Today in History for 15th August 2022

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Historical Events

1185 - The cave city of Vardzia is consecrated by Queen Tamar of Georgia
1248 - Construction of the new Cologne Cathedral in the Gothic style begins with the laying of the foundation stone by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden (completed 1880)
1911 - Procter and Gamble unveils its Crisco shortening
1948 - US Open Women's Golf, Atlantic City CC: Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins by 8 strokes from Betty Hicks
1965 - PGA Championship Men's Golf, Laurel Valley GC: Dave Marr wins his only major title, beating Billy Casper and Jack Nicklaus by 2 strokes
1975 - Miki Takeo makes the first official pilgrimage to Yasukuni Shrine by an incumbent prime minister on the anniversary of the end of World War II.

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Famous Birthdays

1896 - Catherine Doherty, Russian-born Canadian activist, born in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (d. 1985)
1902 - Jan Campert, Dutch resistance fighter and poet (Song the 18 dead), born in Spijkenisse, Netherlands (d. 1943)
1947 - Manley Lanier "Sonny" Carter Jr, American chemist and NASA astronaut (STS 33), born in Macon, Georgia (d. 1991)
1972 - Ken Walter, American NFL punter, 1997-2006 (Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, and 2 other teams), born in Cleveland, Ohio
1976 - Robert Macfarlane, English nature writer, born in Halam, England
1989 - Joe Jonas, American pop singer (Jonas Brothers), born in Casa Grande, Arizona

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Famous Deaths

1576 - (Valentin) Bálint Bakfark, Hungarian lutenist, and composer, dies of the plague at about 70
1962 - Lei Feng, Chinese soldier (became a propaganda icon after his death), dies in an accident at 21
1968 - Edward Kilenyi, Sr. [Ede Kilényi], composer and teacher (Clipped Wings; Outside the Law), dies at 84
1990 - Viktor Tsoi, Russian musician (Kino), dies in a car accident at 28
1990 - Lew DeWitt, American country singer and composer (Statler Brothers - "Flowers on the Wall"), dies of Crohn's disease complications at 52
2014 - Jerry Lumpe, American baseball player, dies at 81

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