Historical Events 1900 - With a proclamation by General Lord Roberts, Britain annexes the Boer Republic of South Africa 1904 - For the first time in Olympic Games history, there is a throw-off in the discus final after Americans Martin Sheridan and Ralph Rose tie with a best throw of 128 ft 10½ in (39.28 m) in St. Louis; Sheridan wins with 127 ft 10¼ in (38.97 m) 1944 - French troops liberate Lyon, France 1966 - 24th World Science Fiction Convention honors "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry 2024 - American pop singer Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth studio album “Short n’ Sweet" becomes her first to top the Billboard album chart More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1840 - Jacob Christian Fabricius, Danish composer, born in Aarhus, Denmark (d. 1919) 1889 - Cecil Weston, South African actress (Dude Ranch, Huckleberry Finn), born in Capetown (d. 1976) 1897 - Sally Benson, American writer (Meet Me In St. Louis), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1972) 1925 - Bengt Lindström, Swedish artist, born in Berg Municipality, Sweden (d. 2008) 1938 - Caryl Churchill, English playwright, born in London More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1669 - Esteban Manuel de Villegas, Spanish poet, dies at 80 1820 - Benjamin Henry Latrobe, American architect (completed U.S. Capitol), dies at 56 1857 - John McLoughlin, Canadian Hudson's Bay Co pioneer and fur trader in Oregon Country, dies at 72 2003 - Rudolf Leiding, German auto executive and 3rd postwar chairman of Volkswagen, dies at 88 2010 - Cyril Smith, British Liberal Member of Parliament and alleged serial sex offender, dies at 82 More Famous Deaths »