Today in History for 30th July 2017:
Historical Events
1678 – English troops land in Flanders
1870 – The Republic of Klipdrift is proclaimed by Transvaal President Andries Pretorius after the discovery of diamonds in South Africa in 1866 resulted in a flood of treasure hunters; ownership of the diamond fields was contested by the Boer republics
1914 – After initial reluctance, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia is persuaded to decree a general mobilizations in response to Austria; ‘Think of the thousands and thousands of men who will be sent to their deaths!’ he claims
1923 – New Zealand claims Ross Dependency
1969 – Barbra Streisand opens for Liberace at International Hotel, Las Vegas
1981 – Belgian Senate accept laws against racism
Famous Birthdays
1817 – Charles Radoux-Rogier, composer
1887 – Felix A Vening Meinesz, Dutch geophysicist (gravity)
1948 – Jean Reno, Moroccan-born French actor
1956 – Delta Burke, actress (Suzanne-Designing Women), born in Orlando, Florida
1963 – Lisa Kudrow, Encino California, actress (Phoebe-Friends, Romy and Michele)
1970 – Christopher Nolan, English film director (Inception, Interstellar), born in London
Famous Deaths
1652 – John Cloppenburg, vicar/theologist, dies at 68
1863 – George Crockett Strong, US Union gen-mjr, dies of injuries at 29
1947 – Joseph Cook, 6th Prime Minister of Australia (b. 1860)
1980 – Charles McGraw, actor (Michael-Falcon, Smith Family), dies at 66
1993 – Jay Scott, [Jeffrey Scott Beaven], US/Canada movie critic, dies at 43
1994 – Henry Mackie, designer of the Belfast Calorimeter, dies at 73