Today in History
Historical Events
The first computer virus is released “into the wild”. Elk Cloner was created by 15-year-old Richard Skrenta as a practical joke.
On “Bloody Sunday”, British troops kill 13 unarmed protesters. It was one of the most significant events of the Northern Ireland conflict.
The Beatles give their last public performance. The concert was played on the rooftop of the Apple Corps building at 3 Savile Row in London.
9,400 people die in the deadliest maritime disaster in history. The “Wilhelm Gustloff” was sunk by a Soviet submarine during World War II.
Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany. The “Machtergreifung” marked the end of the Weimar Republic and the beginning of the “Third Reich”.
Famous Births
Born on this day

Phil Collins
1951
English singer-songwriter, producer, actor

Dick Cheney
1941
American politician, 46th Vice President of the United States

Vanessa Redgrave
1937
English actress

Franklin D. Roosevelt
1882
American politician, 32nd President of the United States

Ion Luca Caragiale
1852
Romanian playwright, poet
Famous Deaths
Died on this day

Johnnie Johnson
2001
English pilot

Francis Poulenc
1963
French composer

Ferdinand Porsche
1951
Austrian/German engineer, businessman, founded Porsche

Orville Wright
1948
American aviation pioneer

Charles I of England
1649