Today in 79 AD,Mount Vesuvius began stirring, on feast day of Vulcan, Roman god of fire (it would go on to destroy Pompeii).
Today in 1305,Scottish patriot William Wallace (who was portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film, “Braveheart”)was executed for high treasonby Edward I of England.
Today in 1796,the Mother African MethodistEpiscopal Church was incorporatedin New York.
Today in 1821,Spainaccepted Mexico’s declarationof independence.
Today in 1902,Fannie Farmer, of chocolate candy fame,opened her cooking school in Boston, Massachusetts. Known as the “mother of measurements,” she revolutionized food preparation throughout the world with her introduction of precise measurements -- the level teaspoon, tablespoon, cup, etc.
Today in 1914,Japandeclared war on Germanyin World War I.
Today in 1926,silent-screen legend Rudolph Valentinodied at the age of 31from complications resulting from appendicitis. The preeminent male sex symbol of the silent movie era, Rudolf Valentino brought millions of female fans into movie theaters and created Hollywood's prototypical "Latin Lover" character with his suave, passionate performances in films such as the "The Sheik.” His funeral broughtthrongs of adoring women to tears and sent fans into hysteric mourning.
Today in 1939, the leader of "Murder, Incorporated,"Louis "Lepke" Buchalter,gave himself up to columnist Walter Winchell. Winchell then turned him over to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.
Today in 1979,Alexander Godunov of the Soviet Union's Bolshoi Balletdefected to the U.S.while the company was appearing in New York. He died May 18th, 1995 at the age of 45.
Today in 1982,Gaylord Perrywas tossed out of a game for throwing an illegal spitball. Perry, pitching for the Seattle Mariners, was thrown out by the home plate umpire in the seventh inning of the game.
Today in 1984,South Fork Ranch,the home of the fictitious Ewing clan of the CBS-TV show "Dallas" was sold. The ranch, a 200-acre spread near Dallas, Texas, was to be transformed from a tourist site into a hotel, according to the new owners.
Today in 1985,on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” Johnny said, "She's a housewife from Denver, Colorado. This is her very first appearance on national television. Would you welcome Roseanne Barr." "So I'm fat," said Barr as she took the stage. "I thought I'd point that out." Theperformance instantly shot Barr into superstardom.
Today in 1989,in a case that inflamed racial tensions in New York, Yusuf Hawkins, a 16-year-old black youth,was shot dead after he and his friends were confronted by white youthsin the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn.
Today in 1990,the U.S.began the calling upof 46,000 reservists for maneuvers in the Persian Gulf.
Today in 1995,actor Larry Hagmanreceived a liver transplant.
Today in 1996,Osama bin Ladenissued a message entitled"A declaration of war against the Americans occupying the land of the two holy places."
Today in1998,"That 70's Show"premiered on FOX.
Today in 1998,Kathryn Schoonoverwas arrested when she was caughtstuffing envelopes with cyanide and preparing to send them to people around the U.S.
Today in 1999,the Dow Jones industrial average soared 199.15to a new record of 11,209.84.
Today in 1999,Robert Boguckiwas rescued after getting lost in the Great Sandy Desert of Australia on July 11th. During the 40-day ordeal, he lost 44 pounds.
Today in 2000,Richard Hatchwas revealed as the winning castawayon CBS-TV's "Survivor." For his stay on the island of Pulau Tiga in the South China Sea, his prize included $1,000,000.
Today in 2001, California Congressman Gary Condit denied any involvement in the disappearance of intern Chandra Levyduring an interview with ABC’s Connie Chung. He also admitted that he had a "very close relationship" with her.
Today in 2005,Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas,later becoming a category 5 hurricane.
Today in 2006,Sumner Redstone – the chairman of Paramount's parent Viacom –publicly cut ties with Tom Cruise. In an interview with the “Wall Street Journal, Redstone said the company was ending its 14-year relationship with Tom Cruise because Cruise's couch-jumping, Scientology-preaching ways had "not been acceptable to Paramount.
Today in 2007,Nicole Richie turned up at an L-A jailto start serving her three-day jail termfor driving under the influence, and is out less than an hour and a half later.
Today in 2011,Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafiwas overthrown after the National Transitional Council forcestake control of Bab al-Azizia compound during the 2011 Libyan Civil War. At the time, he was actually on the run – and wascaptured/killed the following October.
Today in 2015,a 12-year-old boytripped and rippedthe 17th-century painting, "Flowers" by Paolo Porpora worth $1.5-million at an exhibition in Taiwan. See the videoHERE. Apparently, there was a chance that the exhibition organizers would make the family pay for the repair…they opted not to seeing that it was a genuine accident.
Today in 2017,the world's driest place, the Atacama desert in Chile,bloomed after unexpected rainfall.
Today in 2017, the US Navyremoved Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin as commander of the Seventh Fleetfollowing series of collisions in Asian waters.