Today in History

Historical Events

2011

Day of Seven Billion. The world's official population reached 7 billion on approximately this day. The United Nations Population Fund designated it as the Day of Seven Billion.

1999

EgyptAir Flight 990 crash. EgyptAir Flight 990 crashed off the Eastern coast of the US, killing all 217 people aboard.

1992

Catholic church regrets its handling of Galileo Galilee's case. Then Pope John Paul II acknowledged the errors committed by the Catholic Church while dealing with Galileo Galilei in the 17th century.

1984

Indira Gandhi assassinated. Indira Gandhi, the first female prime minister of India, was assassinated by two of her bodyguards. Her death sparked riots in India and New Delhi, where several thousand Sikhs were killed.

1978

South Yemen adopts constitution. The short-lived People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, or South Yemen, adopted its constitution. South Yemen eventually unified with North Yemen in 1990 to create what is today called Yemen

Famous Births

Born on this day

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson

1961

New Zealand actor, director, screenwriter, producer

Ian Stevenson

Ian Stevenson

1918

American biochemist

Alexander Alekhine

Alexander Alekhine

1892

Russian chess player

Chiang Kai-shek

Chiang Kai-shek

1887

Chinese military leader, politician, President of the Republic of China

Vallabhbhai Patel

Vallabhbhai Patel

1875

Indian activist, politician, 1st Deputy Prime Minister of India

Famous Deaths

Died on this day

P. W. Botha

P. W. Botha

2006

South African politician, 1st State President of South Africa

Federico Fellini

Federico Fellini

1993

Italian director

Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi

1984

Indian politician, 3rd Prime Minister of India

Harry Houdini

Harry Houdini

1926

Hungarian/American magician, actor

Charles Taze Russell

Charles Taze Russell

1916

American minister