Today in History for 17th March 2018:
Historical Events
432 – Saint Patrick, aged about 16 is captured by Irish pirates from his home in Great Britain and taken as a slave to Ireland (traditional date)
1926 – Dutch Calvinists oust Rev J G Geelkerken over Genesis 3
1955 – After Maurice Richard is suspended for the remainder of the season, riots break out in Montreal. 37 people are injured and over 100 are arrested. The following morning, Richard goes on the radio to ask citizens to stop vandalizing the city.
1963 – Eruptions of Mount Agung on Bali, kills 1,900 Balinese
1989 – “Chu Chem” opens at Ritz Theater NYC for 44 performances
1994 – “Little More Magic” opens at Belasco Theater NYC for 30 performances
Famous Birthdays
1746 – Jan David Holland, composer
1870 – Horace Donisthorpe, British entomologist (d. 1951)
1927 – Sulkhan Ivanovich Nasidze, composer
1947 – Jan Andersson, Swedish politician
1952 – Nikos Xydakis, Greek musician and composer
1972 – Marc Gunn, poet, podcaster, and Celtic musician (Brobdingnagian Bards)
Famous Deaths
1040 – Harold Harefoot (Harold I), King of England (1035-40), dies
1949 – Felix Bressart, German actor (Ninotchka, Escape, Crossroads), dies from Leukemia at 57
1965 – Nancy Cunard, British writer and activist, dies at 69
1979 – Merv Inverarity, cricketer (father of John WA player 1925-40), dies
1980 – Rudolf G Escher, Dutch composer (Vrai Visage de la Paix), dies at 68
1982 – Hans ter Laag, Dutch sound technician, murdered in El Salvador