Today is 1516, the German Beer Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot), went into force across all of Bavaria by Wilhelm IV, Duke of Bavaria, stating beer should be brewed from only three ingredients – water, malt and hops
Today in 1635 the oldest US public school – the Boston Latin School – was founded.
Today in 1900, the word "hillbilly" was first used in print in an article in the “New York Journal.” It was spelled "Hill-Billie.” This person was described as a "free and untrampled white citizen of Alabama who lived in the hills." The article continued that "he has no means to speak of, dresses as he can, talks as he pleases, drinks whiskey when he gets it and fires off his revolver as the fancy takes him."
Today in 1940, a dance hall fire killed more than 200 in Natchez, Mississippi. At the time, it was the second deadliest building fire in the history of the nation. The windows had been boarded up to prevent outsiders from viewing or listening to the music, and as a result the crowd was trapped. The owners of the Rhythm Club (also called the Natchez Dance Hall) had boarded up the windows to prevent outsiders from enjoying the music. And while reports about what started the blaze vary, what’s agreed is that the club was packed far beyond capacity and hundreds struggled to get out after the blaze began.
Today in 1945, U.S. Army soldiers liberated the Flossenbuerg Concentration camp.
Today in 1954, Hank Aaron hit the first of his record 755 major league home runs, leading his team, the Milwaukee Braves, to a 7 to 5 win against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Today in 1969, Sirhan Sirhan was formally sentenced to death for the assassination of N.Y. Senator Robert Kennedy. Three years later, his sentence was commuted to life in prison. He remains incarcerated.
Today in 1970,the first “Earth Day,” – a nationwide observance to promote awareness and activism concerning environmental issues – was held.
Today in 1984, the AIDS-virus was first identified – and a diagnostic blood test was developed.
Today in 1985, Coca-Cola announced it was changing the almost century-old secret formula for Coke. Later, public outcry forced the company to resume sales of the original product.
Today in 1988, Kanellos Kanelopoulos set three world records for human- powered flight when he stayed in the air for 74-miles and four-hours in his pedal-powered contraption, “the Daedalus.”
Today in 1988, a US federal law took effect that banned smoking on airline flights that were under two hours.
Today in 1989, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played his last regular season game in the NBA.
Today in 1992, McDonald's opened its first fast-food restaurant in the Chinese capital of Beijing.
Today in 1996, a Bronx civil-court jury ordered Bernhard Goetz to pay $43-million to Darrell Cabey, one of four young men he'd shot on a subway car in 1984. While he’d been acquitted of murder in the initial shooting – which he said was in self-defense – it was the second shot the one he gave Cabey, which sealed the $43-million decision. As Cabey laid there bleeding from the first shot, Goetz said, "You don't look so bad, here's another."
Today in 1997, an infertility doctor in California announced that a 63-year-old woman had given birth in late 1996. The child was from a donor egg. The woman was the oldest known woman to give birth at the time. The record held until December 29, 2006 - when Maria del Carmen Bousada Lara of Spain broke it. At the age of 66, she gave birth by caesarean section to twin boys. She had apparently lied to doctors saying she was 55.
Today in 1997, golfer Fuzzy Zoeller, who was again apologizing for racial comments about Masters winner Tiger Woods, withdrew from the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic.
Today in 1998, James Earl Ray died in prison at the age of 70. While he had confessed to assassinating the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, he recanted in his later years. Dr. King’s family has said that they believe him.
Today in 2005, the ‘recently created’ video-sharing website, YouTube, uploaded its first clip, “Me at the Zoo.” In it, YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim is seen standing in front of an elephant enclosure at the San Diego Zoo.
Today in 2008, the Supreme Court unanimously affirmed that police had the power to conduct searches and seize evidence, even when done during an arrest that turned out to have violated state law.
Today in 2013, a 1% flash crash hit the stock market after a news agency was hacked and claimed injury to President Obama. Once it was revealed as fake, the market quickly recovered.
Today in 2020, President Donald Trump suggested COVID-19 might be treated by injecting disinfectant or UV lights into the human body at a White House press briefing. Government officials and disinfectant companies quickly state doing so is not only extremely dangerous, but potentially deadly.