1994 O.J. Simpson The Football Hall of Fame running back's ex-wife and her 25-year-old male friend are murdered at her home. Simpson was later arrested for the murder and then subsequently found not guilty.

1992 The Faberge Imperial Easter Egg created in 1905, is auctioned by Sotherby's for $3,190,000; the record for any Russian art piece.

1991 Boris Yeltsin becomes the first popularly elected president in Russian history.

1988 First American to win the Tour of Italy bicycle race 26-year-old Andy Hampsten wins one of the most important events in bike racing.

1981 Baseball Professional Baseball's first mid-season strike begins.

1979 First man-powered flight across the English Channel 26-year-old American Bryan Allen pedalling the 70-pound Gossamer Albatross, designed by Paul MacCready. The 22-mile flight took 2 hours and 49 minutes.

1967 Banning of interracial marriage is ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, bringing to an end such laws in 16 states.

1963 Civil-rights activist killed Medgar Evers, the NAACP's Mississippi field secretary, is shot to death outside his home. Byron De La Beckwith, whose fingerprints were found on the murder weapon, was tried twice in 1965, but all-white juries failed to reach a verdict.

1956 Army Flag The 181-year-old U.S. Army adopts its first official flag. It consists of a blue Department of the Army seal above a scarlet scroll on a white background.

1948 First jockey to win the Triple Crown twice Eddie Arcaro riding Citation to win the Belmont Stakes - having already won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. He had previously won the Triple Crown in 1941.

1947 First American to win the British Women's Amateur Golf Tournament Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

1939 Baseball Hall of Fame The national museum and Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York is dedicated. The first inductees - selected in 1936 - were Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Honus Wagner, and Christy Mathewson. Source: Famous First Facts

1931 Al Capone The gangster and 68 of his men are arrested for bootlegging by the Chicago police unit known as the "Untouchables."

1930 First championship boxing match decided on a foul Jack Sharkey fouls Max Schmeling in the 4th round at the New York City Polo Grounds. A week later Schmeling was awarded the heavyweight championship. Source: Famous First Facts

1898 Philippines declare independence from Spain.

1839 First baseball game According to a 1907 report, commissioned by major-league baseball executives, Abner Doubleday taught his new game to military cadets in Copperstown, New York on this date. Modern historians dispute this event.

1838 Territory of Iowa is established by Congress.

1775 First Naval battle of the American Revolution Jeremiah O'Brien of Machias Bay, Maine and 40 men armed with guns, swords, pitchforks, and axes capture an armed British schooner.

1667 First blood transfusion on a human A French physician infuses 9 ounces of lamb's blood into 15-year-old boy, who makes a full recovery.

1943 Reg Presley British singer, with the Troggs. Music: Wild Thing (1966, #1).

1930 Jim Nabors American actor, singer. TV: The Andy Griffith Show (Gomer Pyle) and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (title role). Has sung "Back Home Again in Indiana" for the opening ceremonies of the Indianapolis 500 for over 30 years.

1929 Anne Frank d. 1945 Dutch-Jewish war victim. Her diary, which chronicled her family and friends hiding in an attic from the Germans, has been read by millions. She died in a Nazi concentration camp.

1928 Vic Damone (Vito Farinola), American singer, You're Breaking My Heart (1949, #1), and On The Street Where You Live (1956) from My Fair Lady.

1924 George Herbert Walker Bush 41st U.S. President (1989-93) and 43rd U.S. Vice-President (1981-89).

1916 Irwin Allen d. 1991 American producer, "The Master of Disaster." TV: Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Lost in Space. Film: The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and The Towering Inferno (1974).

1914 William Lundigan d. 1975 American radio announcer, actor, appeared in over 120 films. TV: Climax (host).

1851 Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge d. 1940 English physicist, spiritualist, pioneer in wireless telegraphy. He was the first to send Morse code using radio waves. A believer in psychic phenomenon, he wrote a book about his after-life communications with his son who was killed in WWI.

1837 Samuel Warren Abbott d. 1904 American physician, pioneer public health statistician, he published the first adequate public study in the U.S. (1900).

1819 Charles Kingsley d. 1875 English clergyman, author. Writings: Westward Ho! (1855).

1806 John Augustus Roebling d. 1869 German-born American civil engineer, designer of the Brooklyn Bridge. His use of wire rope enabled him to build suspension bridges thought impossible by other engineers. He died of tetanus from injuries received while inspecting the Brooklyn Bridge.

2007 Don Herbert b. 1917 (Donald Jeffrey Herbert), American TV personality. TV: Watch Mr. Wizard (Mr. Wizard).

2003 Gregory Peck b. 1916 American Oscar-winning actor. Film: Roman Holiday (1953), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962, Oscar), and The Omen (1976).

1980 Milburn Stone b. 1904 American Emmy-winning actor. TV: Gunsmoke (Doc Adams).

1957 Jimmy Dorsey b. 1904 American bandleader of the Big Band Era, brother of Tommy.

1878 William Cullen Bryant b. 1794 American poet, called the "Father of American Poets." He is considered to be the first noteworthy American poet.

816 Saint Leo III b. ???? Italian religious leader, 96th Pope (795-816).

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