Today in History
Significant Events
- 180 6 inhabitants of Carthage, North Africa executed for being Christians. Earliest record of Christianity in this part of the world.
- 1203 Siege of Constantinople begins during the fourth Crusade, Crusaders aboad a Venetian fleet attack the city
- 1762 Catherine II becomes tsarina of Russia following the murder of Peter III
- 1918 The Romanov royal family and several of their retainers are executed by a Bolshevik firing squad in the basement of Ipatiev House, in Yekaterinburg, Siberia
- 1936 Spanish generals Francisco Franco and Emilio Mola lead a right-wing uprising, starting the Spanish Civil War
- 1945 Potsdam Conference (Truman, Stalin, Churchill) holds 1st meeting
- 2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 is shot down over Eastern Ukraine by a Buk surface-to-air missile launched from pro-Russian separatist-controlled territory, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew on board
Did You Know?
George Frideric Handel's "Water Music" premieres on the river Thames in London
On this day in 1717
Famous Birthdays
James Cagney
(1899 - 1986)
Angela Merkel
64th Birthday
Bryan Trottier
61st Birthday
Tomorrow's Famous Birthdays
George "Machine Gun" Kelly
Nelson Mandela
John GlennFamous Weddings
- 1942 Actress Lana Turner marries actor Stephen Crane (annulled)
- 1943 One of the world's greatest contraltos Marian Anderson (46) weds architect Orpheus H. Fisher in Bethel, Connecticut
- 1954 Master of quick wit and widely considered one of the best comedians of the modern era Groucho Marx (63) weds actress Eden Hartford (24)
- 1988 NHL ice hockey star player Wayne Gretzky (27) weds actress Janet Jones (27) at St. Joseph's Basilica in Edmonton, Canada
- 1990 PLO-leader Jasser Arrafat marries Soha Tawil in Tunis
Famous Divorces
- 1975 Beatle member Ringo Starr & Maureen Cox divorce
Anastasia Nikolaevna
Nicholas II
Ty Cobb
Jane Austen
William WestmorelandThis Month in History
Voice Of The Century – 'And Not Even Close'
Frank Sinatra cut his first disc on this day. It was a flop. But he would go on to be hailed as the “Voice of the Century”.
July 13, 1939
Stormy Birth for the House of Windsor
Britain’s King with his German connections faced resentment when World War 1 bombs fell on London. It led, on this day, to a change of name for the monarchy.
July 17, 1917
First Lady Pours Scorn Upon a King
American independence from Britain was declared and on this day a future US President's wife expressed her joy.
July 21, 1776
Spoonerism – Or Just A Lack Of Pies?
A Spoonerism is a phrase that comes out all wrong, and the man responsible for them, William Spooner, was born on this day. Did he just get bad Press?
July 22, 1844
Australia
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Ireland
Italy
Japan
New Zealand
Philippines
Russia
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States