World Events Today
- The current Westminster Bridge, a bridge across the River Thames in London which links the districts of Westminster and Lambeth, opened today in 1862
- Brooklyn Bridge, linking the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York, opened today in 1883
- The British battlecruiser HMS Hood, was sunk today in 1941 during the Battle of the Denmark Strait, it sank within 3 minutes and all but 3 of the crew were lost, it was a great loss to the British Navy
Entertainment Events Today
- One of the best known English nursery rhymes, Mary Had a Little Lamb, by Sarah Josepha Hale, was first published today in 1830
- The inaugural Eurovision Song Contest took place today in 1956, it was held in Switzerland and was won by the Swiss artist, Lys Assia, singing Refrain
- The English rugby union player Lawrence Dallaglio, resigned as England’s captain today in 1999, it followed tabloid allegations of using and dealing hard drugs
Family Events Today
- Alexandrina Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom from 1837 until her death in 1901, was born today in 1816 in London
- Robert Allen Zimmerman, better known as the American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, whose hits include Blowin’ in the Wind and The Times They Are a-Changin’, was born today in 1941 in Minnesota
- Priscilla Ann Presley, wife of Elvis Presley from 1967 to 1973, was born today in 1945 in New York
Main Event Today
- The first official Morse code message was transmitted today in 1844, it was, “What hath God wrought”, and was sent by the co-inventor, Samuel F B Morse
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Escargot Day