Grant was born on this day in 1822. He was the 18th U.S. President, Lt. General in command of all Union armies during the U.S. Civil War, nickname: Hero of Appomattox.
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed by natives in the Philippines on this day in 1521.
On this day in 1805, a force led by U.S. Marines captured the city of Derna, on the shores of Tripoli. The Marines’ Hymn is a tribute to the Warriors who stormed the fortress, raised the American flag, and gave us "the shores of Tripoli."
On this day in 1947, "Babe Ruth Day" was celebrated at Yankee Stadium. The Babe, above, whispered his gratitude to the crowd of over 58,000 cheering fans.
On this day in 1945, U.S. and Soviet forces met at Torgau, Germany near the Elbe River.
The U.S. Hubble Space Telescope was placed into Earth’s orbit on this day in 1990. It was released by the space shuttle Discovery (below).
Ella Jane Fitzgerald(April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996)
The Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, won thirteen Grammy Awards and became a legend for singing "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" and "I’m Making Believe." Her rendition of "Summertime" with Louis Armstrong is considered one of the best collaborations in music history.
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong in the recording studio.
Irish nationalist launched the Easter Rebellion against British occupation forces on this day in 1916. They were overtaken several days later.
During World War I on this day in 1915, the Ottoman Turkish Empire began the mass deportation of Armenians.
A group of men excavates the remains of victims of the Armenian genocide.
Mark Rudd (center) a leader of the student protest at Columbia University in New York,
On this day in 1968, student militants occupied Hamilton Hall, the main classroom building, and took a dean hostage for 24 hours. They stormed into the office of the university’s president, ransacked files and smoked his cigars. Over the next few days, hundreds of students would seize a total of five campusbuildings.
The protests were part of a year of global tumult that included Vietnam’s Tet Offensive, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy and mass demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand is 50 years young today.
Singing icon Barbara Streisand has sold over 245 million records and won 10 Grammy Awards, including an Album of the Year Award for The Barbra Streisand Album in 1963. She has also had success as an actress, receiving an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1968 musical film Funny Girl.
Auschwitz concentration camp, the largest mass murder site in human history.
It was on this day in 1999.
The "El Dorado" arriving with Cuban refugees during the Mariel Boatlift which began on this day in 1980.
Ted Williams made his baseball debut on this day in 1939.
Williams played his entire 19-year Major League Baseball career as a left fielder for the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960, only interrupted by time in the service during World War ll and the Korean War. Nicknamed "The Kid", "The Splendid Splinter", "Teddy Ballgame", "The Thumper",and "The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived", Williams is regarded as one of the greatest players in baseball history.
Theodore (Ted) Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002)
Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.(April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005)
Sonny Bono being sworn in as the Mayor of Palm Springs, CA.
Sonny Bono served four years as Mayor of Palm Springs from 1988 to 1992. He was instrumental in spearheading the creation of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, which is held each year in Bono’s memory. Sonny Bono was also elected congressman for California’s 44th district from 1995 until his death in 1998.
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