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:
79 AD – Mount Vesuvius erupted killing approximately 20,000 people. The cities of Pompeii, Stabiae and Herculaneum were buried in volcanic ash.
1456 – The printing of the Gutenberg Bible was completed.
1814 – Washington, DC, was invaded by British forces. They set fire to the White House and Capitol.
1853 – Potato Chips were first prepared.
1869 – Cornelius Swarthout received a patent for the waffle iron.
1891 – Thomas Edison patented the kinetoscope and kinetograph.
1912 – A four-pound limit was set for parcels sent through the U.S. Postal System.
1915 – The state of Michigan began paying a bounty on dead rats. Each rat was worth 5 cents. The law was repealed in 2000.
1932 – Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the U.S. non-stop. The trip from Los Angeles, CA to Newark, NJ, took about 19 hours.
1949 – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) went into effect. The agreement was that an attack against one of the parties would be considered “an attack against them all.”
1969 – Victor Jackson, of East Lansing, MI, sailed from Ludington, MI to Manitowac, WI in an outboard powered, extra large bathtub. It took him 14-1/2 hours.
1979 – The TV show “The Facts of Life” premiered on NBC. It was a spin-off from the series “Diff’rent Strokes”.
1981 – Mark David Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for murdering John Lennon.
1986 – Frontier Airlines shut down. Thousands of people were left stranded.
1989 – Commissioner Bart Giamatti banned Pete Rose, the manager of the Cincinnati Reds, from baseball — for life — after being accused of gambling on baseball.
1989 – A U.S. space probe, Voyager 2, sent back photographs of Neptune.
1992 – Hurricane Andrew hit southern Florida. The storm caused 55 deaths in the Bahamas, Florida and Louisiana.
1995 – Microsoft’s “Windows 95” went on sale. (The typeface Comic Sans and the game Minesweeper came pre-installed in the software.)
1998 – A donation of 24 beads was made to the Indian Museum of North America at the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota. The beads are said to be those used in 1626 to buy Manhattan from the Indians.
2001 – In McAllen, TX, Bridgestone/Firestone agreed to settle out of court and pay $7.5 million to a family in a rollover accident in their Ford Explorer.
2006 – The International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined the term “planet” such that Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet.
2014 – A magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes the San Francisco Bay Area; it is the largest in that area since 1989.
2015 – Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that for the first time 1 billion people logged into Facebook.
2019 – U.S. adventurer Victor Vescovo became the first person to visit the deepest point of every ocean when he reached Molloy Deep in the Arctic.
2023 – During evening storms, an EF-1 tornado rolled through parts of northern Kent County Michigan. it started in Alpine Township (near Alpine Avenue) and traveled northeast to Plainfield Township. A second tornado touched down in eastern Ingham County from Williamston to Webberville, before continuing on into Livingston County, and was rated as an EF-2 before weakening to an EF-1 in Livingston County. The thunderstorms produced numerous areas of 60 to 70 mph wind gusts and very high amounts of lightning.
BIRTHDAYS:
David Freiberg – 87 years old (1938) – Musician (Jefferson Starship)
Vince McMahon – 80 years old (1945) – Head of WWE
Anne Archer – 78 years old (1947) – Actress (“Fatal Attraction”, “Paradise Alley”, “Patriot Games”, “Short Cuts”, “Clear and Present Danger”, “Lullaby”)
Joe Regalbuto – 76 years old (1949) – Actor (Played Frank Fontana on TV’s “Murphy Brown”)
Mike Shanahan – 73 years old (1952) – Football coach
Steve Guttenberg – 67 years old (1958) – Actor (“Diner”, “Police Academy” series, “Cocoon” movies, “Three Men and a Baby” movies)
Cal Ripken Jr. – 65 years old (1960) – Baseball player (Owns the Major League Baseball record for most consecutive games played)
Mark Bedford – 64 years old (1961) – Bass guitarist (Madness)
Jared Harris – 64 years old (1961) – Actor (TV’s “Mad Men”)
Craig Kilborn – 63 years old (1962) – Talk show host (TV’s “The Daily Show”, “The Kilborn File”, “The Late Late Show”)
Marlee Matlin – 60 years old (1965) – Actress (“Children of a Lesser God”, “Reasonable Doubts”, “Picket Fences”, TV’s “The West Wing”)
David Gregory – 55 years old (1970) – Former host of NBC’s “Meet the Press”, CNN political analyst
David Chappelle – 52 years old (1973) – Actor, comedian (TV’s “Chappelle’s Show”, movies “The Nutty Professor”, “Half Baked”, “Undercover Brother”)
Carmine Giovinazzo – 52 years old (1973) – Actor (TV’s “CSI: NY”)
Chad Michael Murray – 44 years old (1981) – Actor (“One Tree Hill”, “House of Wax”, “A Cinderella Story”, “Freaky Friday”)
Rupert Grint – 37 years old (1988) – Actor (Played Ron Weasley in the “Harry Potter” movie series)
TODAY IS:
- National Waffle Day: Golden crispy breakfast delights that are fluffy on the inside, perfect for loading up with whipped cream, berries, or maple syrup.
- Kobe Bryant Day: The legendary basketball player who inspired millions with his fierce dedication, incredible talent, and unforgettable moments on the court.
- Vesuvius Day: Pay tribute to the devastation of Pompeii and the most well-known eruption of one of history’s deadliest volcanoes, Mount Vesuvius, which is still active.
- National Knife Day: Pull the trigger and buy that knife set you’ve always wanted, or take some time on National Knife Day to sharpen up those tools and practice your chopping skills.
- William Wilberforce Day: William Wilberforce Day is a celebration of a man who dedicated his life to fighting for justice and equality. As a leading figure in the movement to abolish the transatlantic slave trade, Wilberforce spent decades tirelessly campaigning against one of history's greatest injustices. His perseverance and deep sense of moral duty...
- International Strange Music Day: Break out of your comfort zone and listen to some genuinely weird music, or try making your own with unique instruments, atonal scales, and uncommon sounds.
- National Peach Pie Day: A delectable creation that pays homage to the sweet essence of sun-kissed orchards, embracing tradition and delighting the senses.
- Pluto Demoted Day: Learn more about the celestial body formerly classified as a planet: Pluto. Dig into its history, do a science project, or watch a documentary about it.
- Crayfish Party: Crayfish Party is a lively and festive occasion celebrated with friends and family. This event marks the end of summer, bringing people together for a joyful feast. Tables are often set with bright decorations, and the air is filled with laughter. The menu features cooked and seasoned crayfish. The atmosphere...
- Navasard: Navasard is the ancient Armenian New Year, a celebration that once united communities in festivities and tribute to their gods. Marking the start of a new cycle, it was a time when people believed divine forces came down to the Earth. With music, dance, and communal feasts, it reflected a...
- National Aviation Week: National Aviation Week is a time to look up and celebrate the sky's vastness and the marvels that allow us to explore it. This special week highlights the incredible journey of human flight, from the Wright brothers' first successful airplane to today’s sophisticated aircraft. It's a chance to reflect on...
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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.
