Today in History
Historical Events
Typhoon Vera hits Japan. The category five typhoon is thought to be the strongest typhoon to impact the island country in recorded history. The resulting rain, landslides, and damage caused the deaths of about 5000 people in Japan.
Battle of Polygon Wood begins. Fought during World War I between the British and Australian troops and German army near Ypres in Belgium, the battle ended in an Allied victory.
Establishment of Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), an independent government agency in the US, responsible for consumer and market protection was established by the Federal Trade Commission Act on this day.
Swedish Act of Succession is passed. The Swedish Act of Succession, also known as the 1810 Act of Succession was adopted by the Riksdag of the Estates. This act is part of the Swedish Constitution and regulates the succession of the Swedish Royal family.
Protestors shut down the court in Springfield, Massachusetts starting the Shay's Rebellion. Named after the rebellion's leader Daniel Shays, the revolt began as a response to an economic crisis where people who owed debt were imprisoned. After a bloody conflict, the Shaysites were crushed by the government. This was the first armed internal conflict in post-revolutionary America.
Famous Births
Born on this day

Serena Williams
1981
American tennis player

Ian Chappell
1943
Australian cricketer

Pope Paul VI
1897

Martin Heidegger
1889
German philosopher

T. S. Eliot
1888
American/English publisher, playwright, critic, Nobel Prize laureate
Famous Deaths
Died on this day

Paul Newman
2008
American actor, director, race car driver, businessman, co-founded Newman's Own

Robert Palmer
2003
English singer-songwriter, guitarist

Leslie Morshead
1959
Australian soldier, businessman, educator

Béla Bartók
1945
Hungarian pianist, composer

Daniel Boone
1820
American explorer