Status Updates From On This Day: The History of...

JULY 31

Jim Reeves killed in plane crash

1964 Country singer Jim Reeves died today when his plane crashed into a hillside a few miles from Nashville, Tennessee. He was 40. "Gentleman Jim" Reeves shot to fame in the late 50s with his hit single "He'll Have to Go" He followed this up with "Welcome to My World", "I Love You Because" and "I Won't Forget You", all top ten records. Reeves set out to be a baseball star...

JULY 30

1930 In the first ever World Cup final, Uruguay beats Argentina 4-2.

Spanish invasion receives calm British reception

1588 the armada of 130 ships set by King Philip II of Spain to attempt an invasion of England was sighted today off Cornwall. The English fleet under Charles Howard, Baron Howard of Effingham, is confident of success, however. Howard has 197 ships with about 16,000 men, most of them seasoned sailers, at his disposal. His commanders seem equally nonchalant.

JULY 28

1794 In Paris, Maximillien Robespierre goes to the guillotine himself, having presided over the Reign of Terror in which at least 25,000 were beheaded.

JULY 27

Shah of Iran dies in Cairo

1980 The deposed Shah of Iran died in Cairo's Maadi Military Hospital today at the age of 60. The cause of death was internal bleeding and heart failure as a result of infection and lymphatic cancer. On his deathbed the Shah had requested to be buried ultimately in Tehran, named his eldest son, Prince Reza, as rightful heir to the Peacock Throne and prayed for the overthrow of ...

JULY 26

1863 Death of Sam Houston, American soldier, president and Texan leader after whom the city of Houston is named.

JULY 25

Coal is transported by locomotion

1814 Killingworth is the latest colliery to experiment with locomotives for transporting coal out of mines. Their chief mechanic, George Stevenson, has built an engine that can draw eight loaded carriages bearing 30 tons of coal at four miles per hour (6.4 kph). Stephenson got the idea for Blucher after seeing the "steam boiler on wheels" built by Matthew Murray for ...

JULY 24

1824 The world's first public opinion poll is carried out in Delaware.

JULY 23

I brought it all to life. I moved the whole world into a 20-ft [6.5-m] screen. I was a greater discoverer than Columbus. I condensed history into three hours and made them live it.

D. W. Griffith, pioneer US film-maker who introduced the techniques of flash-back, crosscut, close-up and long shot, and who died today, 1948.

JULY 22

1832 Death of American impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, founder of the Ziegfeld Follies.

JULY 21

The United States has to move very fast to even stand still.

John F. Kennedy, quoted in The Observer, 1963.

JULY 20

1629 English adventurer Sir David Kirk seizes Quebec from the French.

JULY 19

The great masses of the people ... will more easily fall victims to a great lie than to a small one.
Adolph Htler in Mein Kampf, written from prison following an unsuccessful rising in 1923.

JULY 18

1877 Thomas Edison records the human voice of the first time.

JULY 17

US holds pirates at bay

1801 The United States is leaning grimly that its former colonial status had at least one benefit — it's shipping enjoyed immunity from attack by North African pirates, After making a series of humiliating financial concessions to the increasingly confident and voracious rulers of Algeria, Tunis and Tripoli, who controls the pirates, two months ago the US dug in its heels and said...

JULY 16

1827 Death of English potter Josiah Spode.

JULY 15

Crusaders take Jerusalem

1099 Jerusalem, long under Muslim rule, has been seized by Christian Crusaders led by Godgrey of Bouillon. The capture of this ancient city and the massacre of its Jewish and Muslim citizens is the culmination of the first armed pilgrimage organized by Pope Urban II to recapture places sacred to Christians. The army of French and Norman knights assembled in Constantinople, and ...

JULY 14

1900 The first governor-general of Australia is appointed.

JULY 13

Blackouts hit New York City

1977 New York City is blacked out tonight after electrical storms knocked out power supplies for the city and for large parts of Westchester county. The police and emergency services have been under enormous pressure due to the blackout; there has been widespread looting and vandalism throughout the city which has largely gone unchecked. Security systems dependent on power have

JULY 12

1799 Britain passes the Combination Act, which bars any combination of working men trying to improve working conditions in an attempt to prevent the spread of revolutionary ideas from France and the formation of trade unions.

JULY 11

Actins is a masochistic form of exhibitionism. It is not quite the occupation of an adult.
Laurence Olivier, the British actor, who died today, 1989.

JULY 10

1851 Death of Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre, French pioneer of the photographic process.

JULY 9

Lightning causes York Minster fire

1984 York Minster Cathedral was struck by lightning today, causing a fire in the roof which destroyed the south transept off the 700-year-old building, which was fully protected against lightning. The fire was soon detected and the church clergy, working in relays, managed to same most of the treasures held in the building. The rescue operation continued until blazing ...

JULY 8

1905 American tennis player May Button becomes the first foreigner to take a Wimbledon title.

JULY 7

1985 Seventeen-year-old Boris Becker beat Kevin Curren today to become the youngest ever Wimbledon men's singles title holder. Becker is a powerful player, relying on enormous energy and physical strength to win.

JULY 6

1809 Pope Pius VII is arrested for excommunicating Napoleon.

JULY 5

Stones give free concert in Hyde Park

1969 Two days after the death of guitarist Brian Jones, the Rolling Stones gave a free concert in Hyde Park attended by a record 250,000 people. Policed by the London branch of Hell's Angels and recorded for television, the concert was a great success. During the evening Mick Jagger paid tribute to Jones by reciting Shelley while clouds of white of butterflies were ...

JULY 4

1829 The first horse-drawn buses go into acton in London.

JULY 3

butcher of Lyons gets life

1987 Klaus Barbie, the Nazi SS commander in Lyons during World War Two, was convicted today, amidst cheering and clapping in court, of crimes against humanity. The 73-year-old listened to the verdict from his bullet-proof dock in silence. He had been living in Bolivia since 1951, enjoying the protection of various military regimes nt he was turned over to French authorities in 1983