World Events Today
- John William Draper announced today in 1840, that he had successfully taken a focused image of the Moon
- The First Boer War, between the United Kingdom and the South African Republic, ended today in 1881
- The Woolwich Ferry, a free vehicle and pedestrian ferry across the River Thames in East London, began operation today in 1889
Entertainment Events Today
- The earliest known use of OK, appeared in print today in 1839 in the Boston Morning Post
- Ricky Martins hit single Livin’ la Vida Loca was released today in 1999
- At the 70th Academy Awards today in 1998, the epic drama Titanic won 11 awards, equalling the record previously set by Ben-Hur and subsequently equalled again by The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King
Family Events Today
- The neurologist and middle-distance runner Roger Bannister, the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes, was born today in 1929 in Harrow, England
- Yvette Marie Stevens, better known as the American singer-songwriter Chaka Khan, the “Queen of Funk”, was born today in 1953 in Chicago
- The British rower Sir Steven Geoffrey Redgrave CBE, who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000, was born today in 1962 in Buckinghamshire
Main Event Today
- The world’s first passenger elevator, was installed by the Otis Elevator Company in the E V Haughwout Building in New York, today in 1857
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Chips and Dip Day