World Events Today
- Saint Basil’s Cathedral, in Red Square in Moscow, was consecrated today in 1561
- The British explorer James Cook set off on his third and final voyage today in 1776, he was killed in Hawaii
- The Australian Aboriginal Flag was flown for the first time today in 1971 in Victoria Square in Adelaide
Entertainment Events Today
- The English rock band The Rolling Stones played their first gig today in 1962, at London’s Marquee Club
- After managing Liverpool Football Club for 15 years, Bill Shankly announced his retirement today in 1974, he was replaced by his assistant Bob Paisley
- The American television game show Family Feud, where two families compete to name the most popular responses to survey questions, aired today for the first time today in 1976 on the ABC network
Family Events Today
- The American stand-up comedian and actor Bill Cosby, star of his own sitcom The Cosby Show, was born today in 1937 in Philadelphia
- The English actress Anna Friel, who rose to fame in the British soap opera Brookside, was born today in 1976 in Rochdale
- William John Owen Rowbotham, MBE, better known as the English actor Bill Owen, Compo in the BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine, died today in 1999 aged 85
Main Event Today
- The Medal of Honor for the Army, the highest and most prestigious military decoration in the United States, was approved by Congress today in 1862
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Pecan Pie Day