Battle of Stamford Bridge, Remote Control and the Turin Shroud

Today in History

Historical Events

  • 1066 Battle of Stamford Bridge: English army under King Harold II defeat invading Norwegians led by King Harald Hardrada and Harold's brother Tostig, who were both killed
  • 1237 Treaty of York signed between kings Henry III of England and Alexander II of Scotland which establishes a boundary between the two countries (mostly unchanged in modern times)
  • 1513 Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa crosses the Panama Isthmus becoming first European to see the Pacific Ocean

Today in Film & TV

  • 1957 18th Venice Film Festival: Influential Indian film "Aparajito" directed by Satyajit Ray is first film to win the Golden Lion and the Critics Award

Today in Music

  • 1975 Pink Floyd's concept album "Wish You Were Here" reaches No. 1 in the US, goes on to sell 13 million copies

Today in Sport

  • 1844 Canada defeats USA by 23 runs in the first cricket international match at the grounds of the St George's Cricket Club in Manhattan, NYC
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Andorra and Germany sign a treaty ending World War I, as Versailles Peace Treaty forgot to include Andorra

Today in History in 1939

Would you believe this fact about today?Would You Believe?

British physician Dr. Charles Drysdale warns against the use of tobacco in a letter to The Times newspaper in one of the earliest public health announcements on the dangers of smoking

Today in History in 1878

Famous Weddings

  • 1845 Confederate army Nathan Bedford Forrest (24) weds Presbyterian minister's daughter Mary Ann Montgomery (18) in Hernando, Mississippi
  • 1873 Frontiersman and gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok supposedly marries Calamity Jane according to the latter's daughter (disputed)
  • 1889 Future Prime Minister of Canada Robert Borden (34) weds Canadian suffragette Laura Bond (27), until his death
Weddings & Divorces Today