Today in History

Historical Events

1925 - Tennessee Governor Austin Peay passes the "Butler Act," making Tennessee the first state to outlaw teaching the theory of evolution (repealed in 1967)
1934 - Fire destroys Hakodate, Japan, killing about 1,500
1948 - "Stop the Music" with Bert Parks premieres on ABC radio
1953 - NBA record 106 fouls and 12 players foul out (Boston-Syracuse)
1985 - Canadian Rick Hansen sets off on his 'Man in Motion' world tour in his wheelchair raising money for spinal research, from Oakridge Mall, Vancouver (successfully completes May 1987)

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

927 - Taizu [Zhao Kuangyin], Founder and 1st Emperor of the Song Dynasty (960-976) who reunified most of China by conquering the states of Southern Tang, Later Shu, Southern Han and Jingnan, born in Luoyang, Henan, China (d. 976)
1768 - Joseph Fourier, French mathematician (mathematical theory of heat conduction) and Egyptologist, born in Auxerre, France (d. 1830)
1887 - Edwin Scharff, German sculptor, and educator, deemed "entartete" (degenerate) by Nazi regime, born in Neu-Ulm, Gemrany (d. 1955)
1915 - Dude Martin [John Stephen McSwain], American country and Western swing singer, bandleader, radio and early television personality, born in Plainsburg, California (d. 1991) [Note: some sources cite date as 11, and some as 15]
1939 - Tommy Davis, American baseball utility (3 x MLB All Star; World Series 1963; NL batting champion 1962, 63 LA Dodgers), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2022)

More Famous Birthdays »

<...