Today in History

Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s trail for crimes against humanity begins in Baghdad.

Mother Teresa is beatified by Pope John Paul II for her work among “the poorest of the poor” in India.

The 1975 conviction of the Guilford Four overturned by British courts; the 4 men had been convicted in the 1974 Guilford pub bombings.

British government bans TV and radio interviews with members of Irish political group Sinn Fein and 11 paramilitary groups.

In retaliation for Iranian attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf, the U. S. navy disables three of Iran’s offshore oil platforms.

President Richard Nixon rejects an Appeals Court demand to turn over the Watergate tapes.

Trey Parker, actor, animator, screenwriter, director, musician; co-creator of animated TV series South Park; co-wrote, co-directed multiple–Tony Award winning musical The Book of Mormon.

Amy Carter, daughter of American president (1977-81) Jimmy Carter, she engaged in social activism in the 1980s.

Prince Laurent of Belgium.

Evander Holyfield, professional boxer; held Undisputed World Champion title in both cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions; known as “The Real Deal.” In a 1997 bout, challenger Mike Tyson bit off part of one of Holyfield’s ears.

Canada and the United States agree to undertake a joint Columbia River project to provide hydroelectric power and flood control.

Grover Norquist, founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform political group, which opposes all tax increases.

Egypt and Britain conclude a pact on the Suez Canal, ending 72 years of British military occupation. Britain agrees to withdraw its 80,000-man force within 20 months, and Egypt agrees to maintain freedom of canal navigation.

The North Korean capital of Pyongyang is captured by U.N. troops.

The People’s Republic of China is formally proclaimed.

Patrick Simmons, guitarist and vocalist for The Doobie Brothers band.

Jeannie C. Riley, country and gospel singer, whose 1968 hit “Harper Valley PTA” (penned by Tom T. Hall) reached No. 1 on both the Pop and Country charts of Billboard magazine.

Peter Tosh, reggae musician; member of The Wailers before establishing a successful solo career.

The Japanese submarine I-36 launches a floatplane for a reconnaissance flight over Pearl Harbor. The pilot and crew report on the ships in the harbor, after which the aircraft is lost at sea.

Peter Max, illustrator and graphic artist whose use of psychedelic shapes and bright colors made him popular in the 1960s.

General Yakubu “Jack” Gowon, leader of Nigeria 1966-75; his government prevented Biafran secession during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-70).

Robert Reed, actor; best known for his role as Mike Brady on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch, he received Emmy nominations for his appearances in Medical Center, Rich Man, Poor Man, and Roots.

John Le Carré, English suspense and spy novelist.

The first doughnut is fried by Salvation Army volunteer women for American troops in France during World War I.

The German cruiser Emden captures her thirteenth Allied merchant ship in 24 days.

Lewis Mumford, American writer, urban planner and social critic (The City in History).

Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Rutgers universities draft the first code of football rules.

At the Battle of Cedar Creek, Va., a narrow victory helps the Union secure the Shenandoah Valley.

Alice Josephine McLellan Birney, child welfare worker whose ideas evolved into the PTA.

John “The Pathfinder” Fremont moves out from near Westport, Missouri, on his fourth Western expedition–a failed attempt to open a trail across the Rocky Mountains along the 38th parallel.

Adam Lindsay Gordon, Australian poet.

Tom Taylor, British playwright whose play Our American Cousin was being performed at Ford’s Theater when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.

Napoleon Bonaparte begins his retreat from Moscow.

Leigh Hunt, English journalist, essayist, poet and political radical.

Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrenders to George Washington and Count de Rochambeau at Yorktown, Va. Cornwallis surrenders 7,157 troops, including sick and wounded, and 840 sailors, along with 244 artillery pieces. Losses in this battle had been light on both sides. The Revolutionary War is effectively ended.

England declares war on Spain over borderlines in Florida. The War is known as the War of Jenkins’ Ear because the Spanish coast guards cut off the ear of British seaman Robert Jenkins.

The peace of Torun ends the war between the Teutonic knights and their own disaffected subjects in Prussia.

The Ottoman Sultan Murat II defeats Hungarian General Janos Hunyadi at Kosovo, Serbia.

King John of England dies at Newark and is succeeded by his nine-year-old son Henry.

The Vandals, led by King Gaiseric, take Carthage in North Africa.