Today in History for 18th December 2021:
Historical Events
1813 – British take Fort Niagara in War of 1812
1917 – The Soviet government issues a decree recognizing Finland’s newly-declared independence [N.S. December 31]
1956 – Israeli flag hoisted on Mount Sinai
1963 – “The Pink Panther” film premieres directed by Blake Edwards and starring Peter Sellers and David Niven with theme by Henry Mancini
1969 – House of Lords votes to abolish the death penalty in England, Wales and Scotland (Northern Ireland 25 July 1973)
2018 – Manchester United sacks high profile Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho; United in 6th place in EPL, 19 points behind league leaders Liverpool; Ole Gunnar Solskjaer new caretaker manager
Famous Birthdays
1734 – Jean-Baptiste Rey, French conductor (Paris Opera) and composer, born in Lauzerte, France (d. 1810)
1920 – Willis Conover, American broadcaster (Voice of America), born in Buffalo, New York (d. 1996)
1934 – Colin Baker, Welsh soccer wing half (7 caps; Cardiff City 298 games), born in Cardiff, Wales (d. 2021)
1966 – Mille Petrozza, German singer (Kreator)
1970 – Lucious Harris, NBA guard (NJ Nets, Dallas Mavericks)
1971 – Frank Pimiskern, CFL safety (BC Lions)
Famous Deaths
1651 – Francisco the Melo, Portuguese-Spanish earl of Assumar, dies at 54
1894 – Erastus Flaval Beadle, American publisher (Beadle’s Dime Novels), dies at 73
1971 – Aleksandr Tvardovsky, Russian poet and editor in chief (Novyj Mir), dies at 61
2002 – Wayne Owens, former U.S. Congressman (D-Utah) (b. 1937)
2004 – John W. Downey, American composer, dies at 77
2007 – Jack Linkletter, American TV host (Haggis Baggis, Hootenanny), dies at 70