Today in History

Historical Events

732 - Battle of Tours: Umayyad army led by Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi defeated by Frankish Aquitainian force led by Charles Martel during Umayyad invasion of Gaul
1982 - Pope John Paul II canonizes Rev Maximilian Kolbe, who volunteered to die in place of another inmate at Auschwitz concentration camp, a saint
1994 - Value of Russian ruble decreases, 3081 rubles per dollar
1995 - Robert E Lucas awarded Nobel Prize in economics
2003 - Shirin Ebadi is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, making her the 1st Iranian Muslim women to receive the prize
2018 - Hurricane Michael makes landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, as a category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 mph (250 km/h), going on to kill 27, having killed 15 in Central America

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Famous Birthdays

1344 - Mary Plantagenet, English princess, daughter of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, born in Waltham, Hampshire (d. 1362)
1847 - Gheorghe Dima, Romanian composer, born in Șcheii Brașovului, Romania (d. 1925)
1870 - Louise Mack, Australian poet and novelist, born in Hobart, Tasmania (d. 1935)
1887 - Rie Cramer, Dutch writer and illustrator, born in Sukabumi, Dutch East Indies (d. 1977)
1936 - Judith Chalmers, English TV hostess (Wish You Were Here), born in Stockport, Cheshire, England
1965 - Steve Scalise, American politician (Representative-R-Louisiana 2008-), born in New...