World Events Today
- The Republic of Ireland Act 1948 came into effect today in 1949, it removed the country from the British Commonwealth
- The old London Bridge, was sold to American entrepreneur Robert P McCulloch today in 1968, it now stands in Arizona
- The United States Embassy in Beirut was attacked by a suicide bomber today in 1983, 64 people including the bomber lost their lives
Entertainment Events Today
- The 2000 Guineas Stakes, a flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, was run for the first time today in 1809
- The Natural History Museum in London, opened its doors for the first time today in 1881
- The BBC’s news announcer, with nothing to report announced, “There is no news”, today in 1930, piano music played for the remainder of remainder of the programme
Family Events Today
- The Pulitzer Prize–winning American journalist Ernie Pyle died today in 1945, he was killed during the Battle of Okinawa
- The developer of the theory of relativity and Nobel laureate Albert Einstein, died today in 1955 aged 76
- David McDonald, better known as the Scottish actor David Tennant, who starred in the science fiction series Doctor Who and the crime drama series Broadchurch, was born today in 1971
Main Event Today
- Construction of The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, known more simply as Saint Peter’s Basilica, started today in 1506
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Animal Crackers Day