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:
1832 – The first streetcar went into operation in New York City, NY. It was a horse-drawn vehicle and had room for 30 people.
1851 – Herman Melville’s novel “Moby Dick” was first published in the U.S.
1857 – The first gas light was illuminated in Grand Rapids by the Grand Rapids Gas Light Company.
1881 – Charles J. Guiteau’s trial began for the assassination of President James A. Garfield. Guiteau was convicted and hanged the following year.
1886 – Friedrich Soennecken filed his patent for his hole punch — a spring-supported lever system that makes holes in a stack of papers with ease.
1889 – Journalist Nellie Bly began her journey to go around the world in 80 days, inspired by Jules Verne’s novel. She completed her trip 72 days later. She traveled light…she took with her the dress she was wearing, a sturdy overcoat, several changes of underwear, and a small travel bag carrying her toiletry essentials.
1914 – John and Horace Dodge turned out the first Dodge automobile at their plant in Hamtramck, MI.
1962 – An oil pipeline broke in the Huron River.
1967 – American physicist Theodore Maiman was awarded a patent for his ruby laser systems, the world’s first laser.
1968 – Yale University announced it was going co-educational.
1969 – Apollo 12, the second crewed mission to the surface of the Moon, blasted off from Cape Kennedy, FL.
1971 – Mariner 9 entered orbit around Mars.
1972 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above the 1,000 (1,003.16) level for the first time.
1979 – President Jimmy Carter froze all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks abroad in response to the taking of 63 American hostages at the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran.
1988 – The TV show “Murphy Brown”, starring Candace Bergen, debuted.
1991 – In Royal Oak, MI, a fired U.S. Postal Service employee went on a shooting rampage, killing four and wounding five people before committing suicide.
1993 – Michael Jackson went into drug rehab to deal with an addiction to painkillers.
1995 – A budget standoff between Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress forced the federal government to temporarily close national parks and museums while most government offices operated with skeleton crews.
1997 – Ground was broken to start the construction of M-6 south of Grand Rapids, MI.
2001 – The TV show “The Bernie Mac Show” debuted on ABC.
2002 – The second movie in the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” hit theaters in North America.
2006 – The first James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig, “Casino Royale”, premiered in London.
2006 – Microsoft released the Zune to compete with Apple’s iPod.
2007 – A Las Vegas judge determined that O.J. Simpson and two co-defendants would stand trail for their involvement in the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas, NV, two months earlier.
2008 – The first G-20 economic summit opened in Washington, D.C.
2012 – The game Candy Crush Saga was released as a mobile app for smartphones.
2016 – The Disney animated film, “Moana”, debuted in theaters.
BIRTHDAYS:
Joseph McCarthy – 117 years old (1908) – Captain, lawyer, and politician
Fred Haise – 92 years old (1933) – Pilot, engineer, and astronaut
Wendy Carlos – 86 years old (1939) – Keyboard player and composer
Peter Norton – 82 years old (1943) – Programmer and author
Mike Katz – 81 years old (1944) – Bodybuilder and football player
Brett Lunger – 80 years old (1945) – Race car driver
Gary Grubbs – 76 years old (1949) – Actor
James Young – 76 years old (1949) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Stephen Bishop – 74 years old (1951) – Singer-songwriter and actor
Johnny A. – 73 years old (1952) – Guitarist and songwriter
Maggie Roswell – 73 years old (1952) – Voice actress and singer
Condoleezza Rice – 71 years old (1954) – Political scientist, academic, and politician, 66th United States Secretary of State
Yanni – 71 years old (1954) – Greek-American pianist, composer, and producer
Jack Sikma – 70 years old (1955) – Basketball player and coach
Babette Babich – 69 years old (1956) – Philosopher, author, and scholar
Valerie Jarrett – 69 years old (1956) – Government official
Paul Attanasio – 66 years old (1959) – Screenwriter and producer
D. B. Sweeney – 64 years old (1961) – Actor
Laura San Giacomo – 63 years old (1962) – Actress
Harland Williams – 63 years old (1962) – Canadian-American actor and screenwriter
Bill Hemmer – 61 years old (1964) – Journalist
Joseph Simmons – 61 years old (1964) – Hip-hop artist
Patrick Warburton – 61 years old (1964) – Actor and comedian
Nina Gordon – 58 years old (1967) – Singer-songwriter
Lionel Simmons – 57 years old (1968) – Basketball player
Butch Walker – 56 years old (1969) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Dana Stubblefield – 55 years old (1970) – Football player
Matt Bloom – 53 years old (1972) – Wrestler, trainer, and sportscaster
Josh Duhamel – 53 years old (1972) – Model and actor
Aaron Taylor – 53 years old (1972) – Football player and sportscaster
Lawyer Milloy – 52 years old (1973) – Football player
Adina Howard – 51 years old (1974) – Singer-songwriter and chef
David Moscow – 51 years old (1974) – Actor
Joe Principe – 51 years old (1974) – Singer and bass player
Travis Barker – 50 years old (1975) – Drummer, songwriter, and producer
Stephen Guarino – 50 years old (1975) – Actor
Gary Vaynerchuk – 50 years old (1975) – Russian-American businessman and critic
Brian Dietzen – 48 years old (1977) – Actor
Obie Trice – 48 years old (1977) – Rapper and producer
Bobby Allen – 47 years old (1978) – Ice hockey player
Xavier Nady – 47 years old (1978) – Baseball player and coach
Brock Pierce – 45 years old (1980) – Actor and businessman
Vanessa Bayer – 44 years old (1981) – Actress
Boosie Badazz – 43 years old (1982) – Rapper
Kyle Orton – 43 years old (1982) – Football player
Joy Williams – 43 years old (1982) – Singer-songwriter
Guillermo Moscoso – 42 years old (1983) – Baseball player
Chelsea Wolfe – 42 years old (1983) – Singer-songwriter
Miriam Barnes – 42 years old (1983) – Sprinter and hurdler
Kalisto – 39 years old (1986) – Mexican-American wrestler
Danielle Page – 39 years old (1986) – American-Serbian basketball player and coach
Cory Michael Smith – 39 years old (1986) – Actor
T. Y. Hilton – 36 years old (1989) – Football player
Stella Maeve – 36 years old (1989) – Actress
Graham Patrick Martin – 34 years old (1991) – Actor
Dawson Knox – 29 years old (1996) – Football player
Sofia Kenin – 27 years old (1998) – Tennis player
DeVonta Smith – 27 years old (1998) – Football player
TODAY IS:
- National Family PJ Day:
- National Pickle Day: These crunchy, briny, and slightly tangy snacks, often found nestled beside a sandwich, can turn an ordinary meal into a savory delight.
- National American Teddy Bear Day:
- National Seat Belt Day:
- National Spicy Guacamole Day: A zesty, green blend that's not afraid to bring the heat, adding a fiery kick to everyone's favorite chips and snacks.
- National Saddle Hunting Day:
- Operating Room Nurse Day: They're the backstage heroes of the medical world, ensuring everything runs seamlessly, patients are cared for, and surgeries are a success.
- Loosen Up Lighten Up Day: Shedding worries, embracing the carefree vibe, and letting laughter flow, it's like tossing burdens into the wind and embracing life's simplicity.
- World Diabetes Day: Raise awareness of this common condition, “go blue” to show your support and make lifestyle changes that improve your health on World Diabetes Day.
- Children’s Day:
- Rad Tech Week:
- National Split Pea Soup Week: Savoring a comforting blend of legumes, slow-cooked to perfection, offering warmth and nourishment during the cold season.
- Benjamin Banneker Week: Unleashing his brilliance, this remarkable individual made history with his achievements in science, engineering, and his unwavering dedication to knowledge.
- Chhath Puja:
- National Recycling Week:
- Nurse Practitioner Week:
- Perioperative Nurse Week:
- Dear Santa Letter Week:
- Transgender Awareness Week: Promoting understanding and compassion for diverse identities, bringing forth enlightenment and unity, echoing the spirit of humanity.
- Sugar Awareness Week:
- Human-Animal Relationship Awareness Week: From our furry companions to majestic wildlife, our connection with the animal kingdom is a bond that goes beyond words.
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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.

