September 18 - Close-Up

Close-Up

This Day In History

1502

Christopher Columbus lands at Costa Rica on his fourth, and final, voyage.

1793

The first cornerstone of the Capitol building is laid by George Washington.

1809

The Royal Opera House in London opens.

1837

Tiffany and Co. (first named Tiffany & Young) is founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and Teddy Young in New York City. The store is called a "stationery and fancy goods emporium".

1870

Old Faithful Geyser is observed and named by Henry D. Washburn during the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition to Yellowstone.

1879

The Blackpool Illuminations are switched on for the first time.

1928

Juan de la Cierva makes the first autogyro crossing of the English Channel.

1947

The United States Air Force becomes an independent branch of the United States armed forces.

1959

Vanguard 3 is launched into Earth orbit.

1977

Voyager I takes first photograph of the Earth and the Moon together.

1998

ICANN is formed.

2009

The 72 year run of the soap opera The Guiding Light ends as its final episode is broadcast.

Famous Birthdays

1587

Francesca Caccini, Italian composer (d. c. 1640)

1684

Johann Gottfried Walther, German music theorist, organist, composer, and lexicographer (d. 1748)

1709

Samuel Johnson, English writer and lexicographer (d. 1784)

1819

Léon Foucault, French physicist (d. 1868)

1838

Anton Mauve, Dutch artist (d. 1888)

1905

Agnes de Mille, American choreographer (d. 1993)
Greta Garbo, Swedish actress (d. 1990)

1916

Rossano Brazzi, Italian singer and actor (d. 1994)

1948

Lynn Abbey, American computer programmer and author

1950

Anna Deavere Smith, American actress and playwright

1952

Dee Dee Ramone, American bassist (The Ramones) (d. 2002)

1961

James Gandolfini, American actor

1964

Holly Robinson Peete, American actress
1973
James Marsden, American actor