Donald Duck made his big debut. (1934) He debuted in the film The Wise Little Hen, where he and his friend Peter Pig learn the value of work after trying to fake stomach aches and getting caught by Mrs. Hen. Donald Duck is the third most famous cartoon character of all time, following Bugs Bunny at number two and Mickey Mouse at number one.
Heidi Fleiss, the famous Hollywood madam was arrested. (1993) Fleiss famously provided high-end prostitutes to Hollywood celebrities and was caught when she sent girls and cocaine to undercover agents posing as clients. She was arrested for pimping, narcotics possession and pandering; and ended up serving three years in prison.
The first legal corporation in the Americas, the Harvard Corporation, was established. (1650) The Harvard Corporation is one of Harvard University’s governing boards, the other being the Harvard Board of Overseers. The Harvard Corporation’s set of laws is included in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Alice Huyler Ramsey became the first woman to drive across the United States. (1909) Trekking from Manhattan, New York, to San Francisco, California, the 22-year-old New Jersey mother drove with three of her girlfriends, who didn’t know how to drive a car. She made the 3,800-mile (about 6,115-kilometer) journey in a Maxwell automobile. The Maxwell company was the successor to the Chrysler Group.
Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th home run. (2008) He became one of just six players to do so. Griffey is fifth on list of players with the most career home runs.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej takes the throne in Thailand. (1946) As the King of Thailand, he is the longest reigning monarch in Thai history.
American composer Cole Porter was born. (1891) Porter was born in Peru, Indiana. Porter’s mother faked his birth certificate, claiming he was born in 1893 because she felt the budding 14-year-old musician would be more impressive if he were 12 years old. Porter became one of the most important artists in 20th century American music.
Roman Emperor Nero married Claudia Octavia. (53) Claudia was his stepsister. He divorced and banished her in 62 on the grounds of her being infertile. This freed him to marry Poppaea, who was pregnant.
Claudia Octavia was executed. (62) Nero’s banishment of Octavia was so unpopular that he was forced to allow her to return. He almost remarried her, but had her executed instead — on the same day of the year that he had married her. After the execution, he sent her head to his current wife Poppaea.
Roman Emperor Nero committed suicide. (68) After the government proclaimed him a public enemy and announced plans to execute him by beating him to death, Nero prepared for suicide. He had his servants dig his grave, and upon hearing the hoof beats of the approaching government horsemen, he stabbed a dagger into his own throat.
A day of mourning was declared for the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. (1968) U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson made the declaration. Kennedy was shot on June 5 by Sirhan Sirhan, who was immediately arrested sentenced to life in prison.
Joseph Welsh gave McCarthy his famous rebuke. (1954) During hearings debating communism’s infiltration of the U.S. Army, Welsh said to Senator McCarthy, “You’ve done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?”
English author Charles Dickens died. (1870) Many of Dickens works were first published in an episodic fashion in weekly or monthly installments in journals and magazines. Some of his famous novels include Oliver Twist, Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints allowed black members to join. (1978) Ending a 148-year ban on allowing black men to join the Mormon priesthood, church leaders changed the policy.
American comedian Richard Pryor narrowly escaped death. (1980) A mixture of free-base cocaine exploded in his home causing near fatal burns and setting him on fire.
Queen Elizabeth opened the London Gatwick Airport (LGW). (1958) Gatwick is the second largest international airport today.