June 17
Birthdays:
1987 ~ Kendrick Lamar (né Kendrick Lamar Duckworth), African-American rapper. He was born in Compton, California.
1966 ~ Tory Burch (née Tory Robinson), American designer. She was born in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
1963 ~ Greg Kinnear (né Gregory Buck Kinnear), American actor. He was born in Logansport, Indiana.
1960 ~ Thomas Haden Church (né Thomas Richard McMiller), American actor. He was born in Woodland, California.
1954 ~ Mark Linn-Baker, American actor. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
1945 ~ Tommy Franks (né Tommy Ray Franks), American General in the United States Army. He oversaw the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussain. He was born in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
1945 ~ Ken Livingston (né Kenneth Robert Livingston), 1st Mayor of London. He was Mayor from May 2000 until May 2008. He was born in London, England.
1943 ~ Newt Gingrich (né Newton Leroy McPherson), American politician and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
1943 ~ Barry Manilow (né Barry Alan Pincus), American singer-songwriter and musician. He was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1942 ~ Mohamed El Baradei (né Mohamed Mustafa El Baradei), Egyptian diplomat and recipient of the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used in the safest way possible. He served as interim Vice President of Egypt for a month from July 2013 until August 2013. He was born in Cairo, Egypt.
1940 ~ George Akerlof (né George Arthur Akerlof), American economist and recipient of the 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. In 1978, he married his second wife, Janet Yellen. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut.
1932 ~ John Murtha (né John Patrick Murtha, Jr.; d. Feb. 8, 2010), American congressman from Pennsylvania. He served in the United State House of Representatives. He was considered a hawk, but he renounced the war in Iraq. He was born in New Martinsville, West Virginia. He died of complications of gall bladder surgery at age 77 in Arlington, Virginia.
1932 ~ Jerry Merryman (né Jerry Dale Merryman; d. Feb. 27, 2019), American engineer who taught us how to count on a pocket-sized machine. As a member of the Texas Instruments team, he was known for co-inventing the hand-held calculator. He was born in Hearne, Texas. He died in Dallas, Texas of heart and kidney failure at age 86.
1928 ~ David I. Shapiro (né David Israel Shapiro, d. Oct. 1, 2009), American First Amendment attorney who defended free speech. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He died of cardiac arrest at age 81 in London, England.
1928 ~ Lod Cook (né Lodwrick Monroe Cook; d. Sept. 28, 2020), American businessman from Castor, Louisiana. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the Louisiana State University. The hotel on the campus of LSU is named for him. He was born in Castor, Louisiana. He died at age 92 in Sherman Oaks, California.
1925 ~ Alexander Shulgin (né Alexander Theodore Shulgin; d. June 2, 2014), American chemist and pharmacologist who introduced the world to Ecstasy. He was born in Berkeley, California. He died 15 days before his 89th birthday in Lafayette, California.
1920 ~ François Jacob (d. Apr. 19, 2013), French biologist who solved a key riddle of genetics. He was the recipient, along with Jacques Monod, of the 1965 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for originating the idea that control of enzyme levels in cells occurs through the regulation of transcription. He was born in Nancy, France. He died at age 92 in Paris, France.
1914 ~ John Hersey (né John Richard Hersey; d. Mar. 24, 1993), American journalist and author best known for his novels A Bell for Adono, Hiroshima, and The Wall. He was born in Tianjin, China where his parents were Christian missionaries. He died at age 78 in Key West, Florida.
1907 ~ Charles Eames (né Charles Ormand Eames, Jr.; d. Aug. 21, 1978), American designer, artist and architect. He, along with his wife Bernice “Ray” Eames (1912 ~ 1988), made major contributions to American architecture and furniture design. He was born and died in St. Louis, Missouri. He died of a heart attack at age 71. His wife died exactly 10 years to the day after his death.
1903 ~ Ruth Graves Wakefield (née Ruth Jones Graves; d. Jan. 10, 1977), American chef best known for creating the Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie. She was born in East Walpole, Massachusetts. She died at age 73 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
1898 ~ M.C. Escher (né Maurits Cornelis Escher; d. Mar. 27, 1972), Dutch illusionist artist. He is best known for his impossible perspectives and visual brain teasers. He was born in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. He died at age 73.
1898 ~ Harry Patch (né Henry John Patch; d. July 25, 2009), the British soldier who was the Great War’s last “Tommy.” He died at age 111 years, 38 days.
1890 ~ G.B. Stern (née Gladys Bertha Stern; d. Sept. 20, 1973), British novelist. She was born in London, England. She died at age 83.
1882 ~ Igor Stravinsky (d. Apr. 6, 1971), Russian-born American composer. He is best known for The Firebird and The Rite of Spring. He died at age 88 in New York, New York.
1871 ~ James Weldon Johnson (d. June 26, 1938), African-American author and civil rights activist. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He died 9 days after his 67th birthday in Wiscasset, Maine.
1867 ~ John Robert Gregg (d. Feb. 23, 1948), Irish-born American educator, publisher and inventor of the Gregg shorthand system. He was born in Montaghan, Ireland. He died at age 80 in New York, New York.
1865 ~ Susan LaFlesch Picotte (d. Sept. 18, 1915), Omaha Native American shaman and physician. She was a social reformer who advocated for Native American health rights. She was also the first Native American to earn a medical degree. She was born in the Omaha Reservation. She died of bone cancer at age 50 in Walthill, Nebraska.
1858 ~ Eben Sumner Draper (d. Apr. 9, 1914), 44th Governor of Massachusetts. He served as Governor from January 1909 through January 1911. He was born in Hopedale, Massachusetts. He died at age 55 in Greenville, South Carolina.
1818 ~ Sophie of Württemberg (d. June 3, 1877), Queen consort of the Netherlands, and first wife of William III, King of the Netherlands (1817 ~ 1890). It was not a happy marriage. She was of the House of Württemberg. She was the daughter of William I, King of Württemberg and Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia. She died 2 weeks before her 59th birthday. She was buried in her wedding dress because, in her view, she died the day she married.
1790 ~ Abel P. Upshur (né Abel Parker Upshur; d. Feb. 28, 1844), 15th United States Secretary of State. He served under President John Tyler from July 1843 until his death on February 28, 1844. He had previously served as the 13th United States Secretary of the Navy during the Tyler administration from October 1841 until July 1843. He was born in Northampton County, Virginia. He was killed at age 53 while viewing the new steamship USS Princeton and one of the ship’s guns exploded during a demonstration.
1682 ~ Charles XII, King of Sweden (d. Nov. 30, 1718). He ruled Sweden from April 1697 until his death in November 1718. He never married and had no known children. He was of the House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken. He was the son of Charles XI, King of Sweden and Ulrika Eleanora of Denmark. He was Lutheran. He was killed during the Siege of Fredriksten in Norway at age 36. He was succeeded by his sister Ulrika Elenaora.
1239 ~ Edward I, King of England (d. July 7, 1307). He was also known as Edward the Longshanks and The Hammer of the Scots. He ruled England from November 1272 until his death in July 1307. He was married twice. His first wife was Infanta Eleanor of Castile (1241 ~ 1290). They married in 1254. They were the parents of Edward II, King of England. After her death, he married Princess Margaret of France (1279 ~ 1316). They married in 1299. He was of the House of Plantagenet. He was the son of Henry III, King of England and Eleanor of Provence. His birthdate is sometimes listed as being on June 18. He died about 3 weeks after his 68th birthday.
801 ~ Drogo of Metz (d. Dec. 8, 855), illegitimate son of Charlemagne. He also served as the Bishop of Metz. His mother was Regina. He was born in Aachen, Germany. He died at age 54.
Events that Changed the World:
2021 ~ Juneteenth National Independence Day became a federal holiday.
2018 ~ Father’s Day in the United States.
2015 ~ Nine people were killed in a mass shooting by a young white supremacist during a Bible study at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The 21-year-old gunman, whose motive was his hatred of Blacks, was captured and ultimately convicted of murder. He was sentenced to life without parole.
2012 ~ Father’s Day in the United States.
1994 ~ Following a televised low-speed highway chase, O.J. Simpson (b. 1947) was arrested for the murders of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson (1959 ~ 1994) and her friend Ron Goldman (1968 ~ 1995).
1972 ~ In the Watergate scandal, five White House operatives were arrested for burglarizing the offices of the Democratic National Committee in an attempt by some members of the Republican party to illegally wiretap the opposition.
1963 ~ The United States Supreme Court ruled in an 8 ~ 1 decision in Abington School District v. Schempp, that it was unconstitutional to recite verses of the Bible and the Lord’s Prayer in public schools. Associate Justice Tom Clark (1899 ~ 1977) drafted the majority decision. Associate Justice Potter Stewart (1915 ~ 1985) was the lone dissent.
1950 ~ Dr. Richard Lawler (1896 ~ 1982) performed the first successful kidney transplant. He never performed another transplant surgery.
1944 ~ Iceland declared its independence from Denmark and became a republic.
1940 ~ Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fell under the occupation of the Soviet Union.
1939 ~ The last public guillotining occurred in France with the beheading of convicted murderer, Eugen Weidmann (1908 ~ 1930). He was guillotined in Versailles, outside of the Saint-Pierre prison.
1929 ~ New Zealand was struck by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake.
1901 ~ The College Board began the first standardized test, which was the forerunner to the SAT.
1898 ~ The United States Navy Hospital Corps was established.
1885 ~ The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor.
1775 ~ The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought in Charlestown, Massachusetts during the American Revolutionary War. Despite American’s suffered defeat and heavy losses in this battle, it was a turning point in the American Revolution
1673 ~ French explorers Jacques Marquette (1637 ~ 1675) and Louis Jolliet (1645 ~ 1700) reached the Mississippi River and became the first Europeans to make a detailed account of its course.
1579 ~ Sir Francis Drake (1540 ~ 1596) claimed a land he called Nova Albion (present day California) for England.
1242 ~ Following the Disputation of Paris of the Trial of the Talmud, which had begun four years earlier, in June 1240, in which the Church charged the Talmud as being blasphemous, numerous Jewish religious texts and manuscripts were burned.
Good-Byes:
2021 ~ Kenneth Kaunda (né Kenneth David Kaunda; b. Apr. 28, 1924), Zambian leader who battled colonialism. He served as the first president of Zambia from 1964 until 1991. He was at the forefront of the struggle for independence from British rule. He was born in Chinsali, Northern Rhodesia (now known as Zambia). He died at age 97 in Lisaka, Zambia.
2020 ~ William C. Dement (né William Charles Dement; b. July 29, 1928), American scientist and sleep researcher. He was born in Wenatchee, Washington. He died from cardiovascular disease at age 91 in Stanford, California.
2020 ~ Jean Kennedy Smith (née Jean Ann Kennedy; b. Feb. 20, 1928), member of the Kennedy clan. She was the “quiet” Kennedy who became a peacemaker. She had also served as the 25th United States Ambassador to Ireland from June 1993 until September 1998 during the Clinton administration. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She was born on her sister, Kathleen’s, 8th birthday. She died at age 92 in New York, New York.
2019 ~ Mohamed Morsi (b. Aug. 8, 1951), 5th President of Egypt. He became president following the Arab Spring and ouster of Hosni Mubaruk. He served as President from June 2012 until July 2013 when he was ousted. He was born in El Adwah, Egypt. He collapsed and died during his corruption trial in Cairo, Egypt. He was 67 years old.
2019 ~ Gloria Vanderbilt (née Gloria Laura Venderbilt; b. Feb. 20, 1924), American “poor little rich girl” who built a fashion empire. She was a socialite, clothing designer and mother of television personality, Anderson Cooper. She was born and died in Manhattan, New York. She died at age 95.
2015 ~ Roberto M. Levingston (b. Jan. 10, 1920), Argentine general and President of Argentina from June 1970 to March 1971. He was president during the Revolusión Argentine, following the military dictatorship. He was deposed by another military junta. He died at age 95 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2012 ~ Rodney King (né Rodney Glen King; b. Apr. 2, 1965), American victim and symbol of police violence in Los Angeles. He was born in Sacramento, California. He died at age 47 of an accidental drowning and drug overdose in Rialto, California.
2012 ~ Nathan Divinsky (né Nathan Joseph Harry Divinsky, b. Oct. 29, 1925), Canadian mathematician. He was born in Winnipeg, Manatoba, Canada. He died at age 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
2008 ~ Cyd Charisse (née Tula Ellice Finklea; b. Mar. 8, 1992), the leggy American dancer and actress who floated across the silver screen. She was born in Armarillo, Texas. She died of a heart attack at age 86 in Los Angeles, California.
2001 ~ Ninfa Laurenzo (née Maria Ninfa Rodriguez; b. May 11, 1924), American restaurateur and founder of Ninfa’s restaurant. She was born in Harlingen, Texas. She died at age 77 of bone cancer in Houston, Texas.
2001 ~ Donald J. Cram (né Donald James Cram; b. Apr. 22, 1919), American chemist and recipient of the 1987 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He was born in Chester, Vermont. He died at age 82 in Palm Desert, California.
1986 ~ Kate Smith (née Kathryn Elizabeth Smith; b. May 1, 1907), American singer. She was known as the First Lady of Radio. She was born in Greenville, Virginia. She died at age 79 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
1982 ~ Roberto Calvi (b. Apr. 13, 1920), Italian banker with close ties to the Vatican. He was born in Milan, Italy. His death in London, England at age 62 was ruled a murder.
1979 ~ Leverett A. Saltonstall (b. Sept 1, 1892), 55th Governor of Massachusetts. He served as Governor from January 1939 until January 1945. He was born in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. He died of congestive heart failure at age 86 in Dover, Massachusetts.
1940 ~ Sir Arthur Harden (b. Oct. 12, 1865), English chemist and recipient of the 1929 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his investigations into the fermentation of sugar and fermentative enzymes. He died at age 74.
1925 ~ A.C. Benson (né Arthur Christopher Benson; b. Apr. 24, 1862), British essayist, poet and author. He died at age 63 in Cambridge, England.
1900 ~ Ivan Mikheevich Pervushin (b. Jan. 15, 1827), Russian mathematician and clergyman. He died at age 73.
1866 ~ Lewis Cass (b. Oct. 9, 1782), 22nd United States Secretary of State. He served in this position under President James Buchanan from March 1857 until December 1860. He was previously the 14th United States Secretary of War and served under President Andrew Jackson. He also served as a United States Senator from Michigan. He was born in Exeter, New Hampshire. He died at age 83 in Detroit, Michigan.
1775 ~ Dr. Joseph Warren (b. June 11, 1741), American doctor and General in the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He died in Charlestown, Massachusetts 6 days after his 34th birthday from injuries sustained in the Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill).
1696 ~ John III Sobieski, King of Poland (b. Aug. 17, 1629). He reigned from May 1674 until his death in June 1696. His reign was noted for a period of the country’s stabilization. He was married to Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d’Arquien (1641 ~ 1718). He was her second husband. He was of the House of Sobieski. He was the son of Jakub Sobieski and Zofia Teofillia Daniłowicz. He was Roman Catholic. He died of a sudden heart attack at age 66.
1631 ~ Mumtaz Mahal (b. Apr. 27, 1593), Mughal princess. She was the third and favorite wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan I (1592 ~ 1666). She died during the birth of her 14th child. She was 38 years old. Her husband spent the next 17 years building her mausoleum, the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
1579 ~ Johannes Stadius (b. May 1, 1527), Flemish astronomer and mathematician. He died at age 52 in Paris, France.
1501 ~ John I Albert, King of Poland (b. Dec 27, 1459). He reigned Poland from June 1492 until his death on June 9 years later. He never married. He was of the House of Jagiellon. He was the son of Casimir IV, King of Poland, and Elisabeth of Austria. He was Roman Catholic. He died suddenly at age 41.
1463 ~ Infanta Catarina of Portugal (b. Nov. 26, 1636), member of the Portuguese royal family. She never married and turned to a religious life. She was of the House of Aviz. She was the daughter of Edward, King of Portugal and Infanta Eleanor of Aragon. She was Roman Catholic. She died at age 26.
1361 ~ Ingeborg Haakonsdatter of Norway (b. 1301), Princess consort and regent of Sweden. She was the wife of Eric, Crown Prince of Sweden and Duke of Södermanland (1282 ~ 1318). He was her first husband. After his death, she married Canute Porse, Duke of Halland (1282 ~ 1330). She was of the House of Sverre. She was the daughter of Haakon V, King of Norway and Euphemia of Rügen. The exact date of her birth is not known, but she is believed to have been about age 59 or 60 at the time of her death.
1025 ~ Bolesław I, King of Poland (b. 967). He ruled as king for just a few months. He had previously ruled as Duke of Poland and Duke of Bohemia. He was known as Bolesław the Brave. He was married several times. His first wife was the unnamed daughter of Rikdag, Margrave of Meissen. Bolesław reportedly repudiated his first wife because she provided him with no political value. His second wife is believed to have been Judith of Hungary (969 ~ 988). Bolesław repudiated her as well. His third wife was Emnilda of Lusatia (970s ~ 1017). After her death, Bolesław married his fourth and final wife, Oda of Meissen (996 ~ 1025). He was of the House of Piast. He was the son of Meiszko I, King of Poland and Dobrawa of Bohemia. He was a Chalcedonian Christian. The date of is birth is not known. He is believed to have been about 57 or 58 at the time of his birth.
676 ~ Pope Adeodatus II. He was Pope from April 672 until his death on this date 4 years later. The date of his birth is unknown.
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