Today in History

At Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Conn., 20 children and six adults are shot to death by a 20-year-old gunman who then commits suicide.

Iraqi broadcast journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi throws his shoes at US President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad.

The Millau Viaduct, the world’s tallest bridge, official opens near Millau, France.

Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan, narrowly escapes and assassination attempt.

Tens of thousands die as a result of flash floods caused by torrential rains in Vargas, Venezuela.

The Dayton Agreement signed in Paris; establishes a general framework for ending the Bosnian War between Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Construction begins on China’s Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River.

Israel’s Knesset passes the Golan Heights Law, extending Israeli law to the Golan Heights area.

NATO warns the Soviets to stay out of the internal affairs of Poland, saying that intervention would effectively destroy the détente between the East and West.

Miranda Hart, comedian, actress, writer (Miranda Hart’s Joke Shop on BBC Radio 2 and its spinoff BBC sitcom TV series Miranda).

Anthony Mason, pro basketball player.

A U.S. Boeing B-52 bomber sets a 10,000-mile non-stop record without refueling.

Spider Stacy (Peter  Stacy), singer, songwriter, musician with The Pogues band.

Bulgarian ex-Premier Traicho Kostov is sentenced to die for treason in Sofia.

Patty Duke, actress, singer; won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker; president of Screen Actors Guild (1985-88).

Emmett Tyrell, journalist, author, publisher; founded The American Spectator magazine.

German Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel orders the construction of defensive positions along the European coastline. Desperate Hours on Omaha Beach

Ernie Davis, first African American to win Heisman Trophy (Syracuse University); subject of The Express movie (2008).

Lee Remick, actress (Days of Wine and Roses, The Omen).

Charlie Rich, crossover country singer, musician ("Behind Closed Doors").

Sam Jones ("Sad Sam" "Toothpick" Jones), pro baseball player; first African-American pitcher to throw a no-hitter in integrated baseball game.

Junior J. Spurrier, received Medal of Honor for his actions in capturing Achain, France.

The League of Nations creates a credit system to aid Europe.

James Thomas Aubrey Jr., TV and film executive; president of CBS television (1959–1965).

June Taylor, choreographer, founder of the June Taylor Dancers featured on Jackie Gleason’s TV programs.

Shirley Jackson, novelist and short story writer (Life Among Savages, The Lottery).

Roald Amundsen and four others discover the South Pole.

The Labor Conference in Pittsburgh ends with a "declaration of war" on U.S. Steel.

The first truly representative Turkish Parliament opens.

The first U1 submarine is brought into service in Germany. Italy’s MAS torpedo boats.

Max Planck presents the quantum theory at the Physics Society in Berlin.

James H. Doolittle, American Air Force general who commanded the first bombing mission over Japan.

Roger Fry, English art critic.

Confederate General James Longstreet attacks Union troops at Bean’s Station, Tenn.

Prince Albert of England, one of the Union’s strongest advocates, dies.

John Christie, English patron of music.

Alabama is admitted as the 22nd state, making 11 slave states and 11 free states.

George Washington dies on his Mount Vernon estate.

John Bloomfield Jarvis, civil engineer.

Henry IV, the first Bourbon king of France.

Tycho Brahe, Danish astronomer.

Nostradamus [Michel de Nostredame], French astrologer and physician.