Today in History

Historical Events

1999

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.

1985

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.

1962

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.

1947

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.

1861

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

Emma Stone

1988

American actress

Ana Ivanovic

Ana Ivanovic

1987

Serbian tennis player

Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke

1970

American actor, director, screenwriter

Joseph C. Wilson

Joseph C. Wilson

1949

American diplomat

Adolphe Sax

Adolphe Sax

1814

Belgian musician, invented the saxophone

Famous Deaths

Died on this day

Fred Dibnah

Fred Dibnah

2004

English steeplejack

Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney

1991

American actress

Erich Raeder

Erich Raeder

1960

German Admiral

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

1893

Russian composer

Charles X of France

Charles X of France

1836