Did you know that on this day in 1613 The Globe Theatre in London, England burns to the ground or, continuing with disasters for the British, that on this day in 1950, in one of the greatest upsets in sports history, the United States defeats England during the 1950 FIFA World Cup? Also on this day, in 1974 ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov defects from the Soviet Union to Canada while on tour with Bolshoi Ballet.
Some birthdays to remember on this day are the infamous Gary Busey, American actor (1944), Theoren Fleury, Canadian ice hockey player (1968) and Kaitlyn Ashley, American pornographic actress (1971) (I confess I’ve never heard of the last of the three, but pickings were slim today and I thought it sounded like a fun one to remember).
More famous people seem to have died on this day in history, among others Elizabeth Barrett Browning, English poet (1806-1861), Paul Klee, Swiss painter (1879-1940), Jayne Mansfield, American actress (1933-1967), Pierre Balmain, French fashion designer (1914-1982), Lana Turner, American actress (1921-1995) and the astonishingly talented Katharine Hepburn, American actress (1907-2003).
Need a reason to raise a glass of bubbly today? Every little helps, so why not Independence Day, celebrating the independence of Seychelles from United Kingdom in 1976, or Haro Wine Festival (Haro, La Rioja)?
For the few other historical events you can find on this day go here.
A Glass of Bubbly 