1981

Today in History 08/12 (Cleopatra)

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Detail of the painting 'The Suicide of Cleopatra' (© DeAgostini/Getty Images)(30 BCE) Queen of the Nile dies
With her partner Mark Antony already dead by his own hand and her country controlled by Octavian’s Roman forces, Egyptian ruler Cleopatra VII kills herself by either drinking poison or suffering the bite of an asp (historians will differ on the cause of death). The last of the Ptolemaic Dynasty’s active pharaohs will not be lost to the ages.
Cleopatra VII Philopator was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, nominally survived as pharaoh by her son Caesarion. She was also a diplomat, naval commander, polyglot, and medical author. As a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, she was a descendant of its founder, Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian Greek general and companion of Alexander the Great. After the death of Cleopatra, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire, marking the end of the Hellenistic period that had lasted since the reign of Alexander. Her native language was Koine Greek and she was the first Ptolemaic ruler to learn the Egyptian language.
Born: 69 BC · Alexandria, Egypt
Children: Caesarion (Son) · Cleopatra Selene II (Daughter) · Alexander Helios (Son) · Ptolemy Philadelphus (Son)
Siblings: Ptolemy XIV of Egypt (Brother) · Berenice IV of Egypt (Sister) · Arsinoe IV of Egypt (Sister) · Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator (Brother) · Cleopatra VI of Egypt (Sister)
Parents: Ptolemy XII Auletes (Father) · Cleopatra V of Egypt (Mother)
Buried: Tomb of Antony and Cleopatra

The Death of Cleopatra
The Death of Cleopatra (1658), by Guido Cagnacci
wiki/Cleopatra
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(30 BCE) Queen of the Nile dies.
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1676 | Native American leader killed in early clash with colonists
Decades of peace between Plymouth’s English colonists and local Native American tribes has come to an end, and the Wampanoags’ war chief Metacomet, or ‘King Philip,’ is launching raids against the settlers. Metacomet meets his end today at the hand of a Native American fighting with the English.
1981 | IBM makes it personal with the 5150 computer
$1,565 will get you 16K of RAM, a 4.77 MHz CPU, and DOS 1.0 on IBM’s new entry into the marketplace, a machine marketed as a personal computer, or ‘PC.’ Open standards mean third parties can write software or build peripherals, which will contribute to the 5150’s huge success.
1990 | Last-minute look yields largest T. rex ever found
While waiting for her truck’s flat tire to be fixed, paleontologist Sue Hendrickson notices a few small bones in an area her group had not explored during their western South Dakota dig. What will be uncovered is the biggest, and most complete, T. rex skeleton yet discovered.

Today in History 08/12/17

IBM 5150 personal computer (© SSPL/Getty Images)(1981) IBM makes it personal with the 5150 computer
$1,565 will get you 16K of RAM, a 4.77 MHz CPU, and DOS 1.0 on IBM's new entry into the marketplace, a machine marketed as a personal computer, or 'PC.' Open standards mean third parties can write software or build peripherals, which will contribute to the 5150's huge success.
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981. It was created by a team of engineers and designers under the direction of Don Estridge of the IBM Entry Systems Division in Boca Raton, Florida.
Inventor: Philip Don Estridge
IBM PC Motherboard (1981)
Original IBM Personal Computer motherboard, IBM 5150. It has five 8-bit Industry Standard Architecture slots, and two DIN connectors for keyboard and cassette interface.

wiki/IBM_Personal_Computer
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Today in History 08/01 (Federal Charter of 1291)

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Fireworks over the Jet d'Eau fountain during a Swiss National Day celebration in Geneva (© Valentin Flauraud/Reuters)(1291) Agreement lays groundwork for modern Switzerland
Sometime in early August, the Federal Charter of 1291 is signed, documenting the alliance of the three cantons in central Switzerland. While the exact date is unknown, years later it will be regarded as the founding of Switzerland and the basis for celebrating Swiss National Day on August 1.
The Federal Charter or Letter of Alliance documents the Eternal Alliance or League of the Three Forest Cantons, the union of three cantons in what is now central Switzerland. It is dated in early August 1291 and initiates the current 1 August Swiss National Day. This agreement, in Latin, cites a previous similar pact. It is currently exhibited at the Museum of the Swiss Charters of Confederation in Schwyz.
The Swiss Federal Charter of 1291
The Swiss Federal Charter of 1291, Union of three cantons in what is now central Switzerland
wiki/Federal_Charter_of_1291
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(1291) Agreement lays groundwork for modern Switzerland.
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1714 | A German takes the throne of Great Britain
German-born George Louis now reigns over Britain following the death of Queen Anne, with the 54-year-old becoming the first monarch of the House of Hanover. Much of the British public will deem him “too German,” but art and architecture will flourish in the new Georgian Era.
1966 | Charles Whitman shoots 48 in Texas killing spree
Former Eagle Scout, ex-Marine, and engineering student Charles Whitman murders his mother and wife, then carries a cache of firearms to the top of a 300-foot tower on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, where in 90 minutes he kills 14 and wounds 32 with sniper fire.
1981 | Music videos get their own channel as MTV launches
Cashing in on a new form of popular entertainment, the MTV network debuts, complete with “video jockeys” (VJs) introducing music videos, a way of both listening to and watching popular songs. The first video shown, ‘Video Killed the Radio Star,’ will prove partially prophetic.

Today in History 08/01/17

Bullet holes in a store window made by sniper Charles Whitman in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 1, 1966 (© Shel Hershorn/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)(1966) Charles Whitman shoots 48 in Texas killing spree
Former Eagle Scout, ex-Marine, and engineering student Charles Whitman murders his mother and wife, then carries a cache of firearms to the top of a 300-foot tower on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, where in 90 minutes he kills 14 and wounds 32 with sniper fire.
Charles Joseph Whitman was an American mass murderer who became infamous as the "Texas Tower Sniper". On August 1, 1966, he murdered his mother and wife in their homes, then went to the University of Texas at Austin where he shot and killed three people inside the university's tower. He then went to the tower's 28th-floor observation deck, where he fired at random for some 96 minutes, killing an additional eleven people and wounding thirty-one before being shot and killed by police. Sixteen people were killed in total; a 17th victim died in 2001 from injuries sustained in the attack.
Born: 24 Jun 1941 · Lake Worth, FL
Died: 01 Aug 1966 · Austin, TX
Height: 6' 0"
Spouse: Kathy Leissner (m. 1962 - 1966)
Education: University of Texas at Austin
Parents: Margaret Whitman
Highlights
  • 1941: Whitman was born on June 24, 1941, in Lake Worth, Florida, the eldest of three sons born to Margaret E. (Hodges) and Charles Adolphus "C. A."

  • 1961: Whitman entered the mechanical engineering program at the University of Texas at Austin on September 15, 1961.

  • 1962: On August 17, 1962, Whitman and Leissner were married in a Catholic ceremony held in Leissner's hometown of Needville, Texas.

  • 1966: Whitman met with Dr. Maurice Dean Heatly, the staff psychiatrist at the University of Texas Health Center, on March 29, 1966.

  • 1966: At approximately 4:00 p.m. on July 31, 1966, Charles and Kathy Whitman visited their close friends John and Fran Morgan.

  • 1966: On August 1, 1966, he murdered his mother and wife in their homes, then went to the University of Texas at Austin where he shot and killed three people inside the university's tower.

Charles Whitman (1963)
Description: Charles Whitman
Source: 1963 Cactus, the student yearbook of the University of Texas. Copy found at "Charles Whitman Images and Documents," The Austin History Center. Reference AR.2000.002, Austin History Center, Austin Public Library
Date: c 1963

wiki/Charles_Whitman
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Today in History 07/29 (Battle of Gravelines)

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Arc de Triomphe in Paris in 1856 (© SSPL/Getty Images)(1588) English spoil the Spanish Armada’s invasion plans
The Spanish Armada, a force of 130 ships and 20,000 soldiers bent on invading England and overthrowing its monarch Queen Elizabeth I, is cunningly repelled off the coast of France at Gravelines by England’s navy under commanders Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake.
The Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Place de l’Étoile — the étoile or “star” of the juncture formed by its twelve radiating avenues.
Opened: 1836
Height: 164 feet (Architectural)
Architect: Jean Chalgrin
Architectural style: Neoclassicism

Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, Paris, France
Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, Paris, France
wiki/Battle_of_Gravelines_(1558)
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(1588) English spoil the Spanish Armada’s invasion plans.
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1836 | France honors its war veterans with a triumphal arch in Paris
Standing 164 feet tall and 148 feet wide, Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, a neoclassical monument to the heroism of Revolutionary and Napoleonic War veterans, creates a breathtaking sight and will quickly become a favorite backdrop for struggles and celebrations in the City of Light.
1976 | ‘Son of Sam’ shootings begin, terrorizing New York City
Just after 1 AM in New York City’s Bronx borough, David Berkowitz approaches a car and shoots two teenage girls, killing one and wounding the other. He will continue his serial shooting spree for a year, killing five and injuring six more, sparking citywide paranoia before he’s arrested.
1981 | London’s royal wedding transfixes millions
Deemed the ‘wedding of the century,’ the nuptials between Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles are broadcast live to more than 700 million global viewers. Over 2,000 guests, including the groom’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, witness the vows at London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Today in History 07/29/17

Police photo of David Berkowitz, the 'Son of Sam' killer, circa 1977 (© NYPD/AP)(1976) Shootings begin, terrorizing New York City
Just after 1 AM in New York City's Bronx borough, David Berkowitz approaches a car and shoots two teenage girls, killing one and wounding the other. He will continue his serial shooting spree for a year, killing five and injuring six more, sparking citywide paranoia before he's arrested.
David Richard Berkowitz, known also as the Son of Sam and the.44 Caliber Killer, is an American serial killer who was convicted of eight separate shooting attacks that began in New York City during the summer of 1976. The crimes were perpetrated with a.44 caliber Bulldog revolver. He killed six people and wounded seven others by July 1977. As the number of victims increased, Berkowitz eluded the biggest police manhunt in the history of New York City while leaving letters that mocked the police and promised further crimes, which were highly publicized by the press. The killing spree terrorized New Yorkers and achieved worldwide notoriety.
Born: Jun 01, 1953 (age 64) · Brooklyn, NY
Height: 5' 8" (1.73 m)
Parents: Betty Broder · Joseph Kleinman
David Berkowitz
Highlights
  • 1953: Three years later she became pregnant with a child to whom she chose to give the surname Falco—Richard David Falco was born on June 1, 1953 in Brooklyn, New York.

  • 1977: Not until August 9, 1977, did NYPD detective James Justis telephone Yonkers police to ask them to schedule an interview with Berkowitz.

  • 1978: On June 12, 1978, Berkowitz was sentenced to 25-years-to-life in prison for each murder, to be served consecutively.

  • 2002: Before his first parole hearing in 2002, Berkowitz sent a letter to New York Governor George Pataki asking that it be canceled.

  • 2006: Neysa Moskowitz, who previously had not hidden her hatred of Berkowitz, wrote him a letter shortly before her own death in 2006, forgiving him for killing her daughter, Stacy.

  • 2006: In October 2006, Berkowitz and Harmatz settled out of court, with Harmatz agreeing to return the disputed items and to donate part of his book profits to the New York State Crime Victims Board.

wiki/David_Berkowitz
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Today in History 07/07 (Sandra Day O’Connor)

President Ronald Reagan and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor after she was sworn in to the US Supreme Court in 1981 (© AP)(1981) First female Supreme Court justice nominee announced
President Ronald Reagan fulfills a campaign promise and announces the nomination of Arizona judge Sandra Day O’ Connor for a position on the US Supreme Court. O’Connor will be confirmed by the Senate, becoming the first woman on the Court, and will serve for 25 years.
Sandra Day O’Connor is a retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, having served from her appointment in 1981 by Ronald Reagan until 2006. She is the first woman to have served on the Court.
Born: Mar 26, 1930 (age 88) · El Paso, TX
Nationality: American
Spouse: John Jay O’Connor (m. 1952 – 2009)
Children: Scott O’Connor (Son) · Jay O’Connor (Son) · Brian O’Connor (Son)
Successor: John C. Pritzlaff Jr. (Member of Senate)
Education: Stanford University · Stanford Law School · Austin High School
Highlights
  • 1952: On December 20, 1952, six months after graduating from law school, she married John Jay O’Connor III.

  • 1973: By 1973, she became the first woman to serve as Arizona’s or any state’s Majority Leader.

  • 1989: In 1989, O’Connor stated during the deliberations over the Webster case that she would not overrule Roe.

  • 1998: From that time until 1998 O’Connor’s alignment with Rehnquist ranged from 93.4% to 63.2%, hitting above 90% in three of those years.

  • 2000: O’Connor has reflected on her time on the Supreme Court by saying that she regrets the Court hearing the Bush v. Gore case in 2000 because it “stirred up the public” and “gave the Court a less-than-perfect reputation.”

  • 2002: Lazy B written by Sandra Day O’Connor was first published in 2002.

President Reagan and Sandra Day O'Connor
Supreme Court Justice-nominee Sandra Day O’Connor talks with President Ronald Reagan outside the White House, July 15, 1981
wiki/Sandra_Day_O’Connor
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(1981) First female Supreme Court justice nominee announced.
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1928 | Best thing ever, as sliced bread is sold for first time
Missouri’s Chillicothe Baking Company offers up packages of ‘Kleen Maid Sliced Bread,’ thanks to Otto Rohwedder’s invention, a machine that cuts loaves of bread into uniform slices. Hailed as a great advance, sliced bread will be banned for a time in 1943 as a wartime extravagance.
1990 | The Three Tenors perform for the first time
Singers Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, and Luciano Pavarotti perform a charity benefit in Rome the night before the World Cup final. The group will become wildly popular, introducing opera to a broader audience and selling millions of albums over the next decade.
2005 | Suicide bombers detonate explosives on London transport
Three explosions on London’s Underground system and a blast on a double-decker bus injure some 700 and kill 56, including the four suicide bombers responsible for the terrorist attack. The London bombings come a year after train blasts in Madrid and nearly five years past the 9/11 attacks in the US.

Today in History 04/11/18

The police help an injured man during the Brixton riot of April 11, 1981 (© John Downing/Getty Images)(1981) Brixton riots roil South London
Months of simmering tensions between police and the largely Afro-Caribbean residents of London’s Brixton district come to a head with the widespread (but erroneous) belief that police had the night before unjustifiably arrested a young black man. The riots will later be dubbed Bloody Saturday.
The 1981 Brixton riot, or Brixton uprising, was a confrontation between the Metropolitan Police and protesters in Lambeth, South London, England, between 10 and 12 April 1981. The main riot on 11 April, dubbed “Bloody Saturday” by Time magazine, resulted in almost 280 injuries to police and 45 injuries to members of the public; over a hundred vehicles were burned, including 56 police vehicles; and almost 150 buildings were damaged, with thirty burned. There were 82 arrests. Reports suggested that up to 5,000 people were involved.
Date: Apr 11, 1981

1981 Brixton Riots
11 April 1981, during the 1981 Brixton riot in London, police with riot shields line up outside the Atlantic Pub, on the corner of Atlantic Road and Coldharbour Lane, Brixton. The photographer wrote: “In April 1981, around lunchtime, I stepped out of a shop in Brixton and a car burst into flames some 20 yards up the street, marking the start of the worst episode of civil disobedience Britain had seen in over 100 years. These are some of the pictures from that day.” “Police with riot shields block the access to the main area of rioting. Up to this point they’d been using dustbin lids, sheets of ply, anything they could lay their hands on for protection. These riot shields had only just arrived.”
wiki/1981_Brixton_riot
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(1981) Brixton riots roil South London.
Also on this day,
1689 | William and Mary crowned
1961 | Nazi fugitive trial
1976 | Apple I released