World Events Today
- The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, a memorial to those who fought in the famous battle, was established today in 1879
- The Coca-Cola Company was founded today in 1892
- The American battleship USS Missouri was launched today in 1944, it is best remembered as the site of the surrender of the Empire of Japan, which ended World War 2
Entertainment Events Today
- The Beggar’s Opera, by John Gay, premiered today in 1728 at Lincoln’s Inn Fields Theatre, London
- The BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs, was broadcast for the first time today in 1942
- The Walt Disney animated movie Sleeping Beauty was released today in 1959
Family Events Today
- The American actor John Forsythe, noted for his roles in Dynasty and Charlie’s Angels, was born today in 1918 in New Jersey
- Thomas William Selleck, better known as the American actor Tom Selleck, star of Magnum PI, was born today in 1945 in Detroit
- The American talk show host Oprah Winfrey was born today in 1954 in Mississippi
Main Event Today
- The Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system, awarded for valour “in the presence of the enemy”, was established today in 1856
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Puzzle Day