1779 Spain declares war on Great Britain in support of France and the USA, starting the Great Siege of Gibraltar which goes on to last 3 years, 7 months and 2 weeks
1858 Abraham Lincoln says “A house divided against itself cannot stand” accepting Illinois Republican Party’s nomination for the Senate
1963 Soviet space mission Vostok 6 is launched with Valentina Tereshkova onboard, who becomes the 1st woman in space
2000 Israel complies with UN Security Council Resolution 425 after 22 years, which calls on Israel to completely withdraw from Lebanon. Israel withdraws from all of Lebanon, except the disputed Sheba Farms.
Historical Events Today Events in 2023
Today in Film & TV
1960 “Psycho”, psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, and Vera Miles, opens in New York City
1978 Film “Grease” opens, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, based on the 1971 musical
2015 TV personality and real estate mogul Donald Trump launches his campaign for the Republican nomination for US President at Trump Towers
Today in Music
1902 “The Wizard of Oz” musical first opens in Chicago, Illinois
1972 RCA releases David Bowie’s fifth studio album “The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars”; it is considered his artistic breakthrough
Today in Sport
1909 Jim Thorpe makes his pro baseball pitching debut for Rocky Mount (ECL) with 4-2 win, this will cause him to forfeit his Olympic gold medals
1884 America’s 1st purpose-built roller coaster ride, the Switchback Railway, opens at Coney Island, New York, built by LaMarcus Thompson
1988 In Santa Barbara, CA, a team of 32 divers begin cycling underwater on a standard tricycle, to complete 116.66 mi in 75 hrs 20 mins
Famous Weddings
1855 British preacher and Salvation Army founder William Booth (26) weds British Salvation Army co-founder Catherine Mumford (26) at Stockwell Green Congregational Church in Surrey, England
1928 New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey (26) weds American stage actress Frances Eileen Hutt (25), until her death in 1970
1943 English comic actor and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin (54) weds English-American actress Oona O’Neill (18), until his death in 1977
The Salvation Army began when a Methodist preacher took to the streets of London to help the poor. Today, with 1.5 million members, it operates in 130 countries – June 16, 1880
