Feast Day of St. Vitus Patron saint of those with chorea (a condition characterized by involuntary rapid motions, such as shoulder shrugs, grimacing, and finger flexing).

1992 Vice-Pres. Dan Quayle misspells "potato" at an elementary school spelling bee.

1919 First non-stop transatlantic airplane flight British aviators Captain John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown take off, completing their trip on June 16.

1878 First attempt at motion pictures Leland Stanford commissions  Eadweard Muybridge to film a horse galloping using 12 cameras, each taking one picture. He was trying to determine if a horse ever lifts all four hooves from the ground while galloping. (Click to view animation)

1877 First black to graduate from West Point Henry O. Flipper.

1846 Treaty signed with Great Britain setting the 49th parallel as the northwest boundary making Idaho, Oregon, and Washington undisputed U.S. territory.

1836 Arkansas becomes the 25th state.

1775 American Revolution George Washington is appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

1752 Franklin Flies a Kite Ben Franklin performs his famous experiment, proving that lighting and electricity are related.

1649 First American witchcraft trial Margaret Jones is convicted and executed in Charleston, Massachusetts.

1215 Magna Carta is signed by King John, at Runnymede. Among other things it provide a uniform system of measurements.

1964 Courteney Cox American actress. Film: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994, Ace's girlfriend Lauren),  Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), and Scream 3 (2000). TV: Family Ties (Alex's girlfriend) and Friends (Monica Geller).

1963 Helen Hunt American actress. TV: St. Elsewhere (Dr. Morrison's Girlfriend Clancy).

1954 James Belushi American comedian, actor. Film: Red Heat (1988).

1950 Michel Lotito French omnivore. His diet has included 10 bicycles, 7 TVs, 6 chandeliers, a Cessna light aircraft, a shopping cart, and a coffin. Source: Guinness Book of World Records

1946 Janet Lennon American singer, one of the Lennon Sisters. She and her sisters were a mainstay of The Lawrence Welk Show during the 50's and 60's.

1943 Johnny Hallyday French rock idol. Known for his French versions of hits by stars like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry.

1941 Harry Nilsson d. 1994 (Harry Nelson), American Grammy-winning singer, songwriter. Music: wrote One (#1 for Three Dog Night), Everybody's Talking (1969, Grammy, theme to the movie Midnight Cowboy), and the animated TV film The Point!

1937 Waylon Jennings d. 2002 American Grammy-winning Country Music Hall of Fame singer. He was supposed to be on the plane that crashed and killed Buddy Holly, but had given his seat to J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. He had jokingly commented to Holly before the flight, "I hope your darn ole plane crashes." Music: Turn the Page (1985) Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, and the theme song for TV's The Dukes of Hazzard (he also narrated the show).

1932 Mario Cuomo American politician, governor of New York.

1914 Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov d. 1984 Soviet leader.

1807 William Nast d. 1899 American clergyman, founder of the first German Methodist church in the U.S.

2003 Hume Cronyn b. 1911 Canadian Tony-winning actor, director. Film: The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946).

1993 John Connally Jr b. 1917 American politician, governor of Texas (1963-68), Pres. Nixon's treasury secretary (1971-72). He was shot while riding with Pres. Kennedy during his assassination (1963).

1989 Victor French b. 1934 American actor. TV: Little House on the Prairie (Isaiah Edwards) and Highway to Heaven (Mark Gordman).

1929 Charles Francis Brush b. 1849 American electrician, inventor of the arc light.

1888 Frederick III b. 1831 Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia (March - June 1888). He died of cancer shortly after ascending to the throne.

1849 James Knox Polk b. 1795 11th U.S. President (1845-49).  He led the U.S. to victory in the Mexican-American War (1846-48).

<< Previous | Today | Pick a Day | My Birthday | Surprise Me | Next >>

Celebritize Yourself
Add YOURSELF
or Someone You Love
to THIS Trivia List

Amaze Your Friends with
Your/Their Celebrity Status

Add Trivia to Your Website