Historical Events1942 - US and USSR sign Lend-Lease agreement during WW II1976 - Anti-apartheid advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza arrested in South Africa1977 - Dutch marines rescued hostages from a Moluccan held train in Holland2009 - The World Health Organization declares H1N1 swine flu to be a global pandemic, the first such incident in over forty years2012 - Two earthquakes in Afghanistan trigger landslides that kill more than 80 peopleMore Historical Events »Famous Birthdays1904 - Alan Roth, American orchestra leader (Milton Berle Show), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1972)1921 - Beatrice "Fiet" van Ommeren-Samson, Suriname writer, born in Paramaribo, Suriname (d. 2012)1922 - Erving Goffman, American sociologist (presentation of self in everyday life), born in Mannville, Alberta, Canada (d. 1982)1933 - Gene Wilder [Jerome Silberman], American actor, (Blazing Saddles; Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory; Silver Streak; Young Frankenstein), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2016)1955 - Tony Allcock, English bowls player (World Singles Champion (1986-87, 2002), born in LeicestershireMore Famous Birthdays »Famous Deaths1249 - Aleydis of Schaarbeek, Flemish prioress, mystic and saint, dies1882 - Louis Désiré Maigret, French Catholic prelate, dies at 771936 - Robert E. Howard, American pulp fiction author (Conan the Barbarian), commits suicide aged 301997 - Thalassa Cruso, English-American gardening expert (The Mike Douglas Show; The Tonight Show), dies of Alzheimer's at 882005 - VVasco Gonçalves, Portuguese army officer and 103rd Prime Minister of Portugal (1974-75), dies at 84More Famous Deaths »