Today in History

Historical Events

1959

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.

1917

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.

1914

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.

1810

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.

1786

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

Serena Williams

1981

American tennis player

Ian Chappell

Ian Chappell

1943

Australian cricketer

Pope Paul VI

Pope Paul VI

1897

Martin Heidegger

Martin Heidegger

1889

German philosopher

T. S. Eliot

T. S. Eliot

1888

American/English publisher, playwright, critic, Nobel Prize laureate

Famous Deaths

Died on this day

Paul Newman

Paul Newman

2008

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

Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer

2003

English singer-songwriter, guitarist

Leslie Morshead

Leslie Morshead

1959

Australian soldier, businessman, educator

Béla Bartók

Béla Bartók

1945

Hungarian pianist, composer

Daniel Boone

Daniel Boone

1820

American explorer