July 4

Today in American History

Historical Events

1636 City of Providence, Rhode Island form

Fort Necessity

1754 George Washington gives Fort Necessity to France

First US President and Founding Father George Washington

1774 Orangetown Resolutions adopted in the Province of New York, one of many protests against the British Parliament's Coercive Acts

Declaration of Independence Proclaimed

1776 US Congress proclaims the Declaration of Independence and independence from Great Britain

Thomas Jefferson presents the Declaration of Independence to John Hancock, president of the Congress. This painting by John Trumbull is kept in the Capitol building in Washington DC.

1789 1st US tariff act signed by President Washington

Louisiana Purchase

1803 The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people by President Thomas Jefferson

3rd US President and Founding Father Thomas Jefferson

1817 Chief Engineer James Geddes begins construction on the Erie Canal, (Rome, New York), one of the first great engineering works in North America

Jefferson and Adams Die the Same Day

1826 Past presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both die on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, President John Quincy Adams calls "visible and palpable remarks of Divine Favor"

Engrossed copy of the United States Declaration of Independence

1827 Slavery abolished in New York
1828 Construction begins on B & O (Baltimore-Ohio) 1st US passenger RR
1831 "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)", with lyric by Samuel Francis Smith, has 1st public performance at Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts
1836 Wisconsin Territory forms
1838 Iowa Territory is organised from Wisconsin Territory, lasting until 1846

Thoreau On Walden Pond

1845 American philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau moves into his shack on Walden Pond

Naturalist and Pacifist Henry David Thoreau

1845 Texas Congress votes for annexation to US

Leaves of Grass

1855 In Brooklyn, New York, the first edition of Walt Whitman's book of poems, "Leaves of Grass" is published

1861 Skirmish at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia
1863 Boise, Idaho, founded (now capital of Idaho)
1863 Failed Confederate assault on Helena Arkansas (640 casualties)

Withdrawal from Gettsburg

1863 General Lee's army withdraws from Gettysburg

1863 Vicksburg, Mississippi surrenders to Union forces
1866 Firecracker thrown in wood starts fire destroying half of Portland, Maine, US

Tuskegee Institute

1881 Booker T. Washington establishes Tuskegee Institute (Alabama)

1883 Buffalo Bill Cody presents 1st wild west show, North Platte, Nebraska
1888 1st organized rodeo competition held, Prescott, Arizona
1889 Washington state constitutional convention holds 1st meeting
1894 Republic of Hawaii proclaimed, Sanford B Dole as president
1895 Katherine Lee Bates publishes "America the Beautiful"
1898 US flag hoisted over Wake Island (Spanish–American War)

1st Governor-General of the Philippines

1901 Former US Federal judge William Howard Taft is installed as the 1st Governor-General of the Philippines, declares an amnesty for all insurgents who take an oath of allegiance

Civil Government

1902 Civil government is established in the Philippines by a proclamation from US President Theodore Roosevelt, who offers a general amnesty to insurgents

1903 Pacific Cable (San Francisco, Hawaii, Guam, Philippines) opens, President Theodore Roosevelt sends a message

Waddell, Young Match-up

1905 Baseball Hall of Fame pitchers Rube Waddell (A's) and Cy Young (Boston) matchup in 20-inning classic; Philadelphia win, 4-2

Burns KOs Squires

1907 Canadian world heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Burns KOs Bill Squires of Australia in round 1 in Colma, California, his 6th title defense

Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion Tommy Burns

1908 MLB New York Giants pitcher George "Hooks" Wiltse no-hits Philadelphia Phillies, 1-0 in 10 inning; missed a perfect game by hitting one batter with a pitch (Polo Grounds, NYC)

Fight of the Century

1910 "Fight of the Century": Jack Johnson beats James J. Jeffries by TKO in 15 in Reno, Nevada to retain his world heavyweight boxing title

World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Johnson

Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion James J. Jeffries

1911 105°F (41°C) at Vernon, Vermont (state record)
1911 106°F (41°C) at Nashua, New Hampshire (state record)

Cobb's Winning Streak Halted

1911 Chicago White Sox pitcher Ed Walsh halts Ty Cobb's 40-game hitting streak as Cobb goes 0 for 4 in a 7-3 win over Detroit Tigers at Bennett Park

Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher and Manager Ed Walsh

1912 Jack Johnson beats "Fireman" Jim Flynn by disqualification in 9 in Las Vegas to retain world heavyweight boxing title
1918 Altar dedicated at full-scale replica of Stonehenge at Maryhill, Washington

Dempsey vs Willard

1919 Jack Dempsey beats champion Jess Willard, retired in 3rd round in Toledo, Ohio for world heavyweight championship

Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Dempsey

1923 Jack Dempsey beats Tommy Gibbons on points over 15 hard fought rounds in Shelby, Montana to retain world heavyweight boxing title
1925 MLB New York Yankees Herb Pennock beats Philadelphia A's Lefty Grove 1-0 in 15 innings in first game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium
1929 AM radio station WOWO, Indiana's transmitter burns down

Wimbledon Women's Championship

1930 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Helen Moody wins 4th straight Wimbledon singles beating fellow American Elizabeth Ryan 6-2, 6-2

Atomic Chain-reaction Patented

1934 Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard patents the chain-reaction design for the atomic bomb

1936 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: American Helen Jacobs wins her only Wimbledon title beating Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling 6-2, 4-6, 7-5

Gehrig 1st Number Retired

1939 Lou Gehrig is first MLB player to have his number (4) retired on his "Appreciation Day" at Yankee Stadium, makes iconic "luckiest man" speech

1942 1st American bombing missions over Nazi Germany-occupied Europe (WWII)

Best Foot Forward

1942 Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane's musical "Best Foot Forward", starring June Allyson, with choreography by Gene Kelly, closes at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, NYC, after 326 performances

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima

1944 1st Japanese kamikaze attack, US fleet near Iwo Jima

United States Marines raise the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi, during the Battle of Iwo Jima

1945 Field Marshal Henry Maitland Wilson gives Britain's agreement to use the atomic bomb against Japan at the Combined Policy Committee in Washington D. C.

Wimbledon Men's Championship

1947 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: Jack Kramer wins his only Wimbledon singles title beating fellow American Tom Brown 6-1, 6-3, 6-2

1950 Harry Truman signs public law 600 (Puerto Ricans write own constitution)
1953 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Maureen Connolly wins 3rd leg of her Grand Slam beating fellow American Doris Hart 8-6, 7-5
1956 US most intense rain fall (1.23" in 1 minute) at Unionville Maryland
1959 America's new 49-star flag honoring Alaska statehood unfurled
1959 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Maria Bueno of Brazil wins her first of 3 Wimbledon singles titles beating Darlene Hard 6-4, 6-3
1960 America's new 50-star flag honoring Hawaiian statehood unfurled

LPGA Championship

1960 LPGA Championship Women's Golf, Sheraton Hotel CC: Mickey Wright wins by 3 from Louise Suggs

Golfer and Co-Founder of the LPGA Louise Suggs

Baseball Record

1960 Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle hits 3-run homer vs Washington, 18th MLB player to hit 300 HRs

US Women's Golf Open

1965 US Open Women's Golf, Atlantic City CC: Carol Mann wins by 2 shots from fellow American Kathy Cornelius

Event of Interest

1966 LBJ signs Freedom of Information Act

Event of Interest

1968 Arthur Kopit's "Indians" premieres in London

Music History

1969 140,000 attend 2-day Atlanta Pop Festival in Byron, Georgia; performers include: Janis Joplin; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Chicago; Led Zeppelin; Delaney and Bonnie; Creedence Clearwater Revival, Canned Heat; Joe Cocker; Chuck Berry; Spirit; and Johnny Winter

1969 The Ohio Fireworks Derecho kills 18 Ohioans and destroys over 100 boats on Lake Erie.
1969 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Home favourite Ann Jones upsets 3-time defending champion Billie Jean King 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

Radio Premiere

1970 Casey Kasem's "American Top 40" debuts on LA radio

1974 Mike Marshall goes 9-0 with 3 saves in 20 appearances in 30 days

Event of Interest

1975 Ted Bundy victim Nancy Baird disappears from Layton, Utah

1975 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Billie Jean King outclasses Evonne Goolagong 6-0, 6-1 for her 6th Wimbledon singles title

Baseball Record

1980 Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros) fans Reds' Cesar Geronimo to become 4th pitcher to 3,000 MLB strikeouts

1980 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley beats Chris Evert 6-1, 7-6 for her 3rd Wimbledon singles crown
1981 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: John McEnroe ends Björn Borg's streak of 5 straight Wimbledon titles with a famous 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory

Canadian Women's Open

1982 Canadian Open Women's Golf (Peter Jackson Classic), St George's CC: Sandra Haynie wins by 1 shot from Beth Daniel

1982 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: In an all-American classic final, Jimmy Connors beats John McEnroe 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 for his second and final Wimbledon title

Sports History

1983 NY Yankee pitcher Dave Righetti no-hits the Boston Red Sox, 4-0 at Yankee Stadium

Baseball Record

1984 New York Yankees pitcher Phil Niekro strikes out Larry Parish (Texas Rangers) to become the 9th player to reach the 3,000 MLB strikeout milestone

Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher Phil Niekro

Farm Aid Concert

1986 Farm Aid II benefit concert held in Manor, Texas; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, Nicolette Larson, Los Lobos, and Steve Earle [1]

Country Singer and Songwriter Willie Nelson

Sports History

1988 After a poor start to the season Kansas City Royals release Dan Quisenberry (record 5-time AL saves leader)

Film & TV History

1989 14-year-old actress Drew Barrymore, attempts suicide

1990 400 New Kids on the Block fans treated for heat exhaustion in Minnesota
1992 John Phillips, rocker (Mamas & Papas), undergoes a liver transplant
1992 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Steffi Graf wins her 4th of 7 Wimbledon singles titles outclassing Monica Seles 6-2, 6-1
1993 Pilar Fort crowned 25th Miss Black America
1993 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: Pete Sampras beats fellow American Jim Courier 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 for his first of 7 Wimbledon titles
1995 Birmingham Barracudas (based in Alabama) play 1st CFL game beating Winnipeg 38-10 but failed experiment only lasts one season
1999 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: In an all-American final, Pete Sampras beats Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 for his third straight Wimbledon title
2000 Canadian jockey Russell Baze scores his 7,000th career victory aboard This Is the Moment at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, California

Sports History

2003 LA Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant is arrested in Eagle, Colorado for sexual assault, charges eventually dismissed

2004 US Open Women's Golf, Orchards GC: Meg Mallon shoots final round 65 (−6) to win her second US title, 2 strokes ahead of runner-up Annika Sörenstam of Sweden
2004 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: Roger Federer wins the second of 5 straight Wimbledon singles titles beating American Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-4
2009 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Serena Williams beats older sister Venus 7-6, 6-2 for her 3rd Wimbledon singles title
2018 Wildfire in Yolo county, California, grows to 82,700 acres with 2,800 fire fighters battling the blaze
2019 Largest earthquake in California in 20 years 6.4 magnitude near Ridgecrest
2019 Record temperatures in Alaska as Anchorage reaches 90F (32C)

Event of Interest

2019 US President Donald Trump holds a “Salute to America” Fourth of July celebration in Washington, D.C., controversial for its emphasis on the military and presence of tanks

45th US President, Businessman and TV Personality Donald Trump

American History Timeline

Famous Birthdays

1756 William Rush, American sculptor (Spirit of the Schuylkill), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1833)

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)

American author (House of 7 Gables, The Scarlet Letter), born in Salem, Massachusetts

1816 Hiram Walker, American entrepreneur and founder of the Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd. distillery, born in East Douglas, Massachusetts (d. 1899)
1819 Reuben Fenton, American merchant and politician (22nd Governor of New York), born in Carroll, New York (d. 1885)
1826 Green Clay Smith, American politician and Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Richmond, Kentucky (d. 1895)

Stephen Foster (1826-1864)

American composer (Oh! Susanna; Swanee River; Beautiful Dreamer), born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania

1828 J. Johnston Pettigrew, American lawyer and Confederate General in the American Civil War, born in Tyrrell County, North Carolina (d. 1863)
1840 James McGranahan, American composer, born in Adamsville, Pennsylvania (d. 1907)

James Anthony Bailey (1847-1906)

American circus ringmaster and showman (Barnum & Bailey), born in Detroit, Michigan

1867 Stephen Mather, American industrialist and conservationist (organized US National Park Service), born in San Francisco, California (d. 1930)
1868 Henrietta Swan Leavitt, American astronomer (period-luminosity relation), born in Lancaster, Massachusetts (d. 1921)

Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933)

30th US President (Republican: 1923-29), born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont

1876 William Farnum, American actor (Spoilers, Man who Fights Alone), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1953)
1880 George Mullin, American baseball pitcher (Detroit Tigers; no-hitter 1912), born in Toledo, Ohio (d. 1944)
1881 Ulysses S. Grant III, American soldier and planner, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1968)

Rube Goldberg (1883-1970)

American cartoonist who made the easy outrageously difficult (Pulitzer Prize 1948), born in San Francisco, California

1894 Henry "Doc" Carlson, American Basketball Hall of Fame collegiate coach (University of Pittsburgh, 1922-53: 367–248 [.597]), originated figure 8 play, born in Murray City, Ohio (d. 1964)
1898 Johnny Lee, American actor (Song of the South, The Amos 'n' Andy Show), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1965)
1898 Pilar Barbosa, Puerto Rican historian and political activist, born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico (d. 1997)

George Murphy (1902-1992)

American politician (US Senator, California), actor and dancer (MGM Parade), born in New Haven, Connecticut

Meyer Lansky (1902-1983)

Polish-born American mobster known as the "Mob's Accountant", born in Grodno, Russian Empire

1902 Vince Barnett, American actor (Star is Born, Human Jungle), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1977)
1904 Seger Ellis, American jazz pianist, pop vocalist, songwriter, and bandleader, born in Houston, Texas (d. 1995) [1]
1905 Irving Johnson, American sail training pioneer and adventurer, born in Hadley, Massachusetts (d. 1991)
1906 Vincent Joseph Schaefer, American chemist and meteorologist (cloud seeding), born in Schenectady, New York (d. 1993)
1907 Elliott Sullivan, American actor (The Persuaders!, Fury Below, Sergeant), born in San Antonio, Texas (d. 1974)
1907 Gordon Griffith, American silent and sound screen child actor, first to portray Tarzan on film (as Young Tarzan in "Tarzan of the Apes" (1918)), assistant director, and film producer, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1958)
1907 Howard Taubman, American music and theater critic, born in Manhattan, New York (d. 1996)
1910 (William Thomas) "Champion Jack" Dupree, American boxer, blues and boogie-woogie pianist, singer-songwriter (Walkin' The Blues), and WWII P.O.W., born in Irish Channel, New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1992)
1910 Francis D. Foley, US Rear Admiral (WW II, Guadalcanal), born in Dorchester, Massachusetts (d. 1999)

Gloria Stuart (1910-2010)

American actress (Titanic) and founder of the Screen Actors Guild, born in Santa Monica, California

1911 Mitch Miller, American oboist and recording producer (Sing Along with Mitch), born in Rochester, New York (d. 2010)
1915 Timmie Rogers, American comedian (The Jackie Gleason Show), actor and singer-songwriter ("Back to School Again"; "I Love Ya, I Love Ya, I Love Ya"), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2006)
1918 Abigail Van Buren [Pauline Phillips], American columnist and radio show host known for "Dear Abby" advice column, twin sister of fellow advice columnist Ann Landers (Eppie Lederer), born in Sioux City, Iowa (d. 2013)
1918 Ann Landers [Eppie Lederer], American advice columnist "Ask Ann Landers," twin sister of fellow advice columnist "Dear Abby" (Abigail Van Buren), born in Sioux City, Iowa (d. 2002)
1918 Buster Davis, American choral director (Garry Moore Show), born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania (d. 1987)
1918 Johnnie Parsons, American auto racer (Indianapolis 500, 1950; AAA/USAC Championship, 1949), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1984)
1920 Leona Helmsley, American real estate billionaire convicted of federal income tax evasion, born in Marbletown, New York (d. 2007)
1920 Norm Drucker, American basketball referee (NBA Supervisor of Officials 1977–81; ABA Supervisor of the Officials 1969–73), born in New York City (d. 2015)
1924 Eva Marie Saint, American actress and producer (On the Waterfront, North by Northwest, People Like Us), born in Newark, New Jersey
1926 Mary Stuart, American actress (Jo-Search for Tomorrow), born in Miami, Florida (d. 2002)

Neil Simon (1927-2018)

American playwright (The Odd Couple, Plaza Suite, Biloxi Blues), born in The Bronx, New York

1928 Cathy Berberian, American mezzo-soprano and composer (Stripsody), born in Attleboro, Massachusetts (d. 1983)

Al Davis (1929-2011)

American businessman and NFL executive (owner Oakland Raiders), born in Brockton, Massachusetts

1929 Chuck Tanner, American baseball manager (World Series 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates; Chicago WS, Oakland A's, Atlanta Braves), born in New Castle, Pennsylvania (d. 2011)

George Steinbrenner (1930-2010)

American businessman and MLB team owner (New York Yankees), born in Rocky River, Ohio

1931 Rick Casares, American NFL fullback (Chicago Bears), born in Tampa, Florida (d. 2013)
1933 Rufus "Freight Train" Jones [Carey Lloyd], American professional wrestler, born in Dillon, South Carolina (d. 1993)
1936 Richard "Dick" Hyde, American trombonist and session musician (Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, Madonna), born in Lansing, Michigan
1937 Thomas Nagel, American philosopher and University Professor of Philosophy and Law Emeritus at New York University, born in Belgrade, Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Bill Withers (1938-2020)

American singer-songwriter and rhythm & blues musician ("Ain't No Sunshine"; "Lean On Me"), born in Slab Fork, West Virginia

1939 Ed Bernard, American actor (Joe-Police Woman, Jim-White Shadow), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1940 Karolyn Grimes, American actress (It's a Wonderful Life; The Bishop's Wife), born in Hollywood, California
1941 Brian Willson, American peace activist, born in New York
1941 Sergio Oliva, American body builder (The Myth, IFBB Mr. Olympia, 1967-9), born in Havana, Cuba (d. 2012)
1942 Hal Lanier, American MLB baseball player, 1964-73 (San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees), born in Denton, North Carolina
1943 Alan Wilson, American rock guitarist and vocalist (Canned Heat - "Going Up The Country"), born in Arlington, Massachusetts (d. 1970)

Geraldo Rivera (81st Birthday)

1943 American news personality (20/20, Geraldo), born in New York City

1944 Harvey Brooks [Goldstein], American rock, blues, and folk session bassist (Bob Dylan; The Electric Flag), and record producer (Karen Dalton), born in Manhattan, New York
1946 Ed O'Ross, American actor (Full Metal Jacket), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1946 Michael Milken, American financier and partner (Intl Capital Access Group), born in Los Angeles, California
1946 Ron Kovic, American anti-war activist and writer (Born on the Fourth of July), born in Ladysmith, Wisconsin
1947 Bill Schnee, American Grammy and Emmy Award-winning audio engineer (Steely Dan; Bette Midler; Natalie Cole), and music producer (Pablo Cruise; Huey Lewis; Boz Scaggs), born in Phoenix, Arizona
1947 Morganna Roberts, Baseball's kissing bandit, born in Louisville, Kentucky
1949 Tonio K. [Steven Krikorian], American singer (Romeo Unchained; 16 Tons of Monkeys), born in Palm Desert, California
1951 Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, American Democratic politician and Lieutenant Governor of Maryland (1995-2003), born in Greenwich, Connecticut
1951 Ralph Johnson, American rock drummer (Earth Wind & Fire - "Shining Star"), born in Los Angeles, California
1954 Jim Beattie, American baseball pitcher (NY Yankees), born in Hampton, Virginia
1959 Bill McCorvey, American country singer (Pirates of Mississippi - "Feed Jake"), born in Montgomery, Alabama
1960 Sid Eudy, American professional wrestler, born in West Memphis, Arkansas
1961 Connie Paraskevin-Young, American sprint cyclist (Olymp-br-88, 92, 96), born in Detroit, Michigan
1961 Richard Allen Garriott, English-American computer game designer (Origin), born in Austin, Texas
1962 Pam Shriver, American tennis star (1991 US Open doubles/Olympic gold 1988), born in Baltimore, Maryland
1963 José Oquendo, Puerto Rican baseball player, born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
1964 Cle Kooiman, American soccer defender (12 caps; Cruz Azul, Atlético Morelia, Tampa Bay Mutiny), born in Ontario, California
1964 Mark Allen Slaughter, American guitarist (Slaughter-Stick it Live), born in Las Vegas, Nevada
1964 Mark Whiting, American filmmaker and actor, born in Birmingham, Michigan
1966 Adrian Caldwell, American NBA forward/center (Indiana Pacers), born in Falls County, Texas
1966 Lee Reherman, American actor, born in Louisville, Kentucky (d. 2016)
1967 Vinny Castilla, Mexican baseball infielder (Colorado Rockies), born in Oaxaca, Mexico
1968 Jack Frost [John Dempsey], American heavy metal guitarist (Seven Witches), born in Jersey City, New Jersey
1968 Mark Lenzi, American 3m spring diver (Olympic gold 1992), born in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (d. 2012)
1970 Louise Van Voorhis, American 470 sailor (Olympic 4th 1992, 96), born in Rochester, New York
1972 William Goldsmith, American drummer (Foo Fighters; Sunny Day Real Estate), born in Seattle, Washington
1973 Michael Johnson, English-born Jamaican footballer, born in St. Louis, Missouri
1974 La'Roi Glover, American football player, born in San Diego, California
1978 Becki Newton, American actress, born in New Haven, Connecticut
1980 Max Elliott Slade, American film actor, born in Pasadena, California
1980 Muhammad Ali Hasan, American filmmaker, born in Pueblo, Colorado
1983 Andy Mrotek, American musician (The Academy Is...), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1983 Ben Jorgensen, American musician, born in Teaneck, New Jersey
1984 Gina Glocksen, American singer, born in Tinley Park, Illinois
1986 Terrance Knighton, American NFL Player, born in Hartford, Connecticut

Post Malone (29th Birthday)

1995 American singer and songwriter (Stoney), born in Syracuse, New York

1857 William L. Marcy, American statesman, dies at 70
1863 Paul Joseph Revere, American grandson of Paul Revere, Brigadier General (Union Army), dies at 30
1882 Joseph Brackett, American religious leader (Shakers) and composer (Simple Gifts), dies at 85
1891 Hannibal Hamlin, American attorney and 15th Vice President of U.S. (1861-65), dies at 81
1901 John Fiske [Edmund Fisk Green], American historian and philosopher, dies at 59
1901 Julian Scott, American artist and Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, dies at 55
1910 Melville Fuller, American 8th Chief Justice of the United States, dies at 77
1916 Alan Seeger, American war poet (b. 1888)
1952 Walter Long, American actor (Moby-Dick, Sheik, Sea Devils, Dragnet Patrol), dies at 73
1957 Gregory Lafayette, American actor, dies at 19 from injuries sustained in a car crash that killed his wife, actress Judy Tyler (24), the day earlier
1961 William Franklin "Frank" Smith, American actor (Cowboy & Bandit, Scarlet Car, Frontier Days), dies of lung cancer at 83
1962 Rex Bell [George Francis Beldam], American cowboy actor (Cowboys & Injuns) and 21st Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, dies from a heart attack at 58
1963 Grant Richards, American actor (Doug-Doorway to Danger), dies at 48
1964 Hank Sylvern [Henry Silverstein], American organist, radio and television theme composer and musical director (Suspense; Jane Froman's USA Canteen; The Phil Silvers Show), dies at 56
1966 Dorothy Aldis, American children's writer, dies at 70
1970 Barnett Newman, American abstract expressionist painter (Black Fire I), dies at 65
1970 Harold Vanderbilt, American yachtsman and America's Cup winner (1930, 34, 37), dies at 85
1971 August Derleth, American writer (Judge Peck Mysteries) and editor, dies of a heart attack at 62
1971 Don McPherson, American R&B singer (The Main Ingredient - "Everybody Plays the Fool"), dies of leukemia at 29
1983 Claus Adam, American composer and cellist (Juilliard Quartet), dies at 65
1984 Jimmie Spheeris, American singer-songwriter ("You Must Be Laughing Somewhere"; "Let It Flow"), dies when his motorcycle is struck by drunken driver at 34
1988 Adrian Adonis [Keith A. Franke Jr.], American professional wrestler, killed in auto accident at 34
1989 Vic Perrin, American actor (Mission: Impossible), dies at 73
1990 Ludi Claire, American actress, dies at 70
1992 Joe Newman, American jazz trumpetist (Count Basie), dies at 69
1994 Joey Marella, American professional wrestling referee (b. 1964)
1995 Bob Ross, American artist and television host, dies at 52
1995 Eva Gabor, Hungarian-born American actress (Green Acres'"Lisa";, Gigi), comedian, singer and socialite, dies at 76
1997 Charles Kuralt, American news anchor (CBS Sunday Morning), dies at 62
1999 Leo Garel, American artist and cartoonist (b.1917)
1999 Ronny Graham [Stringer], American composer, lyricist, screenwriter (M*A*S*H (TV series), and actor (Chico & the Man; Mel Brooks films), dies of liver disease at 79
1999 Ruby Johnson, American singer (I'll Run Your Hurt Away), dies at 63
2002 Benjamin O. Davis Jr., American general (b. 1912)
2002 Winnifred Quick, American Titanic survivor (b. 1904)

Barry White (1944-2003)

American singer ("Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe"; "You're The First, The Last, My Everything"), dies at 58

2005 Hank Stram, American Pro Football Hall of Fame coach (KC Chiefs Super Bowl 1970), dies of diabetes complications at 82
2005 John Stubblefield, American jazz saxophonist, flute and oboe player (Mingus Big Band), dies at 60
2005 June Haver [Stovenour], American actress (Dolly Sisters, Girl Next Door), dies at 79
2007 Bill Pinkney, American bass vocalist (Drifters - "Ruby Baby"), dies of a heart attack at 81
2008 Evelyn Keyes, American actress (Gone With The Wind), dies at 91
2008 Jesse Helms, American politician (Senator -D/R-North Carolina, 1973-2003), dies at 86
2008 Terrence Kiel, American Football Player (b. 1980)
2008 Thomas M. Disch, American sci-fi author (Genocides, 102 H-Bombs), dies at 68
2009 Allen Klein, American record label executive (b. 1931)
2009 Brenda Joyce [Betty Graffina Leabo], American actress (Tarzan, The Rains Came), dies of complications from pneumonia at 92
2009 Drake Levin, American rock musician (b. 1946)
2009 Jim Chapin, American jazz drummer, and author, dies at 89
2009 Steve McNair, American NFL quarterback (Houston Oilers, Titans), dies of gunshot woulds at 36
2012 Jimmy Bivins [James], American Hall of Fame boxer, dies from pneumonia at 92
2012 Larance Marable, American jazz drummer (Charlie Haden's Quartet West; Stan Getz; Groove Holmes), dies at 83
2017 Gene Conley, American baseball pitcher (4 x MLB All Star; Boston/Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies) and basketball forward (NBA C'ship 1959–1961; Boston Celtics), dies at 86
2021 Dicky Maegle [born Moegle], American College Football HOF halfback (Rice Uni; Pro Bowl 1955, SF 49ers) and broadcaster (color announcer Houston Oilers), dies at 86 [1]
2021 Eddie Payne, American college basketball coach (USC Upstate, Oregon State Uni, Greensboro College), dies from a stroke at 69
2021 Sanford Clark, American country-rockabilly singer and guitarist ("The Fool"; "Son Of A Gun"), dies of COVID-19 while undergoing cancer treatment at 85
2021 Terry Donahue, American College Football Hall of Fame coach (head coach UCLA 1976-96, record 151–74–8; Pac-10 Coach of the Year 1985, 93), dies from cancer at 77
2022 Hank Goldberg, American sports broadcaster (radio colour commentator Miami Dolphins 1978-92; ESPN2, ESPN Radio), dies from chronic kidney disease at 82