Today In History

Today in History - Jul. 6

By The Associated Press The Associated Press
Friday, July 6, 2012 12:00 AM EDT
  • Email
  • Print

Today is Friday, July 6, the 188th day of 2012. There are 178 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On July 6, 1962, Nobel Prize-winning American author William Faulkner, one of the giants of Southern literature, died in Byhalia, Miss., at age 64.

On this date:

In 1535, St. Thomas More was executed in England for high treason.

In 1777, during the American Revolution, British forces captured Fort Ticonderoga.

In 1885, French scientist Louis Pasteur tested an anti-rabies vaccine on 9-year-old Joseph Meister, who had been bitten by an infected dog; the boy did not develop rabies.

In 1917, during World War I, Arab forces led by T.E. Lawrence and Auda Abu Tayi captured the port of Aqaba (AH'-kah-buh) from the Turks.

In 1933, the first All-Star baseball game was played at Chicago's Comiskey Park; the American League defeated the National League, 4-2.

In 1942, Anne Frank, her parents and sister entered a "secret annex" in an Amsterdam building where they were later joined by four other people; they hid from Nazi occupiers for two years before being betrayed and arrested.

In 1944, an estimated 168 people died in a fire that broke out during a performance in the main tent of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Hartford, Conn.

In 1945, President Harry S. Truman signed an executive order establishing the Medal of Freedom.

In 1957, Althea Gibson became the first black tennis player to win a Wimbledon singles title as she defeated fellow American Darlene Hard 6-3, 6-2.

In 1967, war erupted as Nigeria sent troops into the secessionist state of Biafra.

In 1971, jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong died in New York at age 69.

In 1988, 167 North Sea oil workers were killed when a series of explosions and fires destroyed a drilling platform.

Ten years ago: Gunmen assassinated Afghan Vice President Abdul Qadir (kah-DEER'), who was considered key to U.S.-backed efforts to stabilize the war-fractured nation. Serena Williams beat older sister Venus 7-6 (4), 6-3 to win her first Wimbledon title and second straight Grand Slam tournament. Movie director John Frankenheimer died in Los Angeles; he was 72.


Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Rating:
  • Currently 0/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Email
  • Print

Video

Victim: Why won't Madoff stop talking? Play

Victim: Why won't Madoff stop talking?

Mike DeVita, a victim of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme,...

Play Video

Bernard Madoff: I live with remorse Play

Bernard Madoff: I live with remorse

CNN's Aaron Smith talks with Poppy Harlow about his...

Play Video

Peek inside Jodi Arias' jail cell Play

Peek inside Jodi Arias' jail cell

HLN's Jane Velez-Mitchell takes you inside the jail cell...

Play Video

Source: Tsarnaev wrote note while hiding Play

Source: Tsarnaev wrote note while hiding

Susan Candiotti shares some of the details of the...

Play Video

Slideshow

AP

Missing Women Escape

The amazing story of 3 Ohio women who escaped torture after being held captive for over a decade.

Most Popular

Watch Now

Play
 

Flash is required to view this content. Please install the Adobe Flash Player.

Quick Vote


Do you think the Obama administration was involved in the unfair targeting of conservative groups by the IRS?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Unsure