Today in History

Paul McCartney announces the official break-up of the Beatles.

Murdered civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., is buried.

The statue of Winston Churchill is dedicated at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Winston Churchill becomes the first honorary U.S. citizen.

Comedian Bob Hope makes his first television appearance.

The Red Army is repulsed at the Seelow Heights on the outskirts of Berlin.

In the Battle of Bataan, American and Filipino forces are overwhelmed by the Japanese Army.

Germany invades Norway and Denmark.

Hugh Hefner, founder and publisher of Playboy magazine.

Russo-Polish conflict ends with signing of the Riga Treaty.

The Battle of Arras begins as Canadian troops begin a massive assault on Vimy Ridge.

The German army launches its third offensive during the Battle of Verdun.

J. William Fulbright, U.S. senator from Arkansas.

British forces route Boers at Kroonstadt, South Africa.

Paul Robeson, actor and activist.

W.C. Fields (William Claude Dukenfield), comedian and actor.

Erich Ludendorff, German general during World War I.

Realizing that France has encouraged the Piedmontese forces to mobilize for invading Italy, Austria begins mobilizing its army.

Chatham Roberdeau Wheat, Confederate commander during the American Civil War.

Charles Baudelaire, French poet.

Captain James Cook discovers Botany Bay on the Australian continent.

British Captain Robert Jenkins loses an ear to a band of Spanish brigands, starting a war between Britain and Spain: The War of Jenkins’ Ear.

Robert La Salle claims lower Mississippi River and all lands that touch it for France.

James Scott, Duke of Monmouth.

The city states of Venice, Milan and Florence sign a peace agreement at Lodi, Italy.

In the Battle of Liegnitz, Mongol armies defeat Poles and Germans.

Constantine ends his reign as Catholic Pope.

In the Balkans, the distinguished soldier Septimius Severus is proclaimed emperor by the army in Illyricum.