World Events Today
- The first ever US patent was granted to Samuel Hopkins today in 1790, it was for an improvement “in the making of Pot ash and Pearl ash by a new Apparatus and Process”
- Two Italian mountaineers, Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli, became the first to reach the summit of K2, the world’s second highest mountain, today in 1954
- Operation Banner, the operational name for the British Armed Forces’ operation in Northern Ireland, the longest continuous deployment in British military history, ended today in 2007 after almost 38 years
Entertainment Events Today
- In a Test match between England and Australia at Old Trafford, which ended today in 1956, Jim Laker took 9 wickets for 37 runs in the first innings and 10 wickets for 53 runs in the second innings, it remains a record to this day
- “Black Tot Day” occurred today in 1970, it was the last day on which the Royal Navy issued its sailors with a daily rum ration
- The birthday of the fictional wizard Harry Potter is today, the “official” year of his birth being 1980
Family Events Today
- The Australian tennis player Evonne Fay Goolagong Cawley, who won 7 Grand Slam singles titles, was born today in 1951 in New South Wales
- The American country music singer-songwriter Jim Reeves, also known as “Gentleman Jim”, died today in 1964 aged 40
- Joanne Rowling, better known by her pen name J K Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, was born today in 1965 in Gloucestershire
Main Event Today
- The World War I Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, started today in 1917, it lasted over 3 months
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Avocado Day