EVENTS
- 1782 – The U.S. Congress officially adopted the Great Seal of the United States of America.
- 1837 – Victoria becomes Queen of the United Kingdom. During the 64 years of her regency, the United Kingdom became one of the world’s most potent powers. The British Empire soon encompassed large parts of the planet. Queen Victoria died in 1901.
Queen Victoria - 1863 – West Virginia is admitted as the 35th U.S. state.
- 1877 – The first telephone service is installed.
- 1942 – Kazimierz Piechowski and three others escape from Auschwitz concentration camp. In a feat of “exceptional courage and gallantry”, as stated by the Polish author Kazimierz Smoleń, the four prisoners left via the front gate in a stolen SS staff car, dressed as SS officers. During World War II, the Nazi regime murdered 1.1 million people in Auschwitz. Only 144 are known to have escaped.
- 1963 – The “Red Telephone” is instituted. The hotline between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was established following Cuban Missile Crisis. Contrary to popular belief, communications between the two superpowers occurred via teletype or fax, and today, via email.
- 1975 – The film “Jaws” is premiered. Steven Spielberg’s thriller about a rogue great white shark terrorizing a summer resort town is often regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.
- 1991 – The capital of Germany moves from Bonn back to Berlin.
- 2004 – Ken Griffey Jr. hits his 500th home run.
BIRTHDAYS
- 1819 – Jacques Offenbach (German/French composer)
- 1887 – Kurt Schwitters (German painter, writer)
- 1905 – Lillian Hellman (American playwright)
- 1909 – Errol Flynn (Actor)
- 1924 – American military hero and actor Audie Murphy (1924-1971) was born in Kingston, Texas
- 1942 – Brian Wilson (Singer with the Beach Boys)
- 1949 – Lionel Richie (Singer)
Lionel Richie - 1952 – John Goodman (Actor)
- 1960 – John Taylor (Guitarist with Duran Duran)
- 1967 – Nicole Kidman (Actress)
- 1978 – Frank Lampard (English footballer)
DEATHS
- 1820 – Manuel Belgrano (Argentinian economist, lawyer, politician)
- 1837 – William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV - 1947 – Bugsy Siegel (American gangster)
- 1966 – Georges Lemaître (Belgian priest, astronomer, cosmologist)
- 1999 – Clifton Fadiman (American game show host, author)
