Today in History
Historical Events
Australian republic referendum. The referendum was held to amend the Australian constitution, which would have made the country a republic with a president as its head of state. If the referendum had passed, Australia would no longer have been a constitutional monarchy.
Palace of Justice is Seized in Colombia. 25 guerrillas from the 19th of April Movement or the M-19 took over the Palace of Justice which houses the Colombian Supreme Court. They took 300 people hostage. The ensuing fight between the rebels and the government's forces left more than 100 people, including 11 Supreme Court justices dead.
United Nations passes resolution to condemn Apartheid in South Africa. The UN General Assembly asked its member states to stand up against apartheid and to cut off relations with South Africa in order to make a point. Apartheid was an official policy of racial discrimination and segregation followed in South Africa. Despite the UN Resolution, it remained governmental policy until 1994, when democratic general elections were held in the country.
Meet the Press makes its TV debut. The longest running TV news show was first hosted by journalist and creator Martha Rountree and aired on NBC.
Jefferson Davis elected as president of Confederate States of America. The senator from Mississippi was the provisional president of the Confederacy since February 1861. Despite being an effective president, his popularity waned as the Confederate government experienced losses during the Civil War. He was captured by Northern Soldiers in 1865 and imprisoned for 2 years.
Famous Births
Born on this day
Emma Stone
1988
American actress
Ana Ivanovic
1987
Serbian tennis player
Ethan Hawke
1970
American actor, director, screenwriter
Joseph C. Wilson
1949
American diplomat
Adolphe Sax
1814
Belgian musician, invented the saxophone
Famous Deaths
Died on this day
Fred Dibnah
2004
English steeplejack
Gene Tierney
1991
American actress
Erich Raeder
1960
German Admiral
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
1893
Russian composer
Charles X of France
1836