1991 Soviet coup attempt Hard-line communists, including the Soviet vice-president, Soviet Defense Minister, and head of the KGB, attempt to remove Soviet Pres. Gorbachev from power. They failed, largely due to the efforts of Russian Pres. Boris Yeltsin.

1981 U.S. Navy F-14 fighters shoot down two Libyan jets off the coast of Libya after being fired upon by them.

1960 First living organisms to return from space The Soviet Sputnik 5 is launched. Its payload included two dogs, two mice, 40 rats, and various insects and plants which were recovered the following day.

1951 3-foot 7-inch tall Eddie Gaedel pinch hits for the St. Louis Browns and is walked. It was his only time at bat in the major leagues.

1934 World War II German Chancellor Adolf Hitler is voted president, giving him full command of the country.

1929 Amos 'n' Andy debut on NBC radio.

1886 The Christian Union is founded, by Baptist minister Richard G. Spurling. In 1923 it became the Church of God.

1856 Gail Borden receives a patent for his process of making evaporated milk.

1812 USS Constitution, called Old Ironsides, defeats the British ship Guerriere off Nova Scotia during the War of 1812.

1692 Salem Witch Trials George Burroughs (Harvard graduate and former minister of Salem), John Proctor, John Willard, George Jacobs, and Martha Carrier are hanged for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Source: An Almanac of the Christian Church

1967 Tabitha Soren American TV news correspondent, host of MTV's The Week in Rock.

1948 Gerald McRaney American actor. TV: Simon & Simon (Rick Simon) and Major Dad (Major MacGillis).

1946 Bill Clinton (William Jefferson Blythe III), 42nd U.S. President (1993-2001).

1940 Johnny Nash American singer, songwriter, I Can See Clearly Now (1972, #1).

1940 Jill St. John (Jill Oppenheim), American actress. Film: Diamonds Are Forever (1971, Tiffany Case, the first American Bond girl). TV: Batman (The Riddler's moll Molly).

1934 Renee Richards tennis player, transsexual.

1931 Willie Shoemaker American horse jockey, all-time leader in wins (8,833) and four time winner of the Kentucky Derby (also the oldest winner, age 54 in 1986). A 1991 car accident left him a quadriplegic.

1919 Malcolm Stevenson Forbes d. 1990 American magazine publisher.

1913 Harry Mills d. 1982 American singer, with the Mills Brothers, the most popular vocal group of all time.

1906 Philo Taylor Farnsworth American inventor of the first all electronic TV.

1883 Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel d. 1971 French fashion designer, for whom Chanel No. 5 perfume, introduced in 1922, is named.

1878 Manuel Luis Quezon d. 1944 Philippine statesman, first president of the Philippine Commonwealth (1935).

1871 Orville Wright d. 1948 American aviator. He and his brother Wilbur are credited with building and flying the first manned heavier-than-air flying machine (1903).

1870 Bernard Mannes Baruch d. 1965 American stock broker. He was an advisor to every president from Wilson to Kennedy.

1856 James M. Black d. 1938 American Methodist composer. Music: When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder (wrote the tune). Source: An Almanac of the Christian Church

1843 Cyrus Ingersoll Scofield d. 1921 American Bible teacher, editor of the Scofield Reference Bible (1909) and founded the Central American Mission (1890). Source: An Almanac of the Christian Church

1808 James Nasmyth d. 1890 British engineer, invented the steam hammer (1839).

1751 Samuel Prescott d. circa 1777 American soldier.  Rode with Paul Revere and William Dawes on their famous ride to warn of the British advancement (1775) . He was the only rider of the three to make it to Concord. He was captured by the Royal Navy and died between November 23, 1776 and December 26, 1777 while a prisoner in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

1994 Linus Carl Pauling b. 1901 American Nobel-winning chemist and vitamin C advocate. He also won a Nobel Peace Prize.

1986 Hermione Baddeley b. 1906 British actress. Film: Room at the Top (1959) and Mary Poppins (1964, the housekeeper). TV: Maude (Mrs. Naugatuck) and Upstairs Downstairs (Mrs. Bridges the cook).

1977 Groucho Marx b. 1890 (Julius Marx), American comedian, cigar-smoking Marx Brother and host of TV's You Bet Your Life.

1967 Hugo Gernsback b. 1884 American publisher, pioneer science fiction author. He founded Modern Electronics (1908, the first radio magazine) and Amazing Stories (1926).

1959 Sir Jacob Epstein b. 1880 British sculpture, known for his controversial sculptures, including Venus (1917) and Adam (1939).

1662 Blaise Pascal b. 1623 French mathematician, philosopher, physicist, one of the founders of the theory of probability and designed a mechanical computer, although it was never built.

440 Saint Sixtus III b. ???? Italian religious leader, 44th Pope (432-440).

A.D. 14 Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus Augustus b. 63 B.C. the first Roman Emperor. He was the heir of Julius Caesar. His defeat of Antony and Cleopatra at Actium in 31 A.D. made him ruler of the world.

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