On this day in June
Created | Updated Sep 10, 2002
This page features facts previously highlighted in On this day in History for June.
1 June
In 1944, the Mexican Government introduced its most controversial piece of legislation: the abolition of the siesta.
On this day in 1926, Marilyn Monroe was born Noma Jean Baker Mortenson.
2 June
On this day in 1897, Mark Twain, on a visit to London, was surprised to read his own obituary in an American newspaper. "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated!" he retorted by cable.
June 2 1953 saw the coronation of Elizabeth II, the first major international news event to be broadcast in its entirety. The ceremony was broadcast by the BBC and all three American networks of the time.
3 June
On this day in 1937, the Duke of Windsor married the woman he abdicated for. Edward VIII gave up his throne for the twice divorced Wallis Simpson, declaring to a shocked Britain that it was impossible to carry the burden of the throne, "without the help and support of the woman I love.".
4 June
On this day in 1989, the People's Army of China opened fire on democracy protestors in Tiananmen Square. Live television pictures meant that the actions of the Chinese government had a global audience.
Happy Birthday to George III (of madness fame1), born this day in 1738. George was unusual among royals in being completely faithful to his wife, Charlotte of Mecklenberg-Strelitz. Dr Ruth Westheimer, famous sexpert who was also born on this day, would have been proud!
5 June
On this day in 1998, the New York Post revealed to a shocked public that the sound of tapping in the hit show Riverdance, was in fact pre-recorded and not produced by Michael Flatley and company. Executive Producer, Julian Erskine, blamed audience expectations of accuracy and the accoustics of large theatres.
Happy birthday to Adam Smith, philsopher and economist who was born this day in 1723. What would this great man of the Englightenment think of the fact he shares his birthday with 'popular sax god' Kenny G?
6 June
This day in 1944 was D-Day, as Allied Forces began the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation. Operation Overlord deployed 1,200 ships, 10,000 aeroplanes and 150,000 soldiers.
The days at the end of May and the beginning of June see the sixtieth anniversary of the evacuation of Allied troops at Dunkirk in 1940.
7 June
On this day in 1329, Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, died at Cardross Castle. The majority of his body is buried at Dunfermline Abbey, with the exception of his heart and a bone fragment.
8 June
In New York, on this day in 1786, the first commercial brand of ice cream was produced.
Born this day were 'musical luminaries' Bonnie Tyler (1953) and Mick Hucknall of Simply Red (1960).
9 June
On this day in 68 AD, the Emperor Nero committed suicide. Nero was not a very good ruler, preferring to demonstrate his prowess at amateur dramatics and chariot racing. As a result many parts of the Empire revolted. Towards the end of his reign, he chose to ignore these problems in favour of a visit to Greece. In his absence Gaul rebelled and his rivals for power saw the chance to seize the Imperial throne.
10 June
Born this day HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and Judy Garland.
On this day in 1864, Tristan and Isolde by Wagner recieved its first performace in Munich.
11 June
This day in 1937 saw the death of composer George Gershwin, who died of a brain tumour at a the age of 38.
On the same day in 1979, another legendary American John Wayne died at the age of 72 due to cancer.
12 June
Eric Weiss, better known as Harry Houdini, gave his act a new twist on this day in 1923. Constantly striving to be unique among escapologists, Houdini escaped from a straightjacket, suspended by his feet thirteen metres above the ground. Houdini was later to pioneer underwater escapology underwater. Contrary to popular belief he did not die during an escape, but from complications of a burst appendix.
13 June
On this day in 1966, the cast of American Comedy Bewitched gained an extra member in the form of the baby Tabitha. The part of baby Tabitha was orginally played by three sets of twins. As Tabitha grew up, she was played by twins Erin and Diane Murphy for one season. Erin then took on the role permanently.
14 June
On this day in 1953, Elvis Presley graduated from high school.
On this day in 1951, the human birthing process was shown on television for the first time. Which was nice.
15 June
On this day in 1215, King John was forced by the Barons of England to sign the Magna Carta, a charter enshrining the liberties and rights of the people of England.
On this day in 1956, a young John Lennon met an even younger Paul McCartney and the rest is musical history.
16 June
Walt Disney's animated film Lady and the Tramp went on general release in America, on this day in 1955.
1963 saw the first woman in space, when Valentina Tereshkova was part of the crew of Soviet spacecraft Vostok 6.
17 June
Today is the National Holiday of Iceland.
On this day in 1967, celebrated wit, Dorothy Parker died. Our favourite Parker quote? It has to be when she was asked to use the word 'horticulture' during a talk to a ladies gardening group. She said: 'You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.'
18 June
This day in 1815, Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo by British and Prussian forces.
The first American woman was sent into space. Sally Ride was 22 years and 2 days behind her Russian counterpart.
19 June
This day in 1865, saw the emancipation of the black community in Texas, after the US sovereignty over the state was declared by Gen. Gordon Granger.
On this day in 1999, horror writer Stephen King was severely injured in a hit and run accident.
Today sees the 22nd birthday of the world's favrouite lasagne eating cat. Garfield was born this day in 1978.
20 June
Arch swashbuckler, Errol Flynn was born this day in 1909 in Hobart, Tasmania. After making his debut in a low budget Australian version of Mutiny on the Bountry, Flynn came to London's West End to learn his trade. This resulted in him being contrated to Warner Bros Studio where he was to star in such classics as: Captain Blood (1935), Charge of the Light Brigade(1936) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).
I'll organize revolt: exact a death for a death, and I'll never rest until every Saxon in this Shire can stand up, free men, and strike a blow for Richard and England!
Errol Flynn as Robin Hood in The Adventures of Robin Hood
21 JUNE
On this day in 1633, Galileo Galilei was found guilty by the Holy Roman Inquisition on the charge of suspected heresy. The Italian Scientist was compelled to recant his support for Copernicus's theory that all planets in the solar system circled the sun.
On this day in 1978 Evita, a musical based on the life of Eva Peron, opened in London's West End. Last minute tinkering with one of the songs changed the lyrics from 'It's only your lover returning, the truth is I never left you...' to 'Don't cry for me Argentina, the truth is I never left you...' just in time for the opening night.
22 JUNE
On this day in 1969, Judy Garland was found dead in London, locked in her bathroom. The star who made her debut in the Wizard of Oz at the age of 17, had taken a lethal dose of sleeping pills. The coroner refused to return a verdict of suicide, the implication being that Garland had increased the dose without realising the consequences.
Another Hollywood icon, Fred Astaire, died this day in 1987.
23 JUNE
On this day in 1912, Alan Turing was born. Turing is best remembered for his pioneering work on artificial intelligence and the Turing Machine which was the first recognisably modern computer. He was also one of the chief codebreakers at Bletchley Park, the British centre for counter-intelligence during World War II.
A longer account of Turing's life can be found here.2
24 JUNE
On this day in 1901, the first exhibition of Picasso's works takes place in Paris.
24 June 1497, saw John Cabot, an Italian explorer in the pay of the English Crown, land on the the Eastern coast of Canada. Cabotia was a name considered for Canada when it became a country in 1867.
25 JUNE
George Armstrong Custer falls at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Custer was commanding the 7th Cavalry who attacked Sioux and Cheyenne groups as part of the clearing of Southern Montana.
26 JUNE
This day in 1824, the famous physicist Lord Kelvin was born. Kelvin defined the absolute temperature scale and was involved in the laying of the first transatlantic cables.
26 June 1945 saw the representatives of 50 nations sign the charter that created the United Nations.
On 26 June 1969, the Liberal Party won the Birmingham Ladywood by-election, taking the seat from Labour with a huge swing on a 'community politics' campaign.
27 JUNE
Helen Keller was born this day in 1880. Although blind and profoundly deaf, Keller graduated from Radcliffe College with honours, becoming an author and educator. Her story was popularised in the film 'The Miracle Worker'.
28 JUNE
This day in 1914 is traditionally see to be the start of the build up to World War I. Of course it is not as simple as that but Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo this day 86 years ago.
29 JUNE
The Globe Theatre was destroyed by fire this day in 1613. Originally built in 1599, the fire was started by a cannon which was fired as part of a performance of Henry VIII.
A second theatre was built on the site of the original and this survived until it was suppressed by the Puritan interegnum government in 1642.
30 JUNE
Brigham Young and other members of the Mormon Church left on the trail for Great Salt Lake this day in 1846.
Great Britain returned Hong Kong to China after 100 years of sovereignty, this day in 1997.3
