World Events Today
- The Second Boer War, fought between the British Empire and the South African Boers, started today in 1899, it took the British over two and a half years to subdue the Boers
- The English Tudor navy warship the Mary Rose, which sank in 1545, was raised today in 1982, the remains of the hull are on display at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
- The American geologist and NASA astronaut Kathryn Dwyer Sullivan became the first woman to walk in space today in 1984
Entertainment Events Today
- The single Imagine, by John Lennon, was released in the United States today in 1971, it became the best-selling single of his solo career
- The American late-night live television show Saturday Night Live aired for the first time today in 1975 on the NBC network
- Can’t Slow Down, the second solo studio album by Lionel Richie, was released today in 1983, it included the hit singles All Night Long and Hello
Family Events Today
- Casimir Pulaski, a Polish nobleman, soldier and military commander, who fought for independence and freedom in Poland and the United States, died today in 1779 aged 34
- The American entrepreneur Henry John Heinz, who founded the H J Heinz Company, was born today in 1844 in Pennsylvania
- The English footballer Sir Robert Charlton, CBE, regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, was born today in 1937 in Northumberland
Main Event Today
- The 100th Space Shuttle mission, STS-92, launched today in 2000, it was the Space Shuttle Kennedy on a trip to the International Space Station
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Coming Out Day