Today in History

On this Day - 26th October:

1864 Union troops Kill 'Bloody' Bill Anderson


The notorious Confederate guerrilla leader William “Bloody Bill” Anderson is killed in Missouri in a Union ambush.
Born in the late 1830s, Anderson grew up in Missouri and moved to Kansas in the late 1850s.
Anderson's bushwhackers killed 24 unarmed Union soldiers on the train and set an ambush later that day which killed over a hundred Union militiamen. Anderson himself was killed a month later in battle. Historians have made disparate appraisals of Anderson; some see him as a sadistic, psychopathic killer, but for others his actions cannot be separated from the general desperation and lawlessness of the time.
William T. Anderson - Wikipedia

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1881 "OK Corral"


Perhaps the most famous shootout in the Wild West occurs, between lawmen (including Wyatt Earp) and the Cowboys
(and the subject of a number of Film/Movies)
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The Gunfight at OK Corral - On This Day
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Gunfight at the O.K. Corral - Wikipedia

 

On this Day - 26th October:
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1918 Stonehenge returns to the British nation
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16 days before the Armistice ended World War One, Chubb passed Stonehenge into public ownership, via a deed of gift.
The next year Prime Minister David Lloyd George recognised his generosity with a title, Chubb becoming Sir Cecil Chubb, First Baronet of Stonehenge.
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The man who bought Stonehenge - and then gave it away - BBC News
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Stonehenge (Famous Photo) - On This Day

 

On this Day - 26th October:
(SPORTSWATCH)
1951 Rocky Marciano
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- Heavyweight Boxing Champion = Rocky Marciano
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Future world heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano defeats former champion Joe Louis by TKO in the 8th round at Madison Square Garden
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- Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion = Joe Louis
Rocky Marciano beating Joe Louis a true case of passing the torch - The Ring (ringtv.com)
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1952 Emile Zatopek runs world record


The Czech long-distance runner is best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.
Men's 30000 m world record holder
26th October 1952 – 21st October 1956
Emil Zátopek - Wikipedia

 

On this Day - 26th October:
(TESTWATCH)

• 1953 Great Britain performs nuclear test at Emu Field, Australia
• 1958 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

....1962 JFK warns Russia that the USA will not allow Soviet missiles to remain in Cuba
- - - - - Nikita Khrushchev sends note to JFK offering to withdraw his missiles from Cuba if US closes its bases in Turkey: offer is rejected . . . . .

• 1962 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Johnston Island
• 1963 US performs underground nuclear test at Fallon, Nevada
• 1973 USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
• 1975 China performs nuclear test at Lop Nor, PRC
• 1977 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
• 1983 USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR

 

On this Day - 26th October:
(MUSIC WATCH)

1958 - Bill Haley
Bill Haley and his Comets played the first rock 'n' roll concert in Germany. Over 7,000 rock 'n' roll fans turned the show into a riot.
1962 - The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones (known as The Rollin' Stones), and consisting of Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones pianist Ian Stewart and drummer Tony Chapman recorded their first demo tape at Curly Clayton Studios in Highbury, London.
They recorded three songs, Jimmy Reed's 'Close Together', Bo Diddley's 'You Cant Judge A Book By The Cover' and Muddy Waters' 'Soon Forgotten.
1965 - The Beatles
Queen Elizabeth II invested The Beatles with their MBE's at Buckingham Palace, London. According to an account by John Lennon the group smoked marijuana in one of the palace bathrooms to calm their nerves.
Many former recipients gave their MBE's back in protest, to which John Lennon responded "Lots of people who complained about us receiving the MBE received theirs for heroism in the war, for killing people." He continued: "We received ours for entertaining other people. I'd say we deserve ours more."
1993 - Madonna
Catholic churches in San Juan, Puerto Rico asked residents to tie black ribbons on trees in protest against Madonna's first live appearance in the country.
2018 Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor announces she has converted to Islam

 

On this Day - 27th October:
(TESTWATCH)

• 1961 USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya & Sary Shagan USSR

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• 1962 Black Saturday
• • 1962 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Johnston Island
  • 1962 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

During the Cuban Missile Crisis: An American spy plane is shot down over Cuba and the navy drops warning depth charges on Soviet submarines
* Everybody in the world born before October 27, 1962 probably owes their life to Vasili Alexandrovich Arkhipov.
He was the Russian naval officer who, on this day, refused to fire a nuclear torpedo at an American aircraft carrier, thus averting the probability of a third world war and thermo-nuclear destruction across the planet
The Man Who Saved The World - On This Day
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• 1966 China performs nuclear test at Lop Nor, PRC
• 1966 USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR
• 1984 France performs nuclear test at Mururoa atoll
• 1984 USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR

 

On this Day - 27th October:

• 1992 Great Britain issues postage stamp on 100th anniversary of JRR Tolkien
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J. R. R. Tolkien - Wikipedia

 

On This Day - 28th October
1216 Henry III was crowned. His son was England's warrior king, Edward I.


1664 The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly referred to as the Royal Marines, was established. It was originally known as The Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot.


1794 The birth of Robert Liston, a Scottish physician who carried out Britain's first operation with the aid of an anaesthetic.


1831 English physicist Michael Faraday demonstrated the dynamo, founding the science of electromagnetism.


1893 HMS Havelock, the Royal Navy's first destroyer, went on trials.


1912 The birth of Sir (William) Richard Doll, English physician and cancer researcher who first proved the link between cigarette smoking and cancer.


1930 The birth of Bernie Ecclestone English business magnate who is generally considered the primary authority in Formula One motor racing. His early involvement in the sport was as a competitor and then manager and, in 1972, he bought the Brabham team, which he ran for fifteen years. As a team owner, he became a member of the Formula One Constructors' Association.


1938 David Dimbleby, TV journalist and commentator was born.

1949 The glove puppet Sooty, with Harry Corbett, made his first appearance on BBC TV.


1958 The State Opening of Parliament was televised for the first time.


1959 The first use of a car phone, with a call from Cheshire to London. A mere twenty-five people had paid the astronomical sum of £200 each for one of the phones.


1962 The opening of Britain's first urban motorway - the M62 (now M60) around Manchester.


1971 The House of Commons backed Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath and, by a majority of 112, voted for Britain to apply to join the EEC - the European Economic Community.


1974 Sports Minister Denis Howell's wife and young son survived a bomb attack on their car. The attack was thought to be the work of the Provisional IRA and the first on a serving minister during the current IRA campaign.


1979 Chairman Hua Kuo-Feng, the first Chinese leader to visit Britain, was welcomed at Heathrow by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. (Additional note - Margaret Thatcher was born at this former grocer's shop in Grantham Lincolnshire. .


2000 Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble narrowly won party support to keep a Northern Ireland power-sharing government alive.


2011 Commonwealth leaders pledged to amend legislation dating back to the 17th century to allow daughters of the monarch to take precedence over younger sons in the line of succession.


2011 Vincent Tabak, a 33-year-old Dutch engineer with an obsession for violent sex and pornography, was found guilty of strangling landscape architect Joanna Yeates for sexual thrills. Her body was found, covered with leaves on Christmas morning 2010. The police initially suspected and arrested Christopher Jefferies, Yeates' landlord, who lived in a flat in the same building. The nature of press reporting on aspects of the case led to 'substantial, undisclosed libel damages from eight newspapers being awarded to Mr. Jefferies.


2014 105-year-old Sir Nicholas Winton, who saved 669 children, most of them Jews, from the Nazis was awarded the Czech Republic's highest state honour, the Order of the White Lion. He was aged 29 when he arranged trains to take the children out of occupied Czechoslovakia and for foster families to meet them in London.


2014 Tesco's Aberystwyth store made a blunder on a Welsh sign which was supposed to advertise 'free money' from the supermarket's cashpoint. The sign read "codiad am ddim", meaning free erections when it should read "arian am ddim" which means free money.

 

On this Day - 29th October:

• 1618 Sir Walter Raleigh

English adventurer, writer and courtier Walter Raleigh is beheaded for allegedly conspiring against King James I of England
Walter Raleigh - Wikipedia
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• 1918 German sailors refuse to obey orders

The Kiel mutiny (German: Kieler Matrosenaufstand) was a major revolt by sailors of the German High Seas Fleet on 3 November 1918.
The revolt triggered the German revolution which was to sweep aside the monarchy within a few days.
The sailors' revolt started on the Schillig Roads off Wilhelmshaven, where the German fleet had anchored in expectation of a planned battle. During the night from 28 to 30 October 1918 some crews refused to obey orders. Sailors on board three ships from the Third Navy Squadron refused to weigh anchor. Part of the crew on SMS Thüringen and SMS Helgoland, two battleships from the First Navy Squadron, committed outright mutiny and sabotage.
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However, when, a day later, some torpedo boats pointed their cannons at these ships, the mutineers gave up and were led away without any resistance. Nevertheless, the naval command had to drop its plans as it was felt that the crew's loyalty could no longer be relied upon. The Third Navy Squadron was ordered back to Kiel
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• 1956 Suez Crisis erupts into war

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Israel invades the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula, to be followed by a planned airborne assault by France and Britain after Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-70) nationalized the canal, a valuable waterway that controlled two-thirds of the oil used by Europe.
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Suez Crisis - Wikipedia
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• 1967 Jack the Hat

London criminal Jack McVitie is murdered by the Kray twins, leading to their eventual imprisonment and downfall
Jack 'The Hat' murdered by Reggie Kray at 97 Evering Road (1967) (horridhackney.com)

 

On this Day - 29th October: (Testwatch)

• 1958 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
• 1961 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
• 1965 US performs underground nuclear test at Amchitka Island Aleutians
• 1968 USSR performs nuclear test at Sary Shagan USSR
• 1969 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
• 1969 USSR performs underground nuclear test
• 1975 USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
• 1977 USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR

 

On this Day - 30th October: (Testwatch)

• 1951 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
• 1961 Soviet Union tests a 58 megaton hydrogen bomb named Tsar Bomba, the most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated

Tsar Bomba, (Russian: “King of Bombs”) , byname of RDS-220, also called Big Ivan, Soviet thermonuclear bomb that was detonated in a test over Novaya Zemlya island in the Arctic Ocean on October 30, 1961. The largest nuclear weapon ever set off, it produced the most powerful human-made explosion ever recorded.
Tsar Bomba - Wikipedia
BBC ON THIS DAY | 30 | 1961: World condemns Russia's nuclear test

• 1962 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Johnston Island

 

On this Day - 30th October:

1938 "The War of the Worlds"


Narrated by Orson Welles, the radio broadcast of H. G. Wells "The War of the Worlds"allegedly causes a mass panicallegedly causes a mass panic
Panic Over War of the Worlds

The War of the Worlds (1938 radio drama) - Wikipedia

 

On this Day - 30th October:

1974 "The Rumble in the Jungle"
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Muhammad Ali causes a sensation when at years of age of 32, KOs World Heavyweight Champion George Foreman in the 8th round in Kinshasa, Zaire; and regains the World heavyweight boxing title with famous "rope-a-dope" tactic
The Rumble in the Jungle - Wikipedia
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On this Day - 30th October:

BORN THIS DAY: (MUSIC)
1939 - Eddie Holland
Eddie Holland (Holland/Dozier/Holland), producer, songwriter, wrote Motown hits for Supremes, Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Freda Payne, Chairmen Of The Board.
1939 - Grace Slick
American singer-songwriter Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane, Starship. Slick provided vocals on a number of iconic songs, including 'Somebody to Love', 'White Rabbit', 'We Built This City' and 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now'.
1939 - Otis Williams
American singer Otis Williams, who with The Temptations had the 1971 US No.1 & UK No.8 single 'Just My Imagination' and re-issued 'My Girl' which was a UK No.2 hit in 1992
1947 - Timothy B Schmit
Timothy B Schmit, bass, vocals, Poco, the Eagles, joined in 1977, (1977 US No.1 & UK No.8 single 'Hotel California', plus 5 US No.1 albums. 'Greatest Hits 1971-1975' is the second biggest selling album in the world with sales over 30m).

 

On this Day - 30th October: (Music)

1959 - Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard and the Shadows were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Travellin' Light'. Their 6th release and second No.1 hit.


2005 - Cliff Richard
Hundreds of people queued outside the Sheffield Arena to make sure of getting tickets to see a Sir Cliff Richard.
By the time the tickets went on sale some fans had been outside the Arena for nine days, the concert was not until November 2006.

 

On this Day - 30th October: (More Music)

1961 - The Beatles
Two days after Beatles fan Raymond Jones asked for The Beatles' German single ‘My Bonnie’ (recorded with Tony Sheridan) at Brian Epstein's NEMS record store in Liverpool, two girls asked for the same record. Epstein's difficulty in locating the record was due to him not knowing that the record was released, not by The Beatles, but by Tony Sheridan and 'The Beat Brothers' ('Beatles' resembles a vulgar slang word in German, so The Beatles' name was changed for this single).


1963 - The Beatles
On the final day of their Swedish tour, The Beatles recorded an appearance for the Sverige Television program ‘Drop In’ in Stockholm. and performed :-

 

On this Day - 30th October: (More Music= NEWS)

1967 - Brian Jones
Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones admitted in court to possession of cannabis and allowing his flat to be used for the smoking of the drug. His plea of 'not guilty' to the charge of possessing methedrine and cocaine was accepted. Jones was sentenced to nine months in Wormwood Scrubs prison. He was released on bail the following day.

1970 - Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison of The Doors was fined and sentenced to six months in jail after being found guilty of exposing himself during a gig in Miami

1990 - Axl Rose
Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose was released on $10,000 bail, after being arrested for allegedly hitting a neighbour over the head with a bottle. The incident happened after a complaint to the police about loud music coming from the singer's house.

2002 - Jam Master Jay
Jam Master Jay from Run-DMC was murdered by an assassin's single bullet at his recording studio in Queens, New York.

2004 - Vince Neil
An arrest warrant was issued for Motley Crue singer Vince Neil after he allegedly knocked a soundman unconscious during a concert. Neil was said to have punched Michael Talbert in the face at Gilley's nightclub in Dallas after he asked the soundman for more volume on his guitar but attacked Talbert as he adjusted it, leaving him unconscious for 45 seconds.

2007 - Linda Stein
Linda Stein, former co-manager of punk band the Ramones, was found beaten to death at her Manhattan apartment.
Mrs Stein was the ex-wife of Seymour Stein, former president of Sire Records, which was the launching pad for the Ramones, Talking Heads and Madonna. Mrs Stein had become one of New York's leading estate agents, her clients included Sting and Billy Joel.

 

On this Day - 31st October:

1517 Martin Luther:

Sent his 95 Theses to Albrecht von Brandenburg, the Archbishop of Mainz, precipitating the Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation (Famous Document)
Martin Luther - Wikipedia
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1992 Roman Catholic church reinstates Galileo Galilei
= Galileo Galilei
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 31 -- It's official: The Earth revolves around the sun, even for the Vatican.
The Roman Catholic Church has admitted to erring these past 359 years in formally condemning Galileo Galilei for formulating scientific theories it considered heresy
Galileo affair - Wikipedia

 

On this Day - 31st October:

1917 Battle of Beersheba
During World War One in southern Palestine - this was the "last successful cavalry charge in history" performed by the 4th Australian Light Horse.


The battle was part of the wider British offensive collectively known as the third Battle of Gaza.
The capture of Beersheba enabled British Empire forces to break the Ottoman line near Gaza on 7 November and advance into Palestine
Battle of Beersheba (1917) - Wikipedia

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1984 Indira Gandhi assassinated


4th Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh at her home in New Delhi



Assassination of Indira Gandhi - Wikipedia
= = = Rajiv Gandhi takes office as India's 6th Prime Minister succeeding his mother

Indian Prime Minister - Rajiv Gandhi

 

On this Day - 31st October:
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1950 'The Big Cat'
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= Basketball Player Earl Lloyd
Earl Lloyd becomes the first African-American to play a game in the NBA, scoring 6 points on debut for the Washington Capitols
Earl Lloyd - Wikipedia
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1943 Washington Redskin Sammy Baugh passes for 6 touchdowns vs Bkln (48-10)
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1973 Tom Seaver wins NL Cy Young Award
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1976 Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad scores 206 v NZ, aged 19 yrs 141 days (29 fours 1 six)
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1988 First Monday Night NFL game played in Indianapolis; Colts beat Denver Broncos, 55-23
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1994 American tennis star Venus Williams makes her professional debut as a 14 year old with a 6-3, 6-4 win over former NCAA champion and world No. 58 Shaun Stafford
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2014 Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre are inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY