Today in History

An earthquake of 8.0 magnitude kills over 500 and injures more than 1,000 in Peru.

Astronomers announce the first solar system discovered outside our own; two planets had been found orbiting a star in the Big Dipper.

Infamous terrorist Carlos the Jackal captured in Khartoum, Sudan.

Ignoring objections from President Ronald Reagan‘s Administration, US Senate approves economic sanctions against South Africa to protest that country’s apartheid policies.

US President Richard Nixon announces a 90-day freeze on wages and prices in an attempt to halt rapid inflation.

Over 400,000 young people attend a weekend of rock music at Woodstock, New York.

Rob Thomas, television writer (Veronica Mars, 90210).

Melinda French Gates, businesswoman, philanthropist; co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with her husband, Bill Gates (co-founder of Microsoft).

Ed Gilllespie, US Republican political strategist and White House counsel to President George W. Bush.

Two U.S. divisions are badly mauled by the North Korean Army at the Battle of the Bowling Alley in South Korea, which rages on for five more days.

Britain grants independence to India and Pakistan.

Jimmy Webb, songwriter (“MacArthur Park,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”).

Gasoline and fuel oil rationing ends in the United States.

American, British and French forces land on the southern coast of France, between Toulon and Cannes, in Operation Dragoon.

The Japanese submarine I-25 departs Japan with a floatplane in its hold which will be assembled upon arriving off the West Coast of the United States, and used to bomb U.S. forests.

Stephen Breyer, US Supreme Court justice.

American comedian and “cowboy philosopher” Will Rogers dies in an airplane accident, along with American aviation pioneer Wiley Post.

Robert Bolt, English screenwriter and playwright best known for A Man for all Seasons.

The Panama Canal opens to traffic.

Julia Child, American chef and television personality.

T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia for his military exploits against the Turks in World War I.

The first ballot voting in England is conducted.

The Confederate raider Tallahassee captures six Federal ships off New England.

Sir Walter Scott, Scottish novelist who wrote Ivanhoe and Rob Roy.

Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France (1804-1815) and military leader.

Frederick II defeats the Austrians at the Battle of Liegnitz.

Hugh O’Neill, the Earl of Tyrone, leads an Irish force to victory over the British at Battle of Yellow Ford.

John of Portugal defeats John of Castile at the Battle of Aljubarrota.

Constantinople falls to Michael VIII of Nicea and his army.