In this week: 7th to 13th June

This week in history saw the discovery of the Great Barrier Reef along with a gambling debt murder in Chicago. Meanwhile 2 famous American musicians celebrate their 71st birthdays.

7^th June

250 years ago: in 1770, Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, and British Prime Minister (1812–27) was born

65 years ago: in 1955, the first episode of the television quiz show The $64,000 Question was broadcast on CBS in the USA. It was based on the radio quiz show Take It or Leave It, which began in April 1940.

Birthdays

Sir Tom Jones – Welsh singer. 80

Liam Neeson – Irish-American actor, 68.

8^th June

80 years ago: in 1940, in World War II: the British aircraft carrier HMS Glorious and the destroyers HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent were sunk by German battleships in the Norwegian Sea. (the failure to mount an effective rescue operation became a huge embarrassment for the Royal Navy.)
Click HERE for more info from HistoryToday.com

25 years ago: in 1995,

The first version of the PHP programming language was released by Greenlandic-Canadian programmer Rasmus Lerdorf. It was designed as a scripting language for web development, but has since evolved into a general-purpose programming language.

 

Birthdays

Ray Illingworth – English cricketer, 88.

Boz Scaggs – US singer, 76

9^th June

150 years ago: in 1870, British novelist Charles Dickens died aged 58 after suffering a stroke (famous for The Pickwick Papers, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, A Christmas Carol and more).

90 years ago: in 1930, a Chicago Tribune reporter, Jake Lingle was killed during the rush hour at Illinois Central train station by Leo Vincent Brothers, allegedly over a $100,000 gambling debt owed to Al Capone.

Birthdays

Patricia Cornwell – US author, 64.

Michael J Fox – Canadian actor, 59

10^th June

80 years ago: in 1940, Marcus Garvey, Jamaican-born American civil rights leader, who established the first major black nationalist movement in the USA, died in London aged 52.

20 years ago: in 2000, the Millennium Bridge in London opened. It closed again 2 days later because it swayed uncomfortably when people walked in step. It reopened in February 2002 after dampers were fitted to eliminate the problem.

Birthdays

Gordon Burns – Northern Irish broadcaster, best remembered for presenting the Krypton Factor, 78.

Elizabeth Hurley – English model and actress, 55.

11^th June

250 years ago: in 1770, English explorer Captain James Cook discovered the Great Barrier Reef off Australia when his ship ran aground on it sustaining severe damage.

65 year ago: in 1955, a car span off the track during the Le Mans 24 Hour race in France. The driver, Pierre Levegh, and 83 spectators were killed and over 100 injured. It was the greatest loss of life in the history of motorsport.

Birthdays

Frank Beard – American drummer, member of ZZ Top, 71

Hugh Laurie – English actor, 61

12^th June

470 years ago: in 1550, Helsinki, the capital of Finland (belonging to Sweden at the time) was founded by King Gustav I of Sweden.

40 years ago: in 1980, Billy Butlin, British holiday camp entrepreneur died of stomach cancer aged 80.

Birthdays

Pat Jennings - Northern Irish footballer, 75.

Javed Miandad – Pakistani cricketer, 63.

13^th June

20 years ago: in 2000, the first North-South Korean summit (the Inter-Korean Summit) was held. South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to ease tensions between the two countries.

15 years ago: in 2005, American pop singer Michael Jackson was acquitted on 10 counts of child molestation after a four-month trial.

Birthdays

Dennis Locorriere – American singer-songwriter, lead singer of Dr Hook, 71.

Ben Barba – disgraced Australian rugby league player, 31.