World Events Today
- The Scottish pirate Captain William Kidd, was hanged at Execution Dock in London today in 1701
- The Federal Republic of Germany, West Germany, was formed today in 1949, it remained a country in its own right, until German reunification in 1990
- The Italian judge Giovanni Falcone, who spent much of his life trying to overthrow the power of the Sicilian Mafia, was finally assassinated by them today in 1992, Palermo airport now bears his name
Entertainment Events Today
- The psychological horror movie The Shining, produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, was released today in 1980 in the United States
- The second Indiana Jones movie starring Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, went on general release today in 1984 in the United States
- The independent drama movie Sex, Lies, and Videotape, directed by Steven Soderbergh, won the Palme d’Or today in 1989
Family Events Today
- Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Champion Barrow, better known as the American outlaw couple Bonnie and Clyde, both died today in 1934 during a police ambush
- Robert Renwick Mortimer, better known as the English comedian Bob Mortimer, who did much work with Vic Reeves, was born today in 1959 in Middlesbrough
- The English actor Sir Roger Moore KBE, best known for his role as Simon Templar in the British television series The Saint and his 7 James Bond movie appearances, died today in 2017 aged 89
Main Event Today
- Joan of Arc was captured at Compiègne today in 1430, by a group of French nobles allied to the English, she was subsequently handed over and burned at the stake about a year later
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Lucky Penny Day