Today in History

Edvard Munch’s famed painting The Scream recovered by Norwegian police. The artwork had been stolen on Aug. 22, 2004.

New York Yankees retire Don Mattingly’s #23 (first baseman, coach, manager).

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) announces a “complete cessation of military operations,” opening the way to a political settlement in Ireland for the first time in a quarter of a century.

Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. become first father and son to play on same team simultaneously in professional baseball (Seattle Mariners).

Longest mine strike in South Africa’s history ends, after 11 people were killed, 500 injured and 400 arrested.

A Russian cargo ship collides with cruise ship Admiral Nakhimov, killing 398.

Police capture Richard Ramirez, dubbed the “Night Stalker” for a string of gruesome murders that stretched from Mission Viejo to San Francisco, Cal.

Polish government forced to sign Gdansk Agreement allowing creation of the trade union Solidarity.

Queen Rania of Jordan (nee Rania al Yassin), wife of King Abdullah II.

The Dasht-e Bayaz 7.3 earthquake in NE Iran completely destroys five villages and severely damages six others.

US Congress creates Department of Housing & Urban Development.

A concrete wall replaces the barbed wire fence that separates East and West Germany, it will be called the Berlin wall.

The 1st Marine Division begins its attack on Bloody Ridge in Korea. The four-day battle results in 2,700 Marine casualties.

Richard Gere, actor (Pretty Woman, An Officer and a Gentleman).

Lowell Ganz, screenwriter, (A League of Their Own) director, producer, actor.

Itzhak Perlman, violinist.

The British Eighth Army penetrates the German Gothic Line in Italy.

The British army under General Bernard Law Montgomery defeats Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps in the Battle of Alam Halfa in Egypt.

Joseph Avenol steps down as Secretary-General of the League of Nations.

Marva Collins, innovative educator who started Chicago’s one-room school, Westside Preparatory.

Eldridge Cleaver, political activist and author of Soul on Fire.

Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera opens in Berlin.

The Communist Labor Party is founded in Chicago, with the motto, “Workers of the world unite!”

Daniel Schorr, journalist.

William Saroyan, author and playwright (The Human Comedy).

William Shawn, longtime editor of The New Yorker.

Sanford Meisner, influential acting teacher.

Arthur Godfrey, radio and television personality.

Lynn Riggs, writer, her book Green Grow the Lilacs was adapted by Rodgers and Hammerstein to become Oklahoma.

Dubose Heyward, novelist, poet and dramatist best know for Porgy which was the basis for the opera Porgy and Bess.

Maria Montessori, educator and founder of the Montessori schools.

At the Democratic convention in Chicago, General George B. McClellan is nominated for president.

Théophile Gautier, French poet, novelist and author of Art for Art’s Sake.

Captain Meriwether Lewis leaves Pittsburgh to meet up with Captain William Clark and begin their trek to the Pacific Ocean.

The British at Fort William Henry, New York, surrender to Louis Montcalm of France.

The War of Vespers in Sicily ends with an agreement between Charles of Valois, who invaded the country, and Frederick, the ruler of Sicily.