Today in 1727, physicist, mathematician and astronomer Sir Isaac Newton died in London.
Today in 1760, the “Great Fire” of Boston destroyed 349 buildings.
Today in 1854, the Republican Party was founded by opponents of slavery.
Today in 1868, the Jesse James Gang robbed a bank in Russellville, Kentucky…of $12-thousand.
Today in 1899, Martha Place became the first woman to be executed by electrocution after being convicted of her stepdaughter's murder.
Today in 1917, Swedish engineer Gideon Sundback patented the zipper. His design was an improvement on a previous design that often jammed. Zippers were first used in WW1, and began showing up on civilian clothes in the 1920s.
Today in 1930, Kentucky Fried Chicken was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders in North Corbin, Kentucky.
Today in 1948, Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra were featured in the first televised symphonic concert on CBS–TV. Ninety minutes later, NBC-TV carried TV’s second symphonic concert. This one was from Carnegie Hall in New York City and featured Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra.
Today in 1952, at the 24th Annual Academy Awards, it was a night of surprises beginning with Humphrey Bogart, who surprised the “experts” by winning the Best Actor award for "African Queen.” Most thought that Marlon Brando would win for "A Streetcar Named Desire.” The Best Picture was Arthur Freed’s "An American in Paris,” though it had been thought that "A Place in the Sun" or "Streetcar" would win.
Today in 1952, the U.S. Senate ratified a peace treaty with Japan.
Today in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered 4,000 troops to protect marchers for the Selma-Montgomery civil rights.
Today in 1965, civil and women's rights activist Dorothy Height had her first column published in the weekly African-American newspaper, "New York Amsterdam News."
Today in 1967, Twiggy arrived in the U.S. for a one-week stay. She quickly became the most sought-after subject of photographers due to her terrifically skinny-yet-wholesome good looks – and the shortest dresses ever seen at that time.
Today in 1973, Roberto Clemente was elected to Hall of Fame, 11-weeks after his death in a plane crash.
Today in 1976, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was sentenced to seven years in prison of participating in a 1974 bank holdup with the Symbionese Liberation Army. She was later given the maximum sentence possible of 35 years' imprisonment pending a reduction at final sentence hearing. Her conviction and long prison sentence were widely seen as unjust (due to the brainwashing she had been subjected to while kidnapped), but the appellate courts always upheld the procedural correctness of her trial. She was eventually pardoned by President Bill Clinton.
Today in 1982, American scientists’ returned from Antarctica with the first land mammal fossils found there.
Today in 1984, the Senate rejected an amendment to permit spoken prayer in public schools.
Today in 1985, Libby Riddles won the $50,000 top prize in the 1,135-mile Anchorage-to-Nome dog race. The Iditarod was called Alaska’s ultimate endurance test and this was the first time a woman had won. Libby completed the course in 18 days, twenty minutes and seventeen seconds. The annual race commemorates the emergency during a 1925 diphtheria epidemic when medical supplies had to be rushed to Nome by dog sled.
Today in 1987, the Food and Drug Administration approved the sale and use of "AZT" for AIDS patients.
Today in 1990, the L.A. Lakers retired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's #33.
Today in 1990, baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth [[YOO'-behr-AWTH]] confirmed that his office was investigating "serious allegations" involving Cincinnati Reds Manager Pete Rose. Ueberroth's successor, A. Bartlett Giamatti, later banned Rose from baseball for betting on games.
Today in 1991, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that employers could not exclude women from jobs where exposure to toxic chemicals could potentially damage a fetus.
Today in 1992, Janice Pennington received $1.3-million for an accident on the set of the TV show, “The Price is Right.”
Today in 1992, the film, "Basic Instinct," opened in movie theaters.
Today in 1993,Supreme Court Justice Byron R. White announced plans to retire. (White's departure paved the way for Ruth Bader Ginsburg to become the court's second female justice.)
Today in 1996, a jury in Los Angeles convicted Erik and Lyle Menendez of first-degree murder in the shotgun slayings of their millionaire parents.
Today in 1997, Brian Grazer received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Today in 1997, the maker of Chesterfield cigarettes, Liggett Group, settled 22 state lawsuits when after admitting to marketing cigarettes to teenagers. The company agreed to produce every pack with a warning label stating smoking is addictive.
Today in 1997,Major League Baseball announced a five-year deal of $50-million with Pepsi.
Today in 1998, President Clinton's lawyer, appearing before a federal court in Little Rock, Arkansas, declared that Paula Jones' evidence of sexual harassment was "garbage" and unworthy of a trial. Maybe so, but in November of that year, Clinton paid her $850-thousand to drop the suit. She did. Soon after, the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal took center stage.
Today in 1998, the movie, "Primary Colors," starring John Travolta, opened in theaters nationwide.
Today in 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones became the first men to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon. Beginning on March 3rd, the men had covered 26,500 miles.
Today in 2000, Pope John Paul II embarked on a spiritual tour of the Holy Land, beginning with a stop in Jordan.
Today in 2000, President Clinton arrived in Bangladesh on the first such visit by an American President.
Today in 2000, former Black Panther Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, once known as Rap Brown, was captured in Alabama. He was wanted in the fatal shooting of a Fulton County, Georgia, sheriff's deputy. Nearly two years after the shooting took place, al-Amin was convicted of 13 criminal charges, including the murder of deputy Kinchen. Four days later, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He continues to maintain his innocence.
Today in 2002, Pamela Anderson went public about having hepatitis C.
Today in 2003, US-led coalition launches a ground invasion of Iraq after an ultimatum for Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave Iraq expired.
Today in 2016, Barack Obama became the first American President to visit Cuba since 1928, arriving for a two-day tour.
Today in 2018, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman met with President Donald Trump at the White House.
Today in 2019, Finland was dubbed the world's happiest country, South Sudan is world's least happy, according to annual World Happiness Report.
Today in 2019, a woman who can smell Parkinson's disease helped researchers identify molecules on the skin of people with the disease in Manchester, England.