World Events Today
- During World War II, Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, issued Order Number 227 today in 1942, in order to stop desertion and retreat, it contained the infamous phrase, “Not a step back”
- The United Kingdom announced that it would start using postal codes today in 1959, Norwich was the first city to implement them
- The Provisional Irish Republican Army, the IRA, declared a formal end to its armed paramilitary campaign today in 2005
Entertainment Events Today
- After premiering in London 2 days previously, the Walt Disney animated movie Alice in Wonderland premiered in New York today in 1951
- The legendary England cricket all-rounder Ian Botham made his Test debut today in 1977, it was against Australia at Trent Bridge
- The American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan released her debut solo album Cuts Both Ways today in 1989
Family Events Today
- The English author Beatrix Potter, best known for the children’s book The Tale of Peter Rabbit, was born today in 1866 in London
- The American cartoonist Jim Davis, the creator of the comic strip Garfield the cat, was born today in 1945 in Indiana
- The American actor Lee Majors, the “Six Million Dollar Man”, married the American actress Farrah Fawcett, one of the original Charlie’s Angels, today in 1973
Main Event Today
- One of the most devastating ever, the Great Tangshan earthquake, occurred in China today in 1976, almost a quarter of a million people, possibly 3 times more, lost their lives
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Milk Chocolate Day