Today in American History 
Historical Events
- 1507 German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller is the first to use the name America on his world map "Universalis Cosmographia"
- 1846 Thornton Affair: Open conflict begins over the disputed border of Texas, triggering the Mexican–American War
- 1861 Battle of Lavaca, fought in Texas, Union victory (US Civil War)
- 1861 The Union Army arrives to reinforce Washington, D.C. (US Civil War)
Capture of New Orleans
1862 After the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, Union forces under Flag Officer David Farragut request the surrender New Orleans, LA, despite being largely defenseless armed mobs reuse
- 1864 Battle of Marks' Mill, Arkansas (Camden Expedition)
Event of Interest
1891 US President Benjamin Harrison visits San Francisco
- 1896 Fight in Central Dance Hall starts fire at Cripple Creek, Colorado
Spain Declares War Against the United States
1898 Spanish–American War: The United States declares state of war on Spain effective from 21st April
- 1901 Erve Beck hits American League's 1st home run
- 1901 New York becomes 1st state requiring automobile license plates ($1 fee)
Wilson Accepts Mediation
1914 US President Woodrow Wilson is persuaded by Argentina, Brazil, and Chile to accept mediation in the conflict with Mexico
- 1946 "Exposition Flyer" rammed at Napierville Illinois, killing 48
- 1952 American Bowling Congress approves use of an automatic pinsetter
Structure of DNA Published
1953 Francis Crick and James Watson's discovery of the double helix structure of DNA is published in "Nature" magazine
In the Wee Small Hours
1955 Captiol Records releases "In the Wee Small Hours", the ninth studio album by American vocalist Frank Sinatra; collection of melancholy ballads with arrangements by Nelson Riddle was an early example of a concept album and helped popularize the 12-inch format for non-classical recordings
Television Finale
1964 "New Phil Silvers Show" last airs on CBS-TV
Baseball History
1980 Oakland Athletics' manager Billy Martin is restrained by umpires from attacking a fan
- 1981 Seattle Mariners MLB manager Maury Wills is suspended for 2 games after ordering Kingdome grounds crew to enlarge batter's boxes by one foot
- 1982 Yanks fire manager Bob Lemon & replaces him with Gene Michael
Big River
1985 Roger Miller's musical "Big River", based on Mark Twain's 1884 novel "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", opens at Eugene O'Neill Theater, NYC; runs for 1005 performances, wins 3 Tony Awards
Academy of Country Music Awards
1990 25th Academy of Country Music Awards: George Strait, Clint Black, and Kathy Mattea win
Music Premiere
1991 Lucy Simon & Marsha Norman's musical "The Secret Garden", based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel, starring Daisy Eagan and Mandy Patinkin, opens at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 706 performances, winning 3 Tony Awards
- 1994 14" of snow in Southern California
Baseball Record
1997 Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. hits his 250th HR
We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
2006 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen's 14th studio album "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions", a tribute to folk music pioneer Pete Seeger
Midnight Award for Elijah Wood
2009 Elijah Wood is honored with the Midnight Award by the San Francisco International Film Festival
NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft: Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford first pick by Detroit Lions
- 2019 NFL Draft: Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray #1 pick by Arizona Cardinals
Academy Awards
2021 93rd Academy Awards: "Nomadland" wins best film, director (Chloé Zhao), and lead actress (Frances McDormand); Anthony Hopkins best actor
American History Timeline
Famous Birthdays
- 1825 Charles Dowd, American principal who was the 1st to propose standardized time zones (for America's railways), born in Madison, Connecticut (d. 1904)
- 1840 James Dearing, U.S. Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Campbell County, Virginia (d. 1865)
- 1868 John Bevins Moisant, American pioneer aviator, first to cross English Channel with passenger and a cat, killed in New Orleans whose present day airport was originally name for him, born in Kankakee, Illinois (d. 1910)
- 1906 William J. Brennan, Jr, American Supreme Court judge (1956-90), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 1997)
Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965)
American broadcast journalist, war correspondent, and television host ("See it Now"; "Person to Person"), born in Guilford County, North Carolina
- 1912 Gladys Presley, mother of Elvis, born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 1958)
- 1913 Earl Bostic, American jazz alto saxophonist (Flamingo, Temptation), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma (d. 1965)
- 1914 Ross Lockridge, Jr., American novelist (Raintree County), born in Bloomington, Indiana (d. 1948)
- 1915 William Goyen, American writer, born in Trinity, Texas (d. 1983)
- 1916 Jerry Barber, American golfer (PGA C'ship 1961), born in Woodson, Illinois (d. 1994)
Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996)
American jazz, swing, pop, and blues singer, known as "The First Lady of Song" (Verve "Songbook" series), born in Newport News, Virginia [1]
- 1923 Albert King [Nelson], American blues guitarist and singer ("Born Under A Bad Sign"; "That's What The Blues Is About"), born in Indianola, Mississippi (d. 1992)
- 1925 Kay E. Kuter, American actor (Green Acres), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2003)
- 1930 Dotty Mack, American actress (Paul Dixon Show), born in Cincinnati, Ohio
- 1930 Paul Mazursky, American writer/director (Moscow on the Hudson), born in Brooklyn, New York, (d. 2014)
- 1932 (Meadow) "Meadowlark" Lemon, American basketball star (Harlem Globetrotters, 1955-80, 1990, and 3 other teams), and clergyman, born in Wilmington, North Carolina (d. 2015)
- 1933 Jerry Leiber, American songwriter (Leiber & Stoller - "Hound Dog"; "Jailhouse Rock"; "Is That All There Is?"), born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 2011)
- 1934 Denny "Scott" Miller, American actor (Wagon Train), born in Bloomington Ind, (d. 2014)
- 1938 Roger Boisjoly, American aerodynamicist (anticipated challenger disaster), born in Lowell, Massachusetts (d. 2012)
- 1939 Ted Kooser, American poet and US Poet Laureate, born in Ames, Iowa
Al Pacino (84th Birthday)
1940 American actor (And Justice For All, The Godfather, Scorpio), born in New York City
- 1940 O. B. McClinton, American country singer ("Keep Your Arms Around Me"), born in Senatobia, Mississippi (d. 1987)
- 1941 Lawrence J. Smith, American politician, U.S. House of Representatives from Florida (1983-93), born in Brooklyn, New York
- 1942 Jon Kyl, American politician, U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona (1987-95), born in Oakland, Nebraska
- 1945 Stu Cook, American rock bassist (Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Proud Mary"; "Fortunate Son"), born in Oakland, California
- 1946 Talia Shire [Coppola], American actress (Adrienne-Rocky), born in Lake Success, New York
- 1947 Bill Fontana, American composer, born in Cleveland, Ohio
- 1947 Jeffrey DeMunn, American actor (Blaze, Frances, Windy City), born in Buffalo, New York
- 1949 Michael Brown, American musician and songwriter (Don't Walk Away Renee), born in New York City (d. 2015)
- 1949 Watermelon Slim [William Homans], American blues musician (The Wheel Man), born in Boston, Massachusetts
- 1952 Cory Daye, American dance music vocalist, born in The Bronx, New York
- 1953 Ron Clements, American animation director (Moana), born in Sioux City, Iowa
- 1954 Rob Crosby, American country singer ("She's a Natural"), born in Sumter, South Carolina
Christa Johnson (66th Birthday)
1958 American golfer (Women's PGA C'ship 1997), born in Arcata, California
- 1961 Dinesh D'Souza, Indian-American author (2016: Obama's America), born in Mumbai, India
Adam Silver (62nd Birthday)
1962 American lawyer and NBA Commissioner, born in Rye, New York
Hank Azaria (60th Birthday)
1964 American actor (The Birdcage) and voice behind many characters in The Simpsons (Moe, Apu, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Carl Carlson), born in New York City
- 1965 Eric Avery, American musician (Jane's Addiction, Deconstruction, Polar Bear), born in Los Angeles, California
- 1965 Mark Bryant, American NBA forward and center (Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets), born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey
- 1966 Darren Holmes, American baseball pitcher (Colorado Rockies), born in Asheville, North Carolina
- 1967 Angel Martino, American 50m/100m freestyle swimmer (Olympic gold/2 br-92, 96), born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- 1969 Joe Buck, American sports broadcaster, born in St. Petersburg, Florida
- 1969 Jon Olsen, American 100m freestyle/400m/800m medley (Olymp-gold-1992, 96), born in New Britain, Connecticut
- 1969 Travis Fryman, American baseball infielder (5 × MLB All-Star; Gold Glove Award 2000; Silver Slugger Award 1992; Detroit Tigers), born in Lexington, Kentucky
- 1971 Brad Clontz, American baseball pitcher (Atlanta Braves), born in Stuart, Virginia
- 1972 Percell Gaskins, American football linebacker (Carolina Panthers), born in Daytona Beach, Florida
- 1974 Tricia Dunn, American ice hockey forward (USA, Olympics 1998), born in Derry, New Hampshire
- 1974 Twan Russell, American football linebacker (Washington Redskins), born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- 1975 Emily Bergl, English-American actress (The rage : Carrie 2), born in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England
- 1975 Jacque Jones, American baseball outfielder (Olympic bronze 1996), born in San Diego, California
- 1975 Ruben Gomez, American rocker (Menudo-Cannonball), born in Brooklyn, New York
Tim Duncan (48th Birthday)
1976 American NBA forward (San Antonio Spurs), born in Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands
- 1977 Jonathan Angel, American actor (Tommy Delucca-Saved By The Bell), born in San Francisco, California
- 1977 Marguerite Moreau, American actress (Connie-Mighty Ducks, D2, D3), born in Riverside, California
- 1977 Matthew West, American Christian musician and singer ("Happy"), born in Downers Grove, Illinois
- 1981 Dwone Hicks, American NFL running back, born in Huntsville, Alabama
- 1983 DeAngelo Williams, American National Football League runningback, born in Wynne, Arkansas
- 1983 J.P. Howell, American baseball player (Tampa Bay Devil Rays), born in Modesto, California
- 1984 Robert Andino, Cuban-American baseball player, born in Miami, Florida
- 1985 Jonathan Halyalkar, American actor (Billy-Who's the Boss), born in Ramsey, New Jersey
- 1987 Johann Smith, American soccer player, born in Hartford, Connecticut
- 1988 Sara Paxton, American actress (Darcy's Wild Life), born in Los Angeles, California
- 1994 Maggie Rogers, American singer-songwriter (Alaska), born in Easton, Maryland
- 1996 Allisyn Ashley Arm, American child actress (Sonny with a Chance), born in Glendale, California
Famous Weddings
Bob Denver
1972 Comedic actor Bob Denver (37) weds third wife Carole Abrahams
Dean Martin
1973 Singer and actor Dean Martin marries third wife Catherine Hawn (divorced 1976)
Famous Divorces
Martin Lawrence
2012 Comedian and actor Martin Lawrence (47) files for divorce from Shamicka Gibbs due to irreconcilable differences after 1.5 years of marriage
Famous Deaths
William Beaumont (1785-1853)
American surgeon and father of gastric physiology, dies at 67
- 1862 Charles Ferguson Smith, US Union Gen-Maj, dies of infection at 55
- 1906 John Knowles Paine, American composer (Symphony No. 2 - In Spring), dies at 67
- 1944 Tony Mullane, Irish-American baseball player, dies at 85
- 1958 Herman Hickman, American College Football Hall of Fame guard, coach and broadcaster (Army, Yale), dies at 46
- 1968 Walter Tewksbury, American track and field athlete (Olympics, 1920 - 2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze), and dentist, dies at 92 [1]
- 1970 Anita Louise, American actress (The Little Princess; Gorilla; My Friend Flicka), dies from a stroke at 55
- 1974 Pamela Courson, American artist and long-term companion of Jim Morrison, dies of a heroin overdose at 27
- 1982 Don Wilson, American radio and TV announcer (Jack Benny Show), dies at 81
- 1982 John Cody, US cardinal/archbishop of Chicago (1965-82), dies at 74
- 1982 W. R. Burnett, American writer (Asphalt Jungle), dies at 82
- 1988 Boris Kremenliev, Bulgarian-American composer (The Tell-Tale Heart), educator (UCLA, 1947-78), and ethno-musicologist (Bulgarian-Macedonian Folk Music), dies at 76
- 1988 Carolyn Franklin, American singer-songwriter, and sister of Aretha, dies of cancer at 43
- 1988 Clifford D. Simak, American sci-fi author (Hugo, Way Station), dies at 83
- 1988 Lanny Ross, American radio singer (Show Boat, The Swift Show), dies at 82
- 1988 Valerie Solanas, American radical feminist and author of SCUM Manifesto who attempted to assassinate Andy Warhol in 1968, dies of pneumonia at 52
- 1990 Dexter Gordon, American jazz tenor saxophonist Go!; The Other Side of 'Round Midnight), and actor ('Round Midnight), dies of kidney failure at 67
- 1991 Frank Hamilton, Canadian-American actor (Subterraneans), dies at 66
- 1995 Art Fleming [Fazzin], American actor, and TV game show host (Jeopardy, 1964-75, 1978-79), dies of pancreatic cancer at 70
Ginger Rogers (1911-1995)
American vaudeville, stage and screen dancer, singer (Top Hat), and Academy Award-winning actress (Kitty Foyle; Stage Door), dies at 83
- 1996 Saul Bass, American graphic designer of logos and film titles (Psycho), dies at 75
- 1998 Wright Morris, American writer (b. 1910)
- 1999 Roger Troutman, American funk musician (Zapp), dies during his brother's apparent murder-suicide at 47
- 2000 Claire Hogan, American jazz and big band singer (Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, 1948-50), dies at 73 [1]
- 2000 David Merrick, American theatrical producer (Hello Dolly), dies at 88
- 2004 Albert Paulsen, Ecuadorian-American actor (One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Doctors' Hospital), dies at 78
- 2006 Jane Jacobs, American-Canadian author and urbanologist (The Death and Life of Great American Cities), dies at 89
- 2007 Bobby "Boris" Pickett, American singer-songwriter ("Monster Mash"), dies from leukemia at 69
Bea Arthur (1922-2009)
American Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress (Mame; Maude; The Golden Girls), and singer, dies of lung cancer at 86
- 2009 John J. Marchi, American politician (NY Senate 1957-2006), dies at 87
- 2010 Dorothy Provine, American actress (The Roaring 20's; That Darn Cat: Who's Minding The Mint?), and singer, dies of emphysema at 75
- 2011 (Fletcher) Joe Perry, American AAFC/NFL Hall of Fame fullback, 1948-63, 3X Pro Bowl (San Francisco 49ers; Baltimore Colts), and US Navy veteran, dies of complications from dementia at 84
- 2013 Jacob Avshalomov, Russian-American composer (Symphony of Songs; The Oregon), conductor (Portland Youth Philharmonic, 1954-91), and pedagogue, dies at 94
- 2013 Rick Camp, American MLB pitcher, dies of natural causes at 59
- 2013 Virginia Gibson, American actress, dies at 88
- 2014 Earl Morrall, American NFL quarterback (Super Bowl 1970, 72, 73; Pro Bowl 1957, 68; First-team All-Pro 1968, 72; NFL MVP 1968; Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins), dies from Parkinson's disease at 79
John Havlicek (1940-2019)
American College/Basketball Hall of Fame small forward (8 x NBA C'ship Boston Celtics; 13 x NBA All Star; 4 x All-NBA First Team), dies of Parkinson's disease at 79
- 2019 Manuel Lujan Jr., American politician (Rep-R-NM, 1969-89), dies at 90
- 2020 Marino H. Casem, American College Football Hall of Fame coach (Alabama State, Alcorn State, Southern) and athletic administrator (Alcorn State, Southern), dies at 85
- 2022 J. Roy Rowland, American politician (Rep-D-GA, 1983-95), dies at 96
Harry Belafonte (1927-2023)
Jamaican-American Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning calypso singer ("Banana Boat Song"), actor (Buck & the Preacher), and human rights activist, dies of congestive heart failure at 96 [1]
Abraham Lincoln
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Frederick Douglass
George Washington
Martin Luther King Jr.
Thomas Edison