Today in history 117 #comments

Here are some interesting events that occurred on this day in history:

117

• 1178 - The Neapolitan Coast is hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami, killing over 3,000 people.

Other notable events

• 1867 - The United States takes possession of Alaska from Russia.
• 1914 - The first electric traffic light is installed in Cleveland, Ohio.
• 1928 - The first flight of the Fokker F.VII Trimotor, a three-engine airliner, takes place.
• 1941 - The United States and the United Kingdom sign the Atlantic Charter, a joint statement outlining their goals for the post-war world.
• 1969 - The Woodstock Music & Art Fair, a three-day music festival, begins on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York.
• 1987 - The first mobile phone call is made in the United Kingdom, by Michael Harrison, a British engineer.

Birthdays

• 1178 - Emperor Go-Toba of Japan (d. 1239)
• 1867 - John Jacob Raskob, American businessman and politician (d. 1950)
• 1928 - John Glenn, American astronaut and politician
• 1941 - John McVie, British musician (Fleetwood Mac)
• 1954 - Steve Vai, American musician

Deaths

• 1178 - Emperor Takakura of Japan (b. 1161)
• 1941 - Henrietta Lacks, American woman whose cancer cells were used in medical research (b. 1920)
• 1987 - John Huston, American film director and actor (b. 1906)

I hope you find these events interesting!