Historical Events 1525 - Battle at Biblingen: Zwabische Union beats rebel Wurttemberg farmers 1789 - William Wilberforce makes his first major speech on abolition in the UK House of Commons, reasoning the slave trade morally reprehensible and an issue of natural justice 1911 - 1st Inter-Empire Championships open in London 1942 - Russia occupies Crackow, until Aug 23, 1943 1952 - Gaj Singh is crowned Maharaja of Jodhpur 2008 - Wenchuan earthquake, measuring 7.8 in magnitude occurs in Sichuan, China, killing over 87,000, injuring 374,643 and leaving homeless between 4.8 million and 11 million people More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1496 - Gustav I, King of Sweden (1523-60) who abolished Sweden's elective monarchy, born in Rydboholm Castle, Sweden (d. 1560) 1806 - Amos Beebe Eaton, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Catskill, New York (d. 1877) 1923 - Hector Laing, English biscuit manufacturer (McVitie and Price), pilot and Director of the Bank of England (d. 2010) 1938 - Millie Perkins, American actress (Diary of Anne Frank, Table for 5, Shooting), born in Passaic, New Jersey 1948 - Steve Winwood, English singer, songwriter and musician (Spencer Davis Group - "Gimme Some Lovin'"; Traffic - "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys"; solo - 'Higher Love"; "While You See A Chance"), born in Birmingham, England 1966 - Rafael Bournigal, Dominican infielder (Oakland A's), born in Azua, Dominican Republic More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1878 - Catherine Beecher, American educator (championed higher education for women), dies at 77 1909 - Bertha Townsend, American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1888-89), dies at 40 1935 - Józef Piłsudski, Father of the Second Polish Republic who served as its Chief of State (1918-22), Marshall of Poland and later its de facto leader (1926-35), dies at 67 1963 - Stanisław Wiechowicz, Polish composer, dies at 69 1998 - Hermann Lenz, German writer (Swabian Chronicles), dies at 75 2001 - Alexei Tupolev, Russian aircraft designer (b. 1925) More Famous Deaths »