Sunday, April 12, 1998
Today's events
On the horizon
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Monday, April 13, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund spring meeting begins.
On Tuesday, April 14, the winners of the 1998 Pulitzer Prizes will be announced.
On Wednesday, April 15, income tax returns must be postmarked in the United States.
On Thursday, April 16, space shuttle Columbia is scheduled to launch on a nearly 17-day Neurolab mission.
On Friday, April 17, former police officer Walter Budzyn is to be sentenced for involuntary manslaughter conviction in November 1992 beating death of motorist Malice Green.
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On this day
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In 1204, in the Fourth Crusade, Constantinople was captured by the Crusaders.
In 1577, Christian IV, King of Denmark and Norway whose disastrous reign led to the Thirty Years War, born.
In 1606, King James of England ordered a "Union Flag" combining the crosses of St. George of England and St. Andrew of Scotland.
In 1654, the Ordinance of Union came into effect, uniting Ireland and Scotland with England.
In 1777, Henry Clay, U.S. statesman and speaker of the House of Congress from 1811, born. He went on to become Secretary of State and was nicknamed "The Great Pacificator."
In 1796, Napoleon's forces defeated the Austrian and Sardinian armies at the end of the Battle of Montenotte; it was Napoleon's first significant victory.
In 1817, Charles Joseph Messier, French astronomer, died. He produced the first nebula catalogue in 1784.
In 1861, the American Civil War began with an attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina.
In 1871, Ioannis Metaxas, Greek dictator from 1936 to 1941, born.
In 1913, U.S. musician and bandleader Lionel Hampton was born. He recorded with Louis Armstrong and worked with Benny Goodman and was also responsible for introducing the vibraphone into jazz.
In 1914, George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion" opened in London with Mrs. Patrick Campbell as Eliza Doolittle and Sir Herbert Tree as Professor Higgins.
In 1944, King Victor Emmanuel of Italy announced his intention to abdicate in favor of the Prince of Piedmont when the Allies entered Rome.
In 1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. president for a record four terms, died in office. Vice President Truman took over the presidency.
In 1954, Bill Haley and the Comets recorded the song "Rock Around the Clock"; it sold an estimated 25 million copies worldwide -- then the second biggest-selling single behind Bing Crosby's "White Christmas"
In 1961, the Soviet Union launched the first man into space; cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin was carried by the spacecraft Vostok I on a single orbit of the Earth in an 108-minute flight.
In 1980, Liberian President William Tolbert was assassinated in a military coup. Samuel K. Doe was installed as the new head of state.
In 1981, Joe Louis, heavywieght boxing champion, died aged 66. He held the world title for a record 12 years and won 68 of his 71 professional fights.
In 1981, the world's first re-usable space shuttle Columbia was launched at Cape Canaveral.
In 1989, Sugar Ray Robinson, five-time winner of the world middleweight boxing championship and unbeaten welterweight champion, died.
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Newslink
Notable
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Actor David Cassidy ("The Partridge Family") is 48.
Actress Claire Danes is 19.
Actress Shannen Doherty is 27.
Actor Andy Garcia (The Untouchables) is 42.
Musician Herbie Hancock is 58.
Comedian David Letterman is 51.
Writer Scott Turow is 49.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1998, J.P. Morgan
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