World Events Today
- Oliver Cromwell was appointed as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland today in 1653, he kept the position until his death 5 years later
- John Gotti, had the mob boss Paul Castellano and under-boss Thomas Bilotti, murdered today in New York in 1985, it made him the new head of the New York Gambino crime family
- The name Euro, for the new European Currency Unit, was officially adopted today in 1995
Entertainment Events Today
- The American actress Shirley Temple, announced her retirement from the movie industry today in 1950, she was aged just 22
- OJ Simpson became the first NFL running back to rush over 2,000 yards in a season today in 1973
- The American dance movie Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta, was released today in 1977
Family Events Today
- The English novelist Jane Austen, who wrote Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, amongst others, was born today in 1775 in Steventon
- The British science fiction writer Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, best known for 2001, A Space Odyssey, was born today in 1971 in Minehead
- “Colonel” Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, also known as KFC, died today in 1980 aged 90
Main Event Today
- The last major German offensive on the Western Front during World War II, was launched today in 1944, it would become known as the “Battle of the Bulge”
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Green Chili Day