Today in History

In the Persian Gulf the American guided missile frigate USS Stark is struck by 2 Exocet missiles fired by an Iraqi aircraft; only one detonates, but 37 sailors are killed and 21 are wounded. Whether the launch was deliberate or a mistake is still debated.

The Senate Watergate Committee begins its hearings.

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rules for school integration in Brown v. Board of Education.

Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium and begins the invasion of France.

Archibald Cox, special prosecutor in the Watergate hearings, fired by President Richard Nixon.

James “Cool Papa” Bell, baseball player.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iranian religious leader.

Frederick Douglass is appointed recorder of deeds for Washington, D.C.

The first Kentucky Derby is run in Louisville.

Erik Alfred Leslie Satie, French composer.

Union General Ulysses Grant continues his push towards Vicksburg at the Battle of the Big Black River Bridge.

Joseph Norman Lockyer, British astronomer and discoverer of helium.

Denmark cedes Norway to Sweden.

Merchants form the New York Stock Exchange at 70 Wall Street.

Britain declares war on France.

Edward Jenner, physician.

Louis XIV sends an expedition to aid James II in Ireland. As a result, England declares war on France.

Italian Jesuit Niccolo Zucchi sees the belts on Jupiter’s surface.

Afghan chief Sher Khan defeats Mongul Emperor Humayun at Kanauj.

Sandro Botticelli, painter (The Birth of Venus).