Today in History
Important Events
- 618 Coronation of the Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries of the Tang Dynasty's rule over China
- 1812 War of 1812 begins as US declares war against Britain
- 1815 Battle of Waterloo; Napoleon and France defeated by British forces under Wellington and Prussian troops under Blucher
- 1928 American aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the 1st woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean landing at Burry Port, Wales
- 1940 Winston Churchill's "this was their finest hour" speech urging perseverance during Battle of Britain delivered to British House of Commons
- 1948 UN Commission on Human Rights adopts the International Declaration of Human Rights
Today in Film & TV
- 1969 "The Wild Bunch", directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring William Holden and Ernest Borgnine, is released
Today in Music
- 1991 "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" single released by Bryan Adams (Billboard Song of the Year 1991)
Today in Sport
- 1995 All Black Jonah Lomu scores the try of the Rugby World Cup, running over Mike Catt in New Zealand's 45-29 defeat of England
Did You Know?
Richard Martin of London takes out first life insurance policy, on William Gibbons; premium was £383
On this day in 1583
Famous Birthdays
George Mallory
(1886 - 1924)- George Mikan
(1924 - 2005) - Paul McCartney
77th Birthday
George Mallory
George Mikan
Paul McCartneyTomorrow's Famous Birthdays
- James I and VI
(1566 - 1625) - Douglas Haig
(1861 - 1928) - Lou Gehrig
(1903 - 1941)
James I and VI
Douglas Haig
Lou GehrigWould You Believe?
Governor of Louisiana Earl K. Long is committed to a state mental hospital; he responds by having the hospital's director fired and replaced with a crony who proceeds to proclaim him perfectly sane
On this day in 1959
Famous Weddings
- 1839 Dutch prince Willem Alexander (later William III) weds cousin Princess Sophia
- 1858 Norwegian modernist playwright "The Doll's House" Henrik Ibsen (30) marries Suzannah Thoresen (21) in Oslo
- 1953 Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. (24) marries fellow activist and singer Coretta Scott (26)
Famous Divorces
- 1971 Aviator Howard Hughes divorces 2nd wife Jean Peters after 14 years of marriage
- 2010 Former Saved by the Bell actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar (36) divorces former model Lisa Ann Russell (39) due to irreconcilable differences after 14 years of marriage
- 2012 "The L Word" actress Laurel Holloman (41) divorces architect Paul Macherey (44) due to irreconcilable differences after 9 years of marriage
Roald Amundsen
Maxim Gorky
Georgy Zhukov
Joseph Banks
Ethel Rosenberg
Sam GiancanaThis Month in History
![Lomu – The Unstoppable Gentle Giant]()
Lomu – The Unstoppable Gentle Giant
Jonah Lomu was a phenomenon in Rugby Union – a man-mountain who inspired fear and respect in equal measure among his opponents.
June 18, 1995!['Ship in Distress' Sails Into History Books]()
'Ship in Distress' Sails Into History Books
What was claimed to be the first trans-Atlantic crossing by a steam ship – even if sails helped – was completed on this day and is still celebrated
June 19, 1819!['Gorgeous Gussie' Shocks Wimbledon]()
'Gorgeous Gussie' Shocks Wimbledon
There is a strict dress code at Wimbledon and, as Gussie Moran discovered on this day in tennis history, tennis players break it at their peril.
June 20, 1949![Deadly Quest For The Northern Passage]()
Deadly Quest For The Northern Passage
For centuries mankind had sought the fabled Northern Passage - a new route for shipping from Europe to Asia. Explorer Henry Hudson's attempt did not go well.
June 22, 1611
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