Today in News History

On July 4, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1790, George Everest, Welsh geographer and surveyor (died 1866) was born. In 1816, Hiram Walker, American businessman, founded Canadian Club whisky (died 1899) was born. In 1862, Lewis Carroll tells Alice Liddell a story that would grow into Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequels. In 1910, Robert K. Merton, American sociologist and scholar (died 2003) was born. In 1911, A massive heat wave strikes the northeastern United States, killing 380 people in eleven days and breaking temperature records in several cities. In 1918, Mehmed V died at the age of 73 and Ottoman sultan Mehmed VI ascends to the throne. In 1926, Lake Underwood, American race car driver and businessman (died 2008) was born. In 1928, Shan Ratnam, Sri Lankan physician and academic (died 2001) was born. In 1941, Nazi crimes against the Polish nation: Nazi troops massacre Polish scientists and writers in the captured Ukrainian city of Lviv. In 1994, Rwandan genocide: Kigali, the Rwandan capital, is captured by the Rwandan Patriotic Front, ending the genocide in the city. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.