Today in History

Historical Events

1984

Moscow announces that the USSR will not take part in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Several other countries, such as Cuba, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Vietnam joined the boycott. 4 years earlier, the United States had not sent any athletes to the Summer Olympics in Moscow.

1978

Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler climb Mount Everest without oxygen supply. Prior to the Italian and Austrian mountaineers' ascent, it was thought to be impossible to conquer the world's highest mountain without supplemental oxygen.

1970

The Beatles release the album Let It Be. The recording was the last studio album ever released by the legendary English rock band.

1927

The White Bird and its crew mysteriously disappear. French aviators, Charles Nungesser and François Coli, had taken off from Paris in their Levasseur PL.8 biplane in an attempt to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight. Their disappearance remains a mystery. Charles Lindbergh succeeded two weeks later.

1886

Coca-Cola is invented. According to legend, Dr. John Styth Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist, produced the syrup in a brass pot in his backyard. It was first intended as a patent medicine. Today, Coca-Cola is one of the world's most popular soft drinks and one of the most recognized trademarks.

Famous Births

Born on this day

Naomi Klein

Naomi Klein

1970

Canadian author, activist

Keith Jarrett

Keith Jarrett

1945

American pianist, composer

David Attenborough

David Attenborough

1926

English television host

Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson

1911

American singer-songwriter, guitarist

Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman

1884

American colonel, politician, 33rd President of the United States

Famous Deaths

Died on this day

Luigi Nono

Luigi Nono

1990

Italian composer

Robert A. Heinlein

Robert A. Heinlein

1988

American writer

Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin

1903

French painter

Helena Blavatsky

Helena Blavatsky

1891

Russian scholar, theosophist

John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mill

1873

English economist, civil servant, philosopher