Today in News History

On July 2, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 936, Henry the Fowler, German king (born 876) passed away. In 1492, Elizabeth Tudor, English daughter of Henry VII of England (died 1495) was born. In 1839, Twenty miles off the coast of Cuba, 53 kidnapped Africans led by Joseph Cinqué mutiny and take over the slave ship Amistad. In 1849, Maria Theresa of Austria-Este (died 1919) was born. In 1881, Charles J. Guiteau shoots and fatally wounds U.S. President James A. Garfield (who will die of complications from his wounds on September 19). In 1884, Alfons Maria Jakob, German neurologist and author (died 1931) was born. In 1934, The Night of the Long Knives ends after three days of killings. In 1943, Ivi Eenmaa, Estonian politician, 36th Mayor of Tallinn was born. In 1990, In the 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy, 1,400 Muslim pilgrims are suffocated to death and trampled upon in a pedestrian tunnel leading to the holy city of Mecca. In 2010, The South Kivu tank truck explosion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo kills at least 230 people. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.