n Genoa, Italy seafarer Christopher Columbus is born. The other possible date of his birth is 25. July.
In 1821 Russian writer Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, one of the greatest writers of the 19th century, is born. His best known work is Crime and Punishment. In 1849 due to his participation in the revolutionary Petrashevsky Circle he was sentenced to death. Just before his execution, his sentence was commuted to four years of hard labour in Siberia.
In 1885 writer Ezra Pound is born. In 1941 on the radio he led fascist propaganda against the American system; he was arrested and accused of high treason. He was not executed because psychiatrists declared he was mentally ill.
In 1922 Benitto Mussolini is elected Prime Minister of Italy.
In 1938 In New York a play by the young director Orson Welles entitled 'War of the Worlds' is put on air. The play was well directed and played so realistically that the audience, who did not hear the beginning of the play, took it very seriously. This resulted in hysterical crowds and many injured. Since then Orson Welles has been celebrated by many as a national hero, but many have also wanted to kill him.
In 1944 Ana Frank is deported from Auschwitz to the concentration camp Bergen-Belsen.
In 1947 the WTO (World Trade Organisation) is established.
In 1960 footballer Diego Maradona is born.
MUSIC HISTORY
1971 - John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band are at the top of the British albums chart with 'Imagine'. Along with the title song Imagine on the album are also 'Crippled Inside' and in an attack against Paul McCartney 'How Do You Sleep'.
1982 – Australian group Men At Work is No.1 on the American singles chart with 'Who Can It Be Now''.
1983 – at the top of the British singles chart is 'Karma Chameleon' by Culture Club.
BORN ON THIS DAY
1939 - Grace Slick, singer in the group Jefferson Airplane and Starship (1987 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now').
1939 - Otis Williams, singer in the group The Temptations (1971 'Just My Imagination' and 'My Girl').