Today in News History

On July 6, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1914, Ernest Kirkendall, American chemist and metallurgist (died 2005) was born. In 1925, Gazi Yaşargil, Turkish neurosurgeon and academic was born. In 1927, Janet Leigh, American actress and author (died 2004) was born. In 1944, The Hartford circus fire, one of America's worst fire disasters, kills approximately 168 people and injures over 700 in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1977, Max Mirnyi, Belarusian tennis player was born. In 1988, The Piper Alpha drilling platform in the North Sea is destroyed by explosions and fires. One hundred sixty-seven oil workers are killed, making it the world's worst offshore oil disaster in terms of direct loss of life. In 1992, Na-Lae Han, South Korean tennis player was born. In 1998, Comethazine, American rapper was born. In 2012, Hani al-Hassan, Palestinian engineer and politician (born 1939) passed away. In 2013, A 73-car oil train derails in the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec and explodes into flames, killing at least 47 people and destroying more than 30 buildings in the town's central area. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.