Today in History

Historical Events

1813 - Allied troops occupies Groningen
1826 - Dutch Business Me gets monopoly on opium trade in Java/Madura
1936 - Nazi-Germany and Japan sign Anti-Komintern pact
1979 - ABC-TV announces it would broadcast nightly specials on Iran hostage
2005 - 39th Country Music Association Awards: Keith Urban and Gretchen Wilson win

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Famous Birthdays

1897 - Aneurin Bevan, Welsh-British politician (Member of Parliament, 1929-60; Minister of Health, 1945-51 - launched NHS), born in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, Wales (d. 1960)
1902 - Jack Ingram, American actor (Law of the West), and stuntman, born in Frankfort, Illinois (d. 1969)
1954 - Ab Bryant, Canadian rock bassist (Chilliwack, 1978-81 - "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)"), born in Canada
1967 - E-40 [Earl Stevens], American rapper * "Tell Me When to Go"), born in Vallejo, California
1968 - Ol' Dirty Bastard [Russell Jones], American rapper (Wu Tang Clan), born in Brooklyn, New York City (d. 2004)

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Famous Deaths

565 - Justinian I (The Great), Byzantinian Emperor (527-565), commissioned Corpus Juris Civilis, important civil law code, dies at 82
655 - Penda of Mercia, Pagan Anglo-Saxon King of Mercia, killed at the Battle of Winwaed and his head cut off at about 49 [b. 606. exact date uncertain]