A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1790 – The U.S. patent system was established when President George Washington signed the Patent Act of 1790 into law. The very first patent went to Samuel Hopkins of Philadelphia, PA for “making pot and pearl ashes” which was a cleaning formula used in making soap.
1825 – The first hotel opened in Hawaii.
1849 – Walter Hunt patented the safety pin. He sold the rights for $100.
1866 – The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded in New York, NY by Henry Bergh.
1872 – The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska.
1912 – The Titanic set sail on her maiden, and only, voyage from Southampton, England. It stopped in Cherbourg, France and then Queenstown, Ireland, before heading out in to the open sea.
1916 – The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) held its first championship tournament.
1930 – The first synthetic rubber was produced.
1941 – Ford Motor Co. became the last major automaker to recognize the United Auto Workers as the representative for its workers.
1953 – Warner Bros. released “House of Wax”. It was the first 3-D movie to be released by a major Hollywood studio.
1960 – The U.S. Senate passes the Civil Rights Bill
1961 – Gary Player, of South Africa, became the first foreign golfer to win the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, GA.
1963 – 129 people died when the nuclear-powered submarine USS Thresher failed to surface off Cape Cod, MA.
1965 – The DeZwaan Windmill was formally dedicated in Holland, MI.
1967 – The 13-day strike by the American Federation of Radio-TV Artists (AFTRA) came to an end less than two hours before the 39th Academy Awards presentation went on the air.
1970 – Paul McCartney announced that he was leaving The Beatles for personal and professional reasons.
1978 – Volkswagon became the first non-American car manufacturer to build automobiles in the U.S., opening a plan in Westmoreland County, PA.
1981 – The maiden launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia was cancelled because of a computer malfunction.
1988 – On Wall Street, 48 million shares of Navistar International stock changed hands in a single-block trade. It was the largest transaction ever executed on the New York Stock Exchange.
1992 – Outside Needles, CA, comedian Sam Kinison was killed when a pickup truck slammed into his car on a desert road between Los Angeles, CA and Las Vegas, NV.
1992 – In Los Angeles, financier Charles Keating Jr. was sentenced to nine years in prison for swindling investors when his Lincoln Savings and Loan collapsed. The convictions were later overturned.
1997 – Rod Steiger received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2000 – Ken Griffey Jr. became the youngest player in baseball history to reach 400 home runs. He was 30 years, 141 days old.
2002 – President George W. Bush called for a total ban on human cloning. He urged the Senate to pass legislation forbidding the procedures for both reproductive and research purposes.
2007 – “Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis surrendered to federal authorities in Florida, five days after a judge cites him for contempt of court.
2009 – “Hannah Montana: The Movie” starring 16 year old Miley Cyrus and her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, opened in theaters.
2014 – After establishing himself on “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report”, Stephen Colbert was named to be David Letterman’s successor on “The Late Show”. (He assumed the role on September 8th, 2015.)
2014 – Nirvana, KISS, Peter Gabriel, The E Street Band, Cat Stevens, Hall and Oates, and Linda Ronstadt were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2014 – Kathleen Sebelius resigned as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in light of fallout from the botched rollout of HealthCare.gov.
2017 – After 29 years, the Detroit Pistons played their last game at the Palace of Auburn Hills in a game against the Washington Wizards.
2019 – Scientists from the Event Horizon Telescope project announced the first ever image of a black hole, located in the centre of the M87 galaxy.
BIRTHDAYS:
Paul Edward Theroux – 84 years old (1941) – Author (“The Great Railway Bazaar”,”The Mosquito Coast”)
Ken Griffey Sr. – 75 years old (1950) – Baseball player
Steven Seagal – 73 years old (1952) – Actor (“Out for Justice”, “Exit Wounds”, “Under Siege”, “Above the Law”). Born in Lansing, MI.
Peter MacNicol – 71 years old (1954) – Actor (“Ghostbusters 2”, TV’s “Chicago Hope”, “24”, “Ally McBeal”)
Steven Gustafson – 68 years old (1957) – Bass guitarist (10,000 Maniacs)
Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds – 66 years old (1959) – Singer, producer
Brian Setzer – 66 years old (1959) – Singer, guitarist (Stray Cats)
Katrina Leskanich – 65 years old (1960) – Singer (Katrina and the Waves)
Cathy Turner – 63 years old (1962) – Olympic speed skater
Orlando Jones – 57 years old (1968) – Actor, comedian (“Biker Boyz”, “Drumline”, “The Replacements”, “Liberty Heights”, TV’s “The Evidence”, 7-Up commercials)
Laura Bell Bundy – 44 years old (1981) – Actress, singer (TV’s “Anger Management”)
Michael Pitt – 44 years old (1981) – Actor (“The Dreamers”, “Seven Psychopaths”, “Silk”, TV’s “Dawson’s Creek”, “Boardwalk Empire”, “Hannibal”)
Chyler Leigh – 43 years old (1982) – Actress (“Not Another Teen Movie”, TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Supergirl”)
Ryan Merriman – 42 years old (1983) – Actor (“The Ring Two”, “Final Destination 3”, “Pretty Little Liars”)
Mandy Moore – 41 years old (1984) – Singer, actress (TV’s “This Is Us”, movies “American Dreamz”, “How to Deal”, “A Walk to Remember”)
Barkhad Abdi – 40 years old (1985) – Actor (“Captain Phillips”)
Haley Joel Osment – 37 years old (1988) – Actor (“The Sixth Sense”, “AI”)
Daisy Ridley – 33 years old (1992) – Actress (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”)
Sofia Carson – 32 years old (1993) – Singer, actress (TV’s “Austin & Ally”, “Descendants”, movies “Adventures in Babysitting”, “Tini: The Movie”, “A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits”)
TODAY IS:
- National Hug Your Dog Day: Give that furry creature a special celebration by enjoying National Hug Your Dog Day with them.
- Global Work From Home Day: Global Work From Home Day, observed annually, highlights the perks of telecommuting. It encourages employers and employees to try remote working and appreciate its benefits. This special day promotes the flexibility, discipline, and responsibility needed to work effectively from home. It is celebrated because many jobs do not require physical presence...
- National Siblings Day: Show your siblings you appreciate them, even if you sometimes want to kill them, or volunteer to adopt-a-sibling and enrich some else’s life on Siblings Day.
- National Alcohol Screening Day: Alcohol screening promotes health awareness, enabling informed choices and fostering a balanced lifestyle for individuals.
- Golfer’s Day: Hit the green and practice your swing. Never played golf, or have terrible weather? Find a mini-golf course, or even fire up a golfing video game at home.
- National Cinnamon Crescent Day: Flaky layers of pastry that are filled with a sweet, cinnamon filling, making them a tasty crowd-pleaser — perfect for breakfast or dessert!
- National Encourage a Young Writer Day: Show some support and care for future generations by getting invovled with this importnat day that helps to foster inspiration for the special craft of writing! How to Celebrate National Encourage a Young Writer Day Schools, non-profit organizations, student groups and so many others can get involved with National Encourage a Young...
- National Farm Animals Day: From cows to chickens, farm animals are essential to agriculture. They provide meat, eggs, and dairy while also helping maintain the land.
- National Erase Self-Negativity Day: Some studies have shown that 80% of the thoughts running through an average person’s mind are negative – tipping the scale much too far away from the positive thoughts that most people desire! To live healthy and happy lives, people may need to do a bit of work to create thought...
- World Baton Twirling Day: Experience the mesmerizing artistry of rhythmic performance, where precision and flair intertwine in captivating displays of movement.
- International Safety Pin Day: Take inspiration from Safety Pin inventor Walter Hunt, and come up with your own clever and useful invention. Who knows, maybe it’ll be a hit like the safety pin.
- National Library Week: Silent realms of knowledge, these havens harbor stories and wisdom, inviting exploration beyond the whispers of time.
- Discover National Parks Fortnight: Discover National Parks Fortnight invites everyone to join in on an adventure - exploring the stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity of national parks. This fantastic outdoor-themed event spans two weeks each year. This period is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with the great outdoors and appreciate the environmental treasures within...
- Community Garden Week: Community Garden Week comes around each year vibrant spring flowers begin to light up the landscape. This special week-long observation highlights the many worthy community and school gardens that dot our landscapes. These gardening efforts do more than add beauty (although they undoubtedly do!). Indeed, they serve as hubs for...
- Bee Active Bee Healthy Bee Happy Week: "Bee Active Bee Healthy Bee Happy Week is so much more than just a catchphrase. Indeed, it is a call to action. This week, founded by The Running Bee Foundation in Manchester, United Kingdom, is an effort to help reduce childhood obesity. Their goal is to help children learn the...
- Make Mine Chocolate: "Make Mine Chocolate" is a lively campaign urging people to think twice before giving live rabbits as Easter gifts. The campaign encourages people to opt for chocolate bunnies instead. This approach helps spread the message of responsible pet ownership while offering a sweet alternative that won't end up in shelters...
- National Green Week: National Green Week is an exciting initiative that brings attention to the importance of environmental sustainability. Schools and organizations across the country use this week to engage students in activities that promote greener living. The event aims to inspire young minds to adopt eco-friendly habits that can make a lasting...
- The Masters Tournament: Golf's elite gather, showcasing unparalleled skill and sportsmanship in a prestigious event that captivates fans worldwide.
- Blue Ribbon Week: Blue Ribbon Week is a time dedicated to raising awareness about child abuse, symbolized by the blue ribbon. Across communities, people come together to support efforts that protect children from harm. During this week, the focus shifts to understanding the serious impact of abuse and neglect, which often goes unnoticed...
- World Music Therapy Week: Helping people of all ages accomplish individualized goals, music therapy is a healthcare process that can take all sorts of forms based on the needs of the client. Approaches might include making music, listening to music, writing songs, improvisation, group discussion, or even meditation. Trained therapists use different forms of...
- FOP Awareness Month: Raising awareness for a rare condition, efforts unite to support those facing the challenges of Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.
- National Public Health Week: The well-being of communities — disease prevention, and better living through knowledge and action, towards a healthier world.
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For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.