Today in News History

On July 2, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1816, The French frigate Méduse strikes the Bank of Arguin and 151 people on board have to be evacuated on an improvised raft, a case immortalised by Géricault's painting The Raft of the Medusa. In 1900, Jean Sibelius' Finlandia receives its première performance in Helsinki with the Helsinki Philharmonic Society conducted by Robert Kajanus. In 1914, Frederick Fennell, American conductor and educator (died 2004) was born. In 1937, Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan are last heard from over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first equatorial round-the-world flight. In 1940, World War II: The SS Arandora Star is sunk by U-47 in the North Atlantic with the loss of over 800 lives, mostly civilians. In 1994, Henrik Kristoffersen, Norwegian skier was born. In 1995, Lloyd MacPhail, Canadian businessman and politician, 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island (born 1920) passed away. In 2000, Joey Dunlop, Northern Irish motorcycle racer (born 1952) passed away. In 2008, Colombian conflict: Íngrid Betancourt, a member of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia, is released from captivity after being held for six and a half years by FARC. In 2020, Byron Bernstein, American Twitch streamer (born 1989) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.