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The Date-A-Base Book series

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Now available – all of these, including the brand new 2026 edition. £12.95 / $16.99 each.
ebook (PDF) or paperback. Order yours at https://ideas4writers.com

They’re perfect for “on this day in history” newspaper and magazine articles, TV and radio features, historical anniversary related documentaries, exhibitions, and more.

Ideal for writers, journalists, TV and radio producers, broadcasters, production companies, researchers, bloggers and event planners.

If you buy the ebook version, you’ll get a 20% discount if you buy more than one edition at the same time.

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in October 2022 (US edition)

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in October 2022 (US edition)

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theater shows, and more.

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in October 2022 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2022. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available in April 2022 and the 2027 edition will be available from July 2022.

Oct 1, 1982 – 40 years ago
The world’s first compact disc (CD) player (the Sony CDP-101) went on sale in Japan. (North America/Europe: March 1983.)

Oct 2, 1872 – 150 years ago
In Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in Eighty Days, Phileas Fogg sets off from London, UK on this day to begin his round-the-world journey. He must return by December 21st to win his £20,000 ($26,000) bet.

Oct 3, 1872 – 150 years ago
The first Bloomingdale’s department store opened in New York City, USA. (It was named Bloomingdale’s Great East Side Bazaar.)

Oct 4, 1822 – 200 years ago
Birth of Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th President of the United States (1877–81).

Oct 5, 1962 – 60 years ago
The UK premiere of the first James Bond movie Dr. No. (Released: October 10th. USA: May 1963.)

Oct 6, 1992 – 30 years ago
Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre was published (under the pen name Currer Bell).

Oct 7, 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of Marie Lloyd, (the ‘Queen of the Music Hall’) British music hall singer, comedian and actress.
Known for songs including My Old Man (Said Follow the Van), The Boy I Love Is Up in the Gallery and Oh Mr Porter What Shall I Do.

Oct 8, 1982 – 40 years ago
Solidarity and all other trade unions in Poland were banned.

Oct 9, 1962 – 60 years ago
Uganda gained its independence from the UK.

Oct 10, 1957 – 65 years ago
Windscale nuclear reactor fire, Cumbria, UK.
The Windscale (now Sellafield) reactor caught fire and spread radioactive contamination across the UK and Europe. It was the world’s first major nuclear accident and is thought to have caused at least 240 cancer cases.

Oct 11, 1922 – 100 years ago
Alaska P. Davidson was appointed as the first female FBI special agent in the USA.

Oct 12, 1997 – 25 years ago
Death of John Denver, American singer and songwriter. His hit songs include Leaving on a Jet Plane, Take Me Home, Country Roads, Rocky Mountain High, and more). (Plane crash.)

Oct 13, 1997 – 25 years ago
British Prime Minister Tony Blair met Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was the first Prime Minister to meet Sinn Féin’s leadership since David Lloyd George in the 1920s. Blair controversially shook hands with Adams, outraging Northern Ireland’s Protestants.

Oct 14, 1947 – 75 years ago
The first supersonic flight was made by U.S. Air Force pilot Charles (“Chuck”) Yeagar in a rocket-powered Bell XS-1 plane. The flight took place over what is now Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Oct 15, 1932 – 90 years ago
Tata Airlines (later Air India then Indian Airlines) made its first flight, carrying air mail.

Oct 16, 1922 – 100 years ago
The Simplon II railway tunnel was opened. It passes under the Alps, linking Switzerland and Italy.

Oct 17, 1962 – 60 years ago
The Beatles performed on television for the first time, on Granada TV’s magazine show People and Places. They first appeared on national TV in the UK in January 1963.

Oct 18, 1922 – 100 years ago
The BBC was officially founded as the British Broadcasting Company (now the British Broadcasting Corporation).

Oct 19, 1897 – 125 years ago
Death of George Pullman, American engineer and businessman who invented the railway sleeping car. His Pullman Car Company manufactured and operated sleeping cars on most railways in the USA.

Oct 20 – 28, 1947 – 75 years ago
The U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated suspected communist infiltration of the Hollywood film industry. It compiled a blacklist of artists, writers and directors who had (or were suspected of having) communist or fascist beliefs, or refused to testify. One of those who testified was Walt Disney (on October 24th). He named Disney employees that he believed were communists.

Oct 21, 1772 – 250 years ago
Birth of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, British poet. Co-founder (with William Wordsworth) of the Romantic Movement. Best known for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan.

Oct 22, 1947 to 1 Jan 1949 – 75 years ago
Indo–Pakistani War of 1947–1948 (also known as the First Kashmir War).
Following a UN-mandated ceasefire, the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir was dissolved. Pakistan took control of one-third of it while India retained the rest.

Oct 23, 1972 – 50 years ago
Access credit cards were launched in the UK as a rival to Barclaycard (launched in 1966). Access was taken over by MasterCard in 1996.

Oct 24, 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of George Cadbury, British businessman and philanthropist. He transformed his father’s chocolate and cocoa business into one of the world’s most successful companies. He also provided low-cost housing and improved working conditions for his employees.

Oct 25, 1997 – 25 years ago
The Million Woman March took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Oct 26, 1972 – 50 years ago
Death of Igor Sikorsky, Russian-born American aircraft designer. Best known for his pioneering work in developing the helicopter.

Oct 27, 1922 – 100 years ago
The first film with synchronized sound, Audion, was presented at Yale University in the USA. It was originally a silent cartoon, but it was given a musical score recorded onto a disk. The projector had to be hand-cranked to keep it (approximately) synchronized with the sound.

Oct 28 – 29, 1922 – 100 years ago
Mussolini’s March on Rome. Italian fascist leader Benito Mussonini and 30,000 fascist troops marched into the city, demanded the prime minister’s resignation, and seized power in a bloodless coup. Mussolini became Prime Minister of Italy on 31st October.

Oct 29, 1942 – 80 years ago
Birth of Bob Ross, American artist, teacher and host of the television series The Joy of Painting. (Died 1995.)

Oct 30, 1997 – 25 years ago
British nanny Louise Woodward was convicted of second-degree murder for the death of eight-month-old Matthew Eappen in Massachusetts, USA in February. On November 10th the verdict was reduced to involuntary manslaughter and her sentence was reduced to time served (279 days) and she was released.

Oct 31, 1982 – 40 years ago
The Thames barrier in London, UK was raised for the first time. It protects the city from floods.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2022. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available from April 2022, with the 2027 edition following in July.
Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in October 2022

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in October 2022

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in October 2022 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2022. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available in April 2022 and the 2027 edition will be available from July 2022.

1 Oct 1982 – 40 years ago
The world’s first compact disc (CD) player (the Sony CDP-101) went on sale in Japan. (North America/Europe: March 1983.)

2 Oct 1872 – 150 years ago
In Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in Eighty Days, Phileas Fogg sets off from London on this day to begin his round-the-world journey. He must return by 21st December to win his £20,000 bet.

3 Oct 1872 – 150 years ago
The first Bloomingdale’s department store opened in New York City, USA. (It was named Bloomingdale’s Great East Side Bazaar.)

4 Oct 1822 – 200 years ago
Birth of Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th President of the United States (1877–81).

5 Oct 1962 – 60 years ago
The UK première of the first James Bond film Dr. No. (Released 10th October. USA: May 1963.)

6 Oct 1992 – 30 years ago
Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre was published (under the pen name Currer Bell).

7 Oct 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of Marie Lloyd, (the ‘Queen of the Music Hall’) British music hall singer, comedian and actress.
Known for songs including My Old Man (Said Follow the Van), The Boy I Love Is Up in the Gallery and Oh Mr Porter What Shall I Do.

8 Oct 1982 – 40 years ago
Solidarity and all other trade unions in Poland were banned.

9 Oct 1962 – 60 years ago
Uganda gained its independence from the UK.

10 Oct 1957 – 65 years ago
Windscale nuclear reactor fire, Cumbria, UK.
The Windscale (now Sellafield) reactor caught fire and spread radioactive contamination across the UK and Europe. It was the world’s first major nuclear accident and is thought to have caused at least 240 cancer cases.

11 Oct 1922 – 100 years ago
Alaska P. Davidson was appointed as the first female FBI special agent in the USA.

12 Oct 1997 – 25 years ago
Death of John Denver, American singer and songwriter. His hit songs include Leaving on a Jet Plane, Take Me Home, Country Roads, Rocky Mountain High, and more). (Plane crash.)

13 Oct 1997 – 25 years ago
British Prime Minister Tony Blair met Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was the first Prime Minister to meet Sinn Féin’s leadership since David Lloyd George in the 1920s. Blair controversially shook hands with Adams, outraging Northern Ireland’s Protestants.

14 Oct 1947 – 75 years ago
The first supersonic flight was made by U.S. Air Force pilot Charles (‘Chuck’) Yeagar in a rocket-powered Bell XS-1 plane. The flight took place over what is now Edwards Air Force Base in California.

15 Oct 1932 – 90 years ago
Tata Airlines (later Air India then Indian Airlines) made its first flight, carrying air mail.

16 Oct 1922 – 100 years ago
The Simplon II railway tunnel was opened. It passes under the Alps, linking Switzerland and Italy.

17 Oct 1962 – 60 years ago
The Beatles performed on television for the first time, on Granada TV’s magazine show People and Places. They first appeared on national TV in the UK in January 1963.

18 Oct 1922 – 100 years ago
The BBC was officially founded as the British Broadcasting Company (now the British Broadcasting Corporation).

19 Oct 1897 – 125 years ago
Death of George Pullman, American engineer and businessman who invented the railway sleeping car. His Pullman Car Company manufactured and operated sleeping cars on most railways in the USA.

20 – 28 Oct 1947 – 75 years ago
The U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated suspected communist infiltration of the Hollywood film industry. It compiled a blacklist of artists, writers and directors who had (or were suspected of having) communist or fascist beliefs, or refused to testify. One of those who testified was Walt Disney (on 24th October). He named Disney employees that he believed were communists.

21 Oct 1772 – 250 years ago
Birth of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, British poet. Co-founder (with William Wordsworth) of the Romantic Movement. Best known for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan.

22 Oct 1947 to 1 Jan 1949 – 75 years ago
Indo–Pakistani War of 1947–1948 (also known as the First Kashmir War). Following a UN-mandated ceasefire, the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir was dissolved. Pakistan took control of one-third of it while India retained the rest.

23 Oct 1972 – 50 years ago
Access credit cards were launched in the UK as a rival to Barclaycard (launched in 1966). Access was taken over by MasterCard in 1996.

24 Oct 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of George Cadbury, British businessman and philanthropist. He transformed his father’s chocolate and cocoa business into one of the world’s most successful companies. He also provided low-cost housing and improved working conditions for his employees.

25 Oct 1997 – 25 years ago
The Million Woman March took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

26 Oct 1972 – 50 years ago
Death of Igor Sikorsky, Russian-born American aircraft designer. Best known for his pioneering work in developing the helicopter.

27 Oct 1922 – 100 years ago
The first film with synchronised sound, Audion, was presented at Yale University in the USA. It was originally a silent cartoon, but it was given a musical score recorded onto a disk. The projector had to be hand-cranked to keep it (approximately) synchronised with the sound.

28 – 29 Oct 1922 – 100 years ago
Mussolini’s March on Rome. Italian fascist leader Benito Mussonini and 30,000 fascist troops marched into the city, demanded the prime minister’s resignation, and seized power in a bloodless coup. Mussolini became Prime Minister of Italy on 31st October.

29 Oct 1942 – 80 years ago
Birth of Bob Ross, American artist, teacher and host of the television series The Joy of Painting. (Died 1995.)

30 Oct 1997 – 25 years ago
British au pair Louise Woodward was convicted of second-degree murder for the death of eight-month-old Matthew Eappen in Massachusetts, USA in February. On 10th November the verdict was reduced to involuntary manslaughter and her sentence was reduced to time served (279 days) and she was released.

31 Oct 1982 – 40 years ago
The Thames barrier in London was raised for the first time. It protects the city from floods.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2022. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available from April 2022, with the 2027 edition following in July.
Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

30 newsworthy historical anniversaries in September 2022 (U.S. edition)

30 newsworthy historical anniversaries in September 2022 (U.S. edition)

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theater shows, and more.

Here are 30 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in September 2022 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2022. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available from the end of March 2022 and the 2027 edition will be available from June 2022.

Sep 1, 1897 – 125 years ago
The oldest subway system in North America opened: the Tremont Street Subway in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sep 2, 1957 – 65 years ago
The Everly Brothers’ best-known song Wake Up Little Susie was released.

Sep 3, 1942 – 80 years ago
World War II: Jewish uprising in the Lakhva Ghetto, Belarus. Thought to be the first ghetto uprising of the war.

Sep 4, 2002 – 20 years ago
Kelly Clarkson won the first season of the television singing competition American Idol.

Sep 5, 1972 – 50 years ago
Palestinian terrorists invaded the Olympic Village in Munich, West Germany during the 1972 Olympic Games and took eleven members of the Israeli team hostage. All of the hostages were killed, as well as five of the eight terrorists and a German police officer, when a rescue attempt failed.

Sep 6, 1522 – 500 years ago
Spanish navigator Juan de Elcano returned to Spain and became the first person to circumnavigate the world. His ship, the Victoria, was the only vessel to survive Ferdinand Magellan’s 1519 expedition to the Spice Islands. (Magellan was killed in the Philippines in 1521.)

Sep 7, 1822 – 200 years ago
Brazil declared its independence from Portugal.

Sep 8, 1922 – 100 years ago
Birth of Sid Caesar, American actor, comedian and writer. Best known for the television comedy shows Your Show of Shows and Caesar’s Hour. He also had roles in numerous movies and TV shows.

Sep 9, 1947 – 75 years ago
Reputed to be the first case of an actual computer bug. The Harvard Mark II computer at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA was experiencing problems, and a moth was found lodged in one of its relays. The computer was successfully “debugged” by removing it.

Sep 10, 1897 – 125 years ago
The world’s first drunk-driving arrest. Taxi driver George Smith crashed into a building in London, UK while under the influence of alcohol. He was fined 25 shillings.

Sep 11, 1972 – 50 years ago
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system began operating in San Francisco, California, USA.

Sep 12, 1942 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Laconia Incident. The British troopship Laconia was hit by a German torpedo and sank off the coast of West Africa, killing around 1,400 men. This had far-reaching consequences as the ship was carrying 1,500 Italian prisoners-of-war. When the Germans realized this they launched a rescue mission, but were then bombed by the Americans, despite displaying the Red Cross flag.

Sep 13, 1922 – 100 years ago
The highest temperature ever recorded in the world: 136°F (57.7°C) in Al ‘Aziziyah, Libya. (Unofficial record.)

Sep 14, 1982 – 40 years ago
Death of Princess Grace of Monaco, formerly the American actress Grace Kelly. (Car crash, aged 52.)

Sep 15, 1982 – 40 years ago
The first issue of the newspaper USA Today was published.

Sep 16, 1992 – 30 years ago
Black Wednesday sterling crisis. Britain crashed out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), raised interest rates from 10% to 15%, and spent billions of pounds buying up sterling that was being frantically disposed of on international markets.

Sep 17, 1972 – 50 years ago
The first episode of the television series MAS*H was broadcast on NBC.

Sep 18, 1947 – 75 years ago
The National Security Council and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) were established, the Department of Defense began operating, and the U.S. Air Force was established as a separate branch of the military.

Sep 19, 1982 – 40 years ago
American computer scientist Scott Fahlman designed the first documented emoticons and posted them on Carnegie Mellon University’s bulletin board system. The emoticons were 🙂 and 🙁

Sep 20, 1952 – 70 years ago
American biologists Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase conducted their famous “blender” experiment. It confirmed that genetic material is stored in DNA rather than in proteins as had been previously thought.

Sep 21, 1922 – 100 years ago
U.S. President Warren G. Harding signed the Lodge–Fish joint resolution of approval to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Sep 22, 1947 – 75 years ago
A U.S. Air Force plane made the first wholly automated flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The take-off, flight and landing were controlled by autopilot throughout the entire journey.

Sep 23, 1962 – 60 years ago
The first episode of the animated television series The Jetsons was broadcast on ABC. (It was the first color program on ABC.)

Sep 24, 1947 – 75 years ago
Majestic 12, a secret committee of scientists, military leaders and government officials, was allegedly established in the USA. Its purpose was to investigate and recover alien spacecraft following the Roswell incident. (The U.S. government denies it ever existed, and some sources say it may have been a fictional committee invented by the Soviet Union.)

Sep 25, 1897 – 125 years ago
Birth of William Faulkner, American writer. Winner of the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature and two Pulitzer Prizes for Fiction (1955 and 1963).

Sep 26, 1962 – 60 years ago
The first episode of the television series The Beverly Hillbillies was broadcast on CBS.

Sep 27, 1822 – 200 years ago
French orientalist Jean-François Champollion announced that he had successfully deciphered the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs on the Rosetta stone.

Sep 28, 2002 – 20 years ago
Death of Patsy Mink, American politician. The first Asian American woman elected to Congress.

Sep 29, 1982 – 40 years ago
Tylenol murders, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Seven people died after taking Extra-Strength Tylenol painkiller capsules that had been laced with cyanide.

Sep 30, 1947 – 75 years ago
Birth of Marc Bolan, British glam rock singer, songwriter, guitarist and poet (T. Rex). (Died 1977.)

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2022. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available from the end of March 2022, with the 2027 edition following in June.
Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

30 newsworthy historical anniversaries in September 2022

30 newsworthy historical anniversaries in September 2022

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 30 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in September 2022 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2022. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available from the end of March 2022 and the 2027 edition will be available from June 2022.

1 Sep 1897 – 125 years ago
The oldest subway system in North America opened: the Tremont Street Subway in Boston, Massachusetts.

2 Sep 1957 – 65 years ago
The Everly Brothers’ best-known song Wake Up Little Susie was released.

3 Sep 1942 – 80 years ago
World War II: Jewish uprising in the Lakhva Ghetto, Belarus. Thought to be the first ghetto uprising of the war.

4 Sep 2002 – 20 years ago
Kelly Clarkson won the first season of the television singing competition American Idol.

5 Sep 1972 – 50 years ago
Palestinian terrorists invaded the Olympic Village in Munich, West Germany during the 1972 Olympic Games and took eleven members of the Israeli team hostage. All of the hostages were killed, as well as five of the eight terrorists and a German police officer, when a rescue attempt failed.

6 Sep 1522 – 500 years ago
Spanish navigator Juan de Elcano returned to Spain and became the first person to circumnavigate the world. His ship, the Victoria, was the only vessel to survive Ferdinand Magellan’s 1519 expedition to the Spice Islands. (Magellan was killed in the Philippines in 1521.)

7 Sep 1822 – 200 years ago
Brazil declared its independence from Portugal.

8 Sep 1922 – 100 years ago
Birth of Sid Caesar, American actor, comedian and writer. Best known for the television comedy shows Your Show of Shows and Caesar’s Hour. He also had roles in numerous films and TV shows.

9 Sep 1947 – 75 years ago
Reputed to be the first case of an actual computer bug. The Harvard Mark II computer at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA was experiencing problems, and a moth was found lodged in one of its relays. The computer was successfully ‘debugged’ by removing it.

10 Sep 1897 – 125 years ago
The world’s first drunk-driving arrest. Taxi driver George Smith crashed into a building in London, UK while under the influence of alcohol. He was fined 25 shillings.

11 Sep 1972 – 50 years ago
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system began operating in San Francisco, California, USA.

12 Sep 1942 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Laconia Incident. The British troopship Laconia was hit by a German torpedo and sank off the coast of West Africa, killing around 1,400 men. This had far-reaching consequences as the ship was carrying 1,500 Italian prisoners-of-war. When the Germans realised this they launched a rescue mission, but were then bombed by the Americans, despite displaying the Red Cross flag.

13 Sep 1922 – 100 years ago
The highest temperature ever recorded in the world: 57.7°C (136°F) in Al ‘Aziziyah, Libya. (Unofficial record.)

14 Sep 1982 – 40 years ago
Death of Princess Grace of Monaco, formerly the American film and television actress Grace Kelly. (Car crash, aged 52.)

15 Sep 1982 – 40 years ago
The first issue of the newspaper USA Today was published.

16 Sep 1992 – 30 years ago
Black Wednesday sterling crisis. The UK crashed out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), raised interest rates from 10% to 15%, and spent billions of pounds buying up sterling that was being frantically disposed of on international markets.

17 Sep 1972 – 50 years ago
The first episode of the television series MAS*H was broadcast on NBC in the USA. (UK: 20th May 1973.)

18 Sep 1947 – 75 years ago
The U.S. National Security Council and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) were established, the Department of Defense began operating, and the U.S. Air Force was established as a separate branch of the military.

19 Sep 1982 – 40 years ago
American computer scientist Scott Fahlman designed the first documented emoticons and posted them on Carnegie Mellon University’s bulletin board system. The emoticons were 🙂 and 🙁

20 Sep 1952 – 70 years ago
American biologists Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase conducted their famous ‘blender’ experiment. It confirmed that genetic material is stored in DNA rather than in proteins as had been previously thought.

21 Sep 1922 – 100 years ago
U.S. President Warren G. Harding signed the Lodge–Fish joint resolution of approval to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

22 Sep 1947 – 75 years ago
A U.S. Air Force plane made the first wholly automated flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The take-off, flight and landing were controlled by autopilot throughout the entire journey.

23 Sep 1962 – 60 years ago
The first episode of the animated television series The Jetsons was broadcast on ABC in the USA. (It was the first colour programme on ABC.)

24 Sep 1947 – 75 years ago
Majestic 12, a secret committee of scientists, military leaders and government officials, was allegedly established in the USA. Its purpose was to investigate and recover alien spacecraft following the Roswell incident. (The U.S. government denies it ever existed, and some sources say it may have been a fictional committee invented by the Soviet Union.)

25 Sep 1897 – 125 years ago
Birth of William Faulkner, American writer. Winner of the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature and two Pulitzer Prizes for Fiction (1955 and 1963).

26 Sep 1962 – 60 years ago
The first episode of the television series The Beverly Hillbillies was broadcast on CBS in the USA. (UK: 1st February 1963.)

27 Sep 1822 – 200 years ago
French orientalist Jean-François Champollion announced that he had successfully deciphered the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs on the Rosetta stone.

28 Sep 2002 – 20 years ago
Death of Patsy Mink, American politician. The first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Congress.

29 Sep 1982 – 40 years ago
Tylenol murders, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Seven people died after taking Extra-Strength Tylenol painkiller capsules that had been laced with cyanide.

30 Sep 1947 – 75 years ago
Birth of Marc Bolan, British glam rock singer, songwriter, guitarist and poet (T. Rex). (Died 1977.)

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2022. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available from the end of March 2022, with the 2027 edition following in June.
Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in August 2022 (U.S. edition)

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in August 2022 (U.S. edition)

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theater shows, and more.

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in August 2022 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2022. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available from the end of March 2022 and the 2027 edition will be available from June 2022.

Aug 1, 1972 – 50 years ago
The Washington Post newspaper published the first article that exposed U.S. President Richard Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate scandal. The article by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein revealed that $25,000 of Nixon’s re-election campaign fund had been paid into the bank account of one of the men recently arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee Headquarters.

Aug 2, 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-born American audiologist and inventor. Credited with developing the first practical telephone.

Aug 3, 1872 – 150 years ago
Birth of Haakon VII, King of Norway (1905–57)

Aug 4 – 8, 1997 – 25 years ago
The capital of Montserrat was destroyed by a further series of eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano. The town became uninhabitable and the 4,000 residents were evacuated. Most of them resettled in the UK.

Aug 5, 1962 – 60 years ago
Death of Marilyn Monroe, American film actress, model and singer (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, The Seven-Year Itch, Bus Stop, and more). (Overdose of sleeping pills – probable suicide, aged 36.)

Aug 6 – 21, 1932 – 90 years ago
The first Venice Film Festival was held in Italy.

Aug 7, 1947 – 75 years ago
Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl’s raft Kon-Tiki reached Polynesia after a 101-day journey across the Pacific from South America. This demonstrated that people from pre-Columbian South America could have made the journey and settled there.

Aug 8, 1942 – 80 years ago
The world premiere of Walt Disney’s animated film Bambi, in London. (U.S. premiere: August 13th, released: August 21st. UK: January 1, 1943.)

Aug 9, 1922 – 100 years ago
Birth of Philip Larkin, British poet. (Died 1985.)

Aug 10, 1897 – 125 years ago
The Royal Automobile Club was founded in the UK.
(The section of the club that offered roadside assistance and motor insurance was incorporated as a separate company in 1978 and sold in 1999 – it is now known as RAC Ltd.)

Aug 11, 1897 – 125 years ago
Birth of Enid Blyton, British children’s writer who created Noddy, the Famous Five, and the Secret Seven. She is among the world’s best-selling writers. More than 600 million copies of her books have been sold. She sometimes wrote 50 books a year.

Aug 12, 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of Arthur Griffith, President of the Irish Republic (1922 – died in office). Founder of Sinn Fein. Succeeded by W. T. Cosgrave.

Aug 13, 1997 – 25 years ago
The first episode of the animated comedy television series South Park was broadcast on Comedy Central in the USA.

Aug 14, 1947 – 75 years ago
Pakistan gained its independence from the UK.
Pakistan and India both officially became independent at midnight on August 15th, but Pakistan held its independence ceremony 30 minutes early and now celebrates August 14th as its independence day.

Aug 15, 1952 – 70 years ago
Lynmouth flood, Devon, UK. A flash flood swept through the village. 34 people were killed, and buildings and bridges were devastated.

Aug 16, 1962 – 60 years ago
The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein fired drummer Pete Best and replaced him with Ringo Starr

Aug 17, 1962 – 60 years ago
Peter Fechter, aged 18, became the first person to be shot dead by border guards as he attempted to climb over the Berlin Wall into West Berlin.

Aug 18, 1947 – 75 years ago
The American technology company Hewlett-Packard was incorporated.

Aug 19, 1772 – 250 years ago
Swedish Revolution: King Gustav III staged a coup d’état, assumed power and introduced absolute monarchy.

Aug 20 – 22, 1962 – 60 years ago
The first nuclear-powered ship, the NS Savannah made her maiden voyage from Yorktown, Virginia, to Savannah, Georgia, USA. The ship was conceived by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower as part of his Atoms for Peace program. It operated until 1972, and is now a museum ship.

Aug 21, 1897 – 125 years ago
The Oldsmobile automobile company was founded in Lansing, Michigan, USA (as Olds Motors Works). It later became a division of General Motors, but was closed down in 2004.

Aug 22, 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of Michael Collins, Irish nationalist politician. A leading figure in Ireland’s fight for independence. He directed a guerrilla warfare campaign against the British. (Killed in an ambush by anti-treaty forces, aged 31.)

Aug 23, 1942 to Feb 2, 1943 – 80 years ago
World War II – the Battle of Stalingrad (Soviet Union). Soviet victory. The turning point of the war in Europe.
Regarded as the largest and bloodiest battle in the history of warfare, and one that the Germans never recovered from.

Aug 24, 1932 – 90 years ago
American aviator Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly non-stop across the USA.

Aug 25, 1822 – 200 years ago
Death of William Herschel, German-born British astronomer. He discovered the planet Uranus and infrared radiation, conducted the first deep sky surveys, and was the first president of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Aug 26 to Sep 10, 1972 – 50 years ago
The 1972 Summer Olympic Games were held in Munich, West Germany.
The event was overshadowed by the kidnapping and deaths of 11 members of the Israeli team by Palestinian terrorists on September 5th.

Aug 27, 1962 – 60 years ago
NASA launched its Mariner 2 space probe to Venus. (It flew past Venus in December, becoming the first space probe to fly past another planet.)

Aug 28, 1922 – 100 years ago
The world’s first radio commercial was broadcast on WEAF in New York City, USA. The first commercial was for an apartment complex.

Aug 29, 1952 – 70 years ago
American avant-garde composer John Cage’s best-known work 4’ 33” (four minutes and thirty-three seconds) was performed for the first time, at Woodstock, New York, USA. Performers are instructed not to play a single note throughout the entire piece.

Aug 30, 1922 – 100 years ago
Turkish War of Independence – Greco–Turkish War – the Battle of Dumlupinar, Turkey. Turkey won the final battle of the war.
This day is now celebrated as Victory Day in Turkey.

Aug 31, 1422 – 600 years ago
Death of Henry V, King of England (1413–22). (Heatstroke or dysentery, aged 35.) Succeeded by his son, Henry VI.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2022. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available from the end of March 2022, with the 2027 edition following in June.
Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

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31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in August 2022

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in August 2022

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in August 2022 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2022. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available from the end of March 2022 and the 2027 edition will be available from June 2022.

1 Aug 1972 – 50 years ago
The Washington Post newspaper published the first article that exposed U.S. President Richard Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate scandal. The article by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein revealed that $25,000 of Nixon’s re-election campaign fund had been paid into the bank account of one of the men recently arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee Headquarters.

2 Aug 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-born American audiologist and inventor. Credited with developing the first practical telephone.

3 Aug 1872 – 150 years ago
Birth of Haakon VII, King of Norway (1905–57)

4 – 8 Aug 1997 – 25 years ago
The capital of Montserrat was destroyed by a further series of eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano. The town became uninhabitable and the 4,000 residents were evacuated. Most of them resettled in the UK.

5 Aug 1962 – 60 years ago
Death of Marilyn Monroe, American film actress, model and singer (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, The Seven-Year Itch, Bus Stop, and more). (Overdose of sleeping pills – probable suicide, aged 36.)

6 – 21 Aug 1932 – 90 years ago
The first Venice Film Festival was held in Italy.

7 Aug 1947 – 75 years ago
Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl’s raft Kon-Tiki reached Polynesia after a 101-day journey across the Pacific from South America. This demonstrated that people from pre-Columbian South America could have made the journey and settled there.

8 Aug 1942 – 80 years ago
The world première of Walt Disney’s animated film Bambi, in London. (U.S. première: 13th August, released: 21st August. UK: 1st January 1943.)

9 Aug 1922 – 100 years ago
Birth of Philip Larkin, British poet. (Died 1985.)

10 Aug 1897 – 125 years ago
The Royal Automobile Club was founded in the UK.
(The section of the club that offered roadside assistance and motor insurance was incorporated as a separate company in 1978 and sold in 1999 – it is now known as RAC Ltd.)

11 Aug 1897 – 125 years ago
Birth of Enid Blyton, British children’s writer who created Noddy, the Famous Five, and the Secret Seven. She is among the world’s bestselling writers. More than 600 million copies of her books have been sold. She sometimes wrote 50 books a year.

12 Aug 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of Arthur Griffith, President of the Irish Republic (1922 – died in office). Founder of Sinn Fein. Succeeded by W. T. Cosgrave.

13 Aug 1997 – 25 years ago
The first episode of the animated comedy television series South Park was broadcast on Comedy Central in the USA.

14 Aug 1947 – 75 years ago
Pakistan gained its independence from the UK.
Pakistan and India both officially became independent at midnight on 15th August, but Pakistan held its independence ceremony 30 minutes early and now celebrates 14th August as its independence day.

15 Aug 1952 – 70 years ago
Lynmouth flood, Devon, UK. A flash flood swept through the village. 34 people were killed, and buildings and bridges were devastated.

16 Aug 1962 – 60 years ago
The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein fired drummer Pete Best and replaced him with Ringo Starr

17 Aug 1962 – 60 years ago
Peter Fechter, aged 18, became the first person to be shot dead by border guards as he attempted to climb over the Berlin Wall into West Berlin.

18 Aug 1947 – 75 years ago
The American technology company Hewlett-Packard was incorporated.

19 Aug 1772 – 250 years ago
Swedish Revolution: King Gustav III staged a coup d’état, assumed power and introduced absolute monarchy.

20 – 22 Aug 1962 – 60 years ago
The first nuclear-powered ship, the NS Savannah made her maiden voyage from Yorktown, Virginia, to Savannah, Georgia, USA. The ship was conceived by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower as part of his Atoms for Peace programme. It operated until 1972, and is now a museum ship.

21 Aug 1897 – 125 years ago
The Oldsmobile automobile company was founded in Lansing, Michigan, USA (as Olds Motors Works). It later became a division of General Motors, but was closed down in 2004.

22 Aug 1922 – 100 years ago
Death of Michael Collins, Irish nationalist politician. A leading figure in Ireland’s fight for independence. He directed a guerrilla warfare campaign against the British. (Killed in an ambush by anti-treaty forces, aged 31.)

23 Aug 1942 to 2 Feb 1943 – 80 years ago
World War II – the Battle of Stalingrad (Soviet Union). Soviet victory. The turning point of the war in Europe.
Regarded as the largest and bloodiest battle in the history of warfare, and one that the Germans never recovered from.

24 Aug 1932 – 90 years ago
American aviator Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly non-stop across the USA.

25 Aug 1822 – 200 years ago
Death of William Herschel, German-born British astronomer. He discovered the planet Uranus and infrared radiation, conducted the first deep sky surveys, and was the first president of the Royal Astronomical Society.

26 Aug to 10 Sep 1972 – 50 years ago
The 1972 Summer Olympic Games were held in Munich, West Germany.
The event was overshadowed by the kidnapping and deaths of 11 members of the Israeli team by Palestinian terrorists on 5th September.

27 Aug 1962 – 60 years ago
NASA launched its Mariner 2 space probe to Venus. (It flew past Venus in December, becoming the first space probe to fly past another planet.)

28 Aug 1922 – 100 years ago
The world’s first radio commercial was broadcast on WEAF in New York City, USA. The first commercial was for an apartment complex.

29 Aug 1952 – 70 years ago
American avant-garde composer John Cage’s best-known work 4’ 33” (four minutes and thirty-three seconds) was performed for the first time, at Woodstock, New York, USA. Performers are instructed not to play a single note throughout the entire piece.

30 Aug 1922 – 100 years ago
Turkish War of Independence – Greco–Turkish War – the Battle of Dumlupinar, Turkey. Turkey won the final battle of the war.
This day is now celebrated as Victory Day in Turkey.

31 Aug 1422 – 600 years ago
Death of Henry V, King of England (1413–22). (Heatstroke or dysentery, aged 35.) Succeeded by his son, Henry VI.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2022. The 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2026 edition will be available from the end of March 2022, with the 2027 edition following in June.
Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

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31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in July 2022 (U.S. Edition)

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in July 2022 (U.S. Edition)

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theater shows, and more.

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in July 2022 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2022. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2023 and 2024 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2025 edition will also be available in a week or two.

Jul 1, 1872 – 150 years ago
Birth of Louis Blériot, French inventor and aviation pioneer. He developed the first practical headlamp for cars, used the money to build the first successful powered monoplane, developed the modern aircraft control system, and became the first person to fly across the English Channel.

Jul 2, 1922 – 100 years ago
Water skiing was invented by Ralph Samuelson at Lake Pepin, Minnesota, USA.

Jul 3, 1997 – 25 years ago
The U.S. state of Mississippi settled a landmark $3.4 billion health care lawsuit against the tobacco industry. It was the first state to do so.

Jul 4, 1872 – 150 years ago
Birth of Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States (1923–29).

Jul 5, 1962 – 60 years ago
Algeria gained its independence from France

Jul 6, 1942 – 80 years ago
Jewish diarist Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in a secret annex at her father’s workplace in Amsterdam.

Jul 7, 1952 – 70 years ago
The U.S. ocean liner SS United States became the fastest passenger ship to cross the Atlantic. The record of 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes still stands.

Jul 8, 1822 – 200 years ago
Death of Percy Bysshe Shelley, British poet. (Drowned, aged 29.)

Jul 9, 1947 – 75 years ago
Florence Blanchfield was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, becoming the first woman in the USA to hold a permanent military rank.

Jul 10, 1962 – 60 years ago
The American communications satellite Telstar was launched. It transmitted the first transatlantic TV signal to Europe later that day. The first official broadcast was on July 23rd. It could only relay a signal for 20 minutes per orbit.

Jul 11, 1922 – 100 years ago
The Hollywood Bowl amphitheater/music venue opened in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Jul 12, 1962 – 60 years ago
The British rock band the Rolling Stones played their first live performance, at the Marquee Club in London.

Jul 13, 1897 – 125 years ago
Italian inventor and electrical engineer Guglielmo Marconi was granted a U.S. patent for his wireless telegraph system. (He was also granted a UK patent on July 2nd.)

Jul 14, 1992 – 30 years ago
The Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA was destroyed by fire.

Jul 15, 1897 – 125 years ago
The Klondike gold rush began when prospectors from San Francisco, California, USA set off en masse for the Yukon in northwestern Canada.

Jul 16, 622 – 1400 years ago
The beginning of the Islamic calendar. Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina to escape religious persecution (an event known as the Hegira), and established the first Muslim community.

Jul 17, 1997 – 25 years ago
The internet broke down when a system operator at Network Solutions in Virginia, USA accidentally uploaded a corrupt database to the root domain servers. On the same day, a construction company sliced through a fiber optic cable, affecting millions of users in the eastern states. These incidents proved that the internet was not as robust as had been claimed.

Jul 18, 1947 – 75 years ago
U.S. President Harry S. Truman signed the Presidential Succession Act into law. It defined the line of succession in the event that neither the President nor the Vice-President could fulfill their duties. Next in line would be the Speaker of the House, then the President pro tempore, followed by the Presidential Cabinet Secretaries and Officers in the order in which their respective departments were created.

Jul 19, 1947 – 75 years ago
Death of Aung San, Burmese nationalist leader. Considered the father of modern Burma (now Myanmar). Father of politician Aung San Suu Kyi. (Assassinated along with six of his cabinet ministers.)

Jul 20, 1822 – 200 years ago
Birth of Gregor Mendel, Austrian/Czech friar, botanist and geneticist who discovered the laws of heredity and created the science of genetics.

Jul 21, 1897 – 125 years ago
The Tate Britain art museum opened in London, England.

Jul 22, 1932 – 90 years ago
Death of Florenz (‘Flo’) Ziegfeld, American theatrical producer and impresario. Best known for his Ziegfeld Follies revue shows, and stage shows such as Show Boat.

Jul 23, 1962 – 60 years ago
The first live transatlantic television broadcast. It was hosted by Walter Cronkite in the USA and broadcast to the UK and France via the Telstar 1 satellite.

Jul 24, 1847 – 175 years ago
Salt Lake City in Utah, USA was founded. Mormon pioneers led by Brigham Young arrived there after a 17-month journey and established a settlement where they would be free from religious persecution. At the time, the area was part of Mexico.

Jul 25, 1952 – 70 years ago
The current Constitution of Puerto Rico came into effect. It established Puerto Rico as a commonwealth in union with the United States.

Jul 26, 1947 – 75 years ago
U.S. President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act into law. It led to the creation of the Department of Defense, the National Military Establishment, the National Security Council, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It also separated the Army Air Forces into its own service – the Department of the Air Force. (Effective from September 18, 1947.)

Jul 27, 2002 – 20 years ago
Ukraine air show disaster. A military jet crashed into the crowd at an air show in Lviv, western Ukraine, killing more than 80 people and injuring over 100. It was the world’s worst air show disaster.

Jul 28, 1922 – 100 years ago
Birth of Jacques Piccard, Belgian-born Swiss oceanographer and engineer. Best known for developing deep-sea submarines including the Challenger Deep in which he and Don Walsh became the first people to reach the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth. (Died 2008.)

Jul 29, 1957 – 65 years ago
The International Atomic Energy Agency was established. It promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Jul 30, 1942 – 80 years ago
The song White Christmas by Bing Crosby was released. It became the bestselling single of all time, selling more than 50 million copies worldwide.

Jul 31, 1942 – 80 years ago
The charity Oxfam was founded in the UK (as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief).

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2022. The 2023 and 2024 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2025 edition will be released in the next week or two, with the 2026 and 2027 editions following in March and June 2022. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in July 2022

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in July 2022

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in July 2022 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2022. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2023 and 2024 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2025 edition will also be available in a week or two.

1 Jul 1872 – 150 years ago
Birth of Louis Blériot, French inventor and aviation pioneer. He developed the first practical headlamp for cars, used the money to build the first successful powered monoplane, developed the modern aircraft control system, and became the first person to fly across the English Channel.

2 Jul 1922 – 100 years ago
Water skiing was invented by Ralph Samuelson at Lake Pepin, Minnesota, USA.

3 Jul 1997 – 25 years ago
The U.S. state of Mississippi settled a landmark $3.4 billion health care lawsuit against the tobacco industry. It was the first state to do so.

4 Jul 1872 – 150 years ago
Birth of Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States (1923–29).

5 Jul 1962 – 60 years ago
Algeria gained its independence from France

6 Jul 1942 – 80 years ago
Jewish diarist Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in a secret annex at her father’s workplace in Amsterdam.

7 Jul 1952 – 70 years ago
The U.S. ocean liner SS United States became the fastest passenger ship to cross the Atlantic. The record of 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes still stands.

8 Jul 1822 – 200 years ago
Death of Percy Bysshe Shelley, British poet. (Drowned, aged 29.)

9 Jul 1947 – 75 years ago
Florence Blanchfield was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, becoming the first woman in the USA to hold a permanent military rank.

10 Jul 1962 – 60 years ago
The American communications satellite Telstar was launched. It transmitted the first transatlantic TV signal to Europe later that day. The first official broadcast was on 23rd July. It could only relay a signal for 20 minutes per orbit.

11 Jul 1922 – 100 years ago
The Hollywood Bowl amphitheatre/music venue opened in Los Angeles, California, USA.

12 Jul 1962 – 60 years ago
The British rock band the Rolling Stones played their first live performance, at the Marquee Club in London.

13 Jul 1897 – 125 years ago
Italian inventor and electrical engineer Guglielmo Marconi was granted a U.S. patent for his wireless telegraph system. (He was also granted a UK patent on 2nd July.)

14 Jul 1992 – 30 years ago
The Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA was destroyed by fire.

15 Jul 1897 – 125 years ago
The Klondike gold rush began when prospectors from San Francisco, California, USA set off en masse for the Yukon in north-western Canada.

16 Jul 622 – 1400 years ago
The beginning of the Islamic calendar. Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina to escape religious persecution (an event known as the Hegira), and established the first Muslim community.

17 Jul 1997 – 25 years ago
The internet broke down when a system operator at Network Solutions in Virginia, USA accidentally uploaded a corrupt database to the root domain servers. On the same day, a construction company sliced through a fibre optic cable, affecting millions of users in the eastern states. These incidents proved that the internet was not as robust as had been claimed.

18 Jul 1947 – 75 years ago
U.S. President Harry S. Truman signed the Presidential Succession Act into law. It defined the line of succession in the event that neither the President nor the Vice-President could fulfill their duties. Next in line would be the Speaker of the House, then the President pro tempore, followed by the Presidential Cabinet Secretaries and Officers in the order in which their respective departments were created.

19 Jul 1947 – 75 years ago
Death of Aung San, Burmese nationalist leader. Considered the father of modern Burma (now Myanmar). Father of politician Aung San Suu Kyi. (Assassinated along with six of his cabinet ministers.)

20 Jul 1822 – 200 years ago
Birth of Gregor Mendel, Austrian/Czech friar, botanist and geneticist who discovered the laws of heredity and created the science of genetics.

21 Jul 1897 – 125 years ago
The Tate Britain art museum opened in London, England.

22 Jul 1932 – 90 years ago
Death of Florenz (‘Flo’) Ziegfeld, American theatrical producer and impresario. Best known for his Ziegfeld Follies revue shows, and stage shows such as Show Boat.

23 Jul 1962 – 60 years ago
The first live transatlantic television broadcast. It was hosted by Walter Cronkite in the USA and broadcast to the UK and France via the Telstar 1 satellite.

24 Jul 1847 – 175 years ago
Salt Lake City in Utah, USA was founded. Mormon pioneers led by Brigham Young arrived there after a 17-month journey and established a settlement where they would be free from religious persecution. At the time, the area was part of Mexico.

25 Jul 1952 – 70 years ago
The current Constitution of Puerto Rico came into effect. It established Puerto Rico as a commonwealth in union with the United States.

26 Jul 1947 – 75 years ago
U.S. President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act into law. It led to the creation of the Department of Defense, the National Military Establishment, the National Security Council, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It also separated the Army Air Forces into its own service – the Department of the Air Force. (Effective from 18th September 1947.)

27 Jul 2002 – 20 years ago
Ukraine air show disaster. A military jet crashed into the crowd at an air show in Lviv, western Ukraine, killing more than 80 people and injuring over 100. It was the world’s worst air show disaster.

28 Jul 1922 – 100 years ago
Birth of Jacques Piccard, Belgian-born Swiss oceanographer and engineer. Best known for developing deep-sea submarines including the Challenger Deep in which he and Don Walsh became the first people to reach the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth. (Died 2008.)

29 Jul 1957 – 65 years ago
The International Atomic Energy Agency was established. It promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

30 Jul 1942 – 80 years ago
The song White Christmas by Bing Crosby was released. It became the bestselling single of all time, selling more than 50 million copies worldwide.

31 Jul 1942 – 80 years ago
The charity Oxfam was founded in the UK (as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief).

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2022. The 2023 and 2024 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2025 edition will be released in the next week or two, with the 2026 and 2027 editions following in March and June 2022. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

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30 newsworthy historical anniversaries in June 2022

30 newsworthy historical anniversaries in June 2022

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 30 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in June 2022 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2022. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2023 and 2024 editions are also available if you work further ahead.

1 Jun 1872 – 150 years ago
Death of James Gordon Bennett Sr., American newspaper publisher. Founder of the New York Herald.

2 Jun 1962 – 60 years ago
The pop song The Loco-Motion by Little Eva was released.

3 Jun 1972 – 50 years ago
Sally Priesand was ordained as the first female rabbi in the USA.

4 to 7 Jun 1942 – 80 years ago
World War II – the Battle of Midway. The USA defeated Japan in the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign.

5 Jun 1947 – 75 years ago
The Marshall Plan: U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall proposed a self-help programme for Europe that would enable countries to rebuild democratic societies and resist communism after WWII.

6 Jun 1932 – 90 years ago
Great Depression: taxes were raised substantially in the USA in an attempt to balance the federal budget. The first federal gasoline (petrol) tax was also introduced: 1 cent per gallon.

7 Jun 1897 – 125 years ago
The world’s first car dealership was opened by William E. Metzger in Detroit, Michigan, USA.

8 Jun 1982 – 40 years ago
Falklands War – the Battle of Bluff Cove. Argentina launched an air attack on two British supply ships, RFA Sir Tristram and RFA Sir Galahad. 48 British servicemen were killed and over 100 injured. Some suffered severe burns, including Simon Weston whose story and subsequent recovery was covered by the British media.

9 Jun 1772 – 250 years ago
American Revolutionary War – the Gaspee Affair, Rhode Island, (now USA). The British customs ship HMS Gaspee ran aground and was attacked, boarded and burnt. It was the first act of violence against British authority in the North American colonies.

10 Jun 1922 – 100 years ago
Birth of Judy Garland, American actress and singer. Best known for the films The Wizard of Oz and Meet Me in St. Louis. Mother of the actress and singer Liza Minnelli. (Died 1969.)

11 Jun 1962 – 60 years ago
Escape from Alcatraz. Frank Morris and John & Clarence Anglin escaped from the federal prison on Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California, USA. Their fate remains unknown. The film Escape from Alcatraz is based on their story.

12 Jun 1942 – 80 years ago
Anne Frank received her famous diary for her 13th birthday. She used it to document her life over the next two years as her family hid from the Nazis.

13 Jun 1922 – 100 years ago
Charlie Osborne of Iowa, USA started hiccupping. He continued hiccupping non-stop until 5th June 1990 – almost 68 years. During that time he hiccupped over 435 million times.

14 Jun 1822 – 200 years ago
British mathematician and engineer Charles Babbage announced that he had invented the Difference Engine – a mechanical computer. Although his design would have worked, metalworking techniques of that era were not sufficiently accurate, and it was never completed. The Science Museum in London completed the first working Difference Engine, based on Babbage’s original designs, in 1991.

15 Jun 1992 – 30 years ago
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that suspects could be forcibly abducted in foreign countries and brought back for trial in the USA if they had broken U.S. criminal laws. (United States vs. Alvarez-Machain.)

16 Jun 1972 – 50 years ago
David Bowie’s album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was released.

17 Jun 1972 – 50 years ago
The Watergate Scandal began when five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex, Washington D.C., USA.

18 Jun 1972 – 50 years ago
Staines Air Disaster, near London, England. 118 people were killed when a passenger jet stalled and crashed after taking off from Heathrow Airport. It remains Britain’s worst air disaster.

19 Jun 1942 – 80 years ago
Marilyn Monroe (then Norma Jeane Baker) married sheet-metal worker James Dougherty to avoid being sent to an orphanage.
(They divorced in 1946, shortly after he returned from WWII service in the Pacific.)

20 Jun 1947 – 75 years ago
Death of Bugsy Siegel, American mobster. The driving force behind the Las Vegas Strip, he helped finance some of the original casinos and completed the Flamingo Hotel when the developer ran out of funds. (Shot dead by an unknown assailant, aged 41.)

21 Jun 1942 – 80 years ago
World War II: a Japanese submarine surfaced near Fort Stevens in Oregon, USA and fired 17 shells. It was the only military installation in the continental USA to be attacked during WWII. The fort was not damaged.

22 to 24 Jun 1622 – 400 years ago
Dutch–Portuguese War – the Battle of Macau. Portuguese victory.

23 Jun 1972 – 50 years ago
Britain’s pound was allowed to float against the U.S. dollar to curb rising inflation. 45 countries whose currencies were linked to the pound also allowed theirs to float freely.

24 Jun 1922 – 100 years ago
The American Professional Football Association was renamed the National Football League (NFL).

25 Jun 1942 – 80 years ago
Holocaust: Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper published the first official account of the mass murder of Polish Jews. It said it was ‘the greatest massacre in history’. But rather than being front page news, it was printed on page 5, largely ignored, and was not picked up by other newspapers.

26 Jun 1997 – 25 years ago
J. K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published in the UK. (USA: September 1998 as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.)

27 Jun 1957 – 65 years ago
Britain’s Medical Research Council reported that there was a cause-and-effect relationship between smoking and lung cancer.

28 Jun 1922 to May 1923 – 100 years ago
Irish Civil War.
Pro-Treaty victory leading to confirmation of the Irish Free State.

29 Jun 2007 – 15 years ago
Apple released the first iPhone.

30 Jun 1972 – 50 years ago
The first leap second was added to our clocks. The adjustment accounts for the difference between precise time measured by atomic clocks and imprecise solar time. 27 leap seconds were added to clocks between 1972 and 2016. There are calls for the adjustment to be abolished because it disrupts essential technology such as satellite navigation systems.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2022. The 2023 and 2024 editions are also available if you work further ahead. The 2025 edition will be released in December 2021, with the 2026 and 2027 editions coming in early 2022. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this: