Today in History
Important Events
- 330 Constantinople (Byzantium) becomes the capital of the Roman Empire
- 1189 Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and 100,000 crusaders depart Regensburg for the Third Crusade
- 1751 Pennsylvania Hospital founded by Dr. Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin
- 1924 Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie begin their first joint venture (later merge into Mercedes-Benz)
- 1995 More than 170 countries agree to extend the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty indefinitely and without conditions to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons [1]
- 2000 India's population officially reaches 1 billion - Astha Arora named India's billionth baby
Today in Film & TV
- 1969 British comedy troupe Monty Python forms, made up of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin
Today in Music
- 1981 Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Cats" (based on poetry by T. S. Eliot) directed by Trevor Nunn first premieres in the West End, London
Today in Sport
- 1893 Henri Desgrange establishes world's 1st bicycle world record, travelling 35.325 km (21.95 miles) an hour
Did You Know?
Did You Know?Waltz introduced into English ballrooms. Some observers consider it disgusting and immoral.
On this day in 1812
Salvador Dali
Natasha Richardson
Cory Monteith
Florence Nightingale
Katharine Hepburn
Homer SimpsonWould You Believe?
British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval is assassinated by John Bellingham in the lobby of the House of Commons, London. Ironically, descendants of both later stand for the same seat in Parliament at the same time but neither win.
On this day in 1812
Famous Weddings
- 1963 Prime Minister of Canada John Turner (33) weds Geills McCrae Kilgour (25)
- 1970 American entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. (44) weds American entertainer Altovise Gore (26) in a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania courthouse by the Rev. Jesse Jackson
- 1996 Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley (39) weds retail store designer Bill Keenan (43) at Manhattan City Hall in New York
Bob Marley
Floyd Patterson
Jerry Stiller
J.E.B. Stuart
Józef Piłsudski
Nelly SachsThis Month in History
Botched Crown Jewels Theft Pays Off
Thomas Blood, who tried to steal England's Crown Jewels from the Tower of London on this day was not only forgiven by the King, but given a reward.
May 9, 1671One-Man Mission of Rudolf Hess
Rudolf Hess parachuted into Scotland on this day planning to negotiate peace with the British – without the knowledge or approval of his boss, Adolf Hitler.
May 10, 1941Assassination of a British Prime Minister
Only one British Prime Minister has ever been assassinated, a fact that brought the only claim to fame for Spencer Perceval.
May 11, 1812The Queen Who Never Saw Her Realm
Born in Spain, married in Cyprus, died in France, this wife of a warrior king was never to set foot in the land where she was hailed as Queen.
May 12, 1191
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