Louis Dispatch and the New York World, he is also famed for the posthumously establishing the Pulitzer Prize.
• 1932 - Omar Sharif was born as Michael Demitri Shalhoub in Egypt. He became an actor and has starred in many films including Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago.
• 1979 - Sophie Ellis Bexter was born in London. She became a singer and song writer and her music is a mix of mainstream pop and electro 80’s. Her albums have reached number 2 in the UK charts.

March 27

Events

• 1625 – Charles I was crowned King of England, Scotland and Ireland. He was executed in 1649 and became a Saint in the Church of England.
• 1854 – England declares war on Russia, this was called the Crimean war, it was long running contest to gain control over the declining Ottoman Empire.
• 1886 – The famous Apache warrior called Geronimo, surrenders to the U.S. Army. This ended the main phase of the Apache Wars.

Birthdays

• 1963 – Quentin Tarantino was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. He became a director and screenwriter, his films include Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill.
• 1970 – Mariah Carey was born in New York. She became a singer, she holds the record for the longest running number 1 song in US History, a duet with Boyz II Men called One Sweet Day.
• 1971 – David Coulthard was born in Scotland and became a racing car driver, he won 13 races in his F1 career and moved into presenting F1 shows.

March 8

Events

• 1702 - Queen Anne ascends the throne upon death of King William III, she is now Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland.
• 1910 – Baroness Raymonde de Laroche of Paris, France becomes the first licensed female pilot. It was issued by the French Aero-Club.
• 1979 - Philips demonstrates the Compact Disc publicly for the first time. It was also demonstrated on the BBC’s Tomorrows World.

Birthdays

• 1859 – Kenneth Grahame was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He became an author and wrote the classic Wind in the Willows.
• 1954 – Cheryl Baker was born as Rita Marie Crudginton in Lindon. She became a singer with the group Bucks Fizz and won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981.
• 1959 – Aidan Quinn was born in Chicago Illinois. He became an actor and had roles in the Legends of the Fall, Michael Collins, Benny & Joon and Reckless.

February 29

Leap year: The one day that occurs every 4 years

Events

• 1504 – Columbus uses a lunar eclipse to frighten hostile Jamaican Indians in an attempt to get them to provide provisions. His prediction was accurate and they fed his hungry men.
• 1940 – Hattie McDaniel becomes the first black woman to win an Oscar for her role in Gone with the Wind, she played Mammy and won Best Supporting Actress.
• 1960 - The first Playboy Club, featuring bunnies who served drinks and food. The club opened in Chicago and also had entertainers and comedians.

Birthdays

• 1792 – Gioacchino Rossini was born in Pesaro, Italy. He became a composer and is famed for the opera Barber of Seville and William Tell.
• 1840 - John Philip Holland was born in Liscannor, Ireland. He became an engineer and was the pioneer developer of submarine building.
• 1944 – David Briggs was born in Wyoming and became a record producer, he was famed for working with Neil Young.