Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
On Thursday, 2 January 1919, Charles Willeford, American writer, born (d. 1988)
On Sunday, 2 January 1944, WWII: Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command French Army B, part of the Sixth United States Army Group in North Africa.
On Sunday, 2 January 1944, Landing at Saidor: 13,000 US and Australian troops land on Papua New Guinea in an attempt to cut off a Japanese retreat.
On Sunday, 2 January 1944, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Cambodian politician, born
On Friday, 2 January 1959, CBS Radio discontinues four soap operas: Backstage Wife, Our Gal Sunday, The Road of Life, and This is Nora Drake.
On Friday, 2 January 1959, The Soviet Union successfully launches the Luna 1 spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
On Friday, 2 January 1959, Joe Bevilacqua, American producer, director, writer, actor, born
On Friday, 2 January 1959, William D. Francis, Australian botanist, died (b. 1889)
On Thursday, 2 January 1969, Australian media baron Rupert Murdoch purchases the largest-selling British Sunday newspaper, The News of the World.
On Thursday, 2 January 1969, People’s Democracy begins a march from Belfast to Derry City, Northern Ireland to gain publicity and to promote its cause.
On Thursday, 2 January 1969, Robby Gordon, American race car driver, born
On Thursday, 2 January 1969, Tommy Morrison, American boxer, born (d. 2013)
On Thursday, 2 January 1969, Christy Turlington, American fashion model, born
On Thursday, 2 January 1969, Gilbert Miller, American theatrical producer, died (b. 1884)
On Tuesday, 2 January 1979, Robert Newbery, diver, born
On Tuesday, 2 January 1979, Erica Hubbard, American actress, born
On Monday, 2 January 1989, Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa takes office as the third President of Sri Lanka.
On Monday, 2 January 1989, Kaitlin Howell, Canadian actress, born
On Sunday, 2 January 1994, Pierre-Paul Schweitzer, French director of the IMF, died (b. 1912)
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch