The second person to ever walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin was the pilot of NASA’s Apollo 11 mission and was a member of the third group of astronauts ever selected by NASA. He served as an astronaut from his selection in 1963 until his retirement in 1971. Aldrin served as an U.S. Air Force officer and had a Command Pilot rating. Appropriately enough, his mother’s maiden name was Moon.
Aldrin walks on the surface of the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.
On this day in 1862, the Confederates defeated Union forces at the second Battle of Bull Run in Manassas, VA.
Stonewall Jackson, Confederate General.
It was on this day in 1967. He would be the first black court justice.
Thurgood Marshall (July 2, 1908 – January 24, 1993)
The space shuttle Challenger was launched on this day in 1983 with Guion S. Bluford Jr. aboard. He was the first African American to travel in space when the shuttle embarked on its third mission.
Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. will be 76 on November 22.
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (Godwin) (August 30, 1797 – February 1, 1851)
British author Mary Shelley is best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein. Her less famous works include novels such as Valperga, Perkin Warbeck, and The Last Man.
Baseballs Ty Cobb made his major league batting debut with the Detroit Tigers on this day in 1905.
Tyrus Raymond Cobb (December 18, 1886 – July 17, 1961) Nicknamed: The Georgia Peach
Winston Churchill rallies Britain during World War 2 with his famous "finest hour" speech on this day in 1940.
On this day in 1815, at the Battle of Waterloo Napoleon was defeated by an international army under the Duke of Wellington. Napoleon abdicated on June 22.
The War of 1812 began as the U.S. declared war against Great Britain on this day in 1812. The conflict began over trade restrictions and numerous other disputes between the two countries.
On this day in 1928, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean when she flew from Newfoundland to Wales.
Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger on this day in 1983.
Sally Kristen Ride (May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012)
Sir James Paul McCartney is 76 years old today.
Singer and multi-instrumentalist of The Beatles, Paul McCartney wrote such hit songs for the band as "Penny Lane," "Blackbird" and "Eleanor Rigby." After his time with The Beatles he formed the band Wings and embarked upon a solo career. He has earned 21 Grammy Awards across his career.
Astronaut Alan Bean, who was the fourth man to walk on the moon, and later worked to express the wonders of visiting another world through art, died today (Saturday).
His family said Bean’s death at Houston Methodist Hospital followed his suddenly falling ill while traveling in Fort Wayne, Ind., two weeks ago. (Fox News)
Quincy Jones is an Influential record producer, arranger, and musician of many film scores, classic albums, and hit songs. He is perhaps best known for producing multiple albums by the great Michael Jackson, including 1982’s Thriller and 1987’s Bad. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
Michael Jackson (left) with “Q” (Quincy Jones).
Sir Michael Caine (Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Jr.) is 85 years old today.
Across his fifty-year career,Michael Caine has had roles in The Cider House Rules (1999), and The Italian Job (1969). He also played Bruce Wayne’s butler Alfred Pennyworth in The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005 – 2012). He served in the Korean War for the British Army and was knighted in 2000.
Michael Caine as Alfred in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012).
Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin on this day in 1794.
On this day in 1995, American astronaut Norman Thagard (above) became the first American to enter space aboard a Russian rocket.
Norman Earl Thagard will turn 75 July 3. He retired in 1996.
