This Day In History

January 30

Events

• 1790 – The first lifeboat was tested at sea, by Henry Francis Greathead, he was a pioneering inventor. Although the first patented lifeboat was made by Lionel Lukin in 1785, Greathead petitioned parliament in his favour and won.
• 1911 - The first rescue of an air passenger by a ship, occurred near Havana in Cuba.
• 1989 – Five pharaoh sculptures from 1470 BC found at temple of Luxor, they were discovered under the solar court of Amenhotep III. Since this date there has been 26 discovered in total.

Birthdays

• 1882 – Franklin Delano Roosevelt also known as FDR was born in New Hyde Park, New York. He became the 32nd President of the USA; he was a central figure during the mid-twentieth century.
• 1915 – John D Profumo (aka Jack Profumo) was born in Kensington, London. He became a politician with great responsibility but he is also known for the scandal created surrounding a prostitute, this is now known as the Profumo Affair. He resigned and withdrew from politics.
• 1931 - Gene Hackman was born in San Barnardino in California, be became a famous and awarded actor starring in films such as his earliest Bonnie & Clyde to Under Fire and playing evil genius, Lex Luther in Superman.

December 12

Events

• 1800 – Washington DC was established as the capital of the United States of America.
• 1955 – The British engineer Christopher Cockerell patented the first hovercraft.
• 2001 – The flutist James Galway received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.

Birthdays

• 1915 – Frank Sinatra – Was born in Hoboken New Jersey,the famous singer and actor, known as old blue eyes.
• 1940 – Dionne Warwick – Was born in East Orange NJ, the famous singer sung Solid Gold and the Way to San Jose.
• 1946 – Emerson Fittipaldi - Born in Brazil he became an Indy-car racer and Formula 1 driver and race winner.

December 11

Events

• 1941 – Germany & Italy declare war on USA.
• 1951 – Joe Dimaggio announces his baseball retirement.
• 1972 – Astronauts Cernan & Harrison become 11th & 12th on the Moon.

Birthdays

• 1904 – Joe Coral – The name behind the ‘Coral’ bookmakers was born.
• 1954 – Jermaine Jackson - Born in Gary, Indiana became a singer and was part of the famous Jackson 5.
• 1964 – Justin Currie – From the Scottish rock band Del Amitri, he became a vocalist and bassist.

December 8

Events

• 1813 – The premiere of Ludwig von Beethoven’s 7th Symphony in A.
• 1962 - The long 114 day newspaper strike begins in New York.
• 1966 - USA & USSR sign treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons in outer space.

Birthdays

• 1925 – Sammy Davis Jr - Born in New York, all round entertainer as a singer, dancer and actor.
• 1936 - David Carradine - Born in Hollywood, famed martial arts actor starring in Kung Fu, Mean Streets and Kill Bill.
• 1953 – Kim Basinger - Born in Athens, Georgia, became a famous actress and starred in 9½ Weeks and Batman to name a couple.