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3rd February

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1953: Cousteau publishes The Silent World


On this day, French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau publishes his most famous and lasting work, The Silent World.

 

While in the French navy, he and engineer Émile Gagnan invented the Aqua-Lung, the world's first self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba). In 1953, he published The Silent World, written with Frédéric Dumas, and began work on a film version of the book with director Louis Malle. Three years later, The Silent World was released to world acclaim.

 

The film, which revealed to the public the hidden universe of tropical fish, whales and walruses, won best documentary at the Academy Awards and the Palme d'or at the Cannes Film Festival. Cousteau later led numerous excursions to the world's great bodies of water, from the Red Sea to the Amazon River.

 

In addition to many books, he also produced several more award-winning films and scores of television documentaries about the ocean.



2005

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili takes temporary charge of the government following the death of the Prime Minister, Zurab Zhvania. Zhvania died from poison emitted by a faulty heater. 

1998

A low flying Nato aircraft kills 20 people at an Italian ski resort by severing their cable car line.

1994

President Clinton lifts America’s trade embargo on Vietnam.

1989

In South Africa, after suffering a stroke, P.W. Botha resigns as leader of the National Party.

1988

Iran-Contra Affair: The United States House of Representatives rejects President Ronald Reagan's request for $36.25 million to aid Nicaraguan Contras.

1986

Pope John Paul II meets Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India.

1970

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee opens hearings on the conduct of the war by the Nixon administration.

1966

The Soviet Union makes the first controlled landing of a spacecraft, Luna 9, on the Moon.

1960

British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan addresses the South African Houses of Parliament, speaking of a 'wind of change' blowing through the continent of Africa.

1959

Musicians Buddy Holly, Jiles P Richardson (the Big Bopper) and Ritchie Valens die as their plane crashes in Iowa, USA.

1950

Klaus Fuchs, a German-born British scientist who helped developed the atomic bomb, is arrested in Great Britain for passing top-secret information about the bomb to the Soviet Union.

1945

World War II: American forces invade and take control of the Marshall Islands, long occupied by the Japanese.

1917

President Wilson announces that the United States is breaking diplomatic relations with Germany.

1867

Prince Mutsuhito becomes Emperor Meiji of Japan.

1509

In India, the Battle of Diu takes place between Portugal and the Ottoman Empire.

1928

Frankie Vaughan, British singer and entertainer.

1914

Actress Doris Speed - 'Mrs Walker' in the British TV serial 'Coronation Street.'

1901

English novelist Rosamund Lehmann. Novels include 'Dusty Answer'(1927) and 'Invitation To The Waltz' (1932).

1821

Elizabeth Blackwell, physician and co-founder of London School of Medicine for Women.

1809

Composer Felix Mendelsson born in Hamburg.

1969

William Henry Pratt, better known as horror actor Boris Karloff, aged 81.

1959

American musician Buddy Holly dies in an air crash. Also killed rock 'n' rollers Richie Valens and JP 'Big Bopper' Richardson.

1924

Woodrow Wilson, 28th US President (1912-1920).