MAY 21 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1085 ~ The Swedish town of Helsingborg was founded on the 21st May 1085.

1502 ~ The island of Saint Helena was discovered by the Portuguese explorer João da Nova on the 21st May 1502.

1851 ~ Slavery was abolished in Colombia, South America on the 21st May 1851.

1864Princess Stéphanie of Belgium the Belgian princess by birth, and Crown Princess of Austria by marriage was born on the 21st May 1864 (died 23rd August 1945 aged 81).

1871 ~ The 1st rack railway in Europe opened on the 21st May 1871, the Rigi-Bahnen on Mount Rigi.

1881 ~ The American Red Cross was established by Clara Barton in Washington, D.C. on the 21st May 1881.

1870Ferdinand Schmutzer the Austrian artist, photographer, painter and engraver was born in Vienna on the 21st May 1870 (died 26th October 1928 aged 58). Ferdinand Schmutzer is well known for his photographic portraits of well known people such as Albert Einstein. Ferdinand’s great-grandfather Jacob Matthias Schmutzer founded the Imperial Engraving Academy. Ferdinand Schmutzer grandfather and his father were sculptors focused on representing animals. At 16 years old, Ferdinand enrolled to study painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna in 1886. He first studied with Leopold Carl Müller, and later with Matthias Trenkwald. In 1894 Ferdinand won a Prix de Rome art scholarship… read more about the life of Ferdinand Schmutzer and see the Ferdinand Schmutzer Gallery page featuring Photography | Etchings | Oil paintings | Drawings at the official website: www.Ferdinand-schmutzer.com 

Ferdinand Schmutzer Austrian engraver photographer self portrait art studio Vienna 1910 man engraving tools 1900s photo
Austrian engraver and photographer Ferdinand Schmutzer’s self portrait in his studio in Vienna c.1910

1894 ~ The Manchester Ship Canal in England was officially opened by Queen Victoria on the 21st May 1894, who later knighted its designer Sir Edward Leader Williams.

1904 ~ The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in Paris on the 21st May 1904.

1917 ~ The Great Atlanta fire of 1917 on the 21st May caused $5.5 million in damages, destroying some 300 acres including 2,000 homes, businesses and churches, displacing about 10,000 people, but only one fatality (due to heart attack).

1927 ~ Charles Lindbergh touched down at Le Bourget Field in Paris on the 21st May 1927, completing the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

1932 ~ Bad weather forced Amelia Earhart to land in a pasture in Derry, Northern Ireland on the 21st May 1932, becoming the 1st woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

1934 ~ Oskaloosa, Iowa, became the first municipality in the United States to fingerprint all of its citizens on the 21st May 1934.

1936 ~ Sada Abe is arrested after wandering the streets of Tokyo for days with her dead lover’s severed genitals in her hand. Her story soon becomes one of Japan‘s most notorious scandals.

1937 ~ A Soviet stationNorth Pole-1, became the 1st scientific research settlement to operate on the drift ice of the Arctic Ocean on the 21st May 1937.

1939 ~ The Canadian National War Memorial was unveiled by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Ottawa on the 21st May 1939.

1942John Konrads the Australian world champion freestyle swimmer was born Jānis Konrads in Riga, Latvia on the 21st May 1942. John Konrads won the 1500m freestyle at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. In his career, he set 26 individual world records. When John retired from his swimming career he became the Australasian director of L’Oréal, as well as campaigning for the Sydney Olympics bid. John Konrads was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985. John’s sister Ilsa Konrads also set multiple swimming world records, when they were well known as the Konrad Kids. John Konrads official website: www.JohnKonrads.com.au

YouTube video: The Konrads Swim Champions: John and Ilsa Konrads were teenage sensations in a golden time for Australian swimming. Here we see them rise through the ranks with the aid of coach Don Talbot and examine their training techniques that led them to achieve multiple world records. It also shows earlier champions Andrew “Boy” Charlton, Bonnie Mealing and Fanny Durack (Made by the National Film Board 1959)…

1946 ~ Physicist Louis Slotin was fatally irradiated in a criticality incident on the 21st May 1946, during an experiment with the Demon core at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

1948 ~ Joe Camilleri the Australian vocalist, songwriter and saxophonist from Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows was born on the 21st May 1948.

1951 ~ The 9th Street Art Exhibition opened on the 21st May 1951, with a gathering of notable artists stepping-out of the post war New York avant-garde, collectively known as the New York School.

1966 ~ Sally Boyden the Australian singer, song writer, and actor was born on the 21st May 1966. Sally began her television career on Young Talent Time (YTT) at the age of 7, from 1973 until 1976. www.facebook.com/SallyBoyden & www.twitter.com/SallyBoyden

1972 ~ Michelangelo‘s Pietà in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome was damaged by the mentally disturbed Hungarian geologist Laszlo Toth on the 21st May 1972.

1980 – Gotye the Belgian-Australian singer-songwriter was born on the 21st May 1980.

1992 ~ After 30 seasons Johnny Carson hosted his penultimate episode of The Tonight Show on the 21st May 1992.

2005 ~ The tallest roller coaster in the world, Kingda Ka opened on the 21st May 2005 at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey.

2010 ~ JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, launched the solar-sail spacecraft IKAROS aboard an H-IIA rocket on the 21st May 2010. The vessel would make a Venus flyby late in the year.

2011 ~ Radio broadcaster Harold Camping predicted that the end of the world would occur on on the 21st May 2011, a prophecy that proved to be incorrect.

2012 ~ SMOOTH FM 91.5 was launched in Melbourne on the 21st day of May in 2012. Smooth FM is a network of two Australian commercial radio stations operated by DMG Radio Australia, in Melbourne and Sydney. Smooth FM was previously known as  Vega (2005 ~ 2010) and Classic Rock (2010 ~ 2012). Smooth is continuing with the soft easy listening ‘More Music and Less Talk’ mantra. The line-up includes Mike Perso, Cathy Dinn, David Reyne, Michael Bublé, David Campbell and Richard Wilkins. 

Richard Wilkins, Jason Donovan, Michael Bublé and David Campbell presenting on Smooth FM 91.5
Richard Wilkins, Jason Donovan, Michael Bublé and David Campbell presenting on Smooth FM 91.5

2013TUMBLR was acquired by Yahoo on the 21st May 2013, for approximately $1.1 billion. www.tumblr.com is ranked No.32 in the World according to www.alexa.com (May 2013).

Today in History for May 21st ~ video presented by the Associated Press

MAY 20 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

0325 ~ The 1st Council of Nicea and the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church were held on the 20th May 0325.

1498 ~ Vasco da Gama the Portuguese explorer discovered the sea route to India when he arrived at Kozhikode in India on the 20th May 1498 (previously known as Calicut).

Vasco da Gama explorer landing Calicut India 20May 1498 rowboat ships ocean sea watercolour painting Luís de Camões
Vasco da Gama landing at Calicut, India on the 20th May 1498 ~ watercolour painting 1880 by Luís de Camões

1506 ~ Christopher Columbus the Italian explorer and discoverer of the Americas died on the the 20th May 1506 (born 1451).

1570 ~ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum the first modern atlas was issued by Cartographer Abraham Ortelius on the 20th May 1570. 

1609 ~ Shakespeare’s sonnets were first published in London on the 20th May 1609, perhaps illicitly, by Thomas Thorpe the publisher.

1663 ~ William Bradford the English printer was born on the 20th May 1663 (died 1752).

1726 ~ Francis Cotes the English painter was born on the 20th May 1726 (died 1770).

1759 ~ William Thornton the West Indian born architect was born on the 20th May 1759 (died 1828).

1799 ~ Honoré de Balzac the French novelist was born on the 20th May 1799 (died 1850).

1813 ~ Napoleon Bonaparte led his French troops into the Battle of Bautzen in Saxony, Germany on the 20th May 1813, against the combined armies of Russia and Prussia. The battle ended the next day with a French victory.

1818 ~ William Fargo the American businessman and co-founder of Wells Fargo and American Express (died 1881).

1840 ~ York Minster was badly damaged by fire on the 20th May 1840.

1851 ~ Emile Berliner the German-American inventor that invented the Gramophone record was born on the 20th May 1851 (died 1929).

1873 ~ Levi Strauss & Jacob Davis received a U.S. patent for blue jeans with copper rivets on the 20th May 1873.

1875 ~ The Treaty of the Metre (Metre Convention) was signed by 17 nations on the 20th May 1875, leading to the establishment of the International System of Units.

1882 ~ Sigrid Undset the Norwegian author and Nobel Prize laureate was born on the 20th May 1882 (died 1949).

1883 ~ Krakatoa began to erupt on the 20th May 1883, resulting in the volcano exploding 3 months later, killing more than 36,000 people.

1891 ~ Thomas Edison‘s kinetoscope prototype was first put on public display on the 20th May 1891.

1895 ~ R. J. Mitchell the English aircraft designer of the Supermarine Spitfire was born on the 20th May 1895 (died 1937).

1899 ~ The 1st Traffic ticket in the US was issued on the 20th May 1899, to New York City taxi driver Jacob German was arrested for speeding while driving 12 miles per hour on Lexington Street.

1913William Reddington Hewlett the American engineer and co-founder of Hewlett-Packard was born on the 20th May 1913 (died 2001).

1916 ~ The Saturday Evening Post published its first cover on the 20th May 1916, with a Norman Rockwell painting (Boy with Baby Carriage).

1920Betty Driver the English singer, actress and author was born on the 20th May 1920 (died 2011).

1920 ~ XWA the Montreal radio station broadcasted the first regularly scheduled radio programming in North America on the 20th May 1920.

1927 ~ Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, New York, on the world’s first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean on the 20th May 1927. He touched down at Le Bourget Field in Paris the next day.

1932 ~ Amelia Earhart took off from Newfoundland to begin the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by a female pilot on the 20th May 1932, landing in Ireland the next day.

1940 ~ The Holocaust first prisoners arrived at a new concentration camp at Auschwitz on the 20th May 1940.

1944 ~ JOE COCKER the English singer-songwriter was born on the 20th May 1944.

1944Dietrich Mateschitz the Austrian businessman and co-founder of Red Bull GmbH was born on the 20th May 1944.

1946 ~ CHER the American singer, actress, producer and director was born on the 20th May 1946. Cher became prominent in 1965 with her husband in their duo known as Sonny & CherCher singing Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves (1971) YouTube video…

1953 ~ Robert Doyle the Australian politician was born on the 20th May 1953.

1954 ~ Guy Hoffman the American drummer from  the Violent Femmes was born on the 20th May 1954. Blister in the Sun YouTube video…

1955Anton Corbijn the Dutch photographer, music video director, and film director was born Anton Johannes Gerrit Corbijn van Willenswaard  in Strijen in the Netherlands on the 20th May 1955. Anton Corbijn was the creative visual director of Depeche Mode and U2 for almost 3 decades. Some of his works include music videos for Depeche Mode’s Enjoy the Silence (1990), U2’s One (1991), Bryan Adams’ Do I Have to Say the Words? and Nirvana’s Heart-Shaped Box (1993) and others. Anton Corbijn’s official website: www.corbijn.co.uk

1956 ~ Operation Redwing: The first United States airborne hydrogen bomb was dropped over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean on the 20th May 1956.

1958Jane Wiedlin the American musician from The Go-Go’s was born on the 20th May 1958.

1970Louis Theroux the English broadcaster was born on the 20th May 1970.

1983 ~ First publications of the discovery of the HIV virus that causes AIDS were published on the 20th May 1983 in the journal Science by Luc Montagnier.

2011 ~ “Macho Man” Randy Savage the American professional wrestler died on the 20th May 2011 (born 1952).

2012ROBiN GiBB the singer and songwriter from the BEE GEES died on the 20th day of May in 2012 aged 62. ♪♫ Robin is stayin’ alive in the songs he wrote and sung with his brothers ♪♫… 

Robin Gibb's 1985 4 Track 7inch vinyl record ~ Amiga Quartett label (East Germany pressing)
Robin Gibb’s 1985 4 Track 7inch vinyl record ~ Amiga Quartett label (East Germany pressing)

2013Ray Manzarek the American rock musician and founder of The Doors died on the 20th May 2013.

2013 ~ The MOORE TORNANDO hit MOORE, OKLAHOMA CiTY killing over 24 people, including 9 children, and injuring more than 240 others. The violent  EF5 tornado with winds at 340 km/h (210 miles per hour) touched down at 2:45 p.m. CDT (19:45 UTC) west of Newcastle in Oklahoma and stayed on the ground for about 50 minutes over a 27 km (17 mile) path, and 2.1 km (1.3 miles) wide at its peak. This YouTube video s a recording of the local KFOR broadcast of the deadly Moore, Oklahoma tornado from its origination just outside of Newcastle to the final spinning rope nearly 40 minutes later near Lake Stanley Draper…

Today in History for May 20th ~ video presented by the Associated Press

WORLD METROLOGY DAY is celebrated on the 20th May to celebrate the signature by representatives of 17 nations of the Metre Convention on the 20th May 1875. The Convention set the framework for global collaboration in the science of measurement and in its industrial, commercial and societal application. The original aim of the Metre Convention was for the worldwide uniformity of measurement, which remains as important today as it was in 1875. See the official website: www.WorldMetrologyDay.org

MAY 19 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1536 – Anne Boleyn the 2nd wife of Henry VIII of England was beheaded on the 19th May 1536, for adulterytreason and incest.

1861 – Nellie Melba the Australian soprano was born on the 19th May 1861 (died 1931).

1897 – Oscar Wilde was released from Reading Gaol Prison on the 19th May 1897.

1925 – Pol Pot the Cambodian politician and 29th Prime Minister of Cambodia was born on the 19th May 1925 (died 1998).

1925 – Malcolm X the American minister and activist was born on the 19th May 1925 (died 1965).

1938Herbie Flowers the English musician specialising in bass guitar, double-bass and tuba was born Brian Keith Flowers on the 19th May 1938. He is a noted member of Blue MinkT. Rex and Sky, and known as one of Britain’s best-known session bass-players, with contributions to recordings by Elton JohnDavid BowieLou ReedDavid EssexHarry NilssonCat StevensGeorge Harrison and others.

1945 – Pete Townshend the English singer-songwriter and guitarist  from The Who was born on the 19th May 1945.

1947David Helfgott the Australian concert pianist was born in Melbourne on the 19th May 1947. David Helfgott’s life was the inspiration for the Oscar-winning film Shine, which he was played by Geoffrey RushDavid Helfgott’s offical website: www.DavidHelfgott.com

1949 – Dusty Hill the American singer-songwriter and bass player from ZZ Top was born on the 19th May 1949.

1951 – Joey Ramone the American singer-songwriter from Ramones was born on the 19th May 1951.

1953Roddy Lorimer the Scottish musician from The Waterboys was born on the 19th May 1953. Roddy Lorimer has also performed with Blur, Gene, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Eric Clapton, Suede, Beyonce, Jamiriquai, Dr John and Kick Horns. YouTube video: The Whole of The Moon (1985) by The Waterboys with Roddy Lorimer…

1954 – Phil Rudd the Australian drummer from AC/DC and Buster Brown was born on the 19th May 1954.

1957James Reyne the Australian rock musician, singer and songwriter from Australian Crawl was born on the 19th May 1957 in Lagos, Nigeria.

1960 – Yazz the English singer was born on the 19th May 1960.

1962 – A birthday salute to U.S. President John F. Kennedy took place at Madison Square Garden, New York City on the 19th May 1962. The highlight was Marilyn Monroe‘s rendition of Happy Birthday.

1971 – Mars 2 was launched by the Soviet Union on the 19th May 1971.

1972 – Jenny Berggren the Swedish singer-songwriter from Ace of Base was born on the 19th May 1972.

1972 – Claudia Karvan the Australian actress, producer, and screenwriter was born on the 19th May 1972.

1986 – The Firearm Owners Protection Act was signed into law by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on the 19th May 1986.

1988 – Lily Cole the English actress and model was born on the 19th May 1988.

Today in History for May 19th ~ video presented by the Associated Press

MAY 18 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

Today in History for May 18th ~ video presented by the Associated Press

1048 – Omar Khayyám the Persian mathematician, poet, and philosopher was born on the 18th day of May in 1048 (d. 1131)

1756 – The Seven Years’ War begun when Great Britain declared war on France on the 18th day of May in 1756.

1808 – Elijah Craig the American minister, inventor, and educator, invented Bourbon whiskey died was born on the 18th day of May in 1808.

1883 – Walter Gropius the German architect who founded the Bauhaus school was born on the 18th day of May in 1883 (d. 1969).

1910 – The Earth passed through the tail of Comet Halley on the 18th day of May in 1910.

1912 – Perry Como the American singer and actor was born on the 18th day of May in 1912 (d. 2001).

1920 – Pope John Paul II was born on the 18th day of May in 1920 (d. 2005).

1931 – Don Martin the American cartoonist was born on the 18th day of May in 1931 (d. 2000).

1941 – Lobby Loyde the Australian guitarist, songwriter, and producer was born on the 18th day of May in 1941 (d. 2007).

1944 – Albert Hammond the English singer-songwriter, musician, and producer was born on the 18th day of May in 1944.

1949 – Rick Wakeman the English musician, songwriter, and composer was born on the 18th day of May in 1949.

1950 – Mark Mothersbaugh the American singer, musician, and composer from Devo was born on the 18th day of May in 1950.

1953 – Jackie Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier on the 18th day of May in 1953.

1977International Museum Day began on the 18th day of May in 1977.

1980 – Ian Curtis the English singer-songwriter from Joy Division ended his life was born on the 18th day of May in 1980 (b. 1956).

1969 – Martika the Cuban-American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress was born on the 18th day of May in 1969.

1975 – Jack Johnson the American singer-songwriter and musician was born on the 18th day of May in 1975.

1980 – Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage on the 18th day of May in 1980.

1995 – Elizabeth Montgomery the American actress died on the 18th day of May in 1995 (b. 1933).

1993 – Jessica Watson the Australian sailor was born on the 18th day of May in 1993.

1998World AIDS Vaccine Day began on the 18th day of May in 1998.

2005 – A second photo from the Hubble Space Telescope confirmed that Pluto had 2 additional moons named Nix and Hydra on the 18th day of May in 2005.

 

MAY 17 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1590 ~ Anne of Denmark was crowned Queen of Scotland on the 17th May 1590.

1673 ~ Louis Joliet & Jacques Marquette began exploring the Mississippi River on the 17th May 1673.

1792 ~ The New York Stock Exchange was formed on the 17th May 1792.

1868 ~ Horace Elgin Dodge the American co-founder of Dodge was born on the 17th May 1868 (died 1920).

1875 ~ Aristides won the first Kentucky Derby on the 17th May 1875.

1889 ~ Dorothy Gibson the American actress and survivor of RMS Titanic was born on the 17th May 1889 (died 1946).

1895Mary Josephine Ray the Canadian super-centenarian was born on the 17th May 1895 (died 2010).

1900The Wonderful Wizard of Oz children’s novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow was originally published on the 17th May 1900, by the George M. Hill Company.

1902 ~ The Antikythera mechanism, an ancient mechanical analog computer was discovered by Greek archaeologist Valerios Stais on the 17th May 1902.

1934Ronald Wayne the American computer scientist and co-founder of Apple Inc. was born on the 17th May 1934.

1936 ~ Dennis Hopper the American actor and director was born on the 17th May 1936 (died 2010).

1942 ~ Taj Mahal the American singer-songwriter was born on the 17th May 1942.

1945 ~ Tony Roche the Australian tennis player was born on the 17th May 1945.

1943The Dambuster Raids by No. 617 Squadron RAF on German dams were on the 17th May 1943.

1955 ~ Bill Paxton the American actor and director was born on the 17th May 1955.

1956 ~ Sugar Ray Leonard the American boxer and actor was born on the 17th May 1956.

1956Bob Saget the American comedian, actor, and television host was born on the 17th May 1956.

1956Dave Sim the Canadian cartoonist was born on the 17th May 1956.

1961Enya the Irish singer-songwriter and producer was born on the 17th May 1961.

1962 ~ Craig Ferguson the Scottish comedian, actor, and television host was born on the 17th May 1962.

1970 ~ Jordan Knight the American singer-songwriter from New Kids on the Block was born on the 17th May 1970.

1973 ~ The Watergate scandal televised hearings began on the 17th May 1973 in the United States Senate.

1974 ~ Andrea Corr the Irish singer-songwriter and pianist from The Corrs was born on the 17th May 1974.

1975Jonti Picking the English cartoonist was born on the 17th May 1975.

1984 ~ Pasenger aka Mike Rosenberg the British folk-rock singer-songwriter was born on the 17th May 1984. YouTube video: Holes (2013) Passenger..

1988Nikki Reed the American actress was born on the 17th May 1988.

1990 ~ Homosexuality was eliminated by the General Assembly of the World Health Organization from the list of psychiatric diseases on the 17th May 1990.

2004 ~ Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage.

2004Tony Randall the American actor died on the 17th May 2004 (born 1920).

2012 ~ DONNA SUMMER the American singer-songwriter died on the 17th day of May in 2012 aged 63.

Today in History for May 17th ~ video presented by the Associated Press

MAY 16 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1770 ~ Marie Antoinette aged 14 married Louis-Auguste aged 15 on the 16th May 1770. Louis-Auguste later became the king of France.

1827 ~ Pierre Cuypers the Dutch architect that designed the Rijksmuseum was born on the 16th May 1827 (died 1921).

1831 ~ David E. Hughes the English co-inventor of the microphone was born on the 16th May 1831 (died 1900).

1845 ~ Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov the Russian microbiologist and Nobel Prize laureate was born on the 16th May 1845 (died 1916).

1866 ~ The HALF DiME coin was eliminated by the U.S. Congress on the 16th May 1866, when it was replaced with the five cent piece, or nickel.

1888 ~ Royal Rife the American inventor was born on the 16th May 1888 (died 1971).

1891 ~ The International Electro-Technical Exhibition opened in Frankfurt, Germany on the 16th May 1891, and featured the world’s first long distance transmission of high-power, known as three-phase electrical current.

1898 ~ Tamara de Lempicka the Polish painter was born on the 16th May 1898 (died 1980).

1905 ~ Henry Fonda the American actor was born on the 16th May 1905 (died 1982).

1919 ~ Liberace the American singer and pianist was born on the 16th May 1919 (died 1987).

1920 ~ Pope Benedict XV canonized Joan of Arc on the 16th May 1920, in Rome.

1929 ~ The 1st ACADEMY AWARDS were handed out on the 16th day of May in 1929.

1947 ~ Barbara Lee the American singer  from The Chiffons was born on the 16th May 1947 (died 1992).

1951 ~ The first regularly scheduled transatlantic flights began between Idlewild Airport (now John F Kennedy International Airport) in New York City and Heathrow Airport in London on the 16th May 1951, operated by El Al Israel Airlines.

1953 ~ Pierce Brosnan the Irish actor was born on the 16th May 1953.

1955Debra Winger the American actress was born on the 16th May 1955.

1960 ~ THEODORE MAiMAN operated the 1st optical laser on the 16th day of May in 1960, at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California. 

1966 ~ BOB DYLAN released the first ever double album in popular music history on the 16th May 1966.

1966 ~ The Communist Party of China issued the May 16 Notice on the 16th May 1966, marking the beginning of the Cultural Revolution.

1966 ~ Janet Jackson the American singer was born on the 16th May 1966.

1969Tracey Gold the American actress best known as Carol Seaver on the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains was born on the 16th May 1969. Tracey Gold’s official website: www.TheTraceyGold.com | Tracey Gold’s Twitter: www.Twitter.com/TheTraceyGold | Tracey Gold’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheTraceyGold | YouTube video: Growing Pains Intro…

1970Danielle Spencer the Australian singer-songwriter and actress was born on the 16th May 1970.

1973Tori Spelling the American actress and author was born on the 16th May 1973.

1969 VENERA 5 the Soviet spaceprobe landed on Venus on the 16th day of May in 1969.

1975 ~ JUNKO TABEi became the 1st woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest on the 16th day of May in 1975.

1986 ~ Megan Fox the American actress was born on the 16th May 1986.

1988 ~ United States’ SURGEON GENERAL C. EVERETT KOOP stated that the addictive properties of nicotine are similar to those of heroin and cocaine, on the 16th day of May in 1988.

1990 ~ Sammy Davis, Jr. the American singer, dancer, and actor died on the 16th May 1990 aged 64 (born 8th December 1925). YouTube video: Sammy Davis Jnr performing Mr Bojangles in Germany in 1985…

1990Jim Henson the American puppeteer and creator of The Muppets died on the 16th May 1990 (born 1936).

2002 ~ Alec Campbell the Australian soldier died on the 16th May 2002 (born 1899). Alec Campbell was the final surviving Australian participant of the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War.

2007 ~ Nicolas Sarkozy took office as President of France on the 16th May 2007.

2011 ~ STS-134 (ISS assembly flight ULF6) launched from the Kennedy Space Center on the 25th and final flight for Space Shuttle Endeavour, on the 16th day of May in 2011.

Today in History for May 16th ~ video presented by the Associated Press 

MAY 15 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1793 ~ Diego Marín Aguilera made one of the first attempted manned flights on the 15th May 1793, flying a glider for about 360 meters, at a height of 5 to 6 meters.

1811 ~ Paraguay declared independence from Spain on the 15th May 1811.

1817 ~ The first private mental health hospital in the United States was opened on the 15th May 1817, originally known as the Asylum for the Relief of Persons Deprived of the Use of Their Reason in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and now known as Friends Hospital.

1836 ~ Francis Baily observed Baily’s beads during an annular eclipse on the 15th May 1836.

1858 ~ The Royal Opera House opened in Covent Garden, London on the 15th May 1858.

1905 ~ LAS VEGAS, NEVADA was founded when 110 acres (0.45 km2) were auctioned off on the 15th day of May in 1905.

The Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada in 2009
The Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada in 2009

1928 ~ MiCKEY MOUSE premiered in his first cartoon, Plane Crazy on the 15th day of May in 1928.

1935 ~ The Moscow Metro was opened to public on the 15th May 1935.

1937 ~ Madeleine Albright the Czech-American politician and 64th United States Secretary of State was born on the 15th May in 1937.

1940McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in San Bernardino, California on the 15th May 1940.

1947 ~ GRAEHAM GOBLE the Australian musician, singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as a founding member of LRB aka LiTTLE RiVER BAND was born on the 15th day of May in 1947. Graeham Goble wrote many Top 10 singles with LRB, including “Reminiscing”, “Lady”, “The Other Guy” and others. From 1978 to 1980 Graeham was also part of BiRTLES & GOBLE, producing and performing great songs such as “I’m Coming Home” in 1979. 

1948BRiAN ENO the British musician and record producer was born on the 15th day of May in 1948.

1952PHiL SEYMOUR the American singer-songwriter and musician was born on the 15th day of May in 1952 (died in 1993 aged 41).

1953MiKE OLDFiELD the British composer was born on the 15th day of May in 1953.

1960RHONDA BURCHMORE the Australian Entertainer was born on the 15th day of May in 1960.

1961MELLE MEL the American musician and one of the pioneers of old school hip hop as lead rapper and main songwriter for GRANDMASTER FLASH & The FURiOUS FiVE was born on the 15th day of May in 1961.

1962 ~ LiSA CURRY~KENNY the Australian Ironwoman was born on the 15th day of May in 1962.

1963 ~ Project Mercury launched the final Mercury mission, Mercury-Atlas 9 with astronaut L. Gordon Cooper on board on the 15th May 1963, with him becoming the first American to spend more than a day in space.

1967LAURA HiLLENBRAND the American author was born on the 15th day of May in 1967.

1978Caroline Dhavernas the Canadian actress was born on the 15th day of May in 1978.

1978 ~ Sir ROBERT MENZiES the 12th Prime Minister of Australia died on the 15th day of May in 1978 (b. 1894).

1981JAMiE~LYNN SiGLER the American actress was born on the 15th day of May in 1981.

1982Jessica Sutta the American singer-songwriter and dancer from Pussycat Dolls was born on the 15th day of May in 1982.

1992 ~ iNTERNATiONAL DAY of FAMiLiES was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 15th day of May in 1992.

1996 ~ BiRDY the English musician and singer was born Jasmine Van den Bogaerde on the 15th May 1996 in Lymington, Hampshire, UK. Official Birdy website: www.officialBirdy.com | Facebook verified: www.facebook.com/BirdyMusic | Twitter verified: www.twitter.com/officialBirdy | verified Birdy Spotify | Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/officialBirdy | MySpace: www.MySpace.com/birdy | YouTube channel: www.YouTube.com/user/OfficialBirdy | YouTube video: Birdy ~ Skinny Love (2011) [Official Music Video] Skinny Love (2008) by Bon Iver (Bon Iver Skinny Love video) performed by Birdy from her self titled debut album….

2009 ~ BUD TiNGWELL the Australian actor died on the 15th day of May in 2009 aged 86.

2010 JESSiCA WATSON the Australian sailor became the youngest person to sail, non-stop and unassisted around the world solo on the 15th day of May in 2010. Jessica Watson departed Sydney on the 18th of October in 2009, heading eastbound over the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Jessica returned to Sydney on the 15th May in 2010, three days before her 17th birthday. She was named the 2011 Young Australian of the Year, and awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia the following year year in 2012. Jessica Watson’s website: www.JessicaWatson.com.au & Jessica Watson’s official Facebook page

Jessica Watson on "Pink Lady"
Jessica Watson on “Pink Lady”

197? ~ LiAM FiRMAGER the Australian movie director was born on the 15th day of May (year undisclosed). Liam Firmager is best known for writing, producing and directing Ricky! The Movie (2010) and Sticks & Stones (2008). Liam was also the director of Remembering Nigel (2009 film written by Frank Howson) and The Julian Paradox (2010 movie based on the book by Kurt Otto Peterson).

Today in History for May 15th on video by History.com

TODAY iN HiSTORY for MAY 15th video presented by the Associated Press 

MAY 14 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1607 ~ JAMESTOWN, ViRGiNiA was settled as an English colony on the 14th day of May in 1607.

1610 ~ Henry IV of France was assassinated on the 14th May 1610.

1643 ~ LOUiS XIV aged 4 became the King of France upon the death of his father, Louis XIII, on the 14th day of May in 1643.

1727 ~ Thomas Gainsborough the English painter was born on the 14th May 1727 (died 1788).

1796 ~ Edward Jenner administered the first smallpox vaccination on the 14th May 1796.

1804 ~ The Lewis & Clark Expedition departed from Camp Dubois on the 14th May 1804, and began its historic journey up the Missouri River.

1889 ~ The NATiONAL SOCiETY for the PREVENTiON of CRUELTY to CHiLDREN was launched in London on the 14th day of May in 1889.

1904 ~ Hans Albert Einstein the Swiss-American engineer and son of Albert Einstein was born on the 14th May 1904 (died 1973).

1905Antonio Berni the Argentine painter, illustrator and engraver was born on the 14th May 1905 (died 1981).

1925 ~ MRS DALLOWAY the novel by Virginia Woolf was published on the 14th day of May in 1925.

1925Oona O’Neill the Bermudian-Swiss wife of Charlie Chaplin was born on the 14th May 1925 (died 1991).

1932 ~ Robert Bechtle the American painter was born on the 14th May 1932.

1936 ~ BOBBY DARiN the American singer-songwriter and actor was born on the 14th day of May in 1936 (died in 1973 aged 37).

1943 ~ Jack Bruce the Scottish bassist and vocalist from Cream was born on the 14th May 1943.

1943Derek Leckenby the English guitarist from Herman’s Hermits was born on the 14th May 1943 (died 1994).

1944GEORGE LUCAS the American director was born on the 14th day of May in 1944.

1952 ~ David Byrne the Scottish-American lead singer from Talking Heads was born on the 14th May 1952.

1953 ~ TOM COCHRANE the Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, and humanitarian was born on the 14th day of May in 1953.

1959STEVE HOGARTH the English singer and musician from MARiLLiON was born on the 14th day of May in 1959.

1959David Reyne the Australian actor, musician and television presenter was born in Nigeria on the 14th May 1959.

1962 ~ iAN ASTBURY the English singer-songwriter and musician from The CULT was born on the 14th day of May in 1962.

1962C. C. DeVille the American guitarist from Poison was born on the 14th May 1962.

1965 ~ EOiN COLFER the Irish author was born on the 14th day of May in 1965.

1966Mike Inez the American bassist  from Alice in Chains was born on the 14th May 1966.

1969DANNY WOOD the American singer-songwriter, producer, dancer, and actor from NEW KiDS ON THE BLOCK was born on the 14th day of May in 1969.

1969 ~ CATE BLANCHETT the Australian actress was born on the 14th day of May in 1969.

1973 ~ SHANiCE the American singer-songwriter was born on the 14th day of May in 1973.

1973 ~ SKYLAB, the United States‘ first space station was launched on the 14th day of May in 1973.

1973 NATALiE APPLETON the Canadian singer and actress from ALL SAiNTS and APPLETON was born on the 14th day of May in 1973.

1977ADA NiCODEMOU the Australian actress was born on the 14th day of May in 1977.

1978 ~ Brent Harvey the Australian footballer from North Melbourne Football Club was born on the 14th May 1978.

1984 ~ GARY ABLETT, Jr. the Australian footballer was born on the 14th day of May in 1984.

1984MARK ZUCKERBERG the American computer programmer and internet entrepreneur, co-founder of Facebook was born on the 14th day of May in 1984.

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder & CEO of Facebook ~ photo by Guillaume Paumier at the e-G8 forum during the 37th G8 summit in Deauville, France)
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder & CEO of Facebook ~ photo by Guillaume Paumier at the e-G8 forum during the 37th G8 summit in Deauville, France)

*Mark Zuckerberg photo by Guillaume Paumier / Wikimedia Commons, CC-by-3.0 

1998 ~ FRANK SiNATRA the American singer and actor died on the 14th day of May in 1998 aged 82.

2005WORLD NAKED GARDENiNG DAY was first celebrated on the 14th day of May in 2005.

Today in History for May 14th on video by History.com

TODAY iN HiSTORY for MAY 14th video presented by the Associated Press 

MAY 13 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1717 ~ MARiA THERESA the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions was born on the 13th day of May in 1717 (died in 1780 aged 63). Maria Theresa was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma. She was also the Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Holy Roman Empress(by marriage).

Archduchess Maria Theresa 1727 oil painting Andreas Möller 10 year old girl portrait royal flowers dress child art Hofburg Palace Vienna
Archduchess Maria Theresa in 1727 aged 10 years old, oil painting by Andreas Möller at Hofburg Palace Vienna

1787 ~ CAPTAiN ARTHUR PHiLLiP and the First Fleet left England, with 11 ships full of convicts to establish a penal colony in Australia on the 13th day of May in 1787.

1882 ~ GEORGES BRAQUE the French painter was born on the 13th day of May in 1882 (d. 1963).

1922BEA ARTHUR the American actress was born on the 13th day of May in 1922 (d. 2009).

1922OTL AiCHER the German graphic designer was born on the 13th day of May in 1922 (d. 1991).

1941 ~ RiTCHiE VALENS the American singer was born on the 13th day of May in 1941(d. 1959).

1941JOE BROWN the British singer was born on the 13th day of May in 1941.

1943 ~ MARY WELLS the American singer known as one of Motown’s first singing superstars was born on the 13th day of May in 1943. Mary Wells is best known for her signature hit, “My Guy” (1964)

1945MAGiC DiCK the American musician from The J. Geils Band was born on the 13th day of May in 1945.

1950 ~  FORMULA ONE World Championship was held for the first time in the World at Silverstone on the 13th day of May in 1950.

1950STEViE WONDER the American singer and musician was born on the 13th day of May in 1950.

1958 ~ VELCRO was registered as a trade mark on  the 13th day of May in 1958.

1962PAUL McDERMOTT the Australian comedian was born on the 13th day of May in 1962.

1966ALiSON GOLDFRAPP the English musician was born on the 13th day of May in 1966.

1964 ~ LORRAiNE MciNTOSH the Scottish singer from Deacon Blue  was born on the 13th day of May in 1964.

1966DARiUS RUCKER the American singer from Hootie & the Blowfish was born on the 13th day of May in 1966.

1988 ~ CASEY DONOVAN the Australian singer was born on the 13th day of May in 1988.

2002 ~ RUTH CRACKNELL the Australian actress died on the 13th day of may in 2002 aged 76.

TODAY iN HiSTORY for MAY 13th video presented by the Associated Press