1964: Chagall's ceiling unveiled
The
Paris Opera unveils a stunning new ceiling painted as a gift by artist
Marc Chagall, who spent much of his life in
France. Chagall’s Russian soul and Jewish heritage stirred his love for
folklore and biblical themes. Before the advent of
surrealism, he painted fantastical paintings that were among the first expressions of psychic reality in modern art. Among his most famous works are paintings such as I and the Village (1911); his series of 12 stained-glass windows symbolising the tribes of
Israel (1960-61); the two vast murals he painted for New York’s Metropolitan Opera House (1966); and the sets and costumes he designed for various operas and ballets. He continued to work vigorously until his death in 1985 at the age of 97.
2004
Haiti is struck by hurricane Jeanne. The island is left devastated with around 3000 people killed. 2000
British rower Steve Redgrave wins his fifth consecutive Olympic medal by helping Britain to win the coxless fours at the Sydney Olympics. Redgrave previously won gold in Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996.1987
A court in
Australia lifts the ban on publication of Peter Wright’s
autobiography Spy Catcher. The British government had sought an
injunction against the former senior
MI5 officer on grounds of national security.
1980
In Pittsburgh, America Bob Marley plays his last concert before his death.1976
A fire onboard the British
destroyer HMS Glasgow kills eight people.
1969
In America, the trial of eight anti
Vietnam War activists charged with organising the violent demonstrations at the August 1968 Democratic National Convention opens in Chicago. Although most of the defendants were originally convicted of various offences, these were all over turned by the
Court of Appeal in 1972.
1955
Barbara Mandell becomes the first woman newsreader on British television on the newly launched commercial television station ITV. 1952
Film star Charlie Chaplin returns to England for the first time since leaving to live in America 21 year ago. 1846
German Astronomer Johann Galle discovers the planet
Neptune. 1806
American explorers
Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark return to St. Louis, Missouri from the first recorded overland journey from the Mississippi River to the Pacific coast and back.
1779
The American Revolution: The U.S. ship Bonhomme Richard, defeats the British ships
Serapis and Countess of Scarborough off the east coast of England.
1949
British athlete Geoff Capes.1949
American rock singer Bruce Springsteen.1943
Spanish singer Julio Iglesias.1920
American film star Mickey Rooney (real name Joe Yule Jnr) Appears on stage aged just 15 months as part of his parent's Vaudeville act. Appears in more than 100 films after his debut in 1926 in 'Not To Be Trusted'. Receives special Academy Awards in 1938 and 1983. An incurable romantic, he marries 8 times.1981
British broadcaster Sam Costa, aged 71.1939
Sigmund Freud, the Austrian psychiatrist and founder of psycho-analysis, dies in Hampstead, London aged 83. Born in Freiburg, Moravia, he studied medicine in Vienna and published his best-known work 'The Interpretation of Dreams' in 1900 in which he linked subconscious dreams to repressed sexual desires. He fled to Britain after
Austria was annexed by
Germany in 1938 and died of cancer the following year. Gave his name to a 'Freudian slip' - an off the cuff, personal comment or remark that is regarded as revealing a repressed or hidden truth - usually of a sexual nature.
1928
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, aged 56, disappears while flying over the North
Pole searching for a fellow explorer who had gone missing. Was the first man to navigate the North-west Passage in both directions.In December 1911 became the first man to reach the South Pole - a month ahead of the British expedition led by Captain Scott. In 1926 part of the three-man team that successfully flew across the North Pole in an airship.
1889
English novelist William (Wilkie) Collins. 
