This Day In History

May 6

Events

• 1536 - King Henry VIII orders bibles in the English language to be placed in every church. These were to replace those in foreign languages.
• 1877 - Chief Crazy Horse of the Oglala Sioux surrenders to United States troops in Nebraska. He is the most notable and iconic Native Americans.
• 1889 – The Eiffel Tower is officially opened to the public at the Universal Exposition in Paris.

Birthdays

• 1856 – Sigmund Freud was born in the Austrian Empire. He became a neurologist and was the founder of psychoanalysis.
• 1895 – Rudolph Valentino was born in Italy. He became an actor and was a sex symbol in the 1920’s, he died early at the age of 31.
• 1915 – Orson Welles was born in Wisconsin, US. He became an actor, director and writer, he is most famed for the radio adaptation of War of the Worlds which caused widespread panic when it was aired.

March 17

Events

• 1805 – The Italian Republic forms into the Kingdom of Italy, with Napoleon as King.
• 1845 – The Rubber band was patented by Stephen Perry of London, UK.
• 1950 – Californium created by Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, they announce the creation of element 98.

Birthdays

• 1473 – James IV was born in Stirling Castle, Scotland. He became the King of Scotland from 1488 to 1513. He was the last monarch to be killed in battle, either from Scotland or England.
• 1919 – Nat “King” Cole was born as Nathaniel Adam Cole in Montgomery, Alabama. He became a singer and had hits with Unforgettable and Mona Lisa.
• 1951 – Kurt Vogel Russell was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He became an actor and has starred in many hit films including The Thing, Overboard and Stargate.

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.

February 15

Events

• 1971 – Great Britain replaces the shilling and the penny with the new penny, after 1981 the word new was dropped.
• 1973 – USSR launches Prognoz 3 to study solar activity, later Prognoz missions turned from solar study to the Big Bang and the Earth’s magnetosphere.
• 1978 – Leon Spinks beats Muhammad Ali in 15 rounds for the world heavyweight title, however in a re-match Ali claimed victory with a unanimous decision.

Birthdays

• 1564 – Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa, Italy. He became an astronomer and physicist he played a major role in scientific revolution.
• 1812 – Charles Lewis Tiffany was born in Killingly, Conneticut. He became a jeweller and founded the store, Tiffany & Co in New York.
• 1929 – Graham Hill was born in London. He became racing car driver and won the Formula One championship twice, he is the only driver to win the The Triple Championship – Le Mans and Indianapolis 500 and F1