1633 Galileo Galilei recants his “heretical” position that the Earth orbiting the Sun was at odds with the Bible and church teaching (Vatican apologizes in Oct 1992 for how it handled the case)
1675 Royal Greenwich Observatory established in England by Charles II
1772 Somerset v Stewart court case finds slavery unsupported by English common law, encouraging the abolitionist movement
1848 Beginning of the June Days uprising in Paris by French workers
1865 The CSS Shenandoah fires the last shot of the American Civil War in the Bering Strait to indicate surrender
1941 operation barbarossa: Nazi Germany and its allies invade the Soviet Union during WWII, the largest military operation in history
Historical Events Today Events in 2023
Today in Film & TV
1977 Walt Disney’s “Rescuers” released, first Disney film to get a sequel
Today in Music
1963 “Little” Stevie Wonder aged 13 releases his first single “Fingertips” (first live non-studio recording to go to No. 1 on Billboard)
Today in Sport
1937 Challenger Joe Louis KOs James J Braddock in the 8th round at Chicago’s Comiskey Park for the world heavyweight boxing title
1934 John Dillinger is informally named America’s first Public Enemy Number One
1847 First ring doughnut supposedly created by Hanson Gregory
Famous Weddings
1894 Harry Houdini marries Bessie Rahner
1958 NBA forward Elgin Baylor (23) weds Ruby Saunder at Mt Olive Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.
1962 American actress-singer Jane Froman (54) weds college friend Rowland Smith
For centuries mankind had sought the fabled Northern Passage – a new route for shipping from Europe to Asia. Explorer Henry Hudson’s attempt did not go well – June 22, 1611
Painter Benjamin Haydon, who died on this day, spent his life beating on the door of London’s exclusive art ‘club’, the Royal Academy. They never let him in – June 22, 1846
