June 17 Today in History

Today’s Important Historical Events

656 Ali ibn Abu Talib elected the 4th Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate

1579 English navigator Francis Drake lands on the coast of California at Drakes Bay, names it “New Albion” [1]

1631 Mumtaz Mahal dies during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I, then spends more than 20 years building her tomb, the Taj Mahal

1789 French Revolution: During the meeting of the Estates-General, the Third Estate proclaims itself the ‘National Assembly’

1837 Charles Goodyear obtains his 1st rubber patent

1856 Republican Party opens its 1st national convention in Philadelphia

Today’s Historical Events

653 St Martin I ends his reign as Catholic Pope

656 Ali ibn Abu Talib elected the 4th Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate

676 Pope Adeodatus II’s (Deusdetit II) reign ends with his death

1091 Floris II de Vette becomes earl of Holland

1119 Charles the Good becomes earl of Flanders

1397 Union of Kalmar established between Denmark, Sweden and Norway

1462 Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II (The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat from Wallachia

1497 Battle of Deptford Bridge – forces under King Henry VII soundly defeat Cornish rebels led by Michael An Gof

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1919 “Barney Google” cartoon strip, by Billy De Beck, premieres

1954 Televised Senate Army McCarthy hearings ends

1967 Barbra Streisand: “A Happening in Central Park” concert performance for audience of 135,000

1968 KQEC TV channel 32 in San Francisco, California (PBS) begins broadcasting

1988 Givens’ Family reports Mike Tyson beats his wife Robin Givens

2017 Bill Cosby trial for aggravated indecent assault declared a mistrial after jurors couldn’t reach a verdict

2018 “The Incredibles 2” sets a box office record for an animated release, earning $180 million its opening weekend

2020 Actor Danny Masterson charged with raping three women

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1951 “Flahooley” closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 40 performances

1957 “So Rare” by Jimmy Dorsey Orch peaks at #2

1961 Billy Barnes’ musical revue “Billy Barnes People”, starting Ken Berry, Dave Ketchum, and Jo Anne Worley, closes at Royale Theater, NYC, after 7 performances

1965 British rock band The Kinks arrive in NYC beginning their 1st US tour

1967 “Somebody To Love” by Jefferson Airplane peaks at #5

1970 Led Zeppelin begin their last European tour

1971 Carole King‘s album “Tapestry” goes to #1 on US album charts and stays there for 15 weeks

1972 “Long Haired Lover From Liverpool” single by Little Jimmy Osmond peaks at #38

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1880 Providence Grays MLB pitcher John M. Ward throws a perfect game beating the Buffalo Bisons, 5-0; second perfect game in National League in 6 days; next one takes 84 years

1901 US Open Men’s Golf, Myopia Hunt GC: Willie Anderson of Scotland wins first of his 4 Open titles by 1 stroke in an 18-hole playoff with Alex Smith

1906 International Lawn Tennis Challenge, Wimbledon: Laurence Doherty & Reginald Doherty beat Raymond Little & Holcombe Ward 3-6, 11-9, 9-7, 6-1 to give British Isles an unassailable 3-0 lead over US (ends 5-0)

1911 US National Championship Women’s Tennis, Philadelphia CC: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman beats Florence Sutton 8-10, 6-1, 9-7 for her third straight US singles title

1927 US Open Men’s Golf, Oakmont CC: American-based Scotsman Tommy Armour defeats Harry Cooper by 3 strokes in an 18-hole playoff to win the first of his 3 major titles

1930 Continuing a rich vein of form Australian cricket icon Don Bradman scores 131 in 1st Test v England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham

1939 French Championships Men’s Tennis: American collegiate champion Don McNeill beats countryman Bobby Riggs 7-5, 6-0, 6-3

1939 44th Women’s French Championships: Simonne Mathieu beats Jadwiga Jedrzejowska (6-3, 8-6)

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