Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

June 7

1994
Youngest female pilot to cross the Atlantic: 12-year-old Vicki Van Meter arrives in Scotland. She had started Sunday from Maine, and followed Amelia Earharts historic route.

1993
Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame: Official groundbreaking ceremonies are held in Cleveland.

1963
The Rolling Stones make their TV debut on the BBC program Thank Your Lucky Stars.

1939
First British Monarch to visit the U.S.: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrive at Niagara Falls.

1776
American Revolution: Richard Henry Lee proclaims "These United Colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent States."

1769
Kentucky is first sighted by Daniel Boone.

1712
Slavery: Slavery is abolished in the Pennsylvania Colony.

1958
Prince (Prince Rogers Nelson), American singer. Film: Purple Rain (1984, Oscar for Best Song Score). On his 35th birthday he announced that he was changing his name to a combined form of the male and female symbols. Although originally neglecting to specify a pronunciation, two months later he settled on Victor.

1940
Tom Jones (Thomas Jones Woodward), British singer, It's Not Unusual (1965, #1).

1917
Gwendolyn Brooks, American author. She was the first black writer to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize (1950). Writings: Annie Allen (1950, Pulitzer).

1917     d. 1995
Dean Martin (Dino Paul Crocetti), American singer, actor, partner of Jerry Lewis. He boxed professionally under the name "Kid Crochet."

1909     d. 1994
Jessica Tandy, English Oscar-Tony-winning actress. At age 80, she became the oldest person to receive an Oscar (Driving Miss Daisy).

1848     d. 1903
Paul Gauguin, French post-impressionist painter and sculpture, known for his broad flat tones, bold colors, and use of distortion.

1843     d. 1916
Susan Elizabeth Blow, American educator, "Mother of American Kindergartens," established the first American public kindergarten (1873).

1811     d. 1870
Sir James Young Simpson, Scottish obstetrician. He developed the use of anesthesia.

1992     b. 1909
Bill France, American stock-car racing pioneer, founder of NASCAR (1947). He built Daytona International Speedway (1959) and the Talladega Superspeedway (1969).

1982     b. 1921
Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr., American imposter. He lied and forged his way into jobs as a surgeon; professor of applied psychology; Trappist monk; and prison guidance counselor; all of which he performed admirably, although he didn't even possess a high-school diploma. He was the basis for the film The Great Imposter (1961).

1980     b. 1891
Henry Miller, American novelist. Writings: Tropic of Cancer (1931) and Tropic of Capricorn (1939).

1970     b. 1879
E.M. Forster (Edward Morgan Forster), English author. Writings: Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905), The Longest Journey (1907), A Room with a View (1908), Howard's End (1910), and A Passage to India (1924).

1967     b. 1893
Dorothy Parker, American author, humorist. She is the author of the couplet "Men seldom make passes - at girls who wear glasses."

1954     b. 1895
Maury Maverick, American politician, U.S. congressman (Texas, 1935-39), mayor of San Antonio (1939-41). He coined the word "Gobbledygook" (1944).

1954     b. 1912
Alan Mathison Turing, British mathematician, computer expert, developed the first all electronic calculating device (1943). Called Colossus, it was capable of cracking Germany's "unbreakable" war code Enigma.

1937     b. 1911
Jean Harlow (Harlean Carpenter), American actress, Hollywood's original blond bombshell. Film: Platinum Blonde (1931) and Bombshell (1933).

1933     b. 1850
Cyrus H.K. Curtis, American publisher, founder of Ladies' Home Journal (1883).

1893     b. 1833
Edwin Thomas Booth, American Shakespearean actor, and older brother of Pres. Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth.

1886     b. 1812
Richard March Hoe, American inventor. He created the rotary press (1846), which enabled high-speed printing.

1863     b. 1787
Franz Gruber, Austrian church organist, wrote the melody to Silent Night, Holy Night (1818). (Source: An Almanac of the Christian Church)

1862     b. ????
William Bruce Mumford, American gambler. He was the first U.S. citizen hanged for treason. He had been convicted of removing and destroying the U.S. flag at the New Orleans Mint.

1329     b. 1274
Robert I, King of Scotland (1306-29).

555     b. ????
Vigilius, Italian religious leader, 59th Pope (537-555).

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