A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1778 – English navigator Captain James Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands. He named them the “Sandwich Islands.”
1802 – Detroit, MI, was incorporated as a town. The population at the time was 500. There were 300 buildings.
1854 – The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Company was founded. (No actual service was provided until 1867).
1886 – The Hockey Association was formed in England. This date is the birthday of modern field hockey.
1896 – The x-ray machine was exhibited for the first time.
1911 – Pilot Eugene B. Ely flew onto the deck of the USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco harbor. It was the first time an aircraft landed on a ship.
1912 – English explorer Robert F. Scott and his expedition reached the South Pole. They only then discover that Roald Amundsen had gotten there first.
1919 – Bentley Motors Limited was founded.
1943 – U.S. commercial bakers stopped selling sliced bread. Only whole loaves were sold during the ban until the end of World War II.
1948 – “The Original Amateur Hour” debuted. The show was on the air for 22 years.
1950 – The federal tax on oleomargarine was repealed.
1957 – The first, non-stop, around-the-world, jet flight came to an end at Riverside, CA. The plane was refueled in mid-flight by huge aerial tankers.
1964 – The plans for the original World Trade Center in New York were unveiled to the public.
1967 – Albert DeSalvo, who claimed to be the “Boston Strangler,” was convicted in Cambridge, MA, of armed robbery, assault and sex offenses. He was sentenced to life in prison. Desalvo was killed in 1973 by a fellow inmate.
1975 – The television show “The Jeffersons” started its 10 year run on CBS.
1977 – Scientists identified a previously unknown bacterium as the cause of the mysterious Legionnaires’ disease.
1978 – Neil Sedaka received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1981 – Phil Smith and Phil Mayfield parachuted off a Houston skyscraper, becoming the first two people to BASE jump from objects in all four categories: buildings, antennae, spans (bridges), and earth (cliffs).
1985 – Mary Decker broke a world, indoor record when she ran the women’s, 2,000-meter race in 5:34.2. She also ran the outdoor mile in 4:16.7.
1990 – In an FBI sting, Washington, DC, Mayor Marion Barry was arrested for drug possession after he was videotaped smoking crack. He was later convicted of a misdemeanor.
1991 – Due to financial problems, Eastern Airlines shut down after 62 years of business.
1993 – The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was observed in all 50 states for the first time.
1995 – The domain “yahoo.com” was created.
1996 – Lisa Marie Presley filed for divorce from Michael Jackson.
2000 – Actor Michael J. Fox announced that he was leaving the television show “Spin City” at the end of the 1999-2000 season so that he can lobby on behalf of those suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
2005 – It was revealed that Paris Hilton’s cell phone, complete with nude photos, had been hacked.
2010 – The TV show about searching for antiques — “American Pickers” — premiered on The History Channel with hosts Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz.
2012 – Wikipedia began a 24-hour “blackout” in protest against proposed anti-piracy legislation (S. 968 and H.R. 3261) known as the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House. Many websites, including Reddit, Google, Facebook, Amazon and others, contended it would make it challenging, if not impossible, for them to operate.
2025 – The popular social media app, TikTok, was banned in the United States, after the passing of PAFACA.
BIRTHDAYS:
Bobby Goldsboro – 85 years old (1941) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Kay Granger – 83 years old (1943) – Educator and politician
Bill Keller – 77 years old (1949) – Journalist
Michael Behe – 74 years old (1952) – Biochemist, author, and academic
R. Stevie Moore – 74 years old (1952) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Brett Hudson – 73 years old (1953) – Singer-songwriter and producer
Ted DiBiase – 72 years old (1954) – Wrestler
Kevin Costner – 71 years old (1955) – Actor, director, and producer
Bob Hansen – 65 years old (1961) – Basketball player and sportscaster
Jeff Yagher – 65 years old (1961) – Actor and sculptor
Alison Arngrim – 64 years old (1962) – Canadian-American actress
Martin O'Malley – 63 years old (1963) – Soldier, lawyer, and politician, 61st Governor of Maryland
Brady Anderson – 62 years old (1964) – Baseball player
Virgil Hill – 62 years old (1964) – Boxer
Dave Bautista – 57 years old (1969) – Wrestler, mixed martial artist, and actor
Jesse L. Martin – 57 years old (1969) – Actor and singer
Jim O'Rourke – 57 years old (1969) – Guitarist and producer
DJ Quik – 56 years old (1970) – Rapper and producer
Amy Barger – 55 years old (1971) – Astronomer
Jonathan Davis – 55 years old (1971) – Singer-songwriter
Mike Lieberthal – 54 years old (1972) – Baseball player
Burnie Burns – 53 years old (1973) – Actor, director, and producer, co-founded Rooster Teeth Productions
Benjamin Jealous – 53 years old (1973) – Civic leader and activist
Joe Kehoskie – 53 years old (1973) – Baseball executive
Derek Richardson – 50 years old (1976) – Actor
Brian Falkenborg – 48 years old (1978) – Baseball player
Brian Gionta – 47 years old (1979) – Ice hockey player
Julius Peppers – 46 years old (1980) – Football player
Jason Segel – 46 years old (1980) – Actor and screenwriter
Quinn Allman – 44 years old (1982) – Guitarist and producer
Amir Blumenfeld – 43 years old (1983) – Israeli-American comedian, actor, director, and screenwriter
Joel Stallworth – 43 years old (1983) – Sprinter
Kristy Lee Cook – 42 years old (1984) – Singer-songwriter
Michael Kearney – 42 years old (1984) – Biochemist and academic
Benji Schwimmer – 42 years old (1984) – Dancer and choreographer
Allison Williams – 42 years old (1984) – Sportscaster
Mark Briscoe – 41 years old (1985) – Wrestler
Marya Roxx – 40 years old (1986) – Estonian-American singer-songwriter
Becca Tobin – 40 years old (1986) – Actress, singer, and dancer
Eugene Lee Yang – 40 years old (1986) – Korean-American actor, filmmaker, and activist
Ronnie Day – 38 years old (1988) – Singer-songwriter
Ashleigh Murray – 38 years old (1988) – Actress and singer
Zeeko Zaki – 36 years old (1990) – Egyptian-American actor
Douglas Wreden – 35 years old (1991) – a.k.a. DougDoug, American streamer
Max Fried – 32 years old (1994) – Baseball player
Bryce Alford – 31 years old (1995) – Basketball player
Leonard Fournette – 31 years old (1995) – Football player
Karan Brar – 27 years old (1999) – Actor
Tee Higgins – 27 years old (1999) – Football player
Gary Trent Jr. – 27 years old (1999) – Basketball player
Mateus Ward – 27 years old (1999) – Actor
TODAY IS:
- National Winnie the Pooh Day: Grab a pot of “hunny”, enjoy a game of Poohsticks and revisit these beloved childhood stories about a bear and all his friends.
- Feast of the Holy Child: The Feast of the Holy Child is a celebration that honors the image of the Christ Child, known as Santo Niño. This day holds deep spiritual significance, drawing people together in joyous gatherings. Across many regions, the faithful display their devotion through colorful parades, energetic dances, and heartfelt prayers. The image...
- National Gourmet Coffee Day: Whether it’s the rich flavor, or the caffeine boost that can help a person wake up in the morning, coffee has become an important part of the start (or middle or end) of the day for billions worldwide!
- World Snow Day: So much joy can be had when the winter weather comes! As long as you're dressed appropriately with the right gear, the cold weather doesn’t need to get in the way.
- National Michigan Day: Freshwater lakes, sand dunes, and forests, this state offers a diverse landscape for outdoor activities and a thriving automotive industry.
- National Thesaurus Day: Handy books full of synonyms, they're like treasure chests of linguistic options, adding depth and variety to languages.
- National Peking Duck Day: Juicy, succulent, and bursting with flavor, Peking duck is a mouth-watering Chinese dish that will tantalize your taste buds.
- World Religion Day: World Religion Day is a special time to bring people together. It is celebrated every third Sunday in January. On this day, folks from different faiths gather to share and learn from each other. The goal? To spread peace, understanding, and unity among all religions. This day got its start in...
- Surva Mummers Festival: Surva Mummers Festival is a lively and colorful event held in the small town of Pernik, Bulgaria. This annual celebration is known for its dramatic parades featuring people dressed in elaborate, often intimidating, costumes. Participants, known as mummers, wear masks depicting various mythical creatures and wear costumes adorned with bells...
- Hunt for Happiness Week: While many people believe that happiness is a fleeting thing, Hunt for Happiness Week acts as a reminder that while happiness can take place under almost any circumstances, it might take a little bit of effort to get there! How to Celebrate Hunt for Happiness Week Take a look at some interesting...
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For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.
