Historical Events 1749 - Verona Philharmonic Theatre destroyed by fire. Rebuilt 1754. 1900 - The second contingent of Canadian troops sails from Halifax to fight in South Africa against the Boers 1948 - Three of the greats of cricket make their debut in a drawn 1st Test match at Bridgetown‚ Barbados; Sir Clyde Walcott and Sir Everton Weekes for the West Indies‚ and Jim Laker for England 1972 - Mizoram‚ formerly part of Assam‚ creates an Indian union territory 1978 - Bee Gees' album "Saturday Night Fever" goes #1 for 24 weeks 1990 - 41st NHL All-Star Game‚ Civic Arena‚ Pittsburgh‚ PA: Wales beats Campbell‚ 12-7; MVP: Mario Lemieux‚ Pittsburgh Penguins‚ C More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1878 - Egon Friedell‚ Austrian journalist‚ actor and writer (Kleine Portratgalerie‚ Der Partylowe)‚ born in Vienna‚ Austria (d. 1938) 1888 - Herbie Collins‚ Australian cricket all-rounder and captain (19 Tests‚ 1‚352 runs @ 45.06‚ 4 x 100s)‚ born in Sydney‚ Australia (d. 1959) 1937 - George Flynn‚ American pianist‚ composer (Trinity)‚ and teacher (Columbia; DePaul)‚ born in Miles City‚ Montana 1971 - Tommy Puett‚ actor (Tyler-Life Goes On‚ America's Top 10)‚ born in Gary‚ Indiana 1980 - Aubrie Rippner‚ tennis star (1995 USTA National Girls 18)‚ born in Los Angeles‚ California 1988 - Felipe Neto‚ Brazilian vlogger (YouTube)‚ born in Rio de Janeiro‚ Brazil More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1118 - Pope Paschal II‚ born Raniero (1099-1118)‚ dies 1519 - Vasco Núñez de Balboa‚ Spanish explorer executed on charges of treason at about 42 [birthdate undocumented‚ born c. 1475; exact death date uncertain‚ may have been as early as 15 January) 1815 - Matthias Claudius‚ German poet (Death and the Maiden)‚ and journalist (Der Wandsbecker Bote)‚ dies at 74 1881 - Wilhelm Matthias Naeff‚ Swiss Federal Councilor (b. 1802) 1942 - Henryk OpieÅ„ski‚ Polish violinist‚ conductor‚ choral director‚ composer (Zygmunt August and Barbara)‚ and musicologist (Moniuszko)‚ dies at 72 2005 - John L. Hess‚ American journalist (b. 1917) More Famous Deaths »