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109

July 24 – History, Events, Births, Deaths Holidays and Observances On This Day

On This Day /
  • 1132 – Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily.
  • 1148 – Louis VII of France lays siege to Damascus during the Second Crusade.
  • 1304 – Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle: King Edward I of England takes the stronghold using the War Wolf.
  • 1411 – Battle of Harlaw, one of the bloodiest battles in Scotland, takes place.
  • 1412 – Behnam Hadloyo becomes Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Mardin.
  • 1487 – Citizens of Leeuwarden, Netherlands, strike against a ban on foreign beer.
  • 1534 – French explorer Jacques Cartier plants a cross on the Gaspé Peninsula and takes possession of the territory in the name of Francis I of France.
  • 1567 – Mary, Queen of Scots, is forced to abdicate and replaced by her 1-year-old son James VI.
  • 1701 – Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founds the trading post at Fort Pontchartrain, which later becomes the city of Detroit.
  • 1783 – The Kingdom of Georgia and the Russian Empire sign the Treaty of Georgievsk.
  • 1814 – War of 1812: General Phineas Riall advances toward the Niagara River to halt Jacob Brown’s American invaders.
  • 1823 – Afro-Chileans are emancipated.
  • 1823 – In Maracaibo, Venezuela, the naval Battle of Lake Maracaibo takes place, where Admiral José Prudencio Padilla defeats the Spanish Navy, thus culminating the independence for the Gran Colombia.
  • 1847 – After 17 months of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 Mormon pioneers into Salt Lake Valley, resulting in the establishment of Salt Lake City.
  • 1847 – Richard March Hoe, American inventor, patented the rotary-type printing press.
  • 1864 – American Civil War: Battle of Kernstown: Confederate General Jubal Early defeats Union troops led by General George Crook in an effort to keep them out of the Shenandoah Valley.
  • 1866 – Reconstruction: Tennessee becomes the first U.S. state to be readmitted to the Union following the American Civil War.
  • 1901 – O. Henry is released from prison in Columbus, Ohio, after serving three years for embezzlement from a bank.
  • 1910 – The Ottoman Empire captures the city of Shkodër, putting down the Albanian Revolt of 1910.
  • 1911 – Hiram Bingham III re-discovers Machu Picchu, “the Lost City of the Incas”.
  • 1915 – The passenger ship SS Eastland capsizes while tied to a dock in the Chicago River. A total of 844 passengers and crew are killed in the largest loss of life disaster from a single shipwreck on the Great Lakes.
  • 1922 – The draft of the British Mandate of Palestine was formally confirmed by the Council of the League of Nations; it came into effect on 26 September 1923.
  • 1923 – The Treaty of Lausanne, settling the boundaries of modern Turkey, is signed in Switzerland by Greece, Bulgaria and other countries that fought in World War I.
  • 1924 – Themistoklis Sofoulis becomes Prime Minister of Greece.
  • 1927 – The Menin Gate war memorial is unveiled at Ypres.
  • 1929 – The Kellogg–Briand Pact, renouncing war as an instrument of foreign policy, goes into effect (it is first signed in Paris on August 27, 1928, by most leading world powers).
  • 1935 – The Dust Bowl heat wave reaches its peak, sending temperatures to 109 °F (43 °C) in Chicago and 104 °F (40 °C) in Milwaukee.
  • 1937 – Alabama drops rape charges against the “Scottsboro Boys”.
  • 1943 – World War II: Operation Gomorrah begins: British and Canadian aeroplanes bomb Hamburg by night, and American planes bomb the city by day. By the end of the operation in November, 9,000 tons of explosives will have killed more than 30,000 people and destroyed 280,000 buildings.
  • 1950 – Cape Canaveral Air Force Station begins operations with the launch of a Bumper rocket.
  • 1959 – At the opening of the American National Exhibition in Moscow, U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev have a “Kitchen Debate”.
  • 1963 – The ship Bluenose II was launched in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The schooner is a major Canadian symbol.
  • 1966 – Michael Pelkey makes the first BASE jump from El Capitan along with Brian Schubert. Both came out with broken bones. BASE jumping has now been banned from El Cap.
  • 1967 – During an official state visit to Canada, French President Charles de Gaulle declares to a crowd of over 100,000 in Montreal: Vive le Québec libre! (“Long live free Quebec!”); the statement angered the Canadian government and many Anglophone Canadians.
  • 1969 – Apollo program: Apollo 11 splashes down safely in the Pacific Ocean.
  • 1974 – Watergate scandal: The United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled that President Richard Nixon did not have the authority to withhold subpoenaed White House tapes and they order him to surrender the tapes to the Watergate special prosecutor.
  • 1977 – End of a four-day-long Libyan–Egyptian War.
  • 1980 – The Quietly Confident Quartet of Australia wins the men’s 4 x 100 metre medley relay at the Moscow Olympics, the only time the United States has not won the event at Olympic level.
  • 1982 – Heavy rain causes a mudslide that destroys a bridge at Nagasaki, Japan, killing 299.
  • 1983 – The Black July anti-Tamil riots begin in Sri Lanka, killing between 400 and 3,000. Black July is generally regarded as the beginning of the Sri Lankan Civil War.
  • 1983 – George Brett batting for the Kansas City Royals against the New York Yankees, has a game-winning home run nullified in the “Pine Tar Incident”.
  • 1987 – US supertanker SS Bridgeton collides with mines laid by IRGC causing a 43-square-meter dent in the body of the oil tanker.
  • 1987 – Hulda Crooks, at 91 years of age, climbed Mt. Fuji. Crooks became the oldest person to climb Japan’s highest peak.
  • 1998 – Russell Eugene Weston Jr. bursts into the United States Capitol and opens fire killing two police officers. He is later ruled to be incompetent to stand trial.
  • 2001 – Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the last Tsar of Bulgaria when he was a child, is sworn in as Prime Minister of Bulgaria, becoming the first monarch in history to regain political power through democratic election to a different office.
  • 2001 – The Bandaranaike Airport attack is carried out by 14 Tamil Tiger commandos. Eleven civilian and military aircraft are destroyed and 15 are damaged. All 14 commandos are shot dead, while seven soldiers from the Sri Lanka Air Force are killed. In addition, three civilians and an engineer die. This incident slowed the Sri Lankan economy.
  • 2013 – A high-speed train derails in Spain rounding a curve with an 80 km/h (50 mph) speed limit at 190 km/h (120 mph), killing 78 passengers.
  • 2014 – Air Algérie Flight 5017 loses contact with air traffic controllers 50 minutes after takeoff. It was travelling between Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and Algiers. The wreckage is later found in Mali. All 116 people onboard are killed.

Births on July 24

  • 1242 – Christina von Stommeln, German Roman Catholic mystic, ecstatic, and stigmatic (d. 1312)
  • 1468 – Catherine of Saxony, Archduchess of Austria (d. 1524)
  • 1529 – Charles II, Margrave of Baden-Durlach (d. 1577)
  • 1561 – Maria of the Palatinate-Simmern (d. 1589)
  • 1574 – Thomas Platter the Younger, Swiss physician and author (d. 1628)
  • 1660 – Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury, English politician, Lord High Treasurer (d. 1718)
  • 1689 – Prince William, Duke of Gloucester, son of Queen Anne of Great Britain and Prince George of Denmark (d. 1700)
  • 1725 – John Newton, English sailor and priest (d. 1807)
  • 1757 – Vladimir Borovikovsky, Ukrainian-Russian painter (d. 1825)
  • 1783 – Simón Bolívar, Venezuelan commander and politician, 2nd President of Venezuela (d. 1830)
  • 1786 – Joseph Nicollet, French mathematician and explorer (d. 1843)
  • 1794 – Johan Georg Forchhammer, Danish mineralogist and geologist (d. 1865)
  • 1802 – Alexandre Dumas, French novelist and playwright (d. 1870)
  • 1803 – Adolphe Adam, French composer and critic (d. 1856)
  • 1803 – Alexander J. Davis, American architect (d. 1892)
  • 1821 – William Poole, American boxer and gangster (d. 1855)
  • 1826 – Jan Gotlib Bloch, Polish theorist and activist (d. 1902)
  • 1851 – Friedrich Schottky, Polish-German mathematician and theorist (d. 1935)
  • 1856 – Émile Picard, French mathematician and academic (d. 1941)
  • 1857 – Henrik Pontoppidan, Danish journalist and author, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1943)
  • 1857 – Juan Vicente Gómez, Venezuelan general and politician, 27th President of Venezuela (d. 1935)
  • 1860 – Princess Charlotte of Prussia (d. 1919)
  • 1860 – Alphonse Mucha, Czech painter and illustrator (d. 1939)
  • 1864 – Frank Wedekind, German actor and playwright (d. 1918)
  • 1867 – Vicente Acosta, Salvadoran journalist and poet (d. 1908)
  • 1867 – E. F. Benson, English archaeologist and author (d. 1940)
  • 1867 – Fred Tate, English cricketer and coach (d. 1943)
  • 1874 – Oswald Chambers, Scottish minister and author (d. 1917)
  • 1877 – Calogero Vizzini, Italian mob boss (d. 1954)
  • 1878 – Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany, Irish author, poet, and playwright (d. 1957)
  • 1880 – Ernest Bloch, Swiss-American composer and educator (d. 1959)
  • 1884 – Maria Caserini, Italian actress (d. 1969)
  • 1886 – Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, Japanese author (d. 1965)
  • 1888 – Arthur Richardson, Australian cricketer and coach (d. 1973)
  • 1889 – Agnes Meyer Driscoll, American cryptanalyst (d. 1971)
  • 1895 – Robert Graves, English poet, novelist, critic (d. 1985)
  • 1897 – Amelia Earhart, American pilot and author (d. 1937)
  • 1899 – Chief Dan George, Canadian actor (d. 1981)
  • 1900 – Zelda Fitzgerald, American author and poet (d. 1948)
  • 1904 – Leo Arnaud, French-American trombonist, composer, and conductor (d. 1991)
  • 1904 – Richard B. Morris, American historian and academic (d. 1989)
  • 1904 – Delmer Daves, American screenwriter, director and producer (d. 1977)
  • 1909 – John William Finn, American lieutenant, Medal of Honor recipient (d. 2010)
  • 1910 – Harry Horner, American director and production designer (d. 1994)
  • 1912 – Essie Summers, New Zealand author (d. 1998)
  • 1913 – Britton Chance, American biologist and sailor (d. 2010)
  • 1914 – Frances Oldham Kelsey, Canadian pharmacologist and physician (d. 2015)
  • 1914 – Ed Mirvish, American-Canadian businessman and philanthropist (d. 2007)
  • 1914 – Alan Waddell, Australian walker (d. 2008)
  • 1915 – Enrique Fernando, Filipino lawyer and jurist, 13th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines (d. 2004)
  • 1916 – John D. MacDonald, American colonel and author (d. 1986)
  • 1917 – Robert Farnon, Canadian trumpet player, composer, and conductor (d. 2005)
  • 1917 – Jack Moroney, Australian cricketer (d. 1999)
  • 1918 – Ruggiero Ricci, American violinist and educator (d. 2012)
  • 1919 – Robert Marsden Hope, Australian lawyer and judge (d. 1999)
  • 1919 – Kenneth S. Kleinknecht, NASA manager (d. 2007)
  • 1919 – John Winkin, American baseball player, coach, and journalist (d. 2014)
  • 1920 – Bella Abzug, American lawyer and politician (d. 1998)
  • 1920 – Constance Dowling, American model and actress (d. 1969)
  • 1921 – Giuseppe Di Stefano, Italian tenor and actor (d. 2008)
  • 1921 – Billy Taylor, American pianist and composer (d. 2010)
  • 1922 – Madeleine Ferron, Canadian radio host and author (d. 2010)
  • 1924 – Wilfred Josephs, English composer (d. 1997)
  • 1924 – Aris Poulianos, Greek anthropologist and archaeologist
  • 1927 – Alex Katz, American painter and sculptor
  • 1927 – Zara Mints, Russian-Estonian philologist and academic (d. 1990)
  • 1930 – Alfred Balk, American journalist and author (d. 2010)
  • 1930 – Keshubhai Patel, Indian politician, 10th Chief Minister of Gujarat
  • 1931 – Ermanno Olmi, Italian director, screenwriter, and cinematographer (d. 2018)
  • 1931 – Éric Tabarly, French commander (d. 1998)
  • 1932 – Gustav Andreas Tammann, German astronomer and academic (d. 2019)
  • 1933 – Doug Sanders, American golfer (d. 2020)
  • 1934 – P. S. Soosaithasan, Sri Lankan accountant and politician (d. 2017)
  • 1935 – Aaron Elkins, American author and academic
  • 1935 – Pat Oliphant, Australian cartoonist
  • 1935 – Mel Ramos, American painter, illustrator, and academic (d. 2018)
  • 1935 – Les Reed, English pianist, composer, and conductor (d. 2019)
  • 1935 – Derek Varnals, South African cricketer
  • 1936 – Ruth Buzzi, American actress and comedian
  • 1936 – Mark Goddard, American actor
  • 1937 – Manoj Kumar, Indian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1937 – Quinlan Terry, English architect, designed the Brentwood Cathedral
  • 1938 – Alexis Jacquemin, Belgian economist and academic (d. 2004)
  • 1938 – Eugene J. Martin, American painter (d. 2005)
  • 1938 – John Sparling, New Zealand cricketer
  • 1939 – Walt Bellamy, American basketball player and coach (d. 2013)
  • 1939 – David Simon, Baron Simon of Highbury, English businessman and politician
  • 1940 – Dan Hedaya, American actor
  • 1941 – John Bond, English banker and businessman
  • 1942 – Heinz, German-English singer-songwriter and bass player (d. 2000)
  • 1942 – David Miner, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
  • 1942 – Chris Sarandon, American actor
  • 1944 – Jim Armstrong, Northern Irish guitarist
  • 1945 – Frank Close, English physicist and academic
  • 1945 – Azim Premji, Indian businessman and philanthropist
  • 1945 – Hugh Ross, Canadian-American astrophysicist and astronomer
  • 1945 – Anthony Watts, English geologist, geophysicist, and academic
  • 1946 – Gallagher, American comedian and actor
  • 1946 – Friedhelm Haebermann, German footballer and manager
  • 1946 – Hervé Vilard, French singer-songwriter
  • 1947 – Zaheer Abbas, Pakistani cricketer and manager
  • 1947 – Geoff McQueen, English screenwriter and producer (d. 1994)
  • 1947 – Peter Serkin, American pianist and educator
  • 1949 – Michael Richards, American actor and comedian
  • 1950 – Jadranka Stojaković, Yugoslav singer-songwriter (d. 2016)
  • 1951 – Lynda Carter, American actress
  • 1951 – Chris Smith, Baron Smith of Finsbury, English politician, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
  • 1952 – Ian Cairns, Australian surfer
  • 1952 – Gus Van Sant, American director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1953 – Julian Brazier, English captain and politician
  • 1953 – Jon Faddis, American trumpet player, composer, and conductor
  • 1953 – Tadashi Kawamata, Japanese contemporary artist
  • 1953 – Claire McCaskill, American lawyer and politician
  • 1953 – James Newcome, English bishop
  • 1954 – Erdoğan Arıca, Turkish footballer and manager (d. 2012)
  • 1954 – Jorge Jesus, Portuguese footballer and manager
  • 1955 – Brad Watson, American author and academic
  • 1956 – Charlie Crist, American lawyer and politician, 44th Governor of Florida
  • 1957 – Pam Tillis, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress
  • 1958 – Jim Leighton, Scottish footballer and coach
  • 1960 – Catherine Destivelle, French rock climber and mountaineer
  • 1961 – Kerry Dixon, English footballer and manager
  • 1962 – Johnny O’Connell, American race car driver and sportscaster
  • 1963 – Louis Armary, French rugby player
  • 1963 – Karl Malone, American basketball player and coach
  • 1964 – Barry Bonds, American baseball player
  • 1964 – Pedro Passos Coelho, Portuguese economist and politician, 118th Prime Minister of Portugal
  • 1964 – Urmas Kaljend, Estonian footballer
  • 1964 – John Rosengren, American journalist and author
  • 1965 – Andrew Gaze, Australian basketball player and sportscaster
  • 1965 – Kadeem Hardison, American actor, director, and screenwriter
  • 1965 – Doug Liman, American director and producer
  • 1966 – Mo-Do, Italian singer-songwriter (d. 2013)
  • 1966 – Aminatou Haidar, Sahrawi human rights activist
  • 1966 – Martin Keown, English footballer and coach
  • 1968 – Kristin Chenoweth, American actress and singer
  • 1968 – Colleen Doran, American author and illustrator
  • 1968 – Malcolm Ingram, Canadian director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1968 – Laura Leighton, American actress
  • 1969 – Rick Fox, Bahamian basketball player
  • 1969 – Jennifer Lopez, American actress, singer, and dancer
  • 1971 – Dino Baggio, Italian footballer
  • 1971 – Patty Jenkins, American film director and screenwriter
  • 1972 – Kaiō Hiroyuki, Japanese sumo wrestler
  • 1973 – Russell Bawden, Australian rugby league player
  • 1973 – Ana Cristina Oliveira, Portuguese model and actress
  • 1973 – Amanda Stretton, English race car driver and journalist
  • 1974 – Andy Gomarsall, English rugby player
  • 1975 – Tracey Crouch, English politician, Minister for Sport and the Olympics
  • 1975 – Jamie Langenbrunner, American ice hockey player
  • 1975 – Torrie Wilson, American model, fitness competitor, actress and professional wrestler
  • 1975 – Eric Szmanda, American actor
  • 1976 – Rafer Alston, American basketball player
  • 1976 – Tiago Monteiro, Portuguese race car driver and manager
  • 1978 – Andy Irons, American surfer (d. 2010)
  • 1979 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress
  • 1979 – Jerrod Niemann, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1979 – Valerio Scassellati, Italian race car driver
  • 1979 – Anne-Gaëlle Sidot, French tennis player
  • 1979 – Mark Andrew Smith, American author
  • 1979 – Ryan Speier, American baseball player
  • 1980 – Joel Stroetzel, American guitarist
  • 1981 – Doug Bollinger, Australian cricketer
  • 1981 – Summer Glau, American actress
  • 1981 – Mark Robinson, English footballer
  • 1982 – Trevor Matthews, Canadian actor and producer, founded Brookstreet Pictures
  • 1982 – Thiago Medeiros, Brazilian race car driver
  • 1982 – Mewelde Moore, American football player
  • 1982 – Elisabeth Moss, American actress
  • 1982 – Anna Paquin, Canadian-New Zealand actress
  • 1982 – Michael Poppmeier, South African-German rugby player
  • 1983 – Daniele De Rossi, Italian footballer
  • 1983 – Asami Mizukawa, Japanese actress
  • 1984 – Patrick Harvey, Australian actor
  • 1984 – Tyler Kyte, Canadian singer and drummer
  • 1985 – Patrice Bergeron, Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1985 – Aries Merritt, American hurdler
  • 1985 – Lukáš Rosol, Czech tennis player
  • 1985 – Eric Wright, American football player
  • 1986 – Natalie Tran, Australian actress, online producer
  • 1987 – Filipe Francisco dos Santos, Brazilian footballer
  • 1987 – Nathan Gerbe, American ice hockey player
  • 1987 – Zack Sabre Jr., English wrestler
  • 1988 – Han Seung-yeon, South Korean singer and dancer
  • 1988 – Nichkhun, Thai-American singer-songwriter and actor
  • 1988 – Ricky Petterd, Australian footballer
  • 1989 – Maurkice Pouncey, American football player
  • 1989 – Kim Tae-hwan, South Korean footballer
  • 1990 – Daveigh Chase, American actress
  • 1990 – Travis Mahoney, Australian swimmer
  • 1991 – Manuel Fischnaller, Italian footballer
  • 1991 – Emily Bett Rickards, Canadian actress
  • 1992 – Mikaël Kingsbury, Canadian skier
  • 1992 – Mitch Grassi, American singer and songwriter
  • 1994 – Alejandra Álvarez, Ecuadorian tennis player
  • 1994 – Phillip Lindsay, American football player
  • 1995 – Valentine Holmes, Australian rugby league player
  • 1995 – Kyle Kuzma, American basketball player
  • 1995 – Meisei Chikara, Japanese sumo wrestler
  • 1997 – Emre Mor, Turkish football player
  • 2002 – Nicole Pircio, Brazilian rhythmic gymnast

Deaths on July 24

  • 759 – Oswulf, king of Northumbria
  • 811 – Gao Ying, Chinese politician (b. 740)
  • 946 – Muhammad ibn Tughj al-Ikhshid, Egyptian ruler (b. 882)
  • 1115 – Matilda of Tuscany (b. 1046)
  • 1129 – Emperor Shirakawa of Japan (b. 1053)
  • 1198 – Berthold of Hanover, Bishop of Livonia
  • 1345 – Jacob van Artevelde, Flemish statesman (b. 1290)
  • 1568 – Carlos, Prince of Asturias (b. 1545)
  • 1594 – John Boste, English martyr and saint (b. 1544)
  • 1601 – Joris Hoefnagel, Flemish painter (b. 1542)
  • 1612 – John Salusbury, Welsh politician and poet (b. 1567)
  • 1739 – Benedetto Marcello, Italian composer and educator (b. 1686)
  • 1768 – Nathaniel Lardner, English theologian and author (b. 1684)
  • 1862 – Martin Van Buren, American lawyer and politician, 8th President of the United States (b. 1782)
  • 1891 – Hermann Raster, German-American journalist and politician (b. 1827)
  • 1908 – Vicente Acosta, Salvadoran journalist and poet (b. 1867)
  • 1910 – Arkhip Kuindzhi, Ukrainian-Russian painter (b. 1841)
  • 1927 – Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, Japanese author (b. 1892)
  • 1957 – Sacha Guitry, French actor and director (b. 1885)
  • 1962 – Wilfrid Noyce, English mountaineer and author (b. 1917)
  • 1965 – Constance Bennett, American actress and producer (b. 1904)
  • 1966 – Tony Lema, American golfer (b. 1934)
  • 1969 – Witold Gombrowicz, Polish author and playwright (b. 1904)
  • 1970 – Peter de Noronha, Indian businessman, philanthropist, and civil servant (b. 1897)
  • 1974 – James Chadwick, English physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1891)
  • 1980 – Peter Sellers, English actor and comedian (b. 1925)
  • 1985 – Ezechiele Ramin, Italian missionary and martyr (b. 1953)
  • 1986 – Fritz Albert Lipmann, German-American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1899)
  • 1986 – Qudrat Ullah Shahab, Pakistani civil servant and author (b. 1917)
  • 1991 – Isaac Bashevis Singer, Polish-American novelist and short story writer, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1902)
  • 1992 – Arletty, French actress and singer (b. 1898)
  • 1992 – Sam Berger, Canadian lawyer and businessman (b. 1900)
  • 1994 – Helen Cordero, Cochiti Pueblo (Native American) Pueblo potter (b. 1915)
  • 1995 – George Rodger, English photographer and journalist (b. 1908)
  • 1996 – Alphonso Theodore Roberts, Vincentian cricketer and activist (b. 1937)
  • 1997 – William J. Brennan Jr., American colonel and jurist (b. 1906)
  • 1997 – Saw Maung, Burmese general and politician, 7th Prime Minister of Burma (b. 1928)
  • 2000 – Ahmad Shamloo, Iranian poet and journalist (b. 1925)
  • 2001 – Georges Dor, Canadian author, playwright, and composer (b. 1931)
  • 2005 – Richard Doll, English physiologist and epidemiologist (b. 1912)
  • 2007 – Albert Ellis, American psychologist and author (b. 1913)
  • 2007 – Nicola Zaccaria, Greek opera singer (b. 1923)
  • 2008 – Norman Dello Joio, American pianist and composer (b. 1913)
  • 2011 – Frank Dietrich, German politician (b. 1966)
  • 2011 – Dan Peek, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1950)
  • 2011 – Harald Johnsen, Norwegian bassist and composer (b. 1970)
  • 2011 – David Servan-Schreiber, French physician, neuroscientist, and author (b. 1961)
  • 2011 – Skip Thomas, American football player (b. 1950)
  • 2012 – Chad Everett, American actor and director (b. 1937)
  • 2012 – Sherman Hemsley, American actor and singer (b. 1938)
  • 2012 – Larry Hoppen, American singer and guitarist (b. 1951)
  • 2012 – Robert Ledley, American physiologist and physicist, invented the CT scanner (b. 1926)
  • 2012 – Themo Lobos, Chilean author and illustrator (b. 1928)
  • 2012 – John Atta Mills, Ghanaian lawyer and politician, a President of Ghana (b. 1944)
  • 2012 – Gregorio Peces-Barba, Spanish jurist and politician (b. 1938)
  • 2013 – Garry Davis, American pilot and activist, created the World Passport (b. 1921)
  • 2013 – Fred Dretske, American philosopher and academic (b. 1932)
  • 2013 – Virginia E. Johnson, American psychologist and sexologist (b. 1925)
  • 2013 – Pius Langa, South African lawyer and jurist, 19th Chief Justice of South Africa (b. 1939)
  • 2014 – Ik-Hwan Bae, Korean-American violinist and educator (b. 1956)
  • 2014 – Dale Schlueter, American basketball player (b. 1945)
  • 2014 – Hans-Hermann Sprado, German journalist and author (b. 1956)
  • 2015 – Peg Lynch, American actress and screenwriter (b. 1916)
  • 2015 – Ingrid Sischy, South African-American journalist and critic (b. 1952)
  • 2016 – Marni Nixon, American actress and singer (b. 1930)
  • 2017 – Harshida Raval, Indian Gujarati playback singer

Holidays and observances on July 24

  • Carnival of Awussu (Tunisia)
  • Children’s Day (Vanuatu)
  • Christian feast day:
    • Charbel (Maronite Church/Catholic Church)
    • Christina the Astonishing
    • Christina of Bolsena
    • Declán of Ardmore
    • John Boste
    • Kinga (or Cunegunda) of Poland
    • Martyrs of Daimiel
    • Menefrida of Cornwall
    • Sigolena of Albi
    • July 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • Pioneer Day (Utah)
  • Police Day (Poland)
  • Simón Bolívar Day (Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia)
    • Navy Day (Venezuela)

July 24 – History, Events, Births, Deaths Holidays and Observances On This Day Read More »

On This Day

June 24 – History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day

On This Day /
  • 1312 BC – Mursili II launches a campaign against the Kingdom of Azzi-Hayasa.
  • 217 BC – The Romans, led by Gaius Flaminius, are ambushed and defeated by Hannibal at the Battle of Lake Trasimene.
  • 109 – Roman emperor Trajan inaugurates the Aqua Traiana, an aqueduct that channels water from Lake Bracciano, 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of Rome.
  • 474 – Julius Nepos forces Roman usurper Glycerius to abdicate the throne and proclaims himself Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
  • 637 – The Battle of Moira is fought between the High King of Ireland and the Kings of Ulster and Dál Riata. It is claimed to be the largest battle in the history of Ireland.
  • 972 – Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces, takes place.
  • 1128 – Battle of São Mamede, near Guimarães: Forces led by Afonso I defeat forces led by his mother Teresa of León and her lover Fernando Pérez de Traba.
  • 1230 – The Siege of Jaén begins, in the context of the Spanish Reconquista.
  • 1314 – First War of Scottish Independence: The Battle of Bannockburn concludes with a decisive victory by Scottish forces led by Robert the Bruce.
  • 1340 – Hundred Years’ War: Battle of Sluys: The French fleet is almost completely destroyed by the English fleet commanded in person by King Edward III.
  • 1374 – A sudden outbreak of St. John’s Dance causes people in the streets of Aachen, Germany, to experience hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion.
  • 1497 – John Cabot lands in North America at Newfoundland leading the first European exploration of the region since the Vikings.
  • 1509 – Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon are crowned King and Queen of England.
  • 1535 – The Dominion of Münster, a radical communal Anabaptist state in the independent German city of Münster, is conquered by Franz von Waldeck, the Catholic Prince-Bishopric of Münster in a night attack.
  • 1571 – Miguel López de Legazpi founds Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
  • 1604 – Samuel de Champlain discovers the mouth of the Saint John River, site of Reversing Falls and the present-day city of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
  • 1622 – Battle of Macau: The Dutch make a failed attempt to capture Macau.
  • 1663 – The Spanish garrison of Évora capitulates, following the Portuguese victory at the Battle of Ameixial.
  • 1717 – The Premier Grand Lodge of England is founded in London, the first Masonic Grand Lodge in the world (now the United Grand Lodge of England).
  • 1762 – Battle of Wilhelmsthal: The British-Hanoverian army of Ferdinand of Brunswick defeats French forces in Westphalia.
  • 1779 – American Revolutionary War: The Great Siege of Gibraltar begins.
  • 1793 – The French Constitution of 1793 is formally adopted, although it is effectively suspended by the Committee of Public Safety.
  • 1812 – Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon’s Grande Armée crosses the Neman river beginning the invasion of Russia.
  • 1813 – Battle of Beaver Dams: A British and Indian combined force defeats the United States Army.
  • 1821 – The Battle of Carabobo takes place. It is the decisive battle in the war of independence of Venezuela from Spain.
  • 1859 – Battle of Solferino (Battle of the Three Sovereigns): Sardinia and France defeat Austria in Solferino, northern Italy.
  • 1866 – Battle of Custoza: An Austrian army defeats the Italian army during the Austro-Prussian War.
  • 1880 – First performance of O Canada at the Congrès national des Canadiens-Français. The song would later become the national anthem of Canada.
  • 1894 – Marie François Sadi Carnot is assassinated by Sante Geronimo Caserio.
  • 1902 – King Edward VII of the United Kingdom develops appendicitis, delaying his coronation.
  • 1913 – Greece and Serbia annul their alliance with Bulgaria.
  • 1916 – Mary Pickford becomes the first female film star to sign a million-dollar contract.
  • 1918 – First airmail service in Canada from Montreal to Toronto.
  • 1922 – The American Professional Football Association is renamed the National Football League.
  • 1932 – A bloodless revolution instigated by the People’s Party ends the absolute power of King Prajadhipok of Siam (now Thailand).
  • 1938 – Pieces of a meteorite land near Chicora, Pennsylvania. The meteorite is estimated to have weighed 450 metric tons when it hit the Earth’s atmosphere and exploded.
  • 1939 – Siam is renamed Thailand by Plaek Phibunsongkhram, the country’s third prime minister.
  • 1940 – World War II: Operation Collar, the first British Commando raid on occupied France, by No 11 Independent Company.
  • 1943 – US military police attempt to arrest a black soldier in Bamber Bridge, England, sparking the Battle of Bamber Bridge mutiny that leaves one dead and seven wounded.
  • 1947 – Kenneth Arnold makes the first widely reported UFO sighting near Mount Rainier, Washington, leading to the coining of the phrase “flying saucer”.
  • 1948 – Cold War: Start of the Berlin Blockade: The Soviet Union makes overland travel between West Germany and West Berlin impossible.
  • 1949 – The first television western, Hopalong Cassidy, starring William Boyd, is aired on NBC.
  • 1950 – Apartheid: In South Africa, the Group Areas Act is passed, formally segregating races.
  • 1954 – First Indochina War: Battle of Mang Yang Pass: Viet Minh troops belonging to the 803rd Regiment ambush G.M. 100 of France in An Khê.
  • 1957 – In Roth v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment.
  • 1963 – The United Kingdom grants Zanzibar internal self-government.
  • 1973 – The UpStairs Lounge, a gay bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, is attacked by an arsonist during a church service, and 32 people die from smoke inhalation or fire.
  • 1975 – Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 encounters severe wind shear and crashes on final approach to New York’s JFK Airport killing 113 of the 124 passengers on board, making it the deadliest U.S. plane crash at the time. This accident led to decades of research into downburst and microburst phenomena and their effects on aircraft.
  • 1981 – The Humber Bridge opens to traffic, connecting Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It remained the world’s longest bridge span for 17 years.
  • 1982 – British Airways Flight 9 flies into a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Mount Galunggung, resulting in the failure of all four engines.
  • 1989 – Jiang Zemin succeeds Zhao Ziyang to become the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.
  • 1995 – Rugby World Cup: South Africa defeats New Zealand and Nelson Mandela presents Francois Pienaar with the Webb Ellis Cup in an iconic post-apartheid moment.
  • 2002 – The Igandu train disaster in Tanzania kills 281, the worst train accident in African history.
  • 2004 – In New York, capital punishment is declared unconstitutional.
  • 2010 – At Wimbledon, John Isner of the United States defeats Nicolas Mahut of France, in the longest match in professional tennis history.
  • 2010 – Julia Gillard assumes office as the first female Prime Minister of Australia.
  • 2012 – Death of Lonesome George, the last known individual of Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii, a subspecies of the Galápagos tortoise.
  • 2013 – Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is found guilty of abusing his power and engaging in sex with an underage prostitute, and is sentenced to seven years in prison.

Births on June 24

  • 1210 – Count Floris IV of Holland (d. 1234)
  • 1244 – Henry I, Landgrave of Hesse (d. 1308)
  • 1254 – Floris V, Count of Holland (d. 1296)
  • 1257 – Robert de Vere, 6th Earl of Oxford, English nobleman (probable; d. 1331)
  • 1314 – Philippa of Hainault Queen of England (d. 1369)
  • 1322 – Joanna, Duchess of Brabant (d. 1406)
  • 1343 – Joan of Valois, Queen of Navarre (d. 1373)
  • 1360 – Nuno Álvares Pereira, Portuguese general
  • 1386 – John of Capistrano, Italian priest and saint (d. 1456)
  • 1465 – Isabella del Balzo, Queen Consort of Naples (d. 1533)
  • 1485 – Johannes Bugenhagen, Polish-German priest and reformer (d. 1558)
  • 1485 – Elizabeth of Denmark, Electress of Brandenburg (d. 1555)
  • 1499 – Johannes Brenz, German theologian and the Protestant Reformer (d. 1570)
  • 1519 – Theodore Beza, French theologian and scholar (d. 1605)
  • 1532 – Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, English politician (d. 1588)
  • 1532 – William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (d. 1573)
  • 1535 – Joanna of Austria, Princess of Portugal (d. 1573)
  • 1546 – Robert Persons, English Jesuit priest, insurrectionist, and author (d. 1610)
  • 1587 – William Arnold, English-American settler (d. 1675)
  • 1591 – Mustafa I, Ottoman sultan (d. 1639)
  • 1614 – John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse
  • 1616 – Ferdinand Bol, Dutch painter, etcher and draftsman, student of Rembrandt (d. 1680)
  • 1661 – Hachisuka Tsunanori, Japanese daimyō (d. 1730)
  • 1663 – Jean Baptiste Massillon, French bishop (d. 1742)
  • 1687 – Johann Albrecht Bengel, German-Lutheran clergyman and scholar (d. 1757)
  • 1694 – Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui, Swiss author and theorist (d. 1748)
  • 1704 – Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d’Argens, French philosopher and author (d. 1771)
  • 1753 – William Hull, American general and politician, 1st Governor of Michigan Territory (d. 1825)
  • 1755 – Anacharsis Cloots, Prussian-French activist (d. 1794)
  • 1767 – Jean-Baptiste Benoît Eyriès, French geographer and author (d. 1846)
  • 1771 – Éleuthère Irénée du Pont, French chemist and businessman, founded DuPont (d. 1834)
  • 1774 – Antonio González de Balcarce, Argentinian commander and politician, 5th Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (d. 1819)
  • 1774 – François-Nicolas-Benoît Haxo, French general and engineer (d. 1838)
  • 1777 – John Ross, Scottish commander and explorer (d. 1856)
  • 1782 – Juan Larrea, Argentinian captain and politician (d. 1847)
  • 1783 – Johann Heinrich von Thünen, German economist and geographer (d. 1850)
  • 1784 – Juan Antonio Lavalleja, Uruguayan general and politician, President of Uruguay (d. 1853)
  • 1788 – Thomas Blanchard, American inventor (d. 1864)
  • 1795 – Ernst Heinrich Weber, German physician and psychologist (d. 1878)
  • 1797 – John Hughes, Irish-American archbishop (d. 1864)
  • 1797 – Paweł Edmund Strzelecki, Polish geologist and explorer (d. 1873)
  • 1804 – Stephan Endlicher, Austrian botanist, numismatist, and sinologist (d. 1849)
  • 1804 – Willard Richards, American religious leader (d. 1854)
  • 1811 – John Archibald Campbell, American lawyer and jurist (d. 1889)
  • 1813 – Henry Ward Beecher, American minister and reformer (d. 1887)
  • 1813 – Francis Boott, American composer (d. 1904)
  • 1821 – Guillermo Rawson, Argentinian physician and politician (d. 1890)
  • 1826 – George Goyder, English-Australian surveyor (d. 1898)
  • 1835 – Johannes Wislicenus, German chemist and academic (d. 1902)
  • 1838 – Jan Matejko, Polish painter (d. 1893)
  • 1839 – Gustavus Franklin Swift, American businessman (d. 1903)
  • 1842 – Ambrose Bierce, American short story writer, essayist, and journalist (d. 1914)
  • 1846 – Samuel Johnson, Nigerian priest and historian (d. 1901)
  • 1850 – Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, Irish field marshal and politician, Governor-General of Sudan (d. 1916)
  • 1852 – Friedrich Loeffler, German bacteriologist and academic (d. 1915)
  • 1854 – Eleanor Norcross, American painter (d. 1923)
  • 1856 – Henry Chapman Mercer, American archaeologist and author (d. 1930)
  • 1858 – Hastings Rashdall, English historian, philosopher, and theologian (d. 1924)
  • 1865 – Robert Henri, American painter and educator (d. 1929)
  • 1867 – Ruth Randall Edström, American educator and activist (d. 1944)
  • 1869 – Prince George of Greece and Denmark (d. 1957)
  • 1872 – Frank Crowninshield, American journalist and art and theatre critic (d. 1947)
  • 1875 – Forrest Reid, Irish novelist, literary critic and translator (d. 1947)
  • 1880 – Oswald Veblen, American mathematician and academic (g. 1960)
  • 1880 – João Cândido Felisberto, Brazilian revolutionary and sailor (d. 1969)
  • 1881 – George Shiels, Irish-Canadian author, poet, and playwright (d. 1949)
  • 1882 – Athanase David, Canadian lawyer and politician (d. 1953)
  • 1882 – Carl Diem, German businessman (d. 1962)
  • 1883 – Victor Francis Hess, Austrian-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1964)
  • 1883 – Fritz Löhner-Beda, Jewish Austrian librettist, lyricist and writer (d.1942)
  • 1883 – Jean Metzinger, French artist (d. 1956)
  • 1883 – Arthur L. Newton, American runner (d. 1956)
  • 1883 – Frank Verner, American runner (d. 1966)
  • 1884 – Frank Waller, American runner (d. 1941)
  • 1885 – Olaf Holtedahl, Norwegian geologist (d. 1975)
  • 1888 – Gerrit Rietveld, Dutch architect, designed the Rietveld Schröder House (d. 1964)
  • 1893 – Roy O. Disney, American businessman, co-founded The Walt Disney Company (d. 1971)
  • 1895 – Jack Dempsey, American boxer and soldier (d. 1983)
  • 1898 – Armin Öpik, Estonian-Australian paleontologist and geologist (d. 1983)
  • 1898 – Karl Selter, Estonian politician, 14th Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia (d. 1958)
  • 1900 – Wilhelm Cauer, German mathematician and engineer (d. 1945)
  • 1901 – Marcel Mule, French saxophonist (d. 2001)
  • 1901 – Harry Partch, American composer and theorist (d. 1974)
  • 1901 – Chuck Taylor, American basketball player and salesman (d. 1969)
  • 1904 – Phil Harris, American singer-songwriter and actor (d. 1995)
  • 1905 – Fred Alderman, American sprinter (d. 1998)
  • 1906 – Pierre Fournier, French cellist and educator (d. 1986)
  • 1906 – Willard Maas, American poet and educator (d. 1971)
  • 1907 – Arseny Tarkovsky, Russian poet and translator (d. 1989)
  • 1908 – Hugo Distler, German organist, composer, and conductor (d. 1942)
  • 1908 – Alfons Rebane, Estonian colonel (d. 1976)
  • 1909 – Jean Deslauriers, Canadian violinist, composer, and conductor (d. 1978)
  • 1909 – William Penney, Baron Penney, English mathematician and physicist (d. 1991)
  • 1909 – Betty Cavanna, American author (d. 2001)
  • 1911 – Juan Manuel Fangio, Argentinian race car driver (d. 1995)
  • 1911 – Ernesto Sabato, Argentinian physicist and academic (d. 2011)
  • 1911 – Portia White, Canadian opera singer (d. 1968)
  • 1912 – Brian Johnston, English sportscaster and author (d. 1994)
  • 1912 – Mary Wesley, English author (d. 2002)
  • 1913 – Gustaaf Deloor, Belgian cyclist and soldier (d. 2002)
  • 1914 – Jan Karski, Polish-American activist and academic (d. 2000)
  • 1914 – Pearl Witherington, French secret agent (d. 2008)
  • 1915 – Fred Hoyle, English astronomer and author (d. 2001)
  • 1916 – William B. Saxbe, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 70th United States Attorney General (d. 2010)
  • 1916 – Saloua Raouda Choucair, Lebanese painter and sculptor (d. 2017)
  • 1917 – David Easton, Canadian-American political scientist and academic (d. 2014)
  • 1917 – Lucy Jarvis, American television producer (d. 2020)
  • 1917 – Ramblin’ Tommy Scott, American singer and guitarist (d. 2013)
  • 1917 – Joan Clarke, English cryptanalyst and numismatist (d. 1996)
  • 1918 – Mildred Ladner Thompson, American journalist and author (d. 2013)
  • 1918 – Yong Nyuk Lin, Singaporean businessman and politician, Singaporean Minister for Education (d. 2012)
  • 1919 – Al Molinaro, American actor (d. 2015)
  • 1921 – Gerhard Sommer, German soldier
  • 1922 – Jack Carter, American actor and comedian (d. 2015)
  • 1922 – John Postgate, English microbiologist, author, and academic (d. 2014)
  • 1922 – Richard Timberlake, American economist
  • 1923 – Margaret Olley, Australian painter and philanthropist (d. 2011)
  • 1924 – Kurt Furgler, Swiss politician, 70th President of the Swiss Confederation (d. 2008)
  • 1924 – Archie Roy, Scottish astronomer and academic (d. 2012)
  • 1924 – Yoshito Takamine, American politician (d. 2015)
  • 1925 – Ogden Reid, American politician (d. 2019)
  • 1927 – Fernand Dumont, Canadian sociologist, philosopher, and poet (d. 1997)
  • 1927 – James B. Edwards, American dentist, soldier, and politician, 3rd United States Secretary of Energy (d. 2014)
  • 1927 – Martin Lewis Perl, American physicist and engineer, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2014)
  • 1929 – Carolyn S. Shoemaker, American astronomer
  • 1930 – Claude Chabrol, French actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2010)
  • 1930 – Donald Gordon, South African businessman and philanthropist (d. 2019)
  • 1930 – William Bernard Ziff, Jr., American publisher (d. 2006)
  • 1931 – Billy Casper, American golfer and architect (d. 2015)
  • 1932 – David McTaggart, Canadian-Italian environmentalist (d. 2001)
  • 1933 – Sam Jones, American basketball player and coach
  • 1933 – Ngina Kenyatta, 1st First Lady of Kenya
  • 1934 – Ferdinand Biwersi, German footballer and referee (d. 2013)
  • 1934 – Jean-Pierre Ferland, Canadian singer-songwriter
  • 1934 – Gloria Christian, Italian singer
  • 1935 – Terry Riley, American composer and educator
  • 1935 – Jean Milesi, French racing cyclist
  • 1935 – Charlie Dees, American baseball player
  • 1937 – Anita Desai, Indian-American author and academic
  • 1938 – Lawrence Block, American author
  • 1938 – Abulfaz Elchibey, 1st democratically elected Azerbaijani president (d. 2000)
  • 1938 – Ken Gray, New Zealand rugby player (d. 1992)
  • 1939 – Brigitte Fontaine, French singer
  • 1940 – Ian Ross, Australian newsreader (d. 2014)
  • 1940 – Vittorio Storaro, Italian cinematographer
  • 1941 – Erkin Koray, Turkish singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1941 – Julia Kristeva, Bulgarian-French psychoanalyst and author
  • 1941 – Graham McKenzie, Australian cricketer
  • 1942 – Arthur Brown, English rock singer-songwriter
  • 1942 – Michele Lee, American actress and singer
  • 1942 – Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, Chilean engineer and politician, 32nd President of Chile
  • 1942 – Colin Groves, Australian academician and educator
  • 1943 – Birgit Grodal, Danish economist and academic (d. 2004)
  • 1944 – Jeff Beck, English guitarist and songwriter
  • 1944 – Kathryn Lasky, American author
  • 1944 – Chris Wood, English saxophonist (d. 1983)
  • 1945 – Colin Blunstone, English singer-songwriter
  • 1945 – Wayne Cashman, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
  • 1945 – George Pataki, American lawyer and politician, 53rd Governor of New York
  • 1945 – Betty Stöve, Dutch tennis player
  • 1946 – David Collenette, Canadian civil servant and politician, 32nd Canadian Minister of National Defence
  • 1946 – Ellison Onizuka, American colonel, engineer, and astronaut (d. 1986)
  • 1946 – Robert Reich, American economist and politician, 22nd United States Secretary of Labor
  • 1947 – Clarissa Dickson Wright, English chef, author, and television personality (d. 2014)
  • 1947 – Peter Weller, American actor and director
  • 1948 – Patrick Moraz, Swiss keyboard player and songwriter
  • 1949 – John Illsley, English singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer
  • 1949 – Betty Jackson, English fashion designer
  • 1950 – Nancy Allen, American actress
  • 1950 – Bob Carlos Clarke, Irish-born English photographer (d. 2006)
  • 1950 – Jan Kulczyk, Polish businessman (d. 2015)
  • 1950 – Mercedes Lackey, American author
  • 1951 – Raelene Boyle, Australian sprinter
  • 1951 – Charles Sturridge, English director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1952 – Dianna Melrose, English diplomat, British High Commissioner to Tanzania
  • 1952 – Bob Neill, English lawyer and politician
  • 1953 – William E. Moerner, American chemist and physicist, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1953 – Michael Tuck, Australian footballer and coach
  • 1955 – Chris Higgins, English geneticist and academic
  • 1955 – Edmund Malura, German footballer and manager
  • 1955 – Loren Roberts, American golfer
  • 1956 – Owen Paterson, English politician, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
  • 1957 – Mark Parkinson, American lawyer and politician, 45th Governor of Kansas
  • 1958 – Jean Charest, Canadian lawyer and politician, 5th Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
  • 1958 – Silvio Mondinelli, Italian mountaineer
  • 1958 – John Tortorella, American ice hockey player and coach
  • 1959 – Andy McCluskey, English singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer
  • 1960 – Elish Angiolini, Scottish lawyer, judge, and politician, Solicitor General for Scotland
  • 1960 – Siedah Garrett, American singer-songwriter and pianist
  • 1960 – Karin Pilsäter, Swedish accountant and politician
  • 1960 – Erik Poppe, Norwegian director, cinematographer, and screenwriter
  • 1961 – Dennis Danell, American singer and guitarist (d. 2000)
  • 1961 – Iain Glen, Scottish actor
  • 1961 – Bernie Nicholls, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
  • 1961 – Ralph E. Reed, Jr., American journalist and activist
  • 1961 – Curt Smith, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
  • 1963 – Yuri Kasparyan, Russian guitarist
  • 1963 – Preki, Serbian-American soccer player and coach
  • 1963 – Mike Wieringo, American author and illustrator (d. 2007)
  • 1964 – Jean-Luc Delarue, French television host and producer (d. 2012)
  • 1964 – Kathryn Parminter, Baroness Parminter, English politician
  • 1964 – Gary Suter, American ice hockey player and scout
  • 1965 – Claude Bourbonnais, Canadian race car driver
  • 1965 – Uwe Krupp, German ice hockey player and coach
  • 1965 – Richard Lumsden, English actor, writer, composer and musician
  • 1966 – Hope Sandoval, American singer-songwriter and musician
  • 1966 – Adrienne Shelly, American actress, director, and screenwriter (d. 2006)
  • 1967 – Janez Lapajne, Slovenian director and producer
  • 1967 – John Limniatis, Greek-Canadian footballer and manager
  • 1968 – Alaa Abdelnaby, Egyptian-American basketball player and sportscaster
  • 1970 – Glenn Medeiros, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1970 – Bernardo Sassetti, Portuguese pianist, composer, and educator (d. 2012)
  • 1972 – Robbie McEwen, Australian cyclist
  • 1972 – Denis Žvegelj, Slovenian rower
  • 1973 – Alexis Gauthier, French chef
  • 1973 – Jere Lehtinen, Finnish ice hockey player
  • 1974 – Dan Byles, English sailor, rower, and politician
  • 1974 – Chris Guccione, American baseball player and umpire
  • 1975 – Marek Malík, Czech ice hockey player
  • 1975 – Federico Pucciariello, Argentinian-Italian rugby player
  • 1976 – Brock Olivo, American football player and coach
  • 1977 – Dimos Dikoudis, Greek basketball player and manager
  • 1977 – Jeff Farmer, Australian footballer
  • 1978 – Luis García, Spanish footballer
  • 1978 – Pantelis Kafes, Greek footballer
  • 1978 – Shunsuke Nakamura, Japanese footballer
  • 1978 – Ariel Pink, American singer-songwriter
  • 1978 – Juan Román Riquelme, Argentinian footballer
  • 1978 – Emppu Vuorinen, Finnish guitarist and songwriter
  • 1979 – Mindy Kaling, American actress and producer
  • 1979 – Petra Němcová, Czech model and philanthropist
  • 1980 – Cicinho, Brazilian footballer
  • 1980 – Nina Dübbers, German tennis player
  • 1980 – Andrew Jones, Australian race car driver
  • 1980 – Minka Kelly, American actress
  • 1982 – Kevin Nolan, English footballer
  • 1982 – Jarret Stoll, Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1983 – Rebecca Cooke, English swimmer
  • 1983 – Gianni Munari, Italian footballer
  • 1983 – Gard Nilssen, Norwegian drummer
  • 1983 – David Shillington, Australian rugby league player
  • 1984 – Andrea Raggi, Italian footballer
  • 1984 – J.J. Redick, American basketball player
  • 1984 – Johanna Welin, Swedish-born German wheelchair basketball player
  • 1985 – Diego Alves Carreira, Brazilian footballer
  • 1985 – Tom Kennedy, English footballer
  • 1985 – Ethan Klein, American YouTuber
  • 1985 – Nate Myles, Australian rugby league player
  • 1985 – Vernon Philander, South African cricketer
  • 1985 – Yukina Shirakawa, Japanese model
  • 1986 – Stuart Broad, English cricketer
  • 1986 – Phil Hughes, American baseball player
  • 1986 – Solange Knowles, American singer-songwriter and actress
  • 1987 – Simona Dobrá, Czech tennis player
  • 1987 – Lionel Messi, Argentinian footballer
  • 1987 – Pierre Vaultier, French snowboarder
  • 1988 – Micah Richards, English footballer
  • 1989 – Teklemariam Medhin, Eritrean runner
  • 1990 – Michael Del Zotto, Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1990 – Richard Sukuta-Pasu, German footballer
  • 1991 – Yasmin Paige, English actress
  • 1991 – Aidan Sezer, Australian rugby league player
  • 1992 – David Alaba, Austrian footballer
  • 1996 – Duki, Argentinian rapper

Deaths on June 24

  • 994 – Abu Isa al-Warraq, Arab scholar (b. 889)
  • 1046 – Jeongjong II, Korean ruler (b. 1018)
  • 1088 – William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, Norman nobleman
  • 1314 – Gilbert de Clare, 8th Earl of Gloucester, English commander (b. 1291)
  • 1314 – Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford, English soldier and politician, Lord Warden of the Marches (b. 1274)
  • 1398 – Hongwu, Chinese emperor (b. 1328)
  • 1439 – Frederick IV, duke of Austria (b. 1382)
  • 1503 – Reginald Bray, English architect and politician, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (b. 1440)
  • 1519 – Lucrezia Borgia, Italian wife of Alfonso I d’Este, Duke of Ferrara (b. 1480)
  • 1520 – Hosokawa Sumimoto, Japanese commander (b. 1489)
  • 1604 – Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, English courtier, Lord Great Chamberlain (b. 1550)
  • 1637 – Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc, French astronomer and historian (b. 1580)
  • 1643 – John Hampden, English politician (b. 1595)
  • 1766 – Adrien Maurice de Noailles, French soldier and politician, French Minister of Foreign Affairs (b. 1678)
  • 1778 – Pieter Burman the Younger, Dutch philologist and academic (b. 1714)
  • 1803 – Matthew Thornton, Irish-American judge and politician (b. 1714)
  • 1817 – Thomas McKean, American lawyer and politician, 2nd Governor of Pennsylvania (b. 1734)
  • 1835 – Andreas Vokos Miaoulis, Greek admiral and politician (b. 1769)
  • 1902 – George Leake, Australian politician, 2nd Premier of Western Australia (b. 1856)
  • 1908 – Grover Cleveland, American lawyer and politician, 22nd and 24th President of the United States (b. 1837)
  • 1909 – Sarah Orne Jewett, American novelist, short story writer, and poet (b. 1849)
  • 1922 – Walther Rathenau, German businessman and politician, 7th German Minister for Foreign Affairs (b. 1867)
  • 1931 – Otto Mears, Russian-American businessman (b. 1840)
  • 1931 – Xiang Zhongfa, Chinese politician, 2nd General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (b. 1880)
  • 1932 – Ernst Põdder, Estonian general (b. 1879)
  • 1943 – Camille Roy, Canadian priest and critic (b. 1870)
  • 1946 – Louise Whitfield Carnegie, American philanthropist (b. 1857)
  • 1947 – Emil Seidel, American politician, Mayor of Milwaukee (b. 1864)
  • 1962 – Volfgangs Dārziņš, Latvian composer, pianist and music critic (b. 1906)
  • 1964 – Stuart Davis, American painter and academic (b. 1892)
  • 1968 – Tony Hancock, English actor, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1924)
  • 1969 – Frank King, American cartoonist (b. 1883)
  • 1969 – Willy Ley, German-American historian and author (b. 1906)
  • 1976 – Minor White, American photographer, critic, and academic (b. 1908)
  • 1978 – Robert Charroux, French author and critic (b. 1909)
  • 1980 – V. V. Giri, Indian lawyer and politician, 4th President of India (b. 1894)
  • 1984 – Clarence Campbell, Canadian businessman (b. 1905)
  • 1987 – Jackie Gleason, American actor, comedian, and producer (b. 1916)
  • 1988 – Csaba Kesjár, Hungarian race car driver (b. 1962)
  • 1991 – Sumner Locke Elliott, Australian-American author and playwright (b. 1917)
  • 1991 – Rufino Tamayo, Mexican painter and illustrator (b. 1899)
  • 1994 – Jean Vallerand, Canadian violinist, composer, and conductor (b. 1915)
  • 1995 – Andrew J. Transue, American politician and attorney Morissette v. United States (b. 1903)
  • 1997 – Brian Keith, American actor (b. 1921)
  • 2000 – Vera Atkins, British intelligence officer (b. 1908)
  • 2000 – David Tomlinson, English actor and comedian (b. 1917)
  • 2000 – Rodrigo Bueno, Argentine cuarteto singer (b. 1973)
  • 2002 – Pierre Werner, Luxembourgian banker and politician, 21st Prime Minister of Luxembourg (b. 1913)
  • 2004 – Ifigeneia Giannopoulou, Greek songwriter and author (b. 1957)
  • 2005 – Paul Winchell, American actor, voice artist, and ventriloquist (b. 1922)
  • 2007 – Natasja Saad, Danish rapper and reggae singer (b. 1974)
  • 2007 – Chris Benoit, Canadian wrestler (b. 1967)
  • 2007 – Derek Dougan, Northern Irish footballer and manager (b. 1938)
  • 2008 – Gerhard Ringel, Austrian mathematician and academic (b. 1919)
  • 2009 – Roméo LeBlanc, Canadian journalist and politician, 25th Governor General of Canada (b. 1927)
  • 2010 – Fred Anderson, American jazz tenor saxophonist (b. 1929)
  • 2011 – Tomislav Ivić, Croatian football coach and manager (b. 1933)
  • 2012 – Darrel Akerfelds, American baseball player and coach (b. 1962)
  • 2012 – Gad Beck, German author and educator (b. 1923)
  • 2012 – Gu Chaohao, Chinese mathematician and academic (b. 1926)
  • 2012 – Miki Roqué, Spanish footballer (b. 1988)
  • 2012 – Ann C. Scales, American lawyer, educator, and activist (b. 1952)
  • 2013 – Mick Aston, English archaeologist and academic (b. 1946)
  • 2013 – Emilio Colombo, Italian politician, 40th Prime Minister of Italy (b. 1920)
  • 2013 – Joannes Gijsen, Dutch bishop (b. 1932)
  • 2013 – William Hathaway, American lawyer and politician (b. 1924)
  • 2013 – James Martin, English-Bermudian computer scientist and author (b. 1933)
  • 2013 – Alan Myers, American drummer (b. 1955)
  • 2014 – John Clement, Canadian lawyer and politician (b. 1928)
  • 2014 – Olga Kotelko, Canadian runner and softball player (b. 1919)
  • 2014 – Ramón José Velásquez, Venezuelan journalist, lawyer, and politician, President of Venezuela (b. 1916)
  • 2014 – Eli Wallach, American actor (b. 1915)
  • 2015 – Cristiano Araújo, Brazilian singer-songwriter (b. 1986)
  • 2015 – Mario Biaggi, American police officer, politician and criminal (b. 1917)
  • 2015 – Marva Collins, American author and educator (b. 1936)
  • 2015 – Susan Ahn Cuddy, American lieutenant (b. 1915)
  • 2019 – Billy Drago, American actor (b. 1945)

Holidays and observances on June 24

  • Army Day or Battle of Carabobo Day (Venezuela)
  • Bannockburn Day (Scotland)
  • Christian feast day:
    • María Guadalupe García Zavala
    • Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
    • June 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • Day of the Caboclo (Amazonas, Brazil)
  • Discovery Day, observed on the nearest Monday to June 24 (Newfoundland and Labrador)
  • Earliest day on which Armed Forces Day can fall, while June 30 is the latest; celebrated on the last Saturday in June. (United Kingdom)
  • Earliest day on which Inventors’ and Rationalizers’ Day can fall, while June 30 is the latest; celebrated on the last Saturday in June. (Russia)
  • Earliest day on which Mother’s Day can fall, while June 30 is the latest; celebrated on the last Sunday in June. (Kenya)
  • Earliest day on which Youth Day can fall, while Jun 30 is the latest; celebrated on the last Sunday in June. (Ukraine, Belarus)
  • Inti Raymi, a winter solstice festival and a New Year in the Andes of the Southern Hemisphere (Sacsayhuamán)
  • St John’s Day and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations (although this is not the astronomical summer solstice, see June 20) (Roman Catholic Church, Europe), and its related observances:
    • Enyovden (Bulgaria)
    • Jaanipäev (Estonia)
    • Jāņi (Latvia)
    • Jónsmessa (Iceland)
    • Midsummer Day (England)
    • Saint Jonas’ Festival or Joninės (Lithuania)
    • Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec)
    • Sânziene (western Carpathian Mountains of Romania)
    • Wattah Wattah Festival (Philippines)
  • Fors Fortuna, ancient Roman festival to Fortuna

June 24 – History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day Read More »

On This Day

June 10- History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day

On This Day /
  • 671 – Emperor Tenji of Japan introduces a water clock (clepsydra) called Rokoku. The instrument, which measures time and indicates hours, is placed in the capital of Ōtsu.
  • 1190 – Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the river Saleph while leading an army to Jerusalem.
  • 1329 – The Battle of Pelekanon results in a Byzantine defeat by the Ottoman Empire.
  • 1523 – Copenhagen is surrounded by the army of Frederick I of Denmark, as the city will not recognise him as the successor of Christian II of Denmark.
  • 1539 – Council of Trent: Pope Paul III sends out letters to his bishops, delaying the Council due to war and the difficulty bishops had traveling to Venice.
  • 1596 – Willem Barents and Jacob van Heemskerk discover Bear Island.
  • 1619 – Thirty Years’ War: Battle of Záblatí, a turning point in the Bohemian Revolt.
  • 1624 – Signing of the Treaty of Compiègne between France and the Netherlands.
  • 1692 – Salem witch trials: Bridget Bishop is hanged at Gallows Hill near Salem, Massachusetts, for “certaine Detestable Arts called Witchcraft and Sorceries”.
  • 1719 – Jacobite risings: Battle of Glen Shiel
  • 1782 – King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I) of Siam (modern day Thailand) is crowned.
  • 1786 – A landslide dam on the Dadu River created by an earthquake ten days earlier collapses, killing 100,000 in the Sichuan province of China.
  • 1793 – The Jardin des Plantes museum opens in Paris. A year later, it becomes the first public zoo.
  • 1793 – French Revolution: Following the arrests of Girondin leaders, the Jacobins gain control of the Committee of Public Safety installing the revolutionary dictatorship.
  • 1805 – First Barbary War: Yusuf Karamanli signs a treaty ending the hostilities between Tripolitania and the United States.
  • 1829 – The first Boat Race between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge takes place on the Thames in London.
  • 1838 – Myall Creek massacre: Twenty-eight Aboriginal Australians are murdered.
  • 1854 – The United States Naval Academy graduates its first class of students.
  • 1861 – American Civil War: Battle of Big Bethel: Confederate troops under John B. Magruder defeat a much larger Union force led by General Ebenezer W. Pierce in Virginia.
  • 1864 – American Civil War: Battle of Brice’s Crossroads: Confederate troops under Nathan Bedford Forrest defeat a much larger Union force led by General Samuel D. Sturgis in Mississippi.
  • 1868 – Mihailo Obrenović III, Prince of Serbia is assassinated.
  • 1871 – Sinmiyangyo: Captain McLane Tilton leads 109 US Marines in a naval attack on Han River forts on Kanghwa Island, Korea.
  • 1878 – League of Prizren is established, to oppose the decisions of the Congress of Berlin and the Treaty of San Stefano, as a consequence of which the Albanian lands in the Balkans were being partitioned and given to the neighbor states of Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Greece.
  • 1886 – Mount Tarawera in New Zealand erupts, killing 153 people and burying the famous Pink and White Terraces. Eruptions continue for three months creating a large, 17 km long fissure across the mountain peak.
  • 1898 – Spanish–American War: In the Battle of Guantánamo Bay, U.S. Marines begin the American invasion of Spanish-held Cuba.
  • 1916 – The Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire was declared by Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca.
  • 1918 – The Austro-Hungarian battleship SMS Szent István sinks off the Croatian coast after being torpedoed by an Italian MAS motorboat; the event is recorded by camera from a nearby vessel.
  • 1924 – Fascists kidnap and kill Italian Socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti in Rome.
  • 1935 – Dr. Robert Smith takes his last drink, and Alcoholics Anonymous is founded in Akron, Ohio, United States, by him and Bill Wilson.
  • 1935 – Chaco War ends: A truce is called between Bolivia and Paraguay who had been fighting since 1932.
  • 1940 – World War II: The Kingdom of Italy declares war on France and the United Kingdom.
  • 1940 – World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt denounces Italy’s actions in his “Stab in the Back” speech at the graduation ceremonies of the University of Virginia.
  • 1940 – World War II: Military resistance to the German occupation of Norway ends.
  • 1942 – World War II: The Lidice massacre is perpetrated as a reprisal for the assassination of Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich.
  • 1944 – World War II: Six hundred forty-two men, women and children massacred at Oradour-sur-Glane, France.
  • 1944 – World War II: In Distomo, Boeotia, Greece, 218 men, women and children are massacred by German troops.
  • 1944 – In baseball, 15-year-old Joe Nuxhall of the Cincinnati Reds becomes the youngest player ever in a major-league game.
  • 1945 – Australian Imperial Forces land in Brunei Bay to liberate Brunei.
  • 1947 – Saab produces its first automobile.
  • 1957 – John Diefenbaker leads the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada to a stunning upset in the 1957 Canadian federal election, ending 22 years of Liberal Party government.
  • 1963 – The Equal Pay Act of 1963, aimed at abolishing wage disparity based on sex, was signed into law by John F. Kennedy as part of his New Frontier Program.
  • 1964 – United States Senate breaks a 75-day filibuster against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, leading to the bill’s passage.
  • 1967 – The Six-Day War ends: Israel and Syria agree to a cease-fire.
  • 1977 – James Earl Ray escapes from Brushy Mountain State Prison in Petros, Tennessee. He is recaptured three days later.
  • 1980 – The African National Congress in South Africa publishes a call to fight from their imprisoned leader Nelson Mandela.
  • 1982 – Lebanon War: The Syrian Arab Army defeats the Israeli Defense Forces in the Battle of Sultan Yacoub.
  • 1990 – British Airways Flight 5390 lands safely at Southampton Airport after a blowout in the cockpit causes the captain to be partially sucked from the cockpit. There are no fatalities.
  • 1991 – Eleven-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard is kidnapped in South Lake Tahoe, California; she would remain a captive until 2009.
  • 1994 – China conducts a nuclear test for DF-31 warhead at Area C (Beishan), Lop Nur, its prominence being due to the Cox Report.
  • 1996 – Peace talks begin in Northern Ireland without the participation of Sinn Féin.
  • 1997 – Before fleeing his northern stronghold, Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot orders the killing of his defense chief Son Sen and 11 of Sen’s family members.
  • 1999 – Kosovo War: NATO suspends its airstrikes after Slobodan Milošević agrees to withdraw Serbian forces from Kosovo.
  • 2001 – Pope John Paul II canonizes Lebanon’s first female saint, Saint Rafqa.
  • 2002 – The first direct electronic communication experiment between the nervous systems of two humans is carried out by Kevin Warwick in the United Kingdom.
  • 2003 – The Spirit rover is launched, beginning NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover mission.
  • 2009 – James Wenneker von Brunn, who was 88-years-old, opened fire inside the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and fatally shot Museum Special Police Officer Stephen Tyrone Johns. Other security guards returned fire, wounding von Brunn, who was apprehended.
  • 2019 – An Agusta A109E Power crashed onto the AXA Equitable Center on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, New York City, which sparked a fire on the top of the building. The pilot of the helicopter was killed.

Births on June 10

  • 867 – Emperor Uda of Japan (d. 931)
  • 940 – Abu al-Wafa’ Buzjani, Persian mathematician and astronomer (d. 998)
  • 1213 – Fakhr-al-Din Iraqi, Persian poet and philosopher (d. 1289)
  • 1465 – Mercurino Gattinara, Italian statesman and jurist (d. 1530)
  • 1513 – Louis, Duke of Montpensier (1561–1582) (d. 1582)
  • 1557 – Leandro Bassano, Italian painter (d. 1622)
  • 1632 – Esprit Fléchier, French bishop and author (d. 1710)
  • 1688 – James Francis Edward Stuart, claimant to the English and Scottish throne (d. 1766)
  • 1713 – Princess Caroline of Great Britain (d. 1757)
  • 1716 – Carl Gustaf Ekeberg, Swedish physician and explorer (d. 1784)
  • 1753 – William Eustis, American physician and politician, 12th Governor of Massachusetts (d. 1825)
  • 1804 – Hermann Schlegel, German ornithologist and herpetologist (d. 1884)
  • 1819 – Gustave Courbet, French-Swiss painter and sculptor (d. 1877)
  • 1825 – Sondre Norheim, Norwegian-American skier (d. 1897)
  • 1832 – Edwin Arnold, English poet and journalist (d. 1904)
  • 1832 – Nicolaus Otto, German engineer (d. 1891)
  • 1832 – Stephen Mosher Wood, American lieutenant and politician (d. 1920)
  • 1835 – Rebecca Latimer Felton, American educator and politician (d. 1930)
  • 1839 – Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg, Danish lawyer and politician, 19th Prime Minister of Denmark (d. 1912)
  • 1840 – Theodor Philipsen, Danish painter (d. 1920)
  • 1843 – Heinrich von Herzogenberg, Austrian composer and conductor (d. 1900)
  • 1854 – Sarah Grand, Irish feminist writer (d. 1943)
  • 1859 – Emanuel Nobel, Swedish-Russian businessman (d. 1932)
  • 1862 – Mrs. Leslie Carter, American actress (d. 1937)
  • 1863 – Louis Couperus, Dutch author and poet (d. 1923)
  • 1864 – Ninian Comper, Scottish architect (d. 1960)
  • 1865 – Frederick Cook, American physician and explorer (d. 1940)
  • 1880 – André Derain, French painter and sculptor (d. 1954)
  • 1882 – Nils Økland, Norwegian Esperantist and teacher (d. 1969)
  • 1884 – Leone Sextus Tollemache, English captain (d. 1917)
  • 1886 – Sessue Hayakawa, Japanese actor and producer (d. 1973)
  • 1891 – Al Dubin, Swiss-American songwriter (d. 1945)
  • 1895 – Hattie McDaniel, American actress (d. 1952)
  • 1897 – Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia (d. 1918)
  • 1898 – Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt (d. 1983)
  • 1899 – Stanisław Czaykowski, Polish race car driver (d. 1933)
  • 1901 – Frederick Loewe, Austrian-American composer (d. 1988)
  • 1904 – Lin Huiyin, Chinese architect and poet (d. 1955)
  • 1907 – Fairfield Porter, American painter and critic (d. 1975)
  • 1907 – Dicky Wells, American jazz trombonist (d. 1985)[n 1]
  • 1909 – Lang Hancock, Australian soldier and businessman (d. 1992)
  • 1910 – Frank Demaree, American baseball player and manager (d. 1958)
  • 1910 – Howlin’ Wolf, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1976)
  • 1911 – Ralph Kirkpatrick, American harpsichord player and musicologist (d. 1984)
  • 1911 – Terence Rattigan, English playwright and screenwriter (d. 1977)
  • 1912 – Jean Lesage, Canadian lawyer and politician, 11th Premier of Quebec (d. 1980)
  • 1913 – Tikhon Khrennikov, Russian pianist and composer (d. 2007)
  • 1913 – Benjamin Shapira, German-Israeli biochemist and academic (d. 1993)
  • 1914 – Oktay Rıfat Horozcu, Turkish poet and playwright (d. 1988)
  • 1915 – Saul Bellow, Canadian-American novelist, essayist and short story writer, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2005)
  • 1916 – Peride Celal, Turkish author (d. 2013)
  • 1916 – William Rosenberg, American entrepreneur, founded Dunkin’ Donuts (d. 2002)
  • 1918 – Patachou, French singer and actress (d. 2015)
  • 1918 – Barry Morse, English-Canadian actor and director (d. 2008)
  • 1919 – Haidar Abdel-Shafi, Palestinian physician and politician (d. 2007)
  • 1919 – Kevin O’Flanagan, Irish footballer, rugby player, and physician (d. 2006)
  • 1921 – Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
  • 1921 – Jean Robic, French cyclist (d. 1980)
  • 1922 – Judy Garland, American singer, actress, and vaudevillian (d. 1969)
  • 1922 – Bill Kerr, South African-Australian actor (d. 2014)
  • 1923 – Paul Brunelle, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1994)
  • 1923 – Robert Maxwell, Czech-English captain, publisher, and politician (d. 1991)
  • 1924 – Friedrich L. Bauer, German mathematician, computer scientist, and academic (d. 2015)
  • 1925 – Leo Gravelle, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 2013)
  • 1925 – Nat Hentoff, American historian, author, and journalist (d. 2017)
  • 1925 – James Salter, American novelist and short-story writer (d. 2015)
  • 1926 – Bruno Bartoletti, Italian conductor (d. 2013)
  • 1926 – Lionel Jeffries, English actor, screenwriter and film director (d. 2010)
  • 1927 – Claudio Gilberto Froehlich, Brazilian zoologist
  • 1927 – László Kubala, Hungarian footballer, coach, and manager (d. 2002)
  • 1927 – Lin Yang-kang, Chinese politician, 29th Vice Premier of the Republic of China (d. 2013)
  • 1927 – Johnny Orr, American basketball player and coach (d. 2013)
  • 1927 – Eugene Parker, American astrophysicist and academic
  • 1928 – Maurice Sendak, American author and illustrator (d. 2012)
  • 1929 – James McDivitt, American general, pilot, and astronaut
  • 1929 – Ian Sinclair, Australian farmer and politician, 42nd Australian Minister for Defence
  • 1929 – Thomas Taylor, Baron Taylor of Blackburn, British Labour Party politician (d. 2016)
  • 1929 – E. O. Wilson, American biologist, author, and academic
  • 1930 – Aranka Siegal, Czech-American author and Holocaust survivor
  • 1930 – Carmen Cozza, American baseball and football player (d. 2018)
  • 1930 – Chen Xitong, Chinese politician, 8th Mayor of Beijing (d. 2013)
  • 1931 – Bryan Cartledge, English academic and diplomat, British Ambassador to Russia
  • 1931 – João Gilberto, Brazilian singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2019)
  • 1932 – Pierre Cartier, French mathematician and academic
  • 1933 – Chuck Fairbanks, American football player and coach (d. 2013)
  • 1934 – Peter Gibson, English lawyer and judge
  • 1934 – Tom Pendry, Baron Pendry, English politician
  • 1935 – Vic Elford, English race car driver
  • 1935 – Lu Jiaxi, Chinese self-taught mathematician (d. 1983)
  • 1935 – Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Japanese author and illustrator (d. 2015)
  • 1938 – Rahul Bajaj, Indian businessman and politician
  • 1938 – Violetta Villas, Belgian-Polish singer-songwriter and actress (d. 2011)
  • 1938 – Vasanti N. Bhat-Nayak, Indian mathematician and academic (d. 2009)
  • 1940 – Augie Auer, American-New Zealand meteorologist (d. 2007)
  • 1940 – John Stevens, English drummer (d. 1994)
  • 1941 – Mickey Jones, American drummer (d. 2018)
  • 1941 – Shirley Owens, American singer
  • 1941 – Jürgen Prochnow, German actor
  • 1941 – David Walker, Australian race car driver
  • 1942 – Gordon Burns, Northern Irish journalist
  • 1942 – Chantal Goya, French singer and actress
  • 1942 – Arthur Hamilton, Lord Hamilton, Scottish lawyer and judge
  • 1942 – Preston Manning, Canadian politician
  • 1943 – Simon Jenkins, English journalist and author
  • 1944 – Ze’ev Friedman, Polish-Israeli weightlifter (d. 1972)
  • 1944 – Rick Price, English rock bass player
  • 1947 – Michel Bastarache, Canadian businessman, lawyer, and jurist
  • 1947 – Ken Singleton, American baseball player and sportscaster
  • 1947 – Robert Wright, English air marshal
  • 1950 – Elías Sosa, Dominican-American baseball player
  • 1951 – Dan Fouts, American football player and sportscaster
  • 1951 – Tony Mundine, Australian boxer
  • 1951 – Burglinde Pollak, German pentathlete
  • 1952 – Kage Baker, American author (d. 2010)
  • 1953 – Eileen Cooper, English painter and academic
  • 1953 – John Edwards, American lawyer and politician
  • 1953 – Garry Hynes, Irish director and producer
  • 1953 – Christine St-Pierre, Canadian journalist and politician
  • 1954 – Moya Greene, Canadian businesswoman
  • 1954 – Rich Hall, American actor, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1955 – Annette Schavan, German theologian and politician
  • 1955 – Andrew Stevens, American actor and producer
  • 1958 – Yu Suzuki, Japanese game designer and producer
  • 1959 – Carlo Ancelotti, Italian footballer and manager
  • 1959 – Ernie C, American heavy metal guitarist, songwriter, and producer
  • 1959 – Eliot Spitzer, American lawyer and politician, 54th Governor of New York
  • 1960 – Nandamuri Balakrishna, Indian film actor and politician
  • 1961 – Kim Deal, American singer-songwriter and musician
  • 1961 – Maxi Priest, English singer-songwriter
  • 1962 – Gina Gershon, American actress, singer and author
  • 1962 – Anderson Bigode Herzer, Brazilian poet and author (d. 1982)
  • 1962 – Wong Ka Kui, Hong Kong singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1993)
  • 1962 – Tzi Ma, Hong Kong American character actor
  • 1962 – Brent Sutter, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
  • 1963 – Brad Henry, American lawyer and politician, 26th Governor of Oklahoma
  • 1963 – Jeanne Tripplehorn, American actress
  • 1965 – Susanne Albers, German computer scientist and academic
  • 1965 – Elizabeth Hurley, English model, actress, and producer
  • 1965 – Joey Santiago, American alternative rock musician
  • 1966 – David Platt, English footballer and manager
  • 1967 – Emma Anderson, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1967 – Darren Robinson, American rapper (d. 1995)
  • 1968 – Bill Burr, American comedian and actor
  • 1968 – Derek Dooley, American football player and coach
  • 1969 – Craig Hancock, Australian rugby league player
  • 1969 – Ronny Johnsen, Norwegian footballer
  • 1969 – Kate Snow, American journalist
  • 1970 – Mike Doughty, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1970 – Katsuhiro Harada, Japanese game designer, director, and producer
  • 1970 – Alex Santos, Filipino journalist
  • 1970 – Shane Whereat, Australian rugby league player
  • 1970 – Sarah Wixey, Welsh sport shooter
  • 1971 – JoJo Hailey, American singer
  • 1971 – Bobby Jindal, American journalist and politician, 55th Governor of Louisiana
  • 1971 – Bruno N’Gotty, French footballer
  • 1971 – Erik Rutan, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
  • 1972 – Steven Fischer, American director and producer
  • 1972 – Radmila Šekerinska, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia
  • 1972 – Eric Upashantha, Sri Lankan cricketer
  • 1973 – Faith Evans, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
  • 1973 – Flesh-n-Bone, American rapper and actor
  • 1973 – Pokey Reese, American baseball player
  • 1975 – Henrik Pedersen, Danish footballer
  • 1976 – Alari Lell, Estonian footballer
  • 1976 – Esther Ouwehand, Dutch politician
  • 1976 – Stefan Postma, Dutch footballer and coach
  • 1976 – Hadi Saei, Iranian martial artist
  • 1977 – Adam Darski, Polish singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1977 – Mike Rosenthal, American football player and coach
  • 1978 – Raheem Brock, American football player
  • 1979 – Evgeni Borounov, Russian ice dancer and coach
  • 1979 – Kostas Louboutis, Greek footballer
  • 1980 – Matuzalém, Brazilian footballer
  • 1980 – Ovie Mughelli, American football player
  • 1980 – Dmitri Uchaykin, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2013)
  • 1980 – Daniele Seccarecci, Italian bodybuilder (d. 2013)
  • 1980 – James Walsh, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pianist
  • 1981 – Mat Jackson, English race car driver
  • 1981 – Albie Morkel, South African cricketer
  • 1981 – Andrey Yepishin, Russian sprinter
  • 1982 – Tara Lipinski, American figure skater
  • 1982 – Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland
  • 1982 – Ana Lúcia Souza, Brazilian ballerina and journalist
  • 1983 – Jade Bailey, Barbadian athlete
  • 1983 – Marion Barber III, American football player
  • 1983 – Aaron Davey, Australian footballer
  • 1983 – Leelee Sobieski, American actress and producer
  • 1983 – Steve von Bergen, Swiss footballer
  • 1984 – Johanna Kedzierski, German sprinter
  • 1984 – Dirk Van Tichelt, Belgian martial artist
  • 1985 – Richard Chambers, Irish rower
  • 1985 – Kaia Kanepi, Estonian tennis player
  • 1985 – Kristina Lundberg, Swedish ice hockey player
  • 1985 – Dane Nielsen, Australian rugby league player
  • 1985 – Andy Schleck, Luxembourger cyclist
  • 1985 – Vasilis Torosidis, Greek footballer
  • 1985 – Kreesha Turner, Canadian singer-songwriter and dancer
  • 1986 – Al Alburquerque, Dominican baseball player
  • 1986 – Marco Andreolli, Italian footballer
  • 1987 – Martin Harnik, German-Austrian footballer
  • 1987 – Amobi Okoye, Nigerian-American football player
  • 1988 – Jeff Teague, American basketball player
  • 1989 – DeAndre Kane, American basketball player
  • 1989 – David Miller, South African cricketer
  • 1989 – Mustapha Carayol, Gambian footballer
  • 1989 – Alexandra Stan, Romanian singer-songwriter, dancer, and model
  • 1991 – Alexa Scimeca Knierim, American figure skater
  • 1992 – Kate Upton, American model and actress

Deaths on June 10

  • 323 BC – Alexander the Great, Macedonian king (b. 356 BC)
  • AD 38 – Julia Drusilla, Roman sister of Caligula (b. 16 AD)
  • 223 – Liu Bei, Chinese emperor (b. 161)
  • 779 – Emperor Daizong of Tang (b. 727)
  • 754 – Abul Abbas al-Saffah, Muslim caliph (b. 721)
  • 871 – Odo I, Frankish nobleman
  • 903 – Cheng Rui, Chinese warlord
  • 932 – Dong Zhang, Chinese general
  • 942 – Liu Yan, emperor of Southern Han (b. 889)
  • 1075 – Ernest, Margrave of Austria (b. 1027)
  • 1141 – Richenza of Northeim (b. 1087)
  • 1190 – Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor (b. 1122)
  • 1261 – Matilda of Brandenburg, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg (b. 1210)
  • 1338 – Kitabatake Akiie, Japanese governor (b. 1318)
  • 1364 – Agnes of Austria (b. 1281)
  • 1424 – Ernest, Duke of Austria (b. 1377)
  • 1437 – Joan of Navarre, Queen of England (b. 1370)
  • 1468 – Idris Imad al-Din, supreme leader of Tayyibi Isma’ilism, scholar and historian (b. 1392)
  • 1552 – Alexander Barclay, English poet and author (b. 1476)
  • 1556 – Martin Agricola, German composer and theorist (b. 1486)
  • 1580 – Luís de Camões, Portuguese poet (b. 1524–25)
  • 1604 – Isabella Andreini, Italian actress (b. 1562)
  • 1607 – John Popham, English politician, Attorney General for England and Wales (b. 1531)
  • 1654 – Alessandro Algardi, Italian sculptor (b. 1598)
  • 1680 – Johan Göransson Gyllenstierna, Swedish lawyer and politician (b. 1635)
  • 1692 – Bridget Bishop, Colonial Massachusetts woman hanged as a witch during the Salem witch trials (b. 1632)
  • 1735 – Thomas Hearne, English historian and author (b. 1678)
  • 1753 – Joachim Ludwig Schultheiss von Unfriedt, German architect (b. 1678)
  • 1776 – Hsinbyushin, Burmese king (b. 1736)
  • 1776 – Leopold Widhalm, Austrian instrument maker (b. 1722)
  • 1791 – Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte, French admiral (b. 1720)
  • 1799 – Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Caribbean-French violinist, composer, and conductor (b. 1745)
  • 1811 – Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden (b. 1728)
  • 1831 – Hans Karl von Diebitsch, German-Russian field marshal (b. 1785)
  • 1836 – André-Marie Ampère, French physicist and mathematician (b. 1775)
  • 1849 – Thomas Robert Bugeaud, French general and politician (b. 1784)
  • 1849 – Robert Brown, Scottish botanist (b. 1773)
  • 1868 – Mihailo Obrenović III, Prince of Serbia (b. 1823)
  • 1899 – Ernest Chausson, French composer (b. 1855)
  • 1901 – Robert Williams Buchanan, Scottish poet, author, and playwright (b. 1841)
  • 1902 – Jacint Verdaguer, Catalan priest and poet (b. 1845)
  • 1906 – Richard Seddon, English-New Zealand politician, 15th Prime Minister of New Zealand (b. 1845)
  • 1909 – Edward Everett Hale, American minister, historian, and author (b. 1822)
  • 1914 – Ödön Lechner, Hungarian architect (b. 1845)
  • 1918 – Arrigo Boito, Italian author, poet, and composer (b. 1842)
  • 1923 – Pierre Loti, French soldier and author (b. 1850)
  • 1924 – Giacomo Matteotti, Italian lawyer and politician (b. 1885)
  • 1926 – Antoni Gaudí, Spanish architect, designed the Park Güell (b. 1852)
  • 1930 – Adolf von Harnack, German historian and theologian (b. 1851)
  • 1934 – Frederick Delius, English composer and educator (b. 1862)
  • 1936 – John Bowser, English-Australian politician, 26th Premier of Victoria (b. 1856)
  • 1937 – Robert Borden, Canadian lawyer and politician, 8th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1854)
  • 1939 – Albert Ogilvie, Australian politician, 28th Premier of Tasmania (b. 1890)
  • 1940 – Marcus Garvey, Jamaican journalist and activist, founded the Black Star Line (b. 1887)
  • 1944 – Willem Jacob van Stockum, Dutch mathematician and academic (b. 1910)
  • 1946 – Jack Johnson, American boxer (b. 1878)
  • 1947 – Alexander Bethune, Canadian businessman and politician, 12th Mayor of Vancouver (b. 1852)
  • 1949 – Sigrid Undset, Danish-Norwegian novelist, essayist, and translator, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1882)
  • 1955 – Margaret Abbott, Indian-American golfer (b. 1876)
  • 1958 – Angelina Weld Grimké, American journalist, poet, and playwright (b. 1880)
  • 1959 – Zoltán Meskó, Hungarian politician (b. 1883)
  • 1963 – Timothy Birdsall, English cartoonist (b. 1936)
  • 1965 – Vahap Özaltay, Turkish footballer and manager (b. 1908)
  • 1967 – Spencer Tracy, American actor (b. 1900)
  • 1971 – Michael Rennie, English actor (b. 1909)
  • 1973 – William Inge, American playwright and novelist (b. 1913)
  • 1974 – Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (b. 1900)
  • 1976 – Adolph Zukor, American film producer, co-founded Paramount Pictures (b. 1873)
  • 1982 – Rainer Werner Fassbinder, German actor, director, and screenwriter (b. 1945)
  • 1984 – Halide Nusret Zorlutuna, Turkish author and poet (b. 1901)
  • 1986 – Merle Miller, American author and playwright (b. 1919)
  • 1987 – Elizabeth Hartman, American actress (b. 1943)
  • 1988 – Louis L’Amour, American novelist and short story writer (b. 1908)
  • 1991 – Jean Bruller, French author and illustrator, co-founded Les Éditions de Minuit (b. 1902)
  • 1992 – Hachidai Nakamura, Chinese-Japanese pianist and composer (b. 1931)
  • 1993 – Les Dawson, English comedian, actor, writer and presenter (b. 1931)
  • 1996 – George Hees, Canadian soldier, football player, and politician (b. 1910)
  • 1996 – Jo Van Fleet, American actress (b. 1915)
  • 1998 – Jim Hearn, American baseball player (b. 1921)
  • 1998 – Hammond Innes, English soldier and author (b. 1914)
  • 2000 – Hafez al-Assad, Syrian general and politician, 18th President of Syria (b. 1930)
  • 2000 – Brian Statham, English cricketer (b. 1930)
  • 2001 – Leila Pahlavi, Princess of Iran (b. 1970)
  • 2002 – John Gotti, American mobster (b. 1940)
  • 2003 – Donald Regan, American colonel and politician, 11th White House Chief of Staff (b. 1918)
  • 2003 – Bernard Williams, English philosopher and academic (b. 1929)
  • 2003 – Phil Williams, Welsh academic and politician (b. 1939)
  • 2004 – Ray Charles, American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actor (b. 1930)
  • 2004 – Odette Laure, French actress and singer (b. 1917)
  • 2004 – Xenophon Zolotas, Greek economist and politician, 177th Prime Minister of Greece (b. 1904)
  • 2005 – Curtis Pitts, American aircraft designer, designed the Pitts Special (b. 1915)
  • 2007 – Augie Auer, American-New Zealand meteorologist (b. 1940)
  • 2008 – Chinghiz Aitmatov, Kyrgyzstani author and diplomat (b. 1928)
  • 2009 – Stelios Skevofilakas, Greek footballer (b. 1940)
  • 2010 – Basil Schott, American archbishop (b. 1939)
  • 2010 – Sigmar Polke, German painter and photographer (b. 1941)
  • 2011 – Brian Lenihan Jnr, Irish lawyer and politician, 25th Irish Minister for Finance (b. 1959)
  • 2012 – Piero Bellugi, Italian conductor (b. 1924)
  • 2012 – Warner Fusselle, American sportscaster (b. 1944)
  • 2012 – Will Hoebee, Dutch songwriter and producer (b. 1947)
  • 2012 – Georges Mathieu, French painter and academic (b. 1921)
  • 2012 – Joshua Orwa Ojode, Kenyan politician (b. 1958)
  • 2012 – George Saitoti, Kenyan economist and politician, 6th Vice-President of Kenya (b. 1945)
  • 2012 – Sudono Salim, Chinese-Indonesian businessman, founded Bank Central Asia (b. 1916)
  • 2012 – Gordon West, English footballer (b. 1943)
  • 2013 – Doug Bailey, American political consultant (b. 1933)
  • 2013 – Enrique Orizaola, Spanish footballer and coach (b. 1922)
  • 2013 – Barbara Vucanovich, American lawyer and politician (b. 1921)
  • 2014 – Marcello Alencar, Brazilian lawyer and politician, 57th Governor of Rio de Janeiro (b. 1925)
  • 2014 – Gary Gilmour, Australian cricketer and manager (b. 1951)
  • 2014 – Robert M. Grant, American theologian and academic (b. 1917)
  • 2014 – Jack Lee, American radio host and politician (b. 1920)
  • 2015 – Robert Chartoff, American film producer and philanthropist (b. 1933)
  • 2015 – Wolfgang Jeschke, German author and publisher (b. 1936)
  • 2016 – Christina Grimmie, American singer-songwriter (b. 1994)
  • 2016 – Gordie Howe, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1928)
  • 2017 – Julia Perez, Indonesian singer and actress (b. 1980)
  • 2018 – Neal E. Boyd, American singer, winner of the 2008 season of America’s Got Talent (b. 1975)
  • 2020 – Claudell Washington, American baseball player (b. 1954)

Holidays and observances on June 10

  • Abolition Day (French Guiana)
  • Army Day (Jordan)
  • World Art Nouveau Day (Worldwide)
  • Christian feast day:
    • Bardo
    • Getulius, Amancius and Cerealus
    • Guardian Angel of Portugal
    • John of Tobolsk (Russian Orthodox Church)
    • Landry of Paris
    • Maurinus of Cologne
    • Maximus of Aveia (or of Aquila)
    • Maximus of Naples
    • Olivia
    • June 10 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • Navy Day (Italy)
  • Portugal Day, also Day of Camões (Portugal and the Portuguese communities)
  • Reconciliation Day (Republic of the Congo)

June 10- History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day Read More »

On This Day

May 29 – History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day

On This Day /
  • 363 – The Roman emperor Julian defeats the Sasanian army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Sasanian capital, but is unable to take the city.
  • 1108 – Battle of Uclés: Almoravid troops under the command of Tamim ibn Yusuf defeat a Castile and León alliance under the command of Prince Sancho Alfónsez.
  • 1167 – Battle of Monte Porzio: A Roman army supporting Pope Alexander III is defeated by Christian of Buch and Rainald of Dassel.
  • 1176 – Battle of Legnano: The Lombard League defeats Emperor Frederick I.
  • 1328 – Philip VI is crowned King of France.
  • 1416 – Battle of Gallipoli: The Venetians under Pietro Loredan defeat a much larger Ottoman fleet off Gallipoli.
  • 1453 – Fall of Constantinople: Ottoman armies under Sultan Mehmed II Fatih capture Constantinople after a 53-day siege, ending the Byzantine Empire.
  • 1658 – Battle of Samugarh: decisive battle in the struggle for the throne during the Mughal war of succession (1658–1659).
  • 1660 – English Restoration: Charles II is restored to the throne of England, Scotland and Ireland.
  • 1733 – The right of settlers in New France to enslave natives is upheld at Quebec City.
  • 1780 – American Revolutionary War: At the Battle of Waxhaws, the British continue attacking after the Continentals lay down their arms, killing 113 and critically wounding all but 53 that remained.
  • 1790 – Rhode Island becomes the last of North America’s original Thirteen Colonies to ratify the Constitution and become one of the United States.
  • 1798 – United Irishmen Rebellion: Between 300 and 500 United Irishmen are executed as rebels by the British Army in County Kildare, Ireland.
  • 1807 – Mustafa IV became Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and Caliph of Islam.
  • 1848 – Wisconsin is admitted as the 30th U.S. state.
  • 1852 – Jenny Lind leaves New York after her two-year American tour.
  • 1861 – The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce is founded, in Hong Kong.
  • 1864 – Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico arrives in Mexico for the first time.
  • 1867 – The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 (“the Compromise”) is born through Act 12, which establishes the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
  • 1868 – Mihailo Obrenović III, Prince of Serbia is assassinated.
  • 1886 – The pharmacist John Pemberton places his first advertisement for Coca-Cola, which appeared in The Atlanta Journal.
  • 1900 – N’Djamena is founded as Fort-Lamy by the French commander Émile Gentil.
  • 1903 – In the May Coup, Alexander I, King of Serbia, and Queen Draga, are assassinated in Belgrade by the Black Hand (Crna Ruka) organization.
  • 1913 – Igor Stravinsky’s ballet score The Rite of Spring receives its premiere performance in Paris, France, provoking a riot.
  • 1914 – The Ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland sinks in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence with the loss of 1,012 lives.
  • 1918 – Armenia defeats the Ottoman Army in the Battle of Sardarabad.
  • 1919 – Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity is tested (later confirmed) by Arthur Eddington and Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin
  • 1920 – The Louth flood of 1920 was a severe flash flooding in the Lincolnshire market town of Louth which occurred 29 May 1920, resulting in 23 fatalities in 20 minutes. It has been described as one of the most significant flood disasters in Britain during the 20th century.
  • 1931 – Michele Schirru, a citizen of the United States, is executed by Italian military firing squad for intent to kill Benito Mussolini.
  • 1932 – World War I veterans begin to assemble in Washington, D.C., in the Bonus Army to request cash bonuses promised to them to be paid in 1945.
  • 1935 – First flight of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aeroplane.
  • 1945 – First combat mission of the Consolidated B-32 Dominator heavy bomber.
  • 1948 – United Nations Truce Supervision Organization is founded.
  • 1950 – The St. Roch, the first ship to circumnavigate North America, arrives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
  • 1953 – Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay become the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on Tenzing Norgay’s (adopted) 39th birthday.
  • 1964 – The Arab League meets in East Jerusalem to discuss the Palestinian question, leading to the formation of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
  • 1973 – Tom Bradley is elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles, California.
  • 1982 – Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit Canterbury Cathedral.
  • 1982 – Falklands War: British forces defeat the Argentines at the Battle of Goose Green.
  • 1985 – Heysel Stadium disaster: Thirty-nine association football fans die and hundreds are injured when a dilapidated retaining wall collapses.
  • 1985 – Amputee Steve Fonyo completes cross-Canada marathon at Victoria, British Columbia, after 14 months.
  • 1988 – The U.S. President Ronald Reagan begins his first visit to the Soviet Union when he arrives in Moscow for a superpower summit with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
  • 1989 – Signing of an agreement between Egypt and the United States, allowing the manufacture of parts of the F-16 jet fighter plane in Egypt.
  • 1990 – The Russian parliament elects Boris Yeltsin as president of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.
  • 1993 – The Miss Sarajevo beauty pageant is held in war-torn Sarajevo drawing global attention to the plight of its citizens.
  • 1999 – Olusegun Obasanjo takes office as President of Nigeria, the first elected and civilian head of state in Nigeria after 16 years of military rule.
  • 1999 – Space Shuttle Discovery completes the first docking with the International Space Station.
  • 2001 – The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the disabled golfer Casey Martin can use a cart to ride in tournaments.
  • 2004 – The National World War II Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C.
  • 2008 – A doublet earthquake, of combined magnitude 6.1, strikes Iceland near the town of Selfoss, injuring 30 people.
  • 2012 – A 5.8-magnitude earthquake hits northern Italy near Bologna, killing at least 24 people.
  • 2015 – One World Observatory at One World Trade Center opens.

Births on May 29

  • 1421 – Charles, Prince of Viana (d. 1461)
  • 1439 – Pope Pius III (d. 1503)
  • 1443 – Victor, Duke of Münsterberg, Reichsgraf, Duke of Münsterberg and Opava, Count of Glatz (d. 1500)
  • 1504 – Antun Vrančić, Croatian archbishop (d. 1573)
  • 1555 – George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes, English Earl, general and administrator (d. 1629)
  • 1568 – Virginia de’ Medici, Italian princess (d. 1615)
  • 1594 – Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim, Bavarian field marshal (d. 1632)
  • 1627 – Anne, Duchess of Montpensier, French princess (d. 1693)
  • 1630 – Charles II of England (d. 1685)
  • 1675 – Humphry Ditton, English mathematician and philosopher (d. 1715)
  • 1716 – Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton, French zoologist and mineralogist (d. 1800)
  • 1722 – James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster, Irish soldier and politician (d. 1773)
  • 1730 – Jackson of Exeter, English organist and composer (d. 1803)
  • 1736 – Patrick Henry, American lawyer and politician, 1st Governor of Virginia (d. 1799)
  • 1780 – Henri Braconnot, French chemist and pharmacist (d. 1855)
  • 1794 – Johann Heinrich von Mädler, German astronomer and selenographer (d. 1874)
  • 1797 – Louise-Adéone Drölling, French painter (d. 1836)
  • 1823 – John H. Balsley, American carpenter and inventor (d. 1895)
  • 1860 – Isaac Albéniz, Spanish pianist and composer (d. 1909)
  • 1871 – Clark Voorhees, American painter (d. 1933)
  • 1873 – Rudolf Tobias, Estonian organist and composer (d. 1918)
  • 1874 – G. K. Chesterton, English essayist, poet, and playwright (d. 1936)
  • 1880 – Oswald Spengler, German historian and philosopher (d. 1936)
  • 1892 – Alfonsina Storni, Swiss-Argentinian poet and author (d. 1938)
  • 1893 – Max Brand, American journalist and author (d. 1944)
  • 1894 – Beatrice Lillie, Canadian-English actress, singer and writer (d. 1989)
  • 1894 – Josef von Sternberg, Austrian-American director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1969)
  • 1897 – Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Czech-American pianist, composer, and conductor (d. 1957)
  • 1899 – Douglas Abbott, Canadian lawyer and politician, 10th Canadian Minister of Defence (d. 1987)
  • 1902 – Harry Kadwell, Australian rugby league player and coach (d. 1999)
  • 1903 – Bob Hope, English-American actor, singer, and producer (d. 2003)
  • 1904 – Hubert Opperman, Australian cyclist and politician (d. 1996)
  • 1905 – Sebastian Shaw, English actor, director, and playwright (d. 1994)
  • 1906 – T. H. White, Indian-English author (d. 1964)
  • 1907 – Hartland Molson, Canadian captain and politician (d. 2002)
  • 1908 – Diana Morgan, Welsh-English playwright and screenwriter (d. 1996)
  • 1910 – Ralph Metcalfe, American sprinter and politician (d. 1978)
  • 1913 – Tony Zale, American boxer (d. 1997)
  • 1914 – Stacy Keach Sr., American actor (d. 2003)
  • 1914 – Tenzing Norgay, Nepalese-Indian mountaineer (d. 1986)
  • 1915 – Karl Münchinger, German conductor and composer (d. 1990)
  • 1917 – John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States (d. 1963)
  • 1917 – Marcel Trudel, Canadian historian, author, and academic (d. 2011)
  • 1919 – Jacques Genest, Canadian physician and academic (d. 2018)
  • 1920 – John Harsanyi, Hungarian-American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2000)
  • 1920 – Clifton James, American actor (d. 2017)
  • 1921 – Norman Hetherington, Australian cartoonist and puppeteer (d. 2010)
  • 1922 – Joe Weatherly, American race car driver (d. 1964)
  • 1922 – Iannis Xenakis, Greek-French composer, engineer, and theorist (d. 2001)
  • 1923 – Bernard Clavel, French author (d. 2010)
  • 1923 – John Parker, 6th Earl of Morley, English colonel and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Devon (d. 2015)
  • 1923 – Eugene Wright, American jazz bassist
  • 1924 – Lars Bo, Danish author and illustrator (d. 1999)
  • 1924 – Miloslav Kříž, Czech basketball player and coach (d. 2013)
  • 1924 – Pepper Paire, American baseball player (d. 2013)
  • 1926 – Katie Boyle, Italian-English actress and television host (d. 2018)
  • 1926 – Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe, Queen Consort of Tonga (d. 2017)
  • 1926 – Abdoulaye Wade, Senegalese academic and politician, 3rd President of Senegal
  • 1927 – Jean Coutu, Canadian pharmacist and businessman, founded the Jean Coutu Group
  • 1929 – Harry Frankfurt, American philosopher and academic
  • 1929 – Peter Higgs, English-Scottish physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1929 – Roberto Vargas, Puerto Rican-American baseball player, coach, and manager (d. 2014)
  • 1932 – Paul R. Ehrlich, American biologist and author
  • 1932 – Richie Guerin, American basketball player and coach
  • 1933 – Helmuth Rilling, German conductor and educator
  • 1933 – Tarquinio Provini, Italian motorcycle racer (d. 2005)
  • 1934 – Bill Vander Zalm, Dutch-Canadian businessman and politician, 28th Premier of British Columbia
  • 1935 – André Brink, South African author and playwright (d. 2015)
  • 1935 – Sylvia Robinson, American singer and producer (d. 2011)
  • 1937 – Charles W. Pickering, American lawyer and judge
  • 1937 – Irmin Schmidt, German keyboard player and composer
  • 1937 – Alwin Schockemöhle, German show-jumper
  • 1937 – Harry Statham, American basketball player and coach
  • 1938 – Christopher Bland, English businessman and politician (d. 2017)
  • 1938 – Fay Vincent, American lawyer and businessman
  • 1939 – Pete Smith, Australian radio and television announcer
  • 1939 – Al Unser, American race car driver
  • 1940 – Taihō Kōki, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 48th Yokozuna (d. 2013)
  • 1940 – Farooq Leghari, Pakistani politician, 8th President of Pakistan (d. 2010)
  • 1941 – Doug Scott, English mountaineer and author
  • 1941 – Bob Simon, American journalist (d. 2015)
  • 1942 – Pierre Bourque, Canadian businessman and politician, 40th Mayor of Montreal
  • 1942 – Kevin Conway, American actor and director (d. 2020)
  • 1943 – Robert W. Edgar, American educator and politician (d. 2013)
  • 1944 – Bob Benmosche, American businessman (d. 2015)
  • 1944 – Quentin Davies, English soldier and politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
  • 1945 – Gary Brooker, English singer-songwriter and pianist
  • 1945 – Peter Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie, Scottish lawyer and politician, Solicitor General for Scotland (d. 2013)
  • 1945 – Julian Le Grand, English economist and author
  • 1945 – Martin Pipe, English jockey and trainer
  • 1945 – Joyce Tenneson, American photographer
  • 1945 – Jean-Pierre Van Rossem, Belgian scholar and author (d. 2018)
  • 1946 – Fernando Buesa, Spanish politician (d. 2000)
  • 1947 – Anthony Geary, American actor
  • 1948 – Michael Berkeley, English composer and radio host
  • 1948 – Keith Gull, English microbiologist and academic
  • 1949 – Robert Axelrod, American actor and screenwriter (d. 2019)
  • 1949 – Brian Kidd, English footballer and manager
  • 1949 – Francis Rossi, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1950 – Rebbie Jackson, American singer and actress
  • 1953 – Danny Elfman, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor
  • 1954 – Robert Beaser, American composer and educator
  • 1954 – Jerry Moran, American lawyer and politician
  • 1955 – Frank Baumgartl, German runner (d. 2010)
  • 1955 – John Hinckley Jr., American attempted assassin of Ronald Reagan
  • 1955 – David Kirschner, American animator, producer, and author
  • 1955 – Gordon Rintoul, Scottish historian and curator
  • 1955 – Ken Schrader, American race car driver and sportscaster
  • 1956 – Mark Lyall Grant, English diplomat, British Ambassador to the United Nations
  • 1956 – La Toya Jackson, American singer-songwriter and actress
  • 1957 – Steven Croft, English bishop and theologian
  • 1957 – Jeb Hensarling, American lawyer and politician
  • 1957 – Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Iranian film director
  • 1958 – Annette Bening, American actress
  • 1958 – Juliano Mer-Khamis, Israeli actor, director, and activist (d. 2011)
  • 1958 – Uwe Rapolder, German footballer and coach
  • 1958 – Mike Stenhouse, American baseball player and sportscaster
  • 1959 – Rupert Everett, English actor and novelist
  • 1959 – Mel Gaynor, English drummer
  • 1959 – Steve Hanley, Irish-English bass player and songwriter
  • 1960 – Thomas Baumer, Swiss economist and academic
  • 1960 – Mike Freer, English politician
  • 1961 – Melissa Etheridge, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and activist
  • 1961 – John Miceli, American drummer
  • 1962 – Fandi Ahmad, Singaporean footballer, coach, and manager
  • 1962 – Eric Davis, American baseball player
  • 1962 – Carol Kirkwood, Scottish journalist
  • 1962 – Chloé Sainte-Marie, Canadian actress and singer
  • 1963 – Blaze Bayley, English singer-songwriter
  • 1963 – Zhu Jianhua, Chinese high jumper
  • 1963 – Ukyo Katayama, Japanese race car driver
  • 1963 – Claude Loiselle, Canadian ice hockey player and manager
  • 1964 – Howard Mills III, American academic and politician
  • 1964 – Oswaldo Negri Jr., Brazilian race car driver
  • 1966 – Natalie Nougayrède, French journalist
  • 1967 – Noel Gallagher, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1967 – Mike Keane, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
  • 1967 – Steven Levitt, American economist, author, and academic
  • 1968 – Torquhil Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll, Scottish politician
  • 1968 – Tate George, American basketball player
  • 1968 – Jessica Morden, English politician
  • 1968 – Hida Viloria, American activist
  • 1970 – Natarsha Belling, Australian journalist
  • 1970 – Roberto Di Matteo, Italian footballer and manager
  • 1971 – Éric Lucas, Canadian boxer
  • 1971 – Bernd Mayländer, German race car driver
  • 1971 – Jo Beth Taylor, Australian television host and actress
  • 1971 – Rob Womack, English shot putter and discus thrower
  • 1972 – Bill Curley, American basketball player and coach
  • 1972 – Simon Jones, English singer and bass player
  • 1973 – Tomoko Kaneda, Japanese voice actress, singer, and radio personality
  • 1973 – Mark Lee, American guitarist and songwriter
  • 1973 – Alpay Özalan, Turkish footballer
  • 1974 – Steve Cardenas, American martial artist and retired actor
  • 1974 – Stephen Larkham, Australian rugby player and coach
  • 1974 – Aaron McGruder, American author and cartoonist
  • 1974 – Myf Warhurst, Australian radio and television host
  • 1974 – Jenny Willott, English politician
  • 1975 – Jason Allison, Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1975 – Mel B, English singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress
  • 1975 – Sven Kubis, German footballer
  • 1975 – Sarah Millican, English comedian
  • 1975 – Anthony Wall, English golfer
  • 1975 – Daniel Tosh, American comedian, television host, actor, writer, and executive producer
  • 1976 – Caçapa, Brazilian footballer and manager
  • 1976 – Jerry Hairston Jr., American baseball player and sportscaster
  • 1976 – Raef LaFrentz, American basketball player
  • 1976 – Yegor Titov, Russian footballer
  • 1977 – Massimo Ambrosini, Italian footballer
  • 1977 – Marco Cassetti, Italian footballer
  • 1977 – António Lebo Lebo, Angolan footballer
  • 1978 – Pelle Almqvist, Swedish singer-songwriter
  • 1978 – Sébastien Grosjean, French tennis player
  • 1978 – Lorenzo Odone, Italian-American adrenoleukodystrophy patient who inspired the 1992 film, Lorenzo’s Oil (d. 2008)
  • 1978 – Adam Rickitt, English singer
  • 1979 – Arne Friedrich, German footballer
  • 1979 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler
  • 1979 – John Rheinecker, American baseball player (d. 2017)
  • 1980 – Ernesto Farías, Argentinian footballer
  • 1981 – Andrey Arshavin, Russian footballer
  • 1982 – Nataliya Dobrynska, Ukrainian heptathlete
  • 1982 – Matt Macri, American baseball player
  • 1982 – Kim Tae-kyun, South Korean baseball player
  • 1984 – Carmelo Anthony, American basketball player
  • 1984 – Nia Jax, Australian-American professional wrestler
  • 1984 – Funmi Jimoh, American long jumper
  • 1984 – Andreas Schäffer, German footballer
  • 1984 – Ina Wroldsen, Norwegian singer and songwriter
  • 1985 – Nathan Horton, Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1987 – Lina Andrijauskaitė, Lithuanian long jumper
  • 1987 – Issac Luke, New Zealand rugby league player
  • 1987 – Kelvin Maynard, Dutch footballer (d. 2019)
  • 1987 – Noah Reid, Canadian actor, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1987 – Rui Sampaio, Portuguese footballer
  • 1988 – Muath Al-Kasasbeh, Jordanian captain and pilot (d. 2015)
  • 1988 – Cheng Fei, Chinese gymnast
  • 1988 – Steve Mason, Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1989 – Ezekiel Ansah, Ghanaian-American football player
  • 1989 – Diego Barisone, Argentinian footballer (d. 2015)
  • 1989 – Riley Keough, American model and actress
  • 1990 – Joe Biagini, American baseball pitcher
  • 1992 – Sarah Moundir, Swiss tennis player
  • 1993 – Jana Čepelová, Slovak tennis player
  • 1993 – Maika Monroe, American actress and kiteboarder
  • 1993 – Grete Šadeiko, Estonian heptathlete
  • 1998 – Markelle Fultz, American basketball player
  • 1999 – Park Ji-hoon, South Korean singer and actor

Deaths on May 29

  • 931 – Jimeno Garcés of Pamplona
  • 1040 – Renauld I, Count of Nevers
  • 1259 – Christopher I of Denmark (b. 1219)
  • 1311 – James II of Majorca (b. 1243)
  • 1320 – Pope John VIII of Alexandria, Coptic pope
  • 1327 – Jens Grand, Danish archbishop (b. c. 1260)
  • 1379 – Henry II of Castile (b. 1334)
  • 1405 – Philippe de Mézières, French soldier and author (b. 1327)
  • 1425 – Hongxi Emperor of China (b. 1378)
  • 1453 – Ulubatlı Hasan, Ottoman commander (b. 1428)
  • 1453 – Constantine XI Palaiologos, Byzantine emperor (b. 1404)
  • 1500 – Bartolomeu Dias, Portuguese explorer and navigator (b. 1451)
  • 1500 – Thomas Rotherham, English cleric and minister (b. 1423)
  • 1546 – David Beaton, Scottish cardinal and politician, Lord Chancellor of Scotland (b. 1494)
  • 1593 – John Penry, Welsh martyr (b. 1559)
  • 1660 – Frans van Schooten, Dutch mathematician and academic (b. 1615)
  • 1691 – Cornelis Tromp, Dutch admiral (b. 1629)
  • 1790 – Israel Putnam, American general (b. 1718)
  • 1796 – Carl Fredrik Pechlin, Swedish general and politician (b. 1720)
  • 1814 – Joséphine de Beauharnais, first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte (b. 1763)
  • 1829 – Humphry Davy, English-Swiss chemist and academic (b. 1778)
  • 1847 – Emmanuel de Grouchy, Marquis de Grouchy, French general (b. 1766)
  • 1862 – Franz Mirecki, Polish composer, music conductor, and music teacher (b. 1791)
  • 1866 – Winfield Scott, American general, lawyer, and politician (b. 1786)
  • 1873 – Prince Friedrich of Hesse and by Rhine (b. 1870)
  • 1892 – Bahá’u’lláh, Persian religious leader, founded the Bahá’í Faith (b. 1817)
  • 1896 – Gabriel Auguste Daubrée, French geologist and academic (b. 1814)
  • 1903 – Bruce Price, American architect, designed the Château Frontenac and American Surety Building (b. 1845)
  • 1910 – Mily Balakirev, Russian pianist, composer, and conductor (b. 1837)
  • 1911 – W. S. Gilbert, English playwright and poet (b. 1836)
  • 1914 – Laurence Sydney Brodribb Irving, English author and playwright (b. 1871)
  • 1914 – Henry Seton-Karr, English explorer, hunter, and author (b. 1853)
  • 1917 – Kate Harrington, American poet and educator (b. 1831)
  • 1919 – Robert Bacon, American colonel and politician, 39th United States Secretary of State (b. 1860)
  • 1920 – Carlos Deltour, French rower (b. 1864)
  • 1921 – Abbott Handerson Thayer, American painter and educator (b. 1849)
  • 1935 – Josef Suk, Czech violinist and composer (b. 1874)
  • 1939 – Ursula Ledóchowska, Austrian-Polish nun and saint, founded the Congregation of the Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus (b. 1865)
  • 1941 – Léo-Pol Morin, Canadian pianist, composer, and educator (b. 1892)
  • 1942 – John Barrymore, American actor (b. 1882)
  • 1946 – Martin Gottfried Weiss, German SS officer (b. 1905)
  • 1948 – May Whitty, English actress (b. 1865)
  • 1951 – Fanny Brice, American singer and comedian (b. 1891)
  • 1951 – Dimitrios Levidis, Greek-French soldier and composer (b. 1885)
  • 1953 – Morgan Russell, American painter and educator (b. 1886)
  • 1957 – James Whale, English director (b. 1889)
  • 1958 – Juan Ramón Jiménez, Spanish poet and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1881)
  • 1963 – Netta Muskett, English author (b. 1887)
  • 1966 – Ignace Lepp, Estonian-French priest and psychologist (b. 1909)
  • 1968 – Arnold Susi, Estonian lawyer and politician, Estonian Minister of Education (b. 1896)
  • 1970 – John Gunther, American journalist and author (b. 1901)
  • 1970 – Eva Hesse, American artist (b. 1936)
  • 1972 – Moe Berg, American baseball player, coach, and spy (b. 1902)
  • 1972 – Stephen Timoshenko, Ukrainian-American engineer and academic (b. 1878)
  • 1973 – George Harriman, English businessman (b. 1908)
  • 1977 – Ba Maw, Burmese politician, Prime Minister of Burma (b. 1893)
  • 1979 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress, producer, and screenwriter, co-founded United Artists (b. 1892)
  • 1979 – John H. Wood Jr., American lawyer and judge (b. 1916)
  • 1982 – Romy Schneider, Austrian actress (b. 1938)
  • 1983 – Arvīds Pelše, Latvian-Russian historian and politician (b. 1899)
  • 1987 – Charan Singh, Indian politician, 5th Prime Minister of India (b. 1902)
  • 1988 – Salem bin Laden, Saudi Arabian businessman (b. 1946)
  • 1989 – George C. Homans, American sociologist and academic (b. 1910)
  • 1991 – Margaret Barr (choreographer), Australian choreographer and teacher of dance-drama (b. 1904)
  • 1993 – Billy Conn, American boxer (b. 1917)
  • 1994 – Erich Honecker, German lawyer and politician (b. 1912)
  • 1994- Lady May Abel Smith, member of the British Royal Family (b. 1906)
  • 1996 – Tamara Toumanova, American ballerina and actress (b. 1919)
  • 1997 – Jeff Buckley, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1966)
  • 1998 – Barry Goldwater, American general, activist, and politician (b. 1909)
  • 2003 – David Jefferies, English motorcycle racer (b. 1972)
  • 2004 – Archibald Cox, American lawyer and politician, 31st United States Solicitor General (b. 1912)
  • 2004 – Samuel Dash, American academic and politician (b. 1925)
  • 2005 – John D’Amico, Canadian ice hockey player and referee (b. 1937)
  • 2005 – Hamilton Naki, South African surgeon (b. 1926)
  • 2005 – George Rochberg, American soldier and composer (b. 1918)
  • 2006 – Jacques Bouchard, Canadian businessman (b. 1930)
  • 2007 – Dave Balon, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (b. 1938)
  • 2007 – Lois Browne-Evans, Bermudian lawyer and politician (b. 1927)
  • 2008 – Paula Gunn Allen, Native American writer (b. 1939)
  • 2008 – Luc Bourdon, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1987)
  • 2008 – Harvey Korman, American actor and comedian (b. 1927)
  • 2010 – Dennis Hopper, American actor, director, and screenwriter (b. 1936)
  • 2011 – Sergei Bagapsh, Abkhazian politician, 2nd President of Abkhazia (b. 1949)
  • 2011 – Bill Clements, American soldier and politician, 42nd Governor of Texas (b. 1917)
  • 2011 – Ferenc Mádl, Hungarian academic and politician, 14th President of Hungary (b. 1931)
  • 2012 – Mark Minkov, Russian composer (b. 1944)
  • 2012 – Kaneto Shindo, Japanese director, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1912)
  • 2012 – Doc Watson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1923)
  • 2013 – Richard Ballantine, American-English journalist and author (b. 1940)
  • 2013 – Françoise Blanchard, French actress (b. 1954)
  • 2013 – Andrew Greeley, American priest, sociologist, and author (b. 1928)
  • 2013 – Mulgrew Miller, American pianist and composer (b. 1955)
  • 2013 – Henry Morgentaler, Polish-Canadian physician and activist (b. 1923)
  • 2013 – Franca Rame, Italian actress and playwright (b. 1928)
  • 2013 – Ludwig G. Strauss, German physician and academic (b. 1949)
  • 2013 – Wali-ur-Rehman, Pakistani commander (b. 1970)
  • 2014 – Christine Charbonneau, Canadian singer-songwriter (b. 1943)
  • 2014 – Walter Jakob Gehring, Swiss biologist and academic (b. 1939)
  • 2014 – Peter Glaser, Czech-American scientist and engineer (b. 1923)
  • 2014 – Miljenko Prohaska, Croatian composer and conductor (b. 1925)
  • 2014 – William M. Roth, American businessman (b. 1916)
  • 2015 – Henry Carr, American football player and sprinter (b. 1942)
  • 2015 – Doris Hart, American tennis player (b. 1925)
  • 2015 – Betsy Palmer, American actress (b. 1926)
  • 2017 – Manuel Noriega, Panamanian general and politician, Military Leader of Panama (b. 1934)
  • 2017 – Mordechai Tzipori, Israeli Lieutenant General and minister (b. 1924)
  • 2017 – Konstantinos Mitsotakis, Greek politician and prime minister (b. 1918)
  • 2020 – Maikanti Baru, Nigerian engineer, former chief of state oil firm. (b. 1959)

Holidays and observances on May 29

  • Army Day (Argentina)
  • Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í Faith) (Only if Bahá’í Naw-Rúz falls on March 21 of the Gregorian calendar)
  • Christian feast day:
    • Bona of Pisa
    • Hypomone (Eastern Orthodox Church)
    • Maximin of Trier
    • Pope Alexander of Alexandria (Eastern Orthodox Church)
    • Theodosia of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox Church)
    • Ursula Ledóchowska
    • May 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • Earliest day on which Feast of the Sacred Heart can fall, while July 2 is the latest; celebrated 19 days after Pentecost. (Catholic Church)
  • International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (International)
  • National Elderly Day (Indonesia)
  • Oak Apple Day (England), and its related observance:
    • Castleton Garland Day (Castleton)
  • Statehood Day (Rhode Island and Wisconsin)
  • Veterans Day (Sweden)
  • World Digestive Health Day

May 29 – History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day Read More »

On This Day

May 18 – History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day

On This Day /
  • 332 – Emperor Constantine the Great announces free distributions of food to the citizens in Constantinople.
  • 872 – Louis II of Italy is crowned for the second time as Roman Emperor at Rome, at the age of 47. His first coronation was 28 years earlier, in 844, during the reign of his father Lothair I.
  • 1096 – First Crusade: Around 800 Jews are massacred in Worms, Germany.
  • 1152 – The future Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. He would become king two years later, after the death of his cousin once removed King Stephen of England.
  • 1268 – The Principality of Antioch, a crusader state, falls to the Mamluk Sultan Baibars in the Siege of Antioch.
  • 1291 – Fall of Acre, the end of Crusader presence in the Holy Land.
  • 1302 – Bruges Matins, the nocturnal massacre of the French garrison in Bruges by members of the local Flemish militia.
  • 1388 – During the Battle of Buyur Lake, General Lan Yu leads a Chinese army forward to crush the Mongol hordes of Tögüs Temür, the Khan of Northern Yuan.
  • 1499 – Alonso de Ojeda sets sail from Cádiz on his voyage to what is now Venezuela.
  • 1565 – The Great Siege of Malta begins, in which Ottoman forces attempt and fail to conquer Malta.
  • 1593 – Playwright Thomas Kyd’s accusations of heresy lead to an arrest warrant for Christopher Marlowe.
  • 1631 – In Dorchester, Massachusetts, John Winthrop takes the oath of office and becomes the first Governor of Massachusetts.
  • 1652 – Slavery in Rhode Island is abolished, although the law is not rigorously enforced.
  • 1756 – The Seven Years’ War begins when Great Britain declares war on France.
  • 1783 – First United Empire Loyalists reach Parrtown (later called Saint John, New Brunswick), Canada, after leaving the United States.
  • 1794 – Battle of Tourcoing during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition.
  • 1803 – Napoleonic Wars: The United Kingdom revokes the Treaty of Amiens and declares war on France.
  • 1804 – Napoleon Bonaparte is proclaimed Emperor of the French by the French Senate.
  • 1811 – Battle of Las Piedras: The first great military triumph of the revolution of the Río de la Plata in Uruguay led by José Artigas.
  • 1812 – John Bellingham is found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging for the assassination of British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval.
  • 1843 – The Disruption in Edinburgh of the Free Church of Scotland from the Church of Scotland.
  • 1848 – Opening of the first German National Assembly (Nationalversammlung) in Frankfurt, Germany.
  • 1860 – Abraham Lincoln wins the Republican Party presidential nomination over William H. Seward, who later becomes the United States Secretary of State.
  • 1863 – American Civil War: The Siege of Vicksburg begins.
  • 1896 – The United States Supreme Court rules in Plessy v. Ferguson that the “separate but equal” doctrine is constitutional.
  • 1896 – Khodynka Tragedy: A mass panic on Khodynka Field in Moscow during the festivities of the coronation of Russian Tsar Nicholas II results in the deaths of 1,389 people.
  • 1900 – The United Kingdom proclaims a protectorate over Tonga.
  • 1912 – The first Indian film, Shree Pundalik by Dadasaheb Torne, is released in Mumbai.
  • 1917 – World War I: The Selective Service Act of 1917 is passed, giving the President of the United States the power of conscription.
  • 1926 – Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappears in Venice, California.
  • 1927 – The Bath School disaster: Forty-five people, including many children, are killed by bombs planted by a disgruntled school-board member in Michigan.
  • 1927 – After being founded for 20 years, the Government of the Republic of China approves Tongji University to be among the first national universities of the Republic of China.
  • 1933 – New Deal: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs an act creating the Tennessee Valley Authority.
  • 1944 – World War II: Battle of Monte Cassino: Conclusion after seven days of the fourth battle as German paratroopers evacuate Monte Cassino.
  • 1944 – Deportation of Crimean Tatars by the Soviet Union government.
  • 1948 – The First Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China officially convenes in Nanking.
  • 1953 – Jackie Cochran becomes the first woman to break the sound barrier.
  • 1955 – Operation Passage to Freedom, the evacuation of 310,000 Vietnamese civilians, soldiers and non-Vietnamese members of the French Army from communist North Vietnam to South Vietnam following the end of the First Indochina War, ends.
  • 1965 – Israeli spy Eli Cohen is hanged in Damascus, Syria.
  • 1969 – Apollo program: Apollo 10 is launched.
  • 1973 – Aeroflot Flight 109 is hijacked mid-flight and the aircraft is subsequently destroyed when the hijacker’s bomb explodes, killing all 82 people on board.
  • 1974 – Nuclear weapons testing: Under project Smiling Buddha, India successfully detonates its first nuclear weapon becoming the sixth nation to do so.
  • 1977 – Likud party wins the 1977 Israeli legislative election, with Menachem Begin, its founder, as the sixth Prime Minister of Israel.
  • 1980 – Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage.
  • 1980 – Students in Gwangju, South Korea begin demonstrations calling for democratic reforms.
  • 1990 – In France, a modified TGV train achieves a new rail world speed record of 515.3 km/h (320.2 mph).
  • 1991 – Northern Somalia declares independence from the rest of Somalia as the Republic of Somaliland but is not recognized by the international community.
  • 1993 – Riots in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, caused by the approval of the four Danish exceptions in the Maastricht Treaty referendum. Police open fire against civilians for the first time since World War II and injure 11 demonstrators.
  • 1994 – Israeli troops finish withdrawing from the Gaza Strip, ceding the area to the Palestinian National Authority to govern.
  • 2005 – A second photo from the Hubble Space Telescope confirms that Pluto has two additional moons, Nix and Hydra.
  • 2006 – The post Loktantra Andolan government passes a landmark bill curtailing the power of the monarchy and making Nepal a secular country.
  • 2009 – The LTTE are defeated by the Sri Lankan government, ending almost 26 years of fighting between the two sides.
  • 2015 – At least 78 people die in a landslide caused by heavy rains in the Colombian town of Salgar.
  • 2018 – A school shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas kills 10 people.

Births on May 18

  • 1048 – Omar Khayyám, Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet (d. 1131)
  • 1186 – Konstantin of Rostov (d. 1218)
  • 1450 – Piero Soderini, Italian politician and diplomat (d. 1513)
  • 1537 – Guido Luca Ferrero, Roman Catholic cardinal (d. 1585)
  • 1631 – Stanislaus Papczyński, Polish priest (d. 1701)
  • 1662 – George Smalridge, English bishop (d. 1719)
  • 1692 – Joseph Butler, English bishop, theologian, and apologist (d. 1752)
  • 1711 – Roger Joseph Boscovich, Ragusan physicist, astronomer, and mathematician (d. 1787)
  • 1777 – John George Children, English chemist, mineralogist, and zoologist (d. 1852)
  • 1778 – Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, Irish soldier and diplomat, British Ambassador to Austria (d. 1854)
  • 1785 – John Wilson, Scottish author and critic (d. 1854)
  • 1797 – Frederick Augustus II of Saxony (d. 1854)
  • 1822 – Mathew Brady, American photographer and journalist (d. 1896)
  • 1835 – Charles N. Sims, American Methodist preacher and 3rd chancellor of Syracuse University (d. 1908)
  • 1850 – Oliver Heaviside, English engineer, mathematician, and physicist (d. 1925)
  • 1851 – James Budd, American lawyer and politician, 19th Governor of California (d. 1908)
  • 1852 – Gertrude Käsebier, American photographer (d. 1934)
  • 1854 – Bernard Zweers, Dutch composer and educator (d. 1924)
  • 1855 – Francis Bellamy, American minister and author (d. 1931)
  • 1862 – Josephus Daniels, American publisher and politician, 41st United States Secretary of the Navy (d. 1948)
  • 1867 – Minakata Kumagusu, Japanese author, biologist, naturalist and ethnologist (d. 1941)
  • 1868 – Nicholas II of Russia (d. 1918)
  • 1869 – Lucy Beaumont, English-American actress (d. 1937)
  • 1871 – Denis Horgan, Irish shot putter and weight thrower (d. 1922)
  • 1872 – Bertrand Russell, British mathematician, historian, and philosopher, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1970)
  • 1876 – Hermann Müller, German journalist and politician, 12th Chancellor of Germany (d. 1931)
  • 1878 – Johannes Terwogt, Dutch rower (d. 1977)
  • 1882 – Babe Adams, American baseball player, manager, and journalist (d. 1968)
  • 1883 – Eurico Gaspar Dutra, Brazilian marshal and politician, 16th President of Brazil (d. 1974)
  • 1883 – Walter Gropius, German-American architect, designed the John F. Kennedy Federal Building (d. 1969)
  • 1886 – Jeanie MacPherson, American actress and screenwriter (d. 1946)
  • 1889 – Thomas Midgley, Jr., American chemist and engineer (d. 1944)
  • 1891 – Rudolf Carnap, German-American philosopher and academic (d. 1970)
  • 1892 – Ezio Pinza, Italian-American actor and singer (d. 1957)
  • 1895 – Augusto César Sandino, Nicaraguan rebel leader (d. 1934)
  • 1896 – Eric Backman, Swedish runner (d. 1965)
  • 1897 – Frank Capra, Italian-American director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1991)
  • 1898 – Faruk Nafiz Çamlıbel, Turkish poet, author, and playwright (d. 1973)
  • 1901 – Henri Sauguet, French composer (d. 1989)
  • 1901 – Vincent du Vigneaud, American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1978)
  • 1902 – Meredith Willson, American playwright and composer (d. 1984)
  • 1904 – Shunryū Suzuki, Japanese-American monk and educator (d. 1971)
  • 1904 – Jacob K. Javits, American colonel and politician, 58th New York Attorney General (d. 1986)
  • 1905 – Ruth Alexander, pioneering American pilot (d. 1930)
  • 1905 – Hedley Verity, English cricketer and soldier (d. 1943)
  • 1907 – Irene Hunt, American author and educator (d. 2001)
  • 1909 – Fred Perry, English-Australian tennis player and academic (d. 1995)
  • 1910 – Ester Boserup, Danish economist and author (d. 1999)
  • 1911 – Big Joe Turner, American blues/R&B singer (d. 1985)
  • 1912 – Richard Brooks, American director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1992)
  • 1912 – Perry Como, American singer and television host (d. 2001)
  • 1912 – Walter Sisulu, South African politician (d. 2003)
  • 1913 – Jane Birdwood, Baroness Birdwood, Canadian-English publisher and politician (d. 2000)
  • 1914 – Pierre Balmain, French fashion designer, founded Balmain (d. 1982)
  • 1914 – Boris Christoff, Bulgarian-Italian opera singer (d. 1993)
  • 1917 – Bill Everett, American author and illustrator (d. 1973)
  • 1919 – Margot Fonteyn, British ballerina (d. 1991)
  • 1920 – Pope John Paul II (d. 2005)
  • 1921 – Michael A. Epstein, English pathologist and academic
  • 1922 – Bill Macy, American actor (d. 2019)
  • 1922 – Kai Winding, Danish-American trombonist and composer (d. 1983)
  • 1923 – Jean-Louis Roux, Canadian actor and politician, 34th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec (d. 2013)
  • 1923 – Hugh Shearer, Jamaican journalist and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Jamaica (d. 2004)
  • 1924 – Priscilla Pointer, American actress
  • 1924 – Jack Whitaker, American sportscaster (d. 2019)
  • 1925 – Lillian Hoban, American author and illustrator (d. 1998)
  • 1927 – Richard Body, English politician (d. 2018)
  • 1927 – Ray Nagel, American football player and coach (d. 2015)
  • 1928 – Pernell Roberts, American actor (d. 2010)
  • 1929 – Jack Sanford, American baseball player and coach (d. 2000)
  • 1929 – Norman St John-Stevas, Baron St John of Fawsley, English lawyer and politician, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (d. 2012)
  • 1930 – Warren Rudman, American soldier, lawyer, and politician (d. 2012)
  • 1930 – Fred Saberhagen, American soldier and author (d. 2007)
  • 1931 – Don Martin, American cartoonist (d. 2000)
  • 1931 – Robert Morse, American actor
  • 1931 – Kalju Pitksaar, Estonian chess player (d. 1995)
  • 1931 – Clément Vincent, Canadian farmer and politician (d. 2018)
  • 1933 – Bernadette Chirac, French politician, First Lady of France
  • 1933 – H. D. Deve Gowda, Indian farmer and politician, 11th Prime Minister of India
  • 1933 – Don Whillans, English rock climber and mountaineer (d. 1985)
  • 1934 – Dwayne Hickman, American actor and director
  • 1936 – Leon Ashley, American singer-songwriter (d. 2013)
  • 1936 – Türker İnanoğlu, Turkish director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1936 – Michael Sandle, English sculptor and academic
  • 1937 – Brooks Robinson, American baseball player and sportscaster
  • 1937 – Jacques Santer, Luxembourger jurist and politician, 22nd Prime Minister of Luxembourg
  • 1938 – Janet Fish, American painter and academic
  • 1939 – Patrick Cormack, Baron Cormack, English historian, journalist, and politician
  • 1939 – Giovanni Falcone, Italian lawyer and judge (d. 1992)
  • 1939 – Gordon O’Connor, Canadian general and politician, 38th Canadian Minister of Defence
  • 1940 – Erico Aumentado, Filipino journalist, lawyer, and politician (d. 2012)
  • 1941 – Gino Brito, Canadian wrestler and promoter
  • 1941 – Malcolm Longair, Scottish astronomer, physicist, and academic
  • 1941 – Miriam Margolyes, English-Australian actress and singer
  • 1942 – Nobby Stiles, English footballer, coach, and manager
  • 1944 – Albert Hammond, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
  • 1944 – W. G. Sebald, German novelist, essayist, and poet (d. 2001)
  • 1946 – Frank Hsieh, Taiwanese lawyer and politician, 40th Premier of the Republic of China
  • 1946 – Reggie Jackson, American baseball player and sportscaster
  • 1946 – Gerd Langguth, German political scientist and author (d. 2013)
  • 1947 – John Bruton, Irish politician, 10th Taoiseach of Ireland
  • 1947 – Gail Strickland, American actress
  • 1948 – Joe Bonsall, American country/gospel singer
  • 1948 – Yi Mun-yol, South Korean author and academic
  • 1948 – Richard Swedberg, Swedish sociologist and academic
  • 1948 – Tom Udall, American lawyer and politician, 28th New Mexico Attorney General, United States Senator from New Mexico
  • 1949 – Rick Wakeman, English progressive rock keyboardist and songwriter (Yes)
  • 1949 – Walter Hawkins, American gospel music singer and pastor (d. 2010)
  • 1950 – Rod Milburn, American hurdler and coach (d. 1997)
  • 1950 – Mark Mothersbaugh, American singer-songwriter and painter
  • 1951 – Richard Clapton, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1951 – Jim Sundberg, American baseball player and sportscaster
  • 1951 – Angela Voigt, German long jumper (d. 2013)
  • 1952 – Diane Duane, American author and screenwriter
  • 1952 – David Leakey, English general and politician
  • 1952 – George Strait, American singer, guitarist and producer
  • 1952 – Jeana Yeager, American pilot
  • 1953 – Alan Kupperberg, American author and illustrator (d. 2015)
  • 1954 – Wreckless Eric, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1954 – Eric Gerets, Belgian footballer and manager
  • 1955 – Chow Yun-fat, Hong Kong actor and screenwriter
  • 1956 – Catherine Corsini, French director and screenwriter
  • 1956 – John Godber, English playwright and screenwriter
  • 1957 – Michael Cretu, Romanian-German keyboard player and producer
  • 1957 – Henrietta Moore, English anthropologist and academic
  • 1958 – Rubén Omar Romano, Argentinian-Mexican footballer and coach
  • 1958 – Toyah Willcox, English singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
  • 1959 – Graham Dilley, English cricketer and coach (d. 2011)
  • 1959 – Jay Wells, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
  • 1960 – Brent Ashton, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
  • 1960 – Jari Kurri, Finnish ice hockey player, coach, and manager
  • 1960 – Yannick Noah, French tennis player
  • 1961 – Russell Senior, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1963 – Marty McSorley, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
  • 1963 – Sam Vincent, American basketball player and coach
  • 1964 – Ignasi Guardans, Spanish academic and politician
  • 1966 – Renata Nielsen, Polish-Danish long jumper and coach
  • 1966 – Michael Tait, American singer-songwriter and producer
  • 1967 – Nina Björk, Swedish journalist and author
  • 1967 – Heinz-Harald Frentzen, German race car driver
  • 1967 – Nancy Juvonen, American screenwriter and producer, co-founded Flower Films
  • 1967 – Mimi Macpherson, Australian environmentalist, entrepreneur and celebrity
  • 1968 – Philippe Benetton, French rugby player
  • 1968 – Ralf Kelleners, German race car driver
  • 1969 – Troy Cassar-Daley, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1969 – Martika, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
  • 1969 – Antônio Carlos Zago, Brazilian footballer and manager
  • 1970 – Tina Fey, American actress, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1970 – Tim Horan, Australian rugby player and sportscaster
  • 1970 – Billy Howerdel, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer
  • 1970 – Javier Cárdenas, Spanish singer, television and radio presenter
  • 1970 – Vicky Sunohara, Canadian former ice hockey player
  • 1971 – Brad Friedel, American international soccer player, goalkeeper, manager and sportscaster
  • 1971 – Mark Menzies, Scottish politician
  • 1971 – Nobuteru Taniguchi, Japanese race car driver
  • 1972 – Turner Stevenson, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
  • 1973 – Donyell Marshall, American basketball player and coach
  • 1973 – Aleksandr Olerski, Estonian footballer (d. 2011)
  • 1974 – Nelson Figueroa, American baseball player and sportscaster
  • 1975 – Jem, Welsh singer-songwriter and producer
  • 1975 – John Higgins, Scottish snooker player
  • 1975 – Jack Johnson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1976 – Ron Mercer, American basketball player
  • 1976 – Marko Tomasović, Croatian pianist and composer
  • 1976 – Oleg Tverdovsky, Ukrainian-Russian ice hockey player
  • 1977 – Lee Hendrie, English footballer
  • 1977 – Danny Mills, English footballer and sportscaster
  • 1977 – Li Tie, Chinese footballer and manager
  • 1978 – Ricardo Carvalho, Portuguese footballer
  • 1978 – Marcus Giles, American baseball player
  • 1978 – Charles Kamathi, Kenyan runner
  • 1979 – Jens Bergensten, Swedish video game designer, co-designed Minecraft
  • 1979 – Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer
  • 1979 – Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist
  • 1979 – Milivoje Novaković, Slovenian footballer
  • 1979 – Julián Speroni, Argentinian footballer
  • 1980 – Reggie Evans, American basketball player
  • 1980 – Michaël Llodra, French tennis player
  • 1980 – Diego Pérez, Uruguayan footballer
  • 1981 – Mahamadou Diarra, Malian international footballer
  • 1981 – Ashley Harrison, Australian rugby league player
  • 1982 – Jason Brown, English footballer
  • 1982 – Marie-Ève Pelletier, Canadian tennis player
  • 1983 – Gary O’Neil, English footballer
  • 1983 – Luis Terrero, Dominican baseball player
  • 1983 – Vince Young, American football player
  • 1984 – Ivet Lalova, Bulgarian sprinter
  • 1984 – Simon Pagenaud, French race car driver
  • 1984 – Darius Šilinskis, Lithuanian basketball player
  • 1984 – Joakim Soria, Mexican baseball player
  • 1984 – Niki Terpstra, Dutch cyclist
  • 1985 – Oliver Sin, Hungarian painter
  • 1985 – Henrique Sereno, Portuguese footballer
  • 1986 – Ahmed Hamada, Egyptian race car driver
  • 1986 – Kevin Anderson, South African tennis player
  • 1988 – Taeyang, South Korean singer
  • 1990 – Dimitri Daeseleire, Belgian footballer
  • 1990 – Yuya Osako, Japanese footballer
  • 1990 – Josh Starling, Australian rugby league player
  • 1992 – Adwoa Aboah, British fashion model
  • 1993 – Stuart Percy, Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1993 – Jessica Watson, Australian sailor
  • 1998 – Polina Edmunds, American figure skater
  • 1999 – Laura Omloop, Belgian singer-songwriter
  • 2000 – Ryan Sessegnon, English footballer
  • 2000 – Steven Sessegnon, English footballer
  • 2002 – Alina Zagitova, Russian figure skater

Deaths on May 18

  • 526 – Pope John I (b. 470)
  • 893 – Stephen I of Constantinople (b. 867)
  • 932 – Ma Shaohong, general of Later Tang
  • 947 – Emperor Taizong of the Liao Dynasty
  • 978 – Frederick I, duke of Upper Lorraine
  • 1065 – Frederick, Duke of Lower Lorraine (b. c. 1003)
  • 1096 – Minna of Worms, Jewish martyr killed during the Worms massacre (1096)
  • 1160 – Eric Jedvardsson (King Eric IX) of Sweden (since 1156); (b. circa 1120)
  • 1297 – Nicholas Longespee, Bishop of Salisbury
  • 1401 – Vladislaus II of Opole (b. 1332)
  • 1410 – Rupert of Germany, Count Palatine of the Rhine (b. 1352)
  • 1550 – Jean, Cardinal of Lorraine (b. 1498)
  • 1551 – Domenico di Pace Beccafumi, Italian painter (b. 1486)
  • 1675 – Stanisław Lubieniecki, Polish astronomer, historian, and theologian (b. 1623)
  • 1675 – Jacques Marquette, French-American missionary and explorer (b. 1637)
  • 1692 – Elias Ashmole, English astrologer and politician (b. 1617)
  • 1721 – Maria Barbara Carillo, victim of the Spanish Inquisition (b.1625)
  • 1733 – Georg Böhm, German organist and composer (b. 1761)
  • 1780 – Charles Hardy, English-American admiral and politician, 29th Colonial Governor of New York (b. 1714)
  • 1781 – Túpac Amaru II, Peruvian-Indian rebel leader (b. 1742)
  • 1792 – Levy Solomons, Canadian merchant and fur trader (b. 1730)
  • 1795 – Robert Rogers, English colonel (b. 1731)
  • 1799 – Pierre Beaumarchais, French playwright and publisher (b. 1732)
  • 1800 – Alexander Suvorov, Russian general (b. 1729)
  • 1807 – John Douglas, Scottish bishop and scholar (b. 1721)
  • 1808 – Elijah Craig, American minister, inventor, and educator, invented Bourbon whiskey (b. 1738)
  • 1844 – Richard McCarty, American lawyer and politician (b. 1780)
  • 1853 – Lionel Kieseritzky, Estonian-French chess player (b. 1806)
  • 1867 – Clarkson Stanfield, English painter (b. 1793)
  • 1889 – Isabella Glyn, Scottish-English actress (b. 1823)
  • 1900 – Félix Ravaisson-Mollien, French archaeologist and philosopher (b. 1813)
  • 1908 – Louis-Napoléon Casault, Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician (b. 1823)
  • 1909 – Isaac Albéniz, Spanish pianist and composer (b. 1860)
  • 1909 – George Meredith, English novelist and poet (b. 1828)
  • 1910 – Eliza Orzeszkowa, Polish author and publisher (b. 1841)
  • 1910 – Pauline Viardot, French soprano and composer (b. 1821)
  • 1911 – Gustav Mahler, Austrian composer and conductor (b. 1860)
  • 1922 – Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran, French physician and parasitologist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1845)
  • 1941 – Werner Sombart, German economist and sociologist (b. 1863)
  • 1943 – Ōnishiki Daigorō, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 28th Yokozuna (b. 1883)
  • 1947 – Hal Chase, American baseball player and manager (b. 1883)
  • 1955 – Mary McLeod Bethune, American educator and activist (b. 1875)
  • 1956 – Maurice Tate, English cricketer (b. 1895)
  • 1958 – Jacob Fichman, Israeli poet and critic (b. 1881)
  • 1963 – Ernie Davis, American football player, coach, and manager (b. 1939)
  • 1968 – Frank Walsh, Australian politician, 34th Premier of South Australia (b. 1897)
  • 1971 – Aleksandr Gennadievich Kurosh, Russian mathematician and theorist (b. 1908)
  • 1973 – Jeannette Rankin, American social worker and politician (b. 1880)
  • 1974 – Harry Ricardo, English engine designer and researcher (b. 1885)
  • 1975 – Leroy Anderson, American composer and conductor (b. 1908)
  • 1980 – Victims of Mount St. Helens eruption:
    • Reid Blackburn, American photographer and journalist (b. 1952)
    • David A. Johnston, American volcanologist and geologist (b. 1949)
  • 1980 – Ian Curtis, English singer-songwriter (b. 1956)
  • 1981 – Arthur O’Connell, American actor (b. 1908)
  • 1981 – William Saroyan, American novelist, playwright, and short story writer (b. 1908)
  • 1987 – Mahdi Amel, Lebanese journalist, poet, and academic (b. 1936)
  • 1989 – Dorothy Ruth, American horse breeder and author (b. 1921)
  • 1990 – Jill Ireland, English actress (b. 1936)
  • 1995 – Elisha Cook, Jr., American actor (b. 1903)
  • 1995 – Alexander Godunov, Russian-American ballet dancer and actor (b. 1949)
  • 1995 – Brinsley Le Poer Trench, 8th Earl of Clancarty, Irish ufologist and historian (b. 1911)
  • 1995 – Elizabeth Montgomery, American actress (b. 1933)
  • 1998 – Obaidullah Aleem, Indian-Pakistani poet and author (b. 1939)
  • 1999 – Augustus Pablo, Jamaican singer, keyboard player, and producer (b. 1954)
  • 1999 – Betty Robinson, American runner (b. 1911)
  • 2000 – Stephen M. Wolownik, Russian-American composer and musicologist (b. 1946)
  • 2001 – Irene Hunt, American author and illustrator (b. 1907)
  • 2004 – Elvin Jones, American drummer and bandleader (b. 1927)
  • 2006 – Jaan Eilart, Estonian geographer, ecologist, and historian (b. 1933)
  • 2007 – Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, French physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1932)
  • 2008 – Joseph Pevney, American actor and director (b. 1911)
  • 2008 – Roberto García-Calvo Montiel, Spanish judge (b. 1942)
  • 2009 – Velupillai Prabhakaran, Sri Lankan rebel leader, founded the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (b. 1954)
  • 2012 – Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, German opera singer and conductor (b. 1925)
  • 2012 – Peter Jones, English-Australian drummer and songwriter (b. 1967)
  • 2012 – Alan Oakley, English bicycle designer, designed the Raleigh Chopper (b. 1927)
  • 2013 – Aleksei Balabanov, Russian director and screenwriter (b. 1959)
  • 2013 – Jo Benkow, Norwegian soldier and politician (b. 1924)
  • 2013 – Steve Forrest, American actor (b. 1925)
  • 2013 – David McMillan, American football player (b. 1981)
  • 2013 – Lothar Schmid, German chess player (b. 1928)
  • 2014 – Dobrica Ćosić, Serbian politician, 1st President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (b. 1921)
  • 2014 – Hans-Peter Dürr, German physicist and academic (b. 1929)
  • 2014 – Kaiketsu Masateru, Japanese sumo wrestler (b. 1948)
  • 2014 – Chukwuedu Nwokolo, Nigerian physician and academic (b. 1921)
  • 2014 – Wubbo Ockels, Dutch physicist and astronaut (b. 1946)
  • 2015 – Halldór Ásgrímsson, Icelandic accountant and politician, 22nd Prime Minister of Iceland (b. 1947)
  • 2015 – Raymond Gosling, English physicist and academic (b. 1926)
  • 2015 – T. J. Moran, American businessman and philanthropist (b. 1930)
  • 2015 – Jean-François Théodore, French businessman (b. 1946)
  • 2017 – Roger Ailes, American businessman (b. 1940)
  • 2017 – Jacque Fresco, American engineer and academic (b. 1916)
  • 2017 – Chris Cornell, American singer (b. 1964)
  • 2020 – Ken Osmond, American actor and the police officer (b. 1943)

Holidays and observances on May 18

  • Christian feast day:
    • Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury
    • Eric IX of Sweden
    • Felix of Cantalice
    • Pope John I
    • Venantius of Camerino
    • May 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • Victoria Day (Canada) (Earliest possible date of the last Monday preceding May 25)
  • Baltic Fleet Day (Russia)
  • Battle of Las Piedras Day (Uruguay)
  • Day of Remembrance of Crimean Tatar genocide (Ukraine)
  • Flag and Universities Day (Haiti)
  • Independence Day (Somaliland) (unrecognized)
  • International Museum Day
  • Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day (Sri Lankan Tamils)
  • Revival, Unity, and Poetry of Magtymguly Day (Turkmenistan)
  • Teacher’s Day (Syria)
  • Victory Day (Sri Lanka)
  • World AIDS Vaccine Day

May 18 – History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day Read More »

On This Day

March 31 – History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day

On This Day /

It is the last day of the first quarter of the year.

March 31 in History

  • 307 – After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Maximian.
  • 1146 – Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at Vézelay, urging the necessity of a Second Crusade. Louis VII is present, and joins the Crusade.
  • 1492 – Queen Isabella of Castile issues the Alhambra Decree, ordering her 150,000 Jewish and Muslim subjects to convert to Christianity or face expulsion.
  • 1561 – The city of San Cristóbal, Táchira is founded.
  • 1717 – A sermon on “The Nature of the Kingdom of Christ” by Benjamin Hoadly, the Bishop of Bangor, preached in the presence of King George I of Great Britain, provokes the Bangorian Controversy.
  • 1774 – American Revolutionary War: The Kingdom of Great Britain orders the port of Boston, Massachusetts closed pursuant to the Boston Port Act.
  • 1854 – Commodore Matthew Perry signs the Convention of Kanagawa with the Tokugawa Shogunate, opening the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American trade.
  • 1885 – The United Kingdom establishes the Bechuanaland Protectorate.
  • 1889 – The Eiffel Tower is officially opened.
  • 1899 – Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, is captured by American forces.
  • 1906 – The Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (later the National Collegiate Athletic Association) is established to set rules for college sports in the United States.
  • 1909 – Serbia formally withdraws its opposition to Austro-Hungarian actions in the Bosnian Crisis.
  • 1913 – The Vienna Concert Society rioted during a performance of modernist music by Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, Alexander von Zemlinsky, and Anton von Webern, causing a premature end to the concert due to violence; this concert became known as the Skandalkonzert.
  • 1917 – According to the terms of the Treaty of the Danish West Indies, the islands become American possessions.
  • 1918 – Massacre of ethnic Azerbaijanis is committed by allied armed groups of Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Bolsheviks. Nearly 12,000 Azerbaijani Muslims are killed.
  • 1918 – Daylight saving time goes into effect in the United States for the first time.
  • 1921 – The Royal Australian Air Force is formed.
  • 1930 – The Motion Picture Production Code is instituted, imposing strict guidelines on the treatment of sex, crime, religion and violence in film, in the U.S., for the next thirty-eight years.
  • 1931 – An earthquake in Nicaragua destroys Managua; killing 2,000.
  • 1931 – A Transcontinental & Western Air airliner crashes near Bazaar, Kansas, killing eight, including University of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne.
  • 1933 – The Civilian Conservation Corps is established with the mission of relieving rampant unemployment in the United States.
  • 1942 – World War II: Japanese forces invade Christmas Island, then a British possession.
  • 1945 – World War II: A defecting German pilot delivers a Messerschmitt Me 262A-1, the world’s first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft, to the Americans, the first to fall into Allied hands.
  • 1949 – The Dominion of Newfoundland joins the Canadian Confederation and becomes the 10th Province of Canada.
  • 1951 – Remington Rand delivers the first UNIVAC I computer to the United States Census Bureau.
  • 1957 – Elections to the Territorial Assembly of the French colony Upper Volta are held. After the elections PDU and MDV form a government.
  • 1958 – In the Canadian federal election, the Progressive Conservatives, led by John Diefenbaker, win the largest percentage of seats in Canadian history, with 208 seats of 265.
  • 1959 – The 14th Dalai Lama, crosses the border into India and is granted political asylum.
  • 1964 – Brazilian General Olímpio Mourão Filho orders his troops to move towards Rio de Janeiro, beginning the coup d’état.
  • 1966 – The Soviet Union launches Luna 10 which later becomes the first space probe to enter orbit around the Moon.
  • 1968 – American President Lyndon B. Johnson speaks to the nation of “Steps to Limit the War in Vietnam” in a television address. At the conclusion of his speech, he announces: “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.”
  • 1970 – Explorer 1 re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere after 12 years in orbit.
  • 1980 – The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad operates its final train after being ordered to liquidate its assets because of bankruptcy and debts owed to creditors.
  • 1985 – The first WrestleMania, the biggest wrestling event from the WWE (then the WWF), takes place in Madison Square Garden in New York City.
  • 1990 – Approximately 200,000 protesters take to the streets of London to protest against the newly introduced Poll Tax.
  • 1991 – Georgian independence referendum: Nearly 99 percent of the voters support the country’s independence from the Soviet Union.
  • 1992 – The USS Missouri, the last active United States Navy battleship, is decommissioned in Long Beach, California.
  • 1992 – The Treaty of Federation is signed in Moscow.
  • 1995 – TAROM Flight 371, an Airbus A310-300, crashes near Balotesti, Romania, killing all 60 people on board.
  • 1995 – Selena is murdered by her fan club’s president Yolanda Saldívar at a Days Inn in Corpus Christi, Texas after accusations of Saldívar embezzling money from Selena’s fan club.
  • 1998 – Netscape releases Mozilla source code under an open source license.
  • 2004 – Iraq War in Anbar Province: In Fallujah, Iraq, four American private military contractors working for Blackwater USA, are killed after being ambushed.
  • 2018 – Start of the 2018 Armenian revolution.

Births on March 31

  • 1360 – Philippa of Lancaster (d. 1415)
  • 1499 – Pope Pius IV (d. 1565)
  • 1504 – Guru Angad, Indian religious leader (d. 1552)
  • 1519 – Henry II of France (d. 1559)
  • 1536 – Ashikaga Yoshiteru, Japanese shōgun (d. 1565)
  • 1596 – René Descartes, French mathematician and philosopher (d. 1650)
  • 1601 – Jakov Mikalja, Italian linguist and lexicographer (d. 1654)
  • 1621 – Andrew Marvell, English poet and politician (d. 1678)
  • 1651 – Charles II, Elector Palatine, German husband of Princess Wilhelmine Ernestine of Denmark (d. 1685)
  • 1675 – Pope Benedict XIV (d. 1758)
  • 1718 – Mariana Victoria of Spain (d. 1781)
  • 1723 – Frederick V of Denmark (d. 1766)
  • 1730 – Étienne Bézout, French mathematician and theorist (d. 1783)
  • 1732 – Joseph Haydn, Austrian pianist and composer (d. 1809)
  • 1740 – Panoutsos Notaras, Greek politician (d. 1849)
  • 1747 – Johann Abraham Peter Schulz, German pianist and composer (d. 1800)
  • 1777 – Charles Cagniard de la Tour, French physicist and engineer (d. 1859)
  • 1778 – Coenraad Jacob Temminck, Dutch zoologist and ornithologist (d. 1858)
  • 1794 – Thomas McKean Thompson McKennan, American lawyer and politician, 2nd United States Secretary of the Interior (d. 1852)
  • 1809 – Edward FitzGerald, English poet and translator (d. 1883)
  • 1809 – Nikolai Gogol, Ukrainian-Russian short story writer, novelist, and playwright (d. 1852)
  • 1809 – Otto Lindblad, Swedish composer (d. 1864)
  • 1813 – Félix María Zuloaga, Mexican general and unconstitutional interim president (1858 and 1860–1862) (d. 1898)
  • 1819 – Chlodwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst (d. 1901)
  • 1823 – Mary Boykin Chesnut, American author (d. 1886)
  • 1833 – Mary Abigail Dodge, American writer and essayist (d. 1896)
  • 1835 – John La Farge, American artist (d. 1910)
  • 1847 – Hermann de Pourtalès, Swiss sailor (d. 1904)
  • 1847 – Yegor Ivanovich Zolotarev, Russian mathematician and theorist (d. 1878)
  • 1851 – Francis Bell, Jewish New Zealand lawyer and politician, 20th Prime Minister of New Zealand (d. 1936)
  • 1855 – Alfred E. Hunt, American businessman (d. 1899)
  • 1859 – Emil Fenyvessy, Hungarian actor and screenwriter (d. 1924)
  • 1865 – Anandi Gopal Joshi, Indian physician (d. 1887)
  • 1871 – Arthur Griffith, Irish journalist and politician, 3rd President of Dáil Éireann (d. 1922)
  • 1872 – Sergei Diaghilev, Russian ballet manager and critic, founded the Ballets Russes (d. 1929)
  • 1874 – Benjamín G. Hill, Mexican revolutionary general, governor of Sonora (d. 1920)
  • 1874 – Henri Marteau, French violinist and composer (d. 1934)
  • 1876 – Borisav Stanković, Serbian author (d. 1927)
  • 1878 – Jack Johnson, American boxer (d. 1946)
  • 1884 – Adriaan van Maanen, Dutch-American astronomer and academic (d. 1946)
  • 1885 – Pascin, Sephardi Jewish Bulgarian-American painter and illustrator (d. 1930)
  • 1890 – Ben Adams, American jumper (d. 1961)
  • 1890 – William Lawrence Bragg, Australian-English physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1971)
  • 1891 – Victor Varconi, Hungarian-American actor and director (d. 1976)
  • 1893 – Clemens Krauss, Austrian conductor and manager (d. 1954)
  • 1893 – Herbert Meinhard Mühlpfordt, German physician and historian (d. 1982)
  • 1895 – Vardis Fisher, American author and academic (d. 1968)
  • 1900 – Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (d. 1974)
  • 1905 – Robert Stevenson, English director and screenwriter (d. 1986)
  • 1905 – George Treweek, Australian rugby league player (d. 1991)
  • 1906 – Sin-Itiro Tomonaga, Japanese physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1979)
  • 1908 – Red Norvo, American vibraphone player and composer (d. 1999)
  • 1911 – Freddie Green, American guitarist (d. 1987)
  • 1911 – Elisabeth Grümmer, German soprano (d. 1986)
  • 1912 – William Lederer, American soldier and author (d. 2009)
  • 1913 – Etta Baker, African-American singer and guitarist (d. 2006)
  • 1914 – Octavio Paz, Mexican poet and diplomat, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1998)
  • 1914 – Dagmar Lange, Swedish author (d. 1991)
  • 1915 – Albert Hourani, English historian and author (d. 1993)
  • 1915 – Shoichi Yokoi, Japanese sergeant (d. 1997)
  • 1916 – Lucille Bliss, American voice actress (d. 2012)
  • 1916 – Tommy Bolt, American golfer (d. 2008)
  • 1916 – John H. Wood, Jr., American lawyer and judge (d. 1979)
  • 1917 – Dorothy DeLay, American violinist and educator (d. 2002)
  • 1918 – Ted Post, American director (d. 2013)
  • 1919 – Frank Akins, American football player (d. 1993)
  • 1920 – Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, British aristocrat, socialite and author (d. 2014)
  • 1921 – Lowell Fulson, African-American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1999)
  • 1921 – Peggy Rea, American actress and casting director (d. 2011)
  • 1922 – Richard Kiley, American actor and singer (d. 1999)
  • 1922 – Patrick Magee, Irish actor (d. 1982)
  • 1923 – Don Barksdale, American basketball player (d. 1993)
  • 1923 – François Sermon, Belgian footballer (d. 2013)
  • 1924 – Leo Buscaglia, American author and academic (d. 1998)
  • 1924 – Charles Guggenheim, American director and producer (d. 2002)
  • 1925 – Jean Coutu, Canadian actor and director (d. 1999)
  • 1926 – John Fowles, English novelist (d. 2005)
  • 1926 – Beni Montresor, Italian director, set designer, author, and illustrator (d. 2001)
  • 1926 – Rocco Petrone, American colonel and engineer (d. 2006)
  • 1927 – Cesar Chavez, American labor union leader and activist (d. 1993)
  • 1927 – William Daniels, American actor
  • 1927 – Eduardo Martínez Somalo, Spanish cardinal
  • 1927 – Vladimir Ilyushin, Russian pilot (d. 2010)
  • 1927 – Elmer Diedtrich, American businessman and politician (d. 2013)
  • 1927 – Bud MacPherson, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 1988)
  • 1928 – Lefty Frizzell, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1975)
  • 1928 – Gordie Howe, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 2016)
  • 1929 – Liz Claiborne, Belgian-American fashion designer, founded Liz Claiborne Inc. (d. 2007)
  • 1929 – Bert Fields, American lawyer and author
  • 1930 – Yehuda Nir, Polish Jewish-American psychiatrist (d. 2014)
  • 1930 – Jim Mutscheller, American football player and coach (d. 2015)
  • 1931 – Miller Barber, American golfer (d. 2013)
  • 1931 – Tamara Tyshkevich, Belarusian shot putter (d. 1997)
  • 1932 – John Jakes, American author
  • 1932 – Nagisa Oshima, Japanese director and screenwriter (d. 2013)
  • 1933 – Anita Carter, American singer-songwriter and bassist (d. 1999)
  • 1933 – Nichita Stănescu, Romanian poet (d. 1983)
  • 1934 – Richard Chamberlain, American actor
  • 1934 – Shirley Jones, American actress and singer
  • 1934 – John D. Loudermilk, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2016)
  • 1934 – Carlo Rubbia, Italian physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1934 – Kamala Surayya, Indian poet and author (d. 2009)
  • 1935 – Herb Alpert, American singer-songwriter, trumpet player, and producer
  • 1935 – Judith Rossner, Jewish-American author (d. 2005)
  • 1936 – Marge Piercy, American poet and novelist
  • 1936 – Walter E. Williams, American economist and academic
  • 1938 – Patrick Bateson, English biologist and academic (d. 2017)
  • 1938 – Sheila Dikshit, Indian politician, 22nd Governor of Kerala (d. 2019)
  • 1938 – Antje Gleichfeld, German runner
  • 1938 – Bill Hicke, Canadian ice hockey player, coach, and manager (d. 2005)
  • 1938 – Tõnno Lepmets, Estonian basketball player (d. 2005)
  • 1938 – Arthur B. Rubinstein, American pianist, composer, and conductor (d. 2018)
  • 1938 – David Steel, Scottish academic and politician
  • 1939 – Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Georgian anthropologist and politician, 1st President of Georgia (d. 1993)
  • 1939 – Israel Horovitz, American actor, director, and screenwriter
  • 1939 – Walker David Miller, American lawyer and judge (d. 2013)
  • 1939 – Volker Schlöndorff, German director and producer
  • 1939 – Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, German footballer
  • 1940 – Brian Ackland-Snow, English production designer and art director (d. 2013)
  • 1940 – Barney Frank, American lawyer and politician
  • 1940 – Patrick Leahy, American lawyer and politician
  • 1941 – Franco Bonvicini, Italian author and illustrator (d. 1995)
  • 1941 – Faith Leech, Australian swimmer (d. 2013)
  • 1942 – Ulla Hoffmann, Swedish politician
  • 1942 – Hugh McCracken, American guitarist and producer (d. 2013)
  • 1942 – Michael Savage, far-right American radio host and author
  • 1943 – Roy Andersson, Swedish director and screenwriter
  • 1943 – Deirdre Clancy, English costume designer
  • 1943 – Christopher Walken, American actor
  • 1944 – Pascal Danel, French singer-songwriter
  • 1944 – Angus King, American politician
  • 1944 – Mick Ralphs, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1945 – Edwin Catmull, American computer scientist and engineer
  • 1945 – Gabe Kaplan, American actor and comedian
  • 1945 – Myfanwy Talog, Welsh actress (d. 1995)
  • 1946 – Gonzalo Márquez, Venezuelan baseball player (d. 1984)
  • 1946 – Bob Russell, English politician
  • 1947 – Augustin Banyaga, Rwandan-American mathematician and academic
  • 1947 – Wendy Overton, American tennis player
  • 1947 – Kristian Blak, Danish-Faroese pianist, composer, and producer
  • 1947 – Don Foster, English academic and politician
  • 1947 – César Gaviria, Colombian economist and politician, 36th President of Colombia
  • 1947 – Eliyahu M. Goldratt, Israeli physicist and economist (d. 2011)
  • 1948 – Gary Doer, Canadian politician and diplomat, 20th Premier of Manitoba
  • 1948 – Al Gore, American soldier and politician, 45th Vice President of the United States and Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1948 – Rhea Perlman, American actress
  • 1948 – Gustaaf Van Cauter, Belgian cyclist
  • 1949 – Gilles Gilbert, Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1950 – András Adorján, Hungarian chess player and author
  • 1950 – Ed Marinaro, American football player and actor
  • 1950 – Sandra Morgen, American anthropologist and academic (d. 2016)
  • 1953 – Dennis Kamakahi, American guitarist and composer (d. 2014)
  • 1955 – Svetozar Marović, President of Serbia and Montenegro
  • 1955 – Angus Young, Scottish-Australian guitarist and songwriter
  • 1957 – Alan Duncan, English businessman and politician, former Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
  • 1959 – Markus Hediger, Swiss poet and translator
  • 1959 – Anita Dillen, Dutch socialite and member of wealthy Dillen family, niece of Cor Dillen, Coen Dillen
  • 1961 – Ron Brown, American sprinter and football player
  • 1961 – Howard Gordon, American screenwriter and producer
  • 1962 – Olli Rehn, Finnish footballer and politician
  • 1963 – Paul Mercurio, Australian actor and dancer
  • 1964 – Mark Hoban, English accountant and politician
  • 1965 – Tom Barrasso, American ice hockey player and coach
  • 1965 – Patty Fendick, American tennis player and coach
  • 1965 – Jean-Christophe Lafaille, French mountaineer (d. 2006)
  • 1965 – William McNamara, American actor and producer
  • 1965 – Steven T. Seagle, American author and screenwriter
  • 1966 – Roger Black, English runner and journalist
  • 1966 – Nick Firestone, American race car driver
  • 1968 – César Sampaio, Brazilian footballer
  • 1969 – Nyamko Sabuni, Burundian-Swedish politician
  • 1969 – Steve Smith, American basketball player and sportscaster
  • 1970 – Alenka Bratušek, Slovenian politician, 7th Prime Minister of Slovenia
  • 1971 – Demetris Assiotis, Cypriot footballer
  • 1971 – Martin Atkinson, English footballer and referee
  • 1971 – Pavel Bure, Russian ice hockey player
  • 1971 – Craig McCracken, American animator, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1971 – Ewan McGregor, Scottish actor
  • 1972 – Alejandro Amenábar, Chilean-Spanish director and screenwriter
  • 1972 – Andrew Bowen, American actor, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1972 – Luca Gentili, Italian footballer and coach
  • 1972 – Evan Williams, American businessman, co-founded Twitter and Pyra Labs
  • 1973 – Christopher Hampson, English ballet dancer and choreographer
  • 1974 – Benjamin Eicher, German director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1974 – Natali, Russian singer, composer and songwriter
  • 1974 – Stefan Olsdal, Swedish bass player
  • 1974 – Jani Sievinen, Finnish swimmer
  • 1975 – Adam Green, American director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1975 – Nathan Grey, Australian rugby player and coach
  • 1975 – Cameron Murray, Scottish rugby player
  • 1975 – Ryan Rupe, American baseball player
  • 1976 – Howard Frier, American basketball player
  • 1976 – Igors Sļesarčuks, Latvian-Russian footballer
  • 1976 – Graeme Smith, Scottish swimmer
  • 1977 – Toshiya, Japanese bass player, songwriter, and producer
  • 1977 – Garth Tander, Australian race car driver
  • 1978 – Michael Clark, Australian cricketer and footballer
  • 1978 – Stephen Clemence, English footballer, midfeider and manager
  • 1978 – Jarrod Cooper, American football player
  • 1978 – Jérôme Rothen, French footballer
  • 1979 – Omri Afek, Israeli footballer
  • 1979 – Euan Burton, Scottish martial artist and coach
  • 1979 – Alexis Ferrero, Argentinian footballer
  • 1979 – Charlie Manning, American baseball player
  • 1979 – Jonna Mendes, American skier
  • 1979 – Rhys Wesser, Australian rugby league player
  • 1980 – Martin Albrechtsen, Danish footballer
  • 1980 – Karolina Lassbo, Swedish lawyer and blogger
  • 1980 – Matias Concha, Swedish footballer
  • 1980 – Kate Micucci, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress
  • 1980 – Michael Ryder, Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1981 – Ryan Bingham, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1981 – Thomas Chatelle, Belgian footballer
  • 1981 – Han Tae-you, South Korean footballer
  • 1981 – Pa Dembo Touray, Gambian footballer
  • 1981 – Maarten van der Weijden, Dutch swimmer
  • 1982 – Tal Ben Haim, Israeli footballer
  • 1982 – Bam Childress, American football player
  • 1982 – Audrey Kawasaki, American painter
  • 1983 – Hashim Amla, South African cricketer
  • 1983 – Ashleigh Ball, Canadian voice actress and musician
  • 1983 – Sophie Hunger, Swiss-German musician
  • 1983 – Vlasios Maras, Greek gymnast
  • 1983 – Nigel Plum, Australian rugby league player
  • 1984 – David Clarkson, Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1984 – Eddie Johnson, American soccer player
  • 1984 – James Jones, American football player
  • 1984 – Martins Dukurs, Latvian sled racer
  • 1984 – Kaie Kand, Estonian heptathlete
  • 1984 – Alberto Junior Rodríguez, Peruvian footballer
  • 1984 – Ed Williamson, English rugby player
  • 1985 – Steve Bernier, Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1985 – Jo-Lonn Dunbar, American football player
  • 1985 – Jesper Hansen, Danish footballer
  • 1985 – Ivan Mishyn, Ukrainian race car driver
  • 1985 – Kory Sheets, American football player
  • 1985 – Jalmar Sjöberg, Swedish wrestler
  • 1986 – Andreas Dober, Austrian footballer
  • 1986 – James King, Scottish rugby player
  • 1986 – Paulo Machado, Portuguese footballer
  • 1987 – Nordin Amrabat, Dutch footballer
  • 1987 – Hugo Ayala, Mexican footballer
  • 1987 – Amaury Bischoff, Portuguese footballer
  • 1987 – Humpy Koneru, Indian chess player
  • 1987 – Kirill Starkov, Danish ice hockey player
  • 1987 – Nelli Zhiganshina, Russian figure skater
  • 1988 – Thomas De Corte, Belgian footballer
  • 1988 – Conrad Sewell, Australian singer and songwriter
  • 1988 – Dorin Dickerson, American football player
  • 1988 – DeAndre Liggins, American basketball player
  • 1988 – Louis van der Westhuizen, Namibian cricketer
  • 1989 – Alberto Martín Romo García Adámez, Spanish footballer
  • 1989 – Nejc Vidmar, Slovenian footballer
  • 1989 – Liu Zige, Chinese swimmer
  • 1990 – George Iloka, American football player
  • 1990 – Sandra Roma, Swedish tennis player
  • 1990 – Bang Yong-guk, South Korean rapper
  • 1991 – Milan Milanović, Serbian footballer
  • 1991 – Rodney Sneijder, Dutch footballer
  • 1992 – Stijn de Looijer, Dutch footballer
  • 1992 – Adam Zampa, Australian cricketer
  • 1993 – Mikael Ishak, Swedish footballer
  • 1994 – Samira Asghari, Afghan member of the International Olympic Committee
  • 1994 – Tyler Wright, Australian surfer
  • 1994 – Mads Würtz Schmidt, Danish road cyclist
  • 1995 – Fiona Brown, footballer
  • 1998 – Jakob Chychrun, American-born Canadian ice hockey player
  • 1999 – Japhet Tanganga, English footballer

Deaths on March 31

  • 32 BC – Titus Pomponius Atticus, Roman nobleman of the Equestrian order (b. 109 BC)
  • 528 – Xiaoming, emperor of Northern Wei (b. 510)
  • 963 – Abu Ja’far Ahmad ibn Muhammad, Saffarid emir (b. 906)
  • 1241 – Pousa, voivode of Transylvania
  • 1251 – William of Modena, Italian bishop and diplomat
  • 1340 – Ivan I of Moscow, Russian Grand Duke (b. 1288)
  • 1342 – Dionigi di Borgo San Sepolcro, Italian Augustinian monk
  • 1462 – Isidore II of Constantinople, patriarch of Constantinople
  • 1491 – Bonaventura Tornielli, Italian Roman Catholic priest (b. 1411)
  • 1547 – Francis I, French king (b. 1494)
  • 1567 – Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse (b. 1504)
  • 1621 – Philip III, Spanish king (b. 1578)
  • 1622 – Gonzalo Méndez de Canço, Royal Governor of La Florida (b. 1554)
  • 1631 – John Donne, English lawyer and poet (b. 1572)
  • 1671 – Anne Hyde, wife of James II of England (b. 1637)
  • 1723 – Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon, English soldier and politician, 14th Colonial Governor of New York (b. 1661)
  • 1741 – Pieter Burman the Elder, Dutch scholar and author (b. 1668)
  • 1751 – Frederick, Prince of Wales, Hanoverian-born heir to the British throne (b. 1707)better source needed
  • 1797 – Olaudah Equiano, Nigerian merchant, author, and activist (b.1745)
  • 1837 – John Constable, English painter and educator (b. 1776)
  • 1850 – John C. Calhoun, American lawyer and politician, 7th Vice President of the United States (b. 1782)
  • 1855 – Charlotte Brontë, English novelist and poet (b. 1816)
  • 1877 – Antoine Augustin Cournot, French mathematician and philosopher (b. 1801)
  • 1880 – Henryk Wieniawski, Polish violinist and composer (b. 1835)
  • 1885 – Franz Abt, German composer and conductor (b. 1819)
  • 1907 – Galusha A. Grow, American lawyer and politician, 28th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (b. 1823)
  • 1910 – Jean Moréas, Greek poet, essayist and art critic (b. 1856)
  • 1913 – J. P. Morgan, American banker and financier (b. 1837)
  • 1915 – Wyndham Halswelle, English-Scottish runner and captain (b. 1882)
  • 1917 – Emil von Behring, German physiologist and immunologist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1854)
  • 1924 – George Charles Haité, English painter and illustrator (b. 1855)
  • 1927 – Kang Youwei, Chinese scholar and political reformer (b. 1858)
  • 1930 – Ludwig Schüler, German politician, Mayor of Marburg (b. 1836)
  • 1931 – Knute Rockne, American football player and coach (b. 1888)
  • 1935 – Georges V. Matchabelli, Georgian-American businessman and diplomat, founded Prince Matchabelli perfume (b. 1885)
  • 1939 – Ioannis Tsangaridis, Greek general (b. 1887)
  • 1944 – Mineichi Koga, Japanese admiral (b. 1885)
  • 1945 – Frank Findlay, New Zealand banker and politician (b. 1884)
  • 1945 – Hans Fischer, German chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1881)
  • 1950 – Robert Natus, Estonian architect (b. 1890)
  • 1952 – Wallace H. White, Jr., American lawyer and politician (b. 1877)
  • 1956 – Ralph DePalma, Italian-American race car driver and actor (b. 1884)
  • 1968 – Grover Lowdermilk, American baseball player (b. 1885)
  • 1970 – Semyon Timoshenko, Soviet Commander during the Winter War and the Eastern Front of World War II (b. 1894)
  • 1975 – Percy Alliss, English golfer (b. 1897)
  • 1976 – Paul Strand, American photographer and director (b. 1890)
  • 1978 – Astrid Allwyn, American actress (b. 1905)
  • 1978 – Charles Herbert Best, American-Canadian physiologist and biochemist, co-discovered Insulin (b. 1899)
  • 1980 – Vladimír Holan, Czech poet and author (b. 1905)
  • 1980 – Jesse Owens, American sprinter and long jumper (b. 1913)
  • 1981 – Enid Bagnold, English author and playwright (b. 1889)
  • 1983 – Christina Stead, Australian author and academic (b. 1902)
  • 1986 – Jerry Paris, American actor and director (b. 1925)
  • 1988 – William McMahon, Australian lawyer and politician, 20th Prime Minister of Australia (b. 1908)
  • 1993 – Brandon Lee, American actor and martial artist (b. 1965)
  • 1993 – Mitchell Parish, Lithuanian-American songwriter (b. 1900)
  • 1995 – Selena, American singer-songwriter (b. 1971)
  • 1996 – Dante Giacosa, Italian automobile designer and engineer (b. 1905)
  • 1996 – Jeffrey Lee Pierce, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1958)
  • 1998 – Bella Abzug, American lawyer, activist, and politician (b. 1920)
  • 1998 – Tim Flock, American race car driver (b. 1924)
  • 1998 – Joel Ryce-Menuhin, American pianist (b. 1933)
  • 1999 – Yuri Knorozov, Russian linguist and ethnographer (b. 1922)
  • 2001 – David Rocastle, English footballer (b. 1967)
  • 2001 – Clifford Shull, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1915)
  • 2002 – Barry Took, English comedian, actor, and screenwriter (b. 1928)
  • 2002 – Moturu Udayam, Indian activist and politician (b. 1924)
  • 2003 – Harold Scott MacDonald Coxeter, English-Canadian mathematician and academic (b. 1907)
  • 2003 – Anne Gwynne, American actress (b. 1918)
  • 2003 – Tommy Seebach, Danish singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer (b. 1949)
  • 2004 – Scott Helvenston, American soldier (b. 1965)
  • 2005 – Stanley J. Korsmeyer, American oncologist and academic (b. 1951)
  • 2005 – Justiniano Montano, Filipino lawyer and politician (b. 1905)
  • 2005 – Frank Perdue, American businessman (b. 1920)
  • 2006 – Jackie McLean, American saxophonist and composer (b. 1931)
  • 2007 – Paul Watzlawick, Austrian-American psychologist and philosopher (b. 1921)
  • 2008 – Jules Dassin, American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor (b. 1911)
  • 2008 – Bill Keightley, American equipment manager (b. 1926)
  • 2009 – Raúl Alfonsín, Argentinian lawyer and politician, 46th President of Argentina (b. 1927)
  • 2009 – Choor Singh, Indian-Singaporean lawyer and judge (b. 1911)
  • 2011 – Gil Clancy, American boxer and trainer (b. 1922)
  • 2011 – Alan Fitzgerald, Australian journalist and author (b. 1935)
  • 2011 – Mary Greyeyes, the first First Nations woman to join the Canadian Armed Forces (b. 1920)
  • 2011 – Oddvar Hansen, Norwegian footballer and coach (b. 1921)
  • 2011 – Ishbel MacAskill, Scottish singer and actress (b. 1941)
  • 2011 – Henry Taub, American businessman and philanthropist (b. 1927)
  • 2012 – Judith Adams, New Zealand-Australian nurse and politician (b. 1943)
  • 2012 – Dale R. Corson, American physicist and academic (b. 1914)
  • 2012 – Bernard O. Gruenke, American stained glass artist (b. 1914)
  • 2012 – Jerry Lynch, American baseball player (b. 1930)
  • 2012 – Alberto Sughi, Italian painter (b. 1928)
  • 2012 – Halbert White, American economist and academic (b. 1950)
  • 2013 – Charles Amarin Brand, French archbishop (b. 1920)
  • 2013 – Ernie Bridge, Australian singer and politician (b. 1936)
  • 2013 – Bob Clarke, American illustrator (b. 1926)
  • 2013 – Ahmad Sayyed Javadi, Iranian lawyer and politician, Iranian Minister of Interior (b. 1917)
  • 2013 – Dmitri Uchaykin, Russian ice hockey player (b. 1980)
  • 2014 – Gonzalo Anes, Spanish economist, historian, and academic (b. 1931)
  • 2014 – Roger Somville, Belgian painter (b. 1923)
  • 2015 – Betty Churcher, Australian painter, historian, and curator (b. 1931)
  • 2015 – Cocoa Fujiwara, Japanese author and illustrator (b. 1983)
  • 2015 – Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Colombian lawyer and politician (b. 1937)
  • 2015 – Dalibor Vesely, Czech-English historian, author, and academic (b. 1934)
  • 2016 – Ronnie Corbett, Scottish comedian, actor and screenwriter (b. 1930)
  • 2016 – Hans-Dietrich Genscher, German politician (b. 1927)
  • 2016 – Zaha Hadid, Iraqi-born English architect and academic, designed the Bridge Pavilion (b. 1950)
  • 2016 – Imre Kertész, Hungarian author, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1929)
  • 2016 – Denise Robertson, British writer and television broadcaster (b. 1932)
  • 2017 – Gilbert Baker, American artist and LGBT rights activist (b. 1951)
  • 2017 – James Rosenquist, American artist (b. 1933)
  • 2019 – Nipsey Hussle, American rapper (b. 1985)

Holidays and observances on March 31

  • Cesar Chavez Day (United States)
  • Christian feast day
    • Abdas of Susa
    • Acathius of Melitene (Eastern Orthodox Church)
    • Anesius and companions
    • Benjamin
    • Balbina
    • John Donne (Anglican Communion, Lutheran)
    • March 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan)
  • Freedom Day (Malta)
  • International Transgender Day of Visibility
  • King Nangklao Memorial Day (Thailand)
  • Thomas Mundy Peterson Day (New Jersey, United States)
  • Transfer Day (US Virgin Islands)
  • World Backup Day

March 31 – History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day Read More »

On This Day

General Science & Ability | Constituents and Structure Solved MCQs (Set-III)

General Knowledge, MCQs / Q&A /

Click HERE for Q.No.1-50
Click HERE for Q.No.51-100

101) Which type of star is maintained by the pressure of an electron gas?
(a) Main Sequence Star
(b) White Dwarf
(c) Neutron Star
(d) Black Hole
Answer: (b)
White dwarfs are stars supported by pressure of degenerate electron gas. i.e. in their interiors thermal energy kT is much smaller then Fermi energy Ep. We shall derive the equations of structure of white dwarfs, sometimes called degenerate dwarfs, in the limiting case when their thermal pressure may be neglected, but the degenerate electron gas may be either non-relativistic. somewhat relativistic. or ultra-relativistic.

102) Which of the following first hypothesized that the Earth orbited the sun?
(a) Alexander the Great
(b) Copernicus
(c) Socrates
(d) Tycho Brahe
Answer: (b)
Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance mathematician and astronomer who formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at the center of the universe.

103) The LAST manned moon flight was made in what year?
(a) 1971 (b) 1972
(c) 1973 (d) 1974
Answer: (b)
The last manned landing Apollo 17 on the Moon to date, which took place on December 11, 1972, was made by Commander Eugene Cernan and lunar module pilot Harrison Schmitt who was also the first scientist on the Moon.

104) A planet is said to be at aphelion when it is:
(a) closest to the sun
(b) farthest from the sun
(c) at it’s highest point above the ecliptic
(d) at it’s lowest point below the ecliptic
Answer: (b)

105) The word Albedo refers to which of the following?
(a) The wobbling motion of a planet
(b) The amount of light a planet reflects
(c) The phase changes of a planet
(d) The brightness of a star
Answer: (b)
Albedo is a measure of the reflectivity of a surface. The albedo effect when applied to the Earth is a measure of how much of the Sun’s energy is reflected back into space. Overall, the Earth’s albedo has a cooling effect. (The term ‘albedo’ is derived from the Latin for ‘whiteness’).

106) A pulsar is actually a:
(a) black hole
(b) white dwarf
(c) red giant
(d) neutron star
Answer: (d)

107) Astronomers use Cepheid’s principally as measures of what? Is it:
(a) size
(b) speed
(c) chemical composition
(d) distance
Answer: (d)

108) Where are most asteroids located? Is it between:
(a) Jupiter and Saturn
(b) Mars and Venus
(c) Earth and Mars
(d) Mars and Jupiter
Answer: (d)

109) The precession of the Earth refers to the:
(a) change from night to day.
(b) Earth’s motion around the sun.
(c) change in orientation of the Earth’s axis.
(d) effect of the moon on the Earth’s orbit.
Answer: (c)
Precession is the change in orientation of the Earth’s rotational axis. The precession cycle takes about 19,000 – 23,000 years. Precession is caused by two factors: a wobble of the Earth’s axis and a turning around of the elliptical orbit of the Earth itself (Thomas, 2002). Obliquity affected the tilt of the Earth’s axis, precession affects the direction of the Earth’s axis. The change in the axis location changes the dates of perihelion (closest distance from sun) and aphelion (farthest distance from sun), and this increases the seasonal contrast in one hemisphere while decreasing it in the other hemisphere ( Kaufman, 2002). currently, the Earth is closest to the sun in the northern hemisphere winter, which makes the winters there less severe (Thomas, 2002). Another consequence of precession is a shift in the celestial poles. 5000 years ago the North Star was Thuban in the constellation Draco. Currently the North Star is Polaris in the constellation Ursa Minor.

110) The Magellanic cloud is a:
(a) nebula
(b) galaxy
(c) super nova remnant
(d) star cluster
Answer: (b)

111) The comet known as Halley’s Comet has an average period of:
(a) 56 years
(b) 66 years
(c) 76 years
(d) 86 years
Answer: (c)
Halley’s Comet orbits the Sun every 76.0 years and has an orbital eccentricity of 0.97. Comet Halley was visible in 1910 and again in 1986. Its next perihelion passage will be in early 2062.

112) Which one of the following planets has no moons?
(a) Mars
(b) Neptune
(c) Venus
(d) Jupiter
Answer: (c)

113) The rocks that enter the earth’s atmosphere and blaze a trail all the way to the ground and do not burn up completely are known as:
(a) meteorites
(b) meteors
(c) asteroids
(d) none of these
Answer: (a)
A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the Earth’s atmosphere and impact with the Earth’s surface

114) 95% of the Martian atmosphere is composed of what substance?
(a) Carbon dioxide
(b) Nitrogen
(c) Argon
(d) Carbon monoxide
Answer: (a)
The atmosphere of Mars is about 100 times thinner than Earth’s, and it is 95 percent carbon dioxide.

115) What is the motion called when a planet seems to be moving westward in the sky?
(a) Retrograde
(b) Parallax
(c) Opcentric
(d) Reverse parallax
Answer: (a)
Retrograde motion, in astronomy, describes the orbit of a celestial body that runs counter to the direction of the spin of that body which it orbits. Apparent retrograde motion, in astronomy, is the apparent motion of planets as observed from a particular vantage point.

116) In what year did Galileo first use an optical telescope to study the moon?
(a) 1492 (b) 1611
(c) 1212 (d) 1743
Answer: (b)

117) Geocentric means around:
(a) Jupiter (b) the Earth
(c) the Moon (d) the Sun
Answer: (b)

118) The Pythagoreans appear to have been the first to have taught that the Earth is:
(a) at the center of the Universe.
(b) spherical in shape.
(c) orbits around the sun.
(d) flat with sharp edges.
Answer: (b)

119) A device which would not work on the Moon is:
(a) thermometer
(b) siphon
(c) spectrometer
(d) spring balance
Answer: (b)
Siphons will not work in the International Space Station where there is air but no gravity, but neither will they work on the Moon where there is gravity but no air

120) Of the following colors, which is bent least in passing through aprism?
(a) orange (b) violet
(c) green (d) red
Answer: (d)

121) In a reflecting telescope where in the tube is the objective mirror placed?
(a) the top to the tube
(b) the middle of the tube
(c) the bottom of the tube
(d) the side of the tube
Answer: (c)

122) What does it mean when someone says that comets have eccentric orbits? Does it mean
(a) they have open orbits
(b) they have nearly circular orbits
(c) their orbits are unpredictable
(d) the sun is far from the foci of their orbits
Answer: (d)

123) What causes the gas tail of a comet to always point away from the sun?
(a) solar wind
(b) air pressure
(c) centrifugal force
(d) gravity
Answer: (a)

124) What are Saturn’s rings composed of?
(a) completely connected solid masses
(b) billions of tiny solid particles
(c) mixtures of gases
(d) highly reflective cosmic clouds
Answer: (b)

125) Of the following, which is the only planet which CANNOT be seen with the unaided eye?
(a) Jupiter
(b) Mars
(c) Neptune
(d) Saturn
Answer: (c)
The ice giant Neptune was the first planet located through mathematical predictions rather than through regular observations of the sky. Nearly 4.5 billion kilometers (2.8 billion miles) from the Sun, Neptune orbits the Sun once every 165 years. It is invisible to the naked eye because of its extreme distance from Earth. In 2011 Neptune completed its first orbit since its discovery in 1846.

126) Accretion is:
(a) the gradual accumulation of matter in one location usually due to gravity.
(b) the process of moon formation for planets.
(c) the process of matter accumulation due to centripetal force.
(d) the disintegration of matter.
Answer: (b)

127) A blue shift means a Doppler shift of light from a(an)
(a) receding star.
(b) blue star.
(c) approaching star.
(d) fixed star.
Answer: (c)
In the Doppler effect for visible light, the frequency is shifted toward the blue end of the spectrum when the light source (such as a star) is approaching.

128) The first and largest asteroid discovered was:
(a) Pallas.
(b) Juno.
(c) Ceres.
(d) Trojan.
Answer: (c)

129) The Crab Nebula consists of the remnants of a supernova which was observed by:
(a) Brahe in 1572.
(b) Kepler and Galileo in 1604.
(c) the Chinese in 1054 A.D.
(d) several ancient civilizations in 236 B.C.
Answer: (c)
The Crab Nebula, the result of a supernova noted by Earth-bound chroniclers in 1054 A.D., is filled with mysterious filaments that are are not only tremendously complex, but appear to have less mass than expelled in the original supernova and a higher speed than expected from a free explosion. The Crab Nebula spans about 10 light-years. In the nebula’s very center lies a pulsar: a neutron star as massive as the Sun but with only the size of a small town. The Crab Pulsar rotates about 30 times each second.

130) The atmosphere of Venus contains mostly
(a) oxygen
(b) carbon dioxide
(c) nitrogen
(d) water
Answer: (b)
The atmosphere of Venus is composed of about 96% carbon dioxide, with most … various other corrosive compounds, and the atmosphere contains little water.

131) On the celestial sphere, the annual path of the Sun is called
(a) the eclipse path.
(b) ecliptic.
(c) diurnal.
(d) solstice.
Answer: (b)
The ecliptic is an imaginary line on the sky that marks the annual path of the sun. It is the projection of Earth’s orbit onto the celestial sphere.

132) The angular distance between a planet and the Sun, as viewed from the Earth, is called
(a) angle of inclination.
(b) elongation.
(c) latitude.
(d) opposition.
Answer: (b)
Elongation is the angular distance between the sun, and another object such a moon or a planet as seen from earth. There are several special names for these angular distances. The different names of these angles depend on the status, inferior or superior, of the planet. The planets closer to the sun than the earth are called inferior planets. The planets farther away from the sun than earth are called superior planets.
Elongation is measured from earth as the angle between the sun and the planet. Sometimes the apparent relative position of a planet in relation to the sun is called the aspect, or configuration, of a planet.

133) Which of the following has the highest density?
(a) Earth
(b) Venus
(c) Mars
(d) Jupiter
Answer: (a)
Earth has the highest density of any planet in the Solar System, at 5.514 g/cm3. This is considered the standard by which other planet’s densities are measured. In addition, the combination of Earth’s size, mass and density also results in a surface gravity of 9.8 m/s². This is also used as a the standard (one g) when measuring the surface gravity of other planets.

134) Which of the following planets is NOT a terrestrial planet?
(a) Earth
(b) Jupiter
(c) Mars
(d) Mercury
Answer: (b)
The term terrestrial planet is derived from the Latin “Terra” (i.e. Earth). Terrestrial planets are therefore those that are “Earth-like”, meaning they are similar in structure and composition to planet Earth. All those planets found within the Inner Solar System – Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars – are examples of terrestrial planets. Each are composed primarily of silicate rock and metal, which is differentiated between a dense, metallic core and a silicate mantle.

135) Why do we see lunar eclipses much more often than solar eclipses?
(a) Lunar eclipses occur more often than solar eclipses.
(b) Lunar eclipses last longer than solar eclipses.
(c) The lunar eclipse is visible to much more of the Earth than a solar eclipse.
(d) The moon is closer to the Earth than the sun.
Answer: (c)
Lunar and solar eclipses occur with about equal frequency. Lunar eclipses are more widely visible because Earth casts a much larger shadow on the Moon during a lunar eclipse than the Moon casts on Earth during a solar eclipse. As a result, we are more likely to see a lunar eclipse than a solar eclipse.

136) A star like object with a very large red shift is a
(a) Neutron star.
(b) Nova.
(c) Quasar.
(d) Supernova.
Answer: (c)
Quasars: In the 1930’s, Edwin Hubble discovered that all galaxies have a positive redshift. In other words, all galaxies were receding from the Milky Way.

137) The apparent magnitude of an object in the sky describes its
(a) Size
(b) Magnification
(c) Brightness
(d) Distance
Answer: (c)

138) The Van Allen belts are:
(a) caused by the refraction of sunlight like rainbows.
(b) charged particles trapped in the Earth’s magnetic field.
(c) caused by the reflection of polar snow.
(d) caused by precession.
Answer: (b)
The Van Allen belts are a collection of charged particles, gathered in place by Earth’s magnetic field. They can wax and wane in response to incoming energy from the sun, sometimes swelling up enough to expose satellites in low-Earth orbit to damaging radiation.

139) A coordinate system based on the ecliptic system is especially useful for the studies of
(a) Planets
(b) Stars
(c) The Milky Way
(d) Galaxies
Answer: (a)

140) The mean distance of the earth from the sun in astronomical units is:
(a) 3.7 (b) 10
(c) 1 (d) 101
Answer: (c)
In astronomy, an astronomical unit is defined as the average distance from the Sun to the Earth, or about 150 million kilometers (93 million miles). You can abbreviate astronomical unit as AU.
Since the distances in astronomy are so vast, astronomers use this measurement to bring the size of numbers down.
For example, Earth is 1 au from the Sun, and Mars is 1.523 AU. That’s much easier than saying that Mars is 227,939,000 km away from the Sun.

141) What process produces a star’s energy?
(a) hydrogen and oxygen combustion
(b) nuclear fusion
(c) neutron beta decay
(d) nuclear fission
Answer: (b)
The enormous luminous energy of the stars comes from nuclear fusion processes in their centers. Depending upon the age and mass of a star, the energy may come from proton-proton fusion, helium fusion, or the carbon cycle.

142) What is the most distant object in the sky that the human eye can see without optical instruments?
(a) The Horsehead Nebula
(b) The Andromeda Galaxy
(c) The Sagittarius Constellation
(d) The Aurora Borealis
Answer: (b)
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the closest large galaxy to the Milky Way and is one of a few galaxies that can be seen unaided from the Earth. In approximately 4.5 billion years the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way are expected to collide and the result will be a giant elliptical galaxy. Andromeda is accompanied by 14 dwarf galaxies, including M32, M110, and possibly M33 (The Triangulum Galaxy).

143) Which civilization developed and implemented the first solar calendar?
(a) Babylonian
(b) Greek
(c) Egyptian
(d) Aztec
Answer: (c)
A solar calendar is a calendar whose dates indicate the position of the earth on its revolution around the sun and is based on the seasonal year of approximately 365 1/4 days, the time it takes the Earth to revolve once around the Sun. The Egyptians appear to have been the first to develop a solar calendar, using as a fixed point the annual sunrise reappearance of the Dog Star — Sirius, or Sothis — in the eastern sky, which coincided with the annual flooding of the Nile River. They constructed a calendar of 365 days, consisting of 12 months of 30 days each, with 5 days added at the year’s end. The Egyptians’ failure to account for the extra fraction of a day, however, caused their calendar to drift gradually into error.

144) What is the HOTTEST region of the sun?
(a) The core
(b) The photosphere
(c) The chromospheres
(d) The corona
Answer: (d)
The corona is the outermost layer of the Sun, starting at about 1300 miles (2100 km) above the solar surface (the photosphere) The temperature in the corona is 500,000 K (900,000 degrees F, 500,000 degrees C) or more, up to a few million K. The corona cannot be seen with the naked eye except during a total solar eclipse, or with the use of a coronagraph. The corona does not have an upper limit.
A study published in 2012 in Nature Communications by researchers at Northumbria University found a possible mechanism that causes some stars to have a corona that is almost 200 times hotter than their photosphere (the star’s surface).

145) The same side of the moon always faces the Earth because:
(a) the moon is not rotating about its axis.
(b) the moon’s motion was fixed at its creation by the laws of inertia.
(c) tidal forces keep the moon’s rotation and orbiting motion in sync with each other.
(d) the moon’s magnetic poles keep aligned with the Earth’s magnetic field.
Answer: (b)

146) The resolving power of a telescope depends on the:
(a) focal ratio
(b) diameter of the objective
(c) magnification
(d) focal length
Answer: (b)
The resolving power of a telescope depends on the diameter of the telescope’s light-gathering apparatus, or objective. In a refracting telescope, the objective lens is the first lens the light passes through. In a reflecting telescope, the objective is the telescope’s primary mirror. In a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, the objective is also the primary mirror. As the diameter of the telescope’s objective increases, the resolving power increases.

147) On a clear, dark, moonless night, approximately how many stars can be seen with the naked eye?
(a) 300 (b) 1,000
(c) 3,000 (d) 10,000
Answer: (c)
On any clear dark moonless night a person can see about 3000 stars of our galaxy without the aid of a telescope

148) The study of the origin and evolution of the universe is known as:
(a) Tomography
(b) cystoscopy
(c) cryology
(d) cosmology
Answer: (d)
Cosmology is the branch of astronomy involving the origin and evolution of the universe, from the Big Bang to today and on into the future. According to NASA, the definition of cosmology is “the scientific study of the large scale properties of the universe as a whole.”

149) According to Kepler’s Laws, all orbits of the planets are:
(a) ellipses
(b) parabolas
(c) hyperbolas
(d) square
Answer: (a)
Johannes Kepler, working with data painstakingly collected by Tycho Brahe without the aid of a telescope, developed three laws which described the motion of the planets across the sky.
1. The Law of Orbits: All planets move in elliptical orbits, with the sun at one focus.
2. The Law of Areas: A line that connects a planet to the sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times.
3. The Law of Periods: The square of the period of any planet is proportional to the cube of the semimajor axis of its orbit.
Kepler’s laws were derived for orbits around the sun, but they apply to satellite orbits as well.

General Science & Ability | Constituents and Structure Solved MCQs (Set-III) Read More »

General Knowledge, MCQs / Q&A

Nagpur Cricket Test 2010 Quiz

MCQs / Q&A, Sports, Test /

1. How many runs South Africa had scored when it lost two wickets in first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) 0
b) 72
c) 6
d) 24

2. How many runs did South Africa score in first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) 320
b) 558/6 decl.
c) 329/8 decl.
d) 494

3. Who conceded 140 runs and did not take any wicket in South Africa’s first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) Amit Misra
b) Ishant Sharma
c) Irfan Pathan
d) Yusuf Pathan

4. How many runs did India score in first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) 644
b) 480
c) 233
d) 644/9 decl.

5. Who scored 109 runs in India’s first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) Yuvraj Singh
b) Gautam Gambhir
c) Murali Vijay
d) Virender Sehwag

6. Who had the bowling figures of 16.4-6-51-7 in India’s first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) More Morkel
b) Dale Steyn
c) Paul Harris
d) Wayne Parnell

7. How many runs did India score in second Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) 319
b) 558/6 decl
c) 229
d) 306

8. Who scored 100 runs in India’s second Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) Subramanian Badrinath
b) Rahul Dravid
c) Sachin Tendulkar
d) Wriddhiman Saha

9. How many wickets did Dale Steyn take in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) 10
b) 12
c) 8
d) 6

10. What was the result of Nagpur Test 2010?
a) Draw
b) Tie
c) India won by 8 wickets
d) South Africa won by an Innings and 6 runs

 

Nagpur Test 2010 Quiz Answers

1. How many runs South Africa had scored when it lost two wickets in first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
c) 6

2. How many runs did South Africa score in first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
b) 558/6 decl.

3. Who conceded 140 runs and did not take any wicket in South Africa’s first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) Amit Misra

4. How many runs did India score in first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
c) 233

5. Who scored 109 runs in India’s first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
d) Virender Sehwag

6. Who had the bowling figures of 16.4-6-51-7 in India’s first Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
b) Dale Steyn

7. How many runs did India score in second Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) 319

8. Who scored 100 runs in India’s second Innings in Nagpur Test 2010?
c) Sachin Tendulkar

9. How many wickets did Dale Steyn take in Nagpur Test 2010?
a) 10

10. What was the result of Nagpur Test 2010?
d) South Africa won by an Innings and 6 runs

Nagpur Cricket Test 2010 Quiz Read More »

MCQs / Q&A, Sports, Test

NTS Pak Current Affairs MCQs With Answers

Current Affairs, History, Islam, MCQs / Q&A, Past Papers, Test, World /

1. Due to which militant group, Iran threatened Pakistan that they would hit bases of Militants inside Pakistan?
A. ISIS
B. Lashkar-e-Taiba
C. Jaish-al-Adl
D. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan

Answer: Option C

2. How many members joint investigation team (JIT) formed by Sup¬reme Court?
A. 4 members (JIT) team
B. 6 members (JIT) team
C. 7 members (JIT) team
D. None of these

Answer: Option B

3. Name the Head of Joint investigation team (JIT) to probe Panama case?
A. Wajid Zia (FIA)
B. Brigadier Muhammad Nauman Saeed (ISI)
C. Brigadier Kamran Khurshid (MI).
D. Irfan Naeem Mangi (NAB).

Answer: Option A

4. Who is the current IG of Islamabad Police?
A. Ahmed Khan
B. Muhammad Khalid Khattak
C. Tahir Masood Yasin
D. Sikandar Hayat

Answer: Option B

5. Who is the current IG of Balochistan Police?
A. Mr. Tariq Umar Khittab
B. Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera
C. Rao Amin Hashim
D. Mr. Ahsan Mehboob

Answer: Option D

6. Who is the Current IG of Punjab Police?
A. Mushtaq Sukhera
B. Usman Khattak
C. Arif Nawaz
D. Ameen Venus

Answer: Option B

7. Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Special Forces during raid in Abbottabad on____________?
A. 2nd May 2010
B. 3rd May 2010
C. 2nd May 2011
D. 3rd May 2011

Answer: Option C

8. Name the Pakistani Cricket player who announced his retirement from Test cricket in April-2017?
A. Younas Khan
B. Shahid Khan Afridi
C. Misbah Ul Haq
D. Mohammed Yousaf

Answer: Option C

9. Name the Imam-i-Kaaba who was invited by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) for Centenary celebrations on 6th April 2017?
A. Hassan Al Bukhari
B. Ahmad Mohammad Al al-Abbas
C. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais
D. Sheikh Saleh bin Muhammad Bin Talib

Answer: Option D

10. Who is the current IG of Sindh police?
A. Allah Dino Khowaja
B. Ghulam Hyder Jamali
C. Nasir Khan Durrani
D. Shahid Nadeem Baloch

Answer: Option A

11. Who is the current IG of KPK police?
A. Ihsan Ghani
B. Salahuddin Mehsud
C. Nasir Khan Durrani
D. Ali Ahmed

Answer: Option B

12. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will issue a Coin in Recognition of Edhi’s services on March 31 2017, will worth Rs___________?
A. RS 30
B. RS 40
C. RS 50
D. RS 60

Answer: Option C

13. Name the First Woman Chief Executive Officer and President of of a Major Pakistani Bank?
A. JEHAN ARA
B. SALAINA HAROON
C. SABEEN MAHMOOD
D. SIMA KAMIL

Answer: Option D

14. Who is the current Chief Justice of Sindh High Court?
A. Justice Ahmed Ali M. Sheikh
B. Justice Sajjad Ali Shah
C. Justice Faisal Arab
D. Justice Maqbool Baqar

Answer: Option A

15. Sixth population census Started on 15th March 2017, which is being carried out after___________years?
A. 17 Years
B. 18 Years
C. 19 Years
D. 20 Years

Answer: Option C

16. Who won Pakistan Super League 2017?
A. Peshawar Zalmi
B. Quetta Gladiators
C. Karachi Kings
D. Islamabad United

Answer: Option A

17. Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad means ______________?
A. Path to Salvation
B. Elimination of discord
C. Sharp and cutting strike
D. None of these

Answer: Option B

18. Pakistan Army on launched ‘Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad’ across the country on ______________?
A. 13th Jan 2017
B. 2nd Feb 2017
C. 15th Feb 2017
D. 22nd Feb 2017

Answer: Option D

19. Which country boycotts South Asian Speakers’ summit-2017 ?
A. Pakistan
B. Nepal
C. Maldives
D. Sri Lanka

Answer: Option A

20. South Asian Speakers’ Summit-2017 19-20 Feb 2017 will be held in___________?
A. Colombo, Sri Lanka
B. Kathmandu, Nepa
C. Indore, India
D. Male, Maldives

Answer: Option C

21. Who is Newly appointed Ambassador of Pakistan to USA?
A. Jalil Abbas Jilani
B. Tahmina Janjua
C. Aizaz Chaudhary
D. Nafees Zakria

Answer: Option C

22. Who is currently appointed as adviser to the prime minister on aviation PIA?
A. Zafar Iqbal Jahgra
B. Azam Shigal
C. Tariq Fatmi
D. Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan

Answer: Option D

23. The 13th Meeting of the ECO Heads of State/Government on 1st March 2017 will be hosted by__________?
A. Pakistan
B. Turkey
C. Iran
D. China

Answer: Option A

24. Which team has won blind cricket T-20 world cup-on 12 february 2017 in India?
A. Pakistan
B. Australia
C. India
D. West Indies

Answer: Option C

25. How many countries had participated in conducting international naval exercise ‘Aman-17’ in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Karachi on 10 to 14 February-2017?
A. 21
B. 38
C. 27
D. 17

Answer: Option B

26. Bhikki Power Plant, district Sheikhupura has installed capacity of__________?
A. 1180 MW
B. 1320 MW
C. 480 MW
D. 1480 MW

Answer: Option A

27. Which Renowned Pakistani novelist passes away on 4th February -2017 at the age of 88 years?
A. Fatima Surayya Bajia
B. Razia Butt
C. Bano Qudsia
D. Parveen Shakir

Answer: Option C

28. Ex PM Nawaz Shairf has inaugurated 75-km long section of Karachi-Hyderabad motorway(total length would be 136 KM) on 3rd February-2017 it is?
A. M8 Motorway
B. M9 Motorway
C. M12 Motorway
D. M4 Motorway

Answer: Option B

29. Current Deputy Chairman Senate is____________?
A. Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman
B. Marvi Memon
C. Moulana Abdul Gafoor Haidri
D. Faisal Kareem Kundi

Answer: Option C

30. Current Chairman Senate is___________?
A. Ayaz Sadiq
B. Khrsheed Shah
C. Aitzaz Ehsan
D. Raza Rabbani

Answer: Option D

31. Who became the first Pakistani Women bowler from the country in Women ODIs to take 100 wickets in One-day International?
A. Sana Mir
B. Anam Amin
C. Asmavia Iqbal
D. Bismah Maroof

Answer: Option A

32. Current Governor Sindh is _______________?
A. Murad Ali Shah
B. Dr. Ishratul Ebad
C. Justice(R) Saeed U zaman Saddiqi
D. Muhammad Zubair
updated on 31 jan 2017

Answer: Option D

33. Name the Pakistan’s surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which is capable of delivering multiple warheads using Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology?
A. Shaheen-II
B. Ababeel
C. Nasr
D. Ghauri

Answer: Option B

34. Multan Metro Bus Project Inaugurated by ex-PM Nawaz Sharif on 24th January-2017 completed with cost of 28.88 Billions Rs. its route length is?
A. 22.5 KM
B. 27 KM
C. 33.5 KM
D. 18.5 KM

Answer: Option D

35. Pakistan conducted a successful test of the “Ababeel” surface-to-surface ballistic missile on 24 January 2017, its range is___________?
A. 450 KM
B. 750 KM
C. 2200 KM
D. 1400 KM

Answer: Option C

36. After how many Years Pakistan’s win first ODI on Australian soil in jan 2017?
A. 12 Years
B. 10 Years
C. 15 years
D. None of these

Answer: Option A

37. The late Justice(R) Saeed U zaman Saddiqi Governor Sindh had served as the _________Chief Justice of Pakistan?
A. 13th Chief Justice of Pakistan
B. 14th Chief Justice of Pakistan
C. 15th Chief Justice of Pakistan
D. 16th Chief Justice of Pakistan

Answer: Option C

38. The Shortest-Serving Governor in Sindh’s History is?
A. Murad Ali Shah
B. Dr. Ishratul Ebad
C. Justice(R) Saeed U zaman Saddiqi
D. Khursheed Shah

Answer: Option C

39. Pakistan test fired its first submarine launched cruise missile Babur-III on 9 January 2017, has the range of___________ kilometres?
A. 450 kilometres
B. 550 kilometres
C. 650 kilometres
D. 700 kilometres

Answer: Option A

40.
Islamic military coalition formed to combat terrorism is the alliance of ___________ Nations
A. 34 nations
B. 38 Nations
C. 39 Nations
D. 40 Nations

Answer: Option C

41. joint operations center to coordinate and support military operations of Saudi-led Islamic military alliance of 39 Nations against terrorism is located in?
A. Riyadh
B. Jeddah
C. Medina
D. Damma

Answer: Option A

42. Who has been appointed as a Chief of Saudi-led Islamic anti-terror alliance of 39 Nations in January 2017?
A. General (retd) Raheel Sharif
B. General (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
C. General (retd) Pervez Musharraf
D. General Qamar Javed Bajwa

Answer: Option A

43. Who becomes most experienced international umpire in cricket history in January 2017?
A. Aleem Dar
B. Rod Tucker
C. Sundaram Ravi
D. Marais Erasmus

Answer: Option A

44. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took oath as Chief justice of Pakistan on __________?
A. 25 December 2016
B. 31 December 2016
C. 1 January 2017
D. 15 January 2017

Answer: Option B

45. Who is Current Chief justice of Pakistan?
A. Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali
B. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar
C. Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk
D. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry

Answer: Option B

46. The current Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court is?
A. Justice Mazhar ALam Khan Miankhel
B. Justice Mian Fasih-ul-Mulk
C. Justice Dost Muhammad Khan
D. Justice Yahya Afridi

Answer: Option D

47. Recently inaugurated Chashma- III nuclear power plant can generate___________ megawatts of electricity?
A. 340 megawatts
B. 360 megawatts
C. 400 megawatts
D. 150 megawatt

Answer: Option A

48. Pak-Jordan joint military exercise held in December-2016 near Attock, called?
A. Raadul Baraq
B. Ataturk-IX
C. Friendship-2016
D. Fajr-ul-Sharq 1

Answer: Option D

49. Ex PM Nawaz has inaugurated 340 MW Chashma Nuclear Project-III in Mianwali on 28 December-2016 with the help of?
A. China
B. Turkey
C. Russia
D. Canada

Answer: Option A

50. How many regulatory bodies placed under the administrative control of the respective ministries concerned in December 2016?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 7

Answer: Option C

51. Who becomes first Pakistani to win ICC Spirit of Cricket Award in December 2016?
A. Shahid Khan Afridi
B. Misbah-ul-Haq
C. Younas khan
D. Azhar Ali

Answer: Option B

52. China Pakistan Economics Corridor (CPEC) total length?
A.2896 KM
B. 7200 KM
C. 2442 KM
C. 4400 KM

Answer: Option C

53. Who is Current DG Rangers Sindh?
A. Major Nadeem
B. Gen Muhammad Saeed
C. Gen Rizwan Akhtar
D. Gen Asim Bajwa

Answer: Option B

54. The 10-rupee coin, recently issued by SBP, contains the picture of _____________?
A. Derawar Fort
B. Gwadar Port
C. Badshahi Mosque
D. Faisal Mosque

Answer: Option D

55. What is the name of the “chaiwala” Who got famous from social media in 2016?
A. Kamal Khan
B. Irshad Khan
C. Rasheed Khan
D. Arshad Khan

Answer: Option D

56. Pakistan will conduct its ____________ Population cencus in 2017?
A. 4th population census
B. 5th population census
C. 6th population census
D. 7th population census

Answer: Option C

57. Pakistan’s sixth population census will be carried out in _____________?
A. February 2017
B. March 2017
C. April 2017
D. May 2017

Answer: Option B

58. Who is newly Appointed DG ISPR of Pakistan Army?
A. Lt General Asim Saleem Bajwa
B. Major General Asif Ghafoor
C. Major General Athar Abbas
D. Major General Waheed Arshad

Answer: Option B

59. USA have signed an agreement to provide Rs 8.5 billion to the WAPDA for the construction of?
A. Dia Mir Bahasha Dam Project
B. Kala Bagh Dam Project
C. Kurram Tangi Dam Project
D. Mirani Dam Project

Answer: Option C

60. Name the special task force, which is established in December 2016 by Pakistan Navy to safeguard and protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as well as Gwadar port?
A. Task Force 21
B. Task Force 44
C. Task Force 88
D. Task Force 2

Answer: Option C

61. Who is the First Pakistani female member of bomb disposal squad (BDU)?
A. Shazadi Gillani
B. Maryyam
C. Rafia Qaseem Baig
D. None of these

Answer: Option C

62. According to a notification by the Ministry of Law and Justice, Who will be the next Chief Justice of Pakistan in 2017?
A. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar
B. Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali
C. Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa
D. Justice Amir Hani Muslim

Answer: Option A

63. Name the University which Department to be rename as “Abdus Salam Center for Physics” Approved by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in December 2016?
A. Punjab University (Lahore)
B. Quaid-e-Azam University (Islamabad)
C. Gomal University (DI Khan)
D. All of Above

Answer: Option B

64. Name the International University which started Benazir Bhutto Leadership Program (BBLP) / international leadership course in December 2016?
A. University of Oxford
B. Harvard University
C. University of Cambridge
D. None of these

Answer: Option B

65. The 2017 Heart of Asia – Istanbul Ministerial Process will be hosted by which country?
A. Pakistan
B. India
C. Bhutan
D. Azerbaijan

Answer: Option D

66. Heart of Asia – Istanbul Ministerial Process on December 3 to December 4, 2016 was hosted by which country?
A. Pakistan
B. India (Amritsar city)
C. Bhutan
D. Iran

Answer: Option B

67. How many Participating Countries are there in Heart of Asia Conference?
A. 12 Participating Countries
B. 14 Participating Countries
C. 16 Participating Countries
D. None of these

Answer: Option B

68. Number of Supporting Countries in Heart of Asia – Istanbul Ministerial Process are?
A. 15 Supporting Countries
B. 17 Supporting Countries
C. 19 Supporting Countries
D. None of these

Answer: Option B

69. Pakistan has started direct train and freight service in December 2016 with which Country?
A. Iran
B. India
C. Afghanistan
D. China

Answer: Option D

70. Till now, How many Chief of Army Staff (COAS), of Pakistan are selected from Baloch Regiment?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. None of these

Answer: Option C

71. General Qamar Javed Bajwa took oath as Army Chief on __________?
A. 23 November 2016
B. 25 November 2016
C. 27 November 2016
D. 29 November 2016

Answer: Option D

72. General Zubair Hayat is the ___________ Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) of Pakistan?
A. 13th
B. 15th
C. 16th
D. 17th

Answer: Option D

73. Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa is___________ Chief of Amy Staff of Pakistan?
A. 13th
B. 15th
C. 16th
D. None of these

Answer: Option C

74. Newly selected Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa belongs to Regiment___________?
A. 6th FF
B. 16th Baloch Ragiment
C. 5th Punjab
D. 13th Lancers

Answer: Option B

75. Who is the Current Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), Pakistan?
A. General Rashad Mahmood
B. General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani
C. General Zubair Hayat
D. General Raheel Sharif

Answer: Option C

76. Who is the Current Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Pakistan?
A. Gen Raheel Sharif
B. Gen Ashfaq Parvaz kayani
C. Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa
D. Gen Zubair Hayat

Answer: Option C

77. Name the cricket Stadium which is located in Khyber Agency and inaugurated by Gen Raheel Sharif in November 2016?
A. Younas Khan cricket stadium
B. Shahid Afridi cricket stadium
C. Gaddafi Stadium
D. Arbab Niaz Stadium

Answer: Option B

78. Pakistan Army shoots down Indian Quad Copter drone at LOC in November 2016 at which sector?
A) Bhimber Sector
B) Rakhchakri Sector
C) Shahkot sector
D) Jura sector.

Answer: Option B

79. PAKISTAN 9th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar to be held on 22-25 November-2016 in Karachi Expo Center, its name?
A. Defense Production Workshop-2016
B. Army Arms Ideas-2016
C. IDEAS-2016
D. Combat-2016

Answer: Option C

80. Who was the only Pakistani to have climbed six of the world’s tallest mountains of 8000 m passed away on 21-Nov-2016 due to blood Cancer?
A. Ashraf Amman
B. Nazeer Sabar
C. Numera Saleem
D. Hassan Sadpara

Answer: Option D

81. Current Minister of Planning and Development of Pakistan?
A. Nawaz Sharief
B. Khwaja Saad Rafique
C. Ahsan Iqbal
D. Zafar ul Haq

Answer: Option C

82. Ishratul Ebad has longest tenure as a Governor of any province of Pakistan?
A. 12 years (2001-2012)
B. 16 Years ( 2001-2016)
C. 14 Years ( 2002-2016)
D. 10 Years ( 2006-2016)

Answer: Option C

83. First caretaker female chief election commissioner of Pakistan who took oath on 7 November-2016?
A. Justice Majida Rizvi
B. Asima Jhangir
C. Maryam Orangzaib
D. Justice (Retd) Irshad Qaiser

Answer: Option D

84. Current National Assembly of Pakistan is_________?
A. 12th National Assembly
B. 13th National Assembly
C. 14th National Assembly
D. 16th National Assembly

Answer: Option C

85. 22nd Amendment in 1973 Constitution of Pakistan is related to____________?
A. Pak Army Trail Courts
B. Powers of Election Commission Members
C. Related to NRO
D. Not made yet

Answer: Option B

86. Woman Seats in Senat?
A. 12
B. 17
C. 4
D. 10

Answer: Option B

87. Renowned former producer and director of PTV died at the age of 73 years due to lung complications in Lahore on 4-11-2016, name?
A. Sohail Azeem
B. Bushra Adil
C. Yawar Hayat
D. Azeem Bombywalay

Answer: Option C

88. Who received the ‘most resilient journalist award’ by the International Free Press in Hague, Holland on 2nd November-2016
A. Javed Chauhdary
B. Hamid Mir
C. Talat Huusain
D. Kamran Khan

Answer: Option B

89. Terrorists attacked on Police Training Center on 25 October-2016 night which result 61 martyred and 124 injured in?
A. Peshawar
B. Quetta
C. Karachi
D. Rawalpindi

Answer: Option B

90. Pakistan Army won the gold medal at an annual international military patrolling exercise, ‘Exercise Cambrian Patrol’ held in?
A. New South Wales, Australia
B. Moscow, Russia
C. Wales, United Kingdom
D. Istanbul, Turkey

Answer: Option C

91. Which Pakistani footballer died in a road accident in Karachi on October 13, 2016?
A. Shahlyla Baloch
B. Samreen Marvi
C. Iffat Saeed
D. None of Above

Answer: Option A

92. Who have made first century,double century and also triple century in day and night Test Match with pink ball in Oct-2016?
A. Veerat Kohli (IndiA.
B. Brandom Macalum (NuzilanD.
C. Azhar Ali (Pakistan)
D. Hashim Amlaa (South AfricA.

Answer: Option C

93. Pakistan issued $1 billion five-year Sukuk bonds on October 6, 2016 @ the rate of__________?
A. 9.3%
B. 7.5%
C. 5.5%
D. 4.75%

Answer: Option C

94. Which Bank has installed world highest ATM at Pakistan-China border in Khunjerab Pass in October-2016?
A. National Bank of Pakistan (NBP)
B. Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB)
C. United Bank Limited (UBL)
D. Allied Bank Limited. (ABL)
(more…)

Answer: Option A

95. 19th SAARC conference-2016 which was going to held in Islamabad, Pakistan has postponed due to opposite of 3 SAARC Countries?
A. Nepal, India, Bangladesh
B. India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
C. Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India
D. None of Above

Answer: Option C

96. Which country declared as the third largest host for refugees by Amnesty International in October-2016?
A. Jordan
B. Turkey
C. Germany
D. Pakistan

Answer: Option D

97. Joint Military Exercises Started between Pakistan & Russia in September-2016, called_________?
A. Inspired Gambit
B. North Thunder
C. Operation Rajjgal
D. Druzhba 2016 OR (Friendship 2016)

Answer: Option D

98. Seven Years old British Pakistani who became world’s youngest computer programmer in September-2016?
A. Muhammad Usaman
B. Hamza Shahzad
C. Ali Raza
D. Imran Abbas

Answer: Option B

99. Military Exercises held in September-2016 between Pak & USA in South Carolina,called?
A. Thunder Bolt
B. Joint C-2016
C. Inspired Gambit
D. none of Above

Answer: Option C

100. Current Hijri Year is ?
A. 1435 AH
B. 1437 AH
C. 1438 AH
D. 1434 AH

Answer: Option C

101. Which country got first position in Test Ranking in Cricket in its History on 22 Aug-2016?
A. Pakistan
B. India
C. South Africa
D. Sri Lanka

Answer: Option A

102. Member of Sindh Assembly and MQM resigned on 22 Aug-2016 ?
A. Farooq Sattar
B. Kashmala Tariq
C. Waseem Akhtar
D. Iram Farooqi

Answer: Option D

103. Which country won first position by wining 121 medals in Olympics-2016?
A. UK
B. China
C. USA
D. Russia

Answer: Option C

104. Tallest Building of Pakistan?
A. Burj Khalifa
B. Habib Bank Plaza, Karachi
C. Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore
D. Icon Tower, Karachi

Answer: Option D

105. Pakistan Army conducting an operation along the Pak-Afghan border in Khyber Agency, called?
A. Operation Zarb-e- Azab
B. Operation Rah-e-Nijaat
C. Operation Rajjgal
D. Operation Zarb-e-Ahaan

Answer: Option C

106. Pakistan has launched its biggest Navy’s Warship Fleet Tanker with the help of ?
A. Turkey
B. China
C. Canada
D. USA

Answer: Option A

107. Who is Chairman NADRA ?
A. Syed Muzzafar
B. Uzma Adil
C. Abid Sher Ali
D. Usman Yousaf Mobeen

Answer: Option D

108. Pakistan has became 6th time world champion on 17 Aug-2016 in?
A. Cricket
B. Junior Squash
C. Hockey
D. Kabadi

Answer: Option B

109. Recently in which country Amnesty International has closed its offices?
A. Afghanistan
B. Pakistan
C. India
D. Syria

Answer: Option C

110. Current President of Azad Kashmir is?
A. Ch. Abdul Majeed
B. Sardar Masood Khan
C. Raja Farooq
D. Sardar Yaqoob

Answer: Option B

111. “Combing operation” Means________________?
A. A searching operation by Forces to find out hidden terrorists.
B. Kidney Operation by qualified Surgeons
C. A bill passed by Pakistani Parliament.
D. None of Above

Answer: Option A

112. Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Plant based in Muzzafarabad will produce electricity?
A. 969 Mwt
B. 4500 Mwt
C. 425 Mgw
D. 3200 Mwt

Answer: Option A

113. Ex Pakistani Cricket Captain Hanif Muhammad died on 11 Aug-2016 at the age of 81 years, got the title?
A. Flying Shaheen
B. Little Master
C. Asian Legend
D. None of Above

Answer: Option B

114. Russia will invest__________ in the construction of North-South gas pipeline.
A. $1 billion
B. $2 billion
C. $3 billion
D. $4 billion

Answer: Option B

115. The North-South gas pipeline will transport LNG from____________?
A. Karachi to Lahore
B. Lahore to Karachi
C. Gwadar to Karachi
D. Gwadar to Sukkur

Answer: Option A

116. The total length of North-South gas pipeline is_____________?
A. 1,000 km
B. 1,100 km
C. 1,200 km
D. 1,300 km

Answer: Option B

117. Around _______billion m3 of gas would be transported from Karachi to Lahore per annum through North-South gas pipeline.
A. 11.0
B. 11.4
C. 12.0
D. 12.4

Answer: Option D

118. The total length of Karachi-Lahore Motorway is___________?
A. 1,000 km
B. 1,100 km
C. 1,200 km
D. 1,300 km

Answer: Option B

119. Pakistan issued 10-year Eurobonds of _____ in the international Eurobond market on 25 September 2015.
A. $5 million
B. $50 million
C. $500 million
D. $5000 million

Answer: Option C

120. The coupon rate of Eurobonds issued on 25 September 2015 is___________%?
A. 7.75%
B. 8.0%
C. 8.25%
D. 8.50%

Answer: Option C

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