Today in News History

On July 13, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1793, Journalist and French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat is assassinated in his bathtub by Charlotte Corday, a member of the opposing political faction. In 1863, American Civil War: The New York City draft riots begin three days of rioting which will later be regarded as the worst in United States history. In 1961, Tahira Asif, Pakistani politician (died 2014) was born. In 1977, New York City: Amidst a period of financial and social turmoil experiences an electrical blackout lasting nearly 24 hours that leads to widespread fires and looting. In 1990, Lenin Peak disaster: a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan triggers an avalanche on Lenin Peak, killing 43 climbers in the deadliest mountaineering disaster in history. In 2000, Jan Karski, Polish-American activist and academic (born 1914) passed away. In 2014, Alfred de Grazia, American political scientist, author, and academic (born 1919) passed away. In 2014, Nadine Gordimer, South African novelist, short story writer, and activist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1923) passed away. In 2015, Martin Litchfield West, English scholar, author, and academic (born 1927) passed away. In 2020, Zindzi Mandela, South African politician, diplomat, and third daughter of Nelson Mandela (born 1960) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.