Today in History

Serbia joins the United Nations.

Honda opens a plant in Marysville, Ohio, becoming the first Asian automobile company to produce cars in the US.

LaTavia Roberson, singer, songwriter; original member of Destiny’s Child group.

Leon Jaworski appointed as new Watergate Special Prosecutor.

The Motion Picture Association of America officially introduces its rating system to indicate age-appropriateness of film content.

Tina Arena (Filippina Lydia Arena), singer, songwriter, actress, record producer; first Australian to receive the Order of State; awarded Knighthood of the Order of National Merit, by the President of the French Republic (2009).

Karen Marie Moning, bestselling author; her Highlander and Fever series blend urban fantasy with Celtic mythology.

Tim Cook, business executive; CEO of Apple, inc. (2011– ).

Charlie Kaufman, screenwriter, director, producer (Being John Malkovich; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

Algerian National Liberation Front begins guerrilla warfare against the French.

Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus Software and Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Lynne Russell, journalist; first woman to anchor a nationally televised prime time news program in US (CNN Headline News, 1983–2001).

John H. Johnson publishes the first issue of Ebony magazine.

Richard “Kinky” Friedman, singer, songwriter, humorist, author; known for his satirical lyrics and commentary (“Sold American”); ran as an independent for Governor of Texas (2006).

American troops invade Bougainville in the Solomon Islands.

Ralph Klein, Canadian politician; Premier of Alberta (1992–2006) and leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta (1992–2006); known as “King Ralph” for his political longevity.

Bill Anderson, country singer, songwriter; known as Whisperin’ Bill, he ranked among the top country songwriters of the 1960s and ’70s and has continued to pen No. 1 hits into the 21st century.

The Rodeo Cowboy’s Association is founded.

Gary Player, professional golfer from South Africa; the only non-American to win the Grand Slam; inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame 1974.

A.R. Gurney, American playwright (Love Letters, The Dining Room).

Legendary Oklahoma marshal Bill Tilghman, 71, is gunned down by a drunk in Cromwell, Oklahoma.

Victoria de Los Angeles, Spanish opera soprano.

Italian planes perform the first aerial bombing on Tanguira oasis in Libya.

Nordahl Brun Greig, Norwegian writer and wartime hero during WWII.

Grantland Rice, American sportswriter.

Stephen Crane, poet and novelist (The Red Badge of Courage).

Louis Riel seizes Fort Garry, Winnipeg, during the Red River Rebellion.

Wild woman of the west Myra Maybelle Shirley (Belle Starr) marries James C. Reed in Collins County, Texas.

Lieutenant General Winfield Scott, 50 year-veteran and leader of the U.S. Army at the onset of the Civil War, retires. General George McClellan is appointed general-in-chief of the Union armies.

Balfour Steward, Scottish physicist and meteorologist.

Jems Renwick, architect.

Benjamin Lee Guinness, Irish brewer.

The Stamp Act goes into effect in the British colonies.

Spencer Perceval, the only British prime minister to be assassinated.

A great earthquake at Lisbon, Portugal, kills over 50,000 people.

Nicholas Boileaus, French poet and historian.

Maurice of Nassau, the son of William of Orange, becomes the governor of Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht.

Michelangelo’s painting on the Sistine Chapel ceiling is exhibited for the first time.

Benvunuto Cellini, Italian goldsmith and sculptor.

The city of Pompeii is buried by eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.