Today in News History

On July 1, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1766, François-Jean de la Barre, a young French nobleman, is tortured and beheaded before his body is burnt on a pyre along with a copy of Voltaire's Dictionnaire philosophique nailed to his torso for the crime of not saluting a Roman Catholic religious procession in Abbeville, France. In 1774, Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, English politician, Secretary of State for the Southern Department (born 1705) passed away. In 1884, Allan Pinkerton, Scottish-American detective and spy (born 1819) passed away. In 1912, Sally Kirkland, American journalist (died 1989) was born. In 1914, Bernard B. Wolfe, American politician (died 2016) was born. In 1925, Farley Granger, American actor (died 2011) was born. In 1946, Mick Aston, English archaeologist and academic (died 2013) was born. In 1963, The British Government admits that former diplomat Kim Philby had worked as a Soviet agent. In 1969, Séamus Egan, American-Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist was born. In 2015, Nicholas Winton, English lieutenant and humanitarian (born 1909) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.