1614 – Elizabeth Báthory, the world’s most prolific female serial killer, dies at 54
1754 – William Murdoch, Scottish engineer and inventor, created gas lighting (d. 1839) was born.
1770 – James Cook formally claims eastern Australia for Great Britain, naming it New South Wales.
1778 – American Revolutionary War: British forces begin besieging the French outpost at Pondichéry.
1831 – Nat Turner leads black slaves and free blacks in a rebellion.
1852 – Tlingit Indians destroy Fort Selkirk, Yukon Territory.
1863 – Lawrence, Kansas is destroyed by Confederate guerrillas Quantrill’s Raiders in the Lawrence Massacre.
1879 – The Virgin Mary, along with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist, reportedly appears at Knock Shrine in Knock, County Mayo, Ireland.
1887 – James Paul Moody, English 6th officer of the RMS Titanic (d. 1912) was born.
1888 – William Seward Burroughs (Grandfather of Beat Icon William S. Burroughs) patents adding machine
1897 – Oldsmobile, a brand of American automobiles was founded.
1904 – [William] Count Basie, Red Bank NJ, jazz musician (Blazing Saddles)- Born
1906 – Friz Freleng, American animator, director, and producer (d. 1995) was born.
1911 – The Mona Lisa is stolen by a Louvre employee.
1936 – Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, NBA Legend (LA Laker, 5 time MVP)Born
1938 – Italy bars all Jewish teachers in Public & High School
1938 – President Roosevelt publicly pledged to defend Canada should it be invaded by an enemy and in return he expected Canada to come to American aid if the U.S. was attacked. Canada and the U.S. did not have any formal allegiance, but Roosevelt said the two countries had a mutual interests in defending each other. The former Munroe doctrine was stripped of its paternalism and encouraged an allegiance between, “free peoples which geographical proximity strengthens in the case of Canada and the United States.”
1939 – Clarence Williams III, NYC, actor (Mod Squad, 52 Pick Up, Purple Rain)Born
1940 – Leon Trotsky, Russian politician and theorist (b. 1879) icepicked by Ramón Mercader at 62
1942 – The British attack on Dieppe was a disaster and German radio boasted that there had been, “a complete liquidation of the British landing attempt.” According to a German broadcast from Berlin, “The attitude of the French population showed the fullest confidence in German defenses and considered the British action as a mere nuisance.” Apparently, the stores opened at 6:00 p.m. and the inhabitants of Dieppe went on as normal, the broadcast claimed.
1942 – World War II: The flag of Nazi Germany is installed atop the Mount Elbrus, the highest peak of the Caucasus mountain range.
1943 – Jonathan Schell, American journalist and author (d. 2014) was born.
1944 – Jackie DeShannon, Hazel Kentucky, singer (What the World Needs Now)Born
1944 – Peter Weir, Sydney Aust, director/writer (Witness, Dead Poets Society)Born
1951 – Glenn Hughes, English singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer (Finders Keepers, Trapeze, Deep Purple, and Black Country Communion) was born.
1952 – Joe Strummer, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor (The Clash, The Mescaleros, and The Pogues) (d. 2002) was born.
1953 – The President of Japan’s Chamber of Commerce, Aiichiro Fujiyama claimed that Japan would not need to do business with Red China if trade with the United States could be stepped up. Prior to the war, Japan’s business was done mainly with China and Southeast Asia. Fujiyama asserted that Japan’s silk industry and their economy was nearly destroyed by the American production of synthetic fabrics. He recommended that the U.S. buy tuna from Japan and that in turn Japan would develop the light sewing machine industry to trade with America.
1954 – Steve Smith, American drummer (Journey, Montrose, Steps Ahead, The RD Crusaders, and Vital Information) was born.
1957 – Budgie, rock drummer (Slits, Siouxsie & the Banshees-The Creatures) Born
1959 – United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order proclaiming Hawaii the 50th state of the union. Hawaii’s admission is currently commemorated by Hawaii Admission Day
1961 – In Israel, Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi henchman (Rothschild Asset?), was transferred from Jerusalem to a police prison near Haifa where he was to await his trial for war crimes committed during World War II.
1963 – Martial law declared in S Vietnam, following raids on Buddhist pagodas
1967 – Serj Tankian, Lebanese-American singer-songwriter, keyboard player, and producer (System of a Down and Axis of Justice) was born.
1967 – Carrie-Anne Moss, Canadian actress (The Matrix) Born
1967 – China reports downing of 2 US bombers
1968 – James Anderson, Jr. posthumously receives the first Medal of Honor to be awarded to an African American U.S. Marine.
1968 – After 5 years Russia once again jams Voice of America radio
1969 – An Australian, Denis Michael Rohan, sets the Al-Aqsa Mosque on fire, a major catalyst of the formation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
1971 – George Jackson, American activist and author, co-founded the Black Guerrilla Family (b. 1941) died.
1971 – A bomb exploded in the Liberal Party campaign rally in Plaza Miranda, Manila, Philippines with several anti-Marcos political candidates injured.
1972 – Rocker Grace Slick maced by police when a band official called cops, pigs
1974 – Amy Fisher, Long Island NY, shot Mary Jo Buttafucco, Birthed
1976 – Operation Paul Bunyan at Panmunjom, South Korea.
1979 – Soviet dancer Alexander Godunov defects to the United States.
1986 – Carbon dioxide gas erupts from volcanic Lake Nyos in Cameroon, killing up to 1,800 people within a 20-kilometer range.
1991 – Coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev collapses (after two days).
1992 – Ruby Ridge Standoff in Idaho Sam Weaver Dies.
2001 – NATO decides to send a “peace-keeping force” to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. War ensues.
2005 – Robert Moog, American pioneer of electronic music (b. 1934) Born
2006 – Saddam Hussein’s (alleged)genocide and crimes against humanity trial began on this day. The former Iraqi leader did not enter a plea in protest against the questionable fairness of the trial. The judge entered a plea of not guilty on Hussein’s behalf.
2013 – US soldier, Bradley Manning sentenced to thirty-five years in prison after sharing sensitive information with Wikileaks. Manning was accused of sharing hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables and battlefield reports to the Julian Assange headed group.
2013 – Sid Bernstein, American music producer/promoter, dies at 95
2017 – Next total solar eclipse visible from North America