13 History Lessons + 9 Births & 9 Deaths for March 22, 2025
Today’s History:
- 1622 – The Powhatan Confederacy initiates the first coordinated attack on English settlers in Virginia, killing 347 colonists in the Jamestown massacre.
- 1765 – The British Parliament passes the Stamp Act, imposing direct taxation on the American colonies, fueling growing unrest that leads to the American Revolution.
- 1894 – The first Stanley Cup championship game is played in Montreal, with the Montreal Hockey Club defeating the Ottawa Hockey Club.
- 1933 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Cullen-Harrison Act, legalizing the sale of beer and wine with up to 3.2% alcohol, easing Prohibition restrictions in the United States.
- 1941 – The Grand Coulee Dam in Washington begins operations, becoming the largest hydropower producer in the United States.
- 1945 – The Arab League is founded in Cairo by Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria to promote political, economic, and cultural cooperation among Arab countries.
- 1963 – The Beatles release their debut album, “Please Please Me,” in the United Kingdom, marking the beginning of their influential music career.
- 1972 – The Equal Rights Amendment, aiming to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex, is passed by the U.S. Senate and sent to the states for ratification.
- 1975 – A fire at the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama, caused by a worker using a candle to detect air leaks, leads to significant safety reforms in the nuclear industry.
- 1993 – Intel introduces the first Pentium microprocessor, advancing computer processing power and setting a new standard for personal computing.
- 1997 – At 14 years old, Tara Lipinski becomes the youngest female figure skating world champion after winning the World Figure Skating Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- 2019 – Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter becomes the longest-living president in American history, surpassing the previous record held by George H.W. Bush.
- 2021 – A mass shooting at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, results in 10 fatalities, prompting renewed discussions on gun control legislation in the United States.
Today’s Birthdays:
- 1931 – William Shatner, Canadian actor best known for his role as Captain James T. Kirk in “Star Trek” (94).
- 1934 – Stephen Sondheim, American composer and lyricist renowned for his contributions to musical theater, including “Sweeney Todd” and “Into the Woods” (91).
- 1934 – Orrin Hatch, American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Utah from 1977 to 2019 (91).
- 1948 – Andrew Lloyd Webber, British composer known for iconic musicals such as “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Cats” (77).
- 1959 – Matthew Modine, American actor recognized for roles in films like “Full Metal Jacket” and the series “Stranger Things” (66).
- 1961 – Catherine Keener, American actress acclaimed for performances in “Being John Malkovich” and “Capote” (64).
- 1976 – Reese Witherspoon, American actress and producer celebrated for her work in “Legally Blonde” and “Walk the Line” (49).
- 1986 – Kellie Pickler, American country music artist and television personality who gained fame as a contestant on “American Idol” (39).
- 1990 – Constance Wu, American actress best known for her roles in “Fresh Off the Boat” and “Crazy Rich Asians” (35).
Today’s Deaths:
- 1832 – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer and statesman renowned for works like “Faust” (age 82).
- 1958 – Mike Todd, American film producer famous for “Around the World in 80 Days” (age 48).
- 2001 – William Hanna, American animator and co-founder of Hanna-Barbera, creators of “The Flintstones” and “Scooby-Doo” (age 90).
- 2004 – Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian founder and spiritual leader of Hamas (age 67).
- 2009 – Jade Goody, British reality TV star known from “Big Brother” (age 27).
- 2016 – Rob Ford, Canadian mayor of Toronto known for his controversial tenure (age 46).
- 2016 – Phife Dawg, American rapper and member of A Tribe Called Quest (age 45).
- 2021 – Elgin Baylor, American basketball player and NBA Hall of Famer (age 86).
- 2024 – Laurent de Brunhoff, French author and illustrator known for continuing the “Babar” series (age 98).
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