Today in History for 15th April 2024
Historical Events
1902 – Pope Leo XIII encyclical “On Church in US”
1921 – Black Friday in Britain: leaders of transport and rail unions announce a decision not to call for strike action in support of the miners; despite widespread feeling decision a breach of solidarity and a betrayal of the miners
1923 – 1st sound on film public performance shown at Rialto Theater (NYC)
1941 – 1st helicopter flight of 1 hr duration, Stratford, Ct
1972 – Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Carole King, and Quincy Jones perform benefit concert for George McGovern for President campaign at the Forum in Inglewood, California
1988 – Meteorite explode above Indonesia
Famous Birthdays
1588 – Claudius Salmasius [Claude Saumaise], French linguist, born in Semur-en-Auxois, France (d. 1653)
1772 – Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, French naturalist, born in Étampes, France (d. 1844)
1894 – Nikita Khrushchev, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1953-64), born in Kalinovka, Russia (d. 1971)
1908 – Eden Ahbez [George Aberle], American songwriter (“Nature Boy”; “Lonely Island”), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1995)
1937 – Conrad Russell, 5th Earl Russell, British historian, born in Harting, West Sussex (d. 2004)
1955 – Jeff Golub, American jazz guitarist (Avenue Blue; Rod Stewart), born in Copley Township, Ohio (d. 2015)
Famous Deaths
1754 – Jacopo Riccati, Italian mathematician (Riccati equation), dies at 77
1863 – Jan Nepomuk Kanka, Czech composer, dies at 90
1865 – Abraham Lincoln, 16th US President (Republican: 1861-65), dies from gunshot wounds at 56
1984 – Tommy Cooper, British comedian and magician, collapses and dies on stage at 61
1991 – Marjorie Warfield, American stage, radio, and silent film actress, dies of pneumonia at 88
2010 – Jack Herer, American author and cannabis activist, dies at 70