Today in History
Historical Events
Maastricht Treaty comes into force. The Maastricht Treaty that created a common currency, the Euro, for European Union countries came into force
United Airlines Flight 629 blew up over Colorado. A bomb hidden in checked luggage of United Airlines Flight 629 exploded over Longmont, Colorado killing all 44 people on board.
First large hydrogen bomb tested by the U.S.. The bomb, codenamed Mike, was part of Operation Ivy and was tested in the Eniwetok atoll in the Marshall Islands.
First bomb dropped from an aircraft. Prior to this, bombs were dropped using unmanned balloons. The first bomb launched from an aircraft was used by the Italians in the Italo-Turkish War.
Nicholas II became Tsar of Russia. The last Tsar of Russia took over the reign of the empire after his father, Alexander III died. Nicholas was forced to abdicate in 1917 and was executed a year later along with his family.
Famous Births
Born on this day

Jenny Mc
1972
CarthyAmerican model, actress, author

Tina Arena
1967
Australian singer-songwriter, producer, actress

Edward Said
1935
Palestinian/American theoretician

Stephen Crane
1871
American journalist, author, poet

Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine
1864
Famous Deaths
Died on this day

Fred Thompson
2015
American politician, actor

Agustín García Calvo
2012
Spanish philosopher, poet

Walter Payton
1999
American football player

Ezra Pound
1972
American poet

William Coddington
1678
American politician, 1st Governor of Rhode Island