Today in History

Historical Events

1996

The Irish paramilitary organization IRA ends an 18-month ceasefire by exploding a large bomb in London. The explosion in London's Canary Wharf left 2 people dead and 39 injured.

1969

The Boeing 747 flies for the first time. The “Jumbo Jet” was the world's largest passenger aircraft at the time.

1964

The Beatles embark on their first tour in the United States. Their appearance in the Ed Sullivan Sow marked the beginning of the “British Invasion”

1959

The world's first intercontinental ballistic missile becomes operational in the USSR. The Soviet R-7 Semyorka missile had a range of 8800 km (5500 mi).

1950

U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy launches his anti-communist campaign. On this day, McCarthy accused the U.S. State Department of being infiltrated by communists.

Famous Births

Born on this day

Magdalena Neuner

Magdalena Neuner

1987

German biathlete

Carole King

Carole King

1942

American singer-songwriter, pianist

Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter

1932

German painter

Wilhelm Maybach

Wilhelm Maybach

1846

German businessman, founded Maybach

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine

1737

English/American theorist, author

Famous Deaths

Died on this day

Bill Haley

Bill Haley

1981

American singer-songwriter, musician

Miklós Horthy

Miklós Horthy

1957

Hungarian Admiral, regent

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

1881

Russian author

Dionysios Solomos

Dionysios Solomos

1857

Greek poet