On this day in history...

I thought it would be fun to take a look at happenings on this day in history: events, births, and deaths. I used various sources across the internet to compile the list and lighted on things that interested me. Your mileage may vary. 

1859 – French acrobat Charles Blondin crosses Niagara Falls on a tightrope. (Quoted from Wikipedia.)

1908 – The largest “impact event” (asteroid or meteorite hitting Earth) recorded takes place in Eastern Siberia. The Tunguska Event flattened 80 million trees over 830 square miles.

1921 – President Harding appoints William Howard Taft (27th President) as Chief Justice of the United States.

1934 – “The Night of the Long Knives” is launched by Hitler to purge his political and military rivals.

1936 – Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell published.

1950 – President Harry Truman orders U.S. troops to assist South Korea against North Korea.

1953 – The first Corvette was made on this day.

1954 – A total eclipse of the sun is seen around the world.

1971 – Three Soviet cosmonauts were found dead from asphyxiation in their capsule upon its return to earth.

1997 – The British flag was lowered for the last time over the Government House in Hong Kong as the colony was to go back to Chinese rule the next day.

Births

1908 – Winston Graham, author of the Poldark series.

1917 – Lena Horne, songstress extraordinaire. Also, actress Susan Hayward.

1934 – Harry Blackstone Jr., magician

1966 – Mike Tyson, boxer

1985 – Michael Phelps, swimmer

Deaths

1973 – Nancy Mitford – author and journalist

1984 – Lillian Hellman, author and playwright

1995 – Gale Gordon, actor and most famously, nemesis for Lucille Ball

2001 – Chet Atkins, guitar god

2003 – Buddy Hackett, comedian

2003 – Robert McCloskey, children’s author and illustrator: Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal.

It’s also International Asteroid Day, probably because of that event in 1908. If you have interesting events that I missed, add them in the comment section.