Gianni Versace was murdered by a serial killer. (1997) Andrew Cunanan shot Italian fashion designer Versace twice in the head on the steps of Versace’s Miami home. Cunanan, who had no prior criminal record, began killing on April 27, 1997, when he murdered Jeffrey Trail, who was friends with Cunanan’s next victim, David Madson. Madson had been Cunanan’s lover. He killed two more people before he shot Versace. A nationwide manhunt for Cunanan ended when police found him dead on a houseboat he had broken into — he had committed suicide, but left no note. Police never found a connection between Cunanan and Versace.
The first order was placed at Ford Motor Company. (1903) The first order was placed by Ernst Pfenning, a dentist in Chicago, for a two-cylinder Model A. The automobile cost $850 US Dollars and took one week to be delivered from Detroit. Within two months, the Ford company filled another 215 orders, and in the first year it produced about 1,000 cars.
The Philadelphia Phillies lost the 10,000th Major League Baseball game. (2007) The team holds the record for the most games lost by any professional American sports team in history.
US President Jimmy Carter gave his famous energy crisis and recession speech, later called the “malaise” speech. (1979) President Carter addressed the energy crisis and subsequent recession by discussing what he felt was the greatest threat to the United States. He believed that a lack of “moral and spiritual confidence” prevented the American people from recovering from the economic hardships and said, “this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation” were the basis for the negative economic climate.
The Rosetta Stone was found. (1799) The stone, created in 196 BC, is an Egyptian artifact that has been used to help translate ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic writing. The French military found it in Rosetta, Egypt, and took it to England in 1802. It has been displayed at The British Museum ever since.
Georgia became the last Confederate state to rejoin the Union. (1870) In what is known as the Reconstruction era in the US, the 11 states that had seceded from the Union were slowly readmitted, establishing self-government and seats in the US Congress.
Austrian police in Vienna shot and killed 89 protesters. (1927) Political upheaval caused the revolt, known as the “Austrian July Revolt of 1927,” “Black Friday” and “The Massacre of July 15.” The protesters were aiming to bring down the government, police minister Johann Schober opted to address the protest with force. 89 people were killed and more than 600 injured.
MSNBC launched its cable TV and Internet access. (1996) The 24-hour news channel was established by Tom Rogers, an executive of NBC, who also helped create the station’s 50% partnership with Microsoft. The MSNBC newsroom, which cost $200 million US Dollars to build, is located in Secaucus, New Jersey.
Volcano Mount Bandai erupted in Japan, burying 500 people in burning ash. (1888) The eruption is the worst volcanic disaster in Japan’s modern history. Mount Bandai had been inactive for 1,000 years, last erupting in the year 806.
Rembrandt was born. (1606) The famous Dutch painter was born as Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn in Leiden, Netherlands. He is considered one of the most important artists in European history. His paintings and etchings were popular during his lifetime, and he enjoyed a reputation as an accomplished artist and teacher.