Today in History for 1st July 2024
Historical Events
1097 – 1st Crusaders defeat Sultan Kilidj Arslan of Nicea
1200 – In China, sunglasses are invented
1924 – Dircet regular transcontinental airmail service between New York and San Francisco forms
1961 – KNDU TV channel 25 in Richland-Pasco-Kennew, WA (NBC) 1st broadcast
1972 – The first Gay Pride march in England takes place.
1979 – Sweden becomes 1st nation to prohibit “corporal punishment or other injurious or humiliating treatment” of children by their parents
Famous Birthdays
1844 – Verney Lovett Cameron, English explorer (Tanganyika), born in Radipole, Dorset, England (d. 1894)
1902 – William Wyler, American film director (Ben-Hur, Mrs Miniver), born in Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire (d. 1981)
1925 – Art McNally, American Pro Football HOF referee and executive (NFL Head of Officiating 1968-91), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2023)
1926 – Robert Fogel, American economic historian (Nobel Prize 1993), born in New York City (d. 2013)
1971 – Melissa Peterman [Melissa Margaret], American actress (Reba, Fargo), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
1985 – Chris Perez, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 2011, 12 Cleveland Indians; World Cup gold 2007), born in Bradenton, Florida
Famous Deaths
1877 – William Henry Davenport, American stage magician, claimed to be a spirit medium, dies at 36
1884 – Allan Pinkerton, Scottish-American barrel maker, private detective (co-founder of Pinkerton Agency), abolitionist, and spy, dies at 64
1953 – Jacob D du Toit [Totius], South African poet/theologist, dies
1988 – Hellmuth Christian Wolff, German composer, teacher, musicologist, and painter, dies at 82
1999 – Jack Moroney, Australian cricket batsman (7 Tests, 2 x 100, HS 118; NSWCA), dies at 81
2018 – Peter Firmin, British children’s book illustrator and puppet maker (The Saga of Noggin the Nog; Clangers), dies at 89