Today in History

NATO planes, including stealth aircraft, attack Serbian forces in Kosovo.

The Exxon Valdez oil tanker spills 240,000 barrels of oil in Alaska’s Prince William Sound.

Thousands demonstrate in Madrid against the NATO presence in Spain.

Great Britain imposes direct rule over Northern Ireland.

Viet Cong ambush a truck convoy in South Vietnam damaging 82 of the 121 trucks.

The Freedom Marchers, citizens for civil rights, reach Montgomery, Alabama.

Elvis Presley trades in his guitar for a rifle and Army fatigues.

Tennessee Williams’ play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opens at the Morosco Theatre in New York City.

Great Britain opens trade talks with Hungary.

General Douglas MacArthur threatens the Chinese with an extension of the Korean War if the proposed truce is not accepted.

Congress proposes limiting the United States presidency to two terms.

The Gestapo rounds up innocent Italians in Rome and shoots them to death in reprisal for a bomb attack that killed 33 German policemen.

Joseph H. Taylor, Jr., radio astronomer and physicist.

The United States asks that all powers help refugees fleeing from the Nazis.

Chinese Communists seize Nanking and break with Chiang Kai-shek over the Nationalist goals.

Dario Fo, Italian actor and playwright.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, ‘beat’ poet.

Vice Admiral Togo sinks seven Russian ships as the Japanese strengthen their blockade of Port Arthur.

Adolf Butenandt, biochemist.

Thomas E. Dewey, New York governor.

Mayor Van Wyck of New York breaks ground for the New York subway tunnel that will link Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Arthur Murray, American dancer who founded dance schools.

George Sisler, baseball player.

Edward Weston, photographer.

Harry Houdini, magician, escape artist.

Abolitionist Wendell Phillips speaks to a crowd about emancipation in Cincinnati, Ohio and is pelted by eggs.

Andrew Mellon, U.S. financier and philanthropist.

William Morris, English craftsman, poet and socialist.

Britain passes the Quartering Act, requiring the colonies to house 10,000 British troops in public and private buildings.

Rufus King, framer of the U.S. Constitution.

In Germany, the supremely talented Johann Sebastian Bach publishes the Six Brandenburg Concertos.

The banking houses of Paris close in the wake of financial crisis.

In London, Roger Williams is granted a charter to colonize Rhode Island.

Charles II of England awards land known as Carolina in North America to eight members of the nobility who assisted in his restoration.

Queen Elizabeth I dies which will bring into power James VI of Scotland.

King John of England opposes Innocent III on his nomination for archbishop of Canterbury.