The 1930s

1939

The Columbia Lions and the Princeton Tigers play in the United States' first televised sporting event, a collegiate base

The Columbia University Lions are the collective athletic teams and their members from Columbia University, an Ivy League institution in New York City, United States. The current d…

The Columbia Lions and the Princeton Tigers play in the United States' first televised sporting event, a collegiate base

1939

Last public guillotining in France: Eugen Weidmann, a convicted murderer, is executed in Versailles outside the Saint-Pi

Eugen Weidmann was a German criminal and serial killer who was executed by guillotine in France in June 1939, the last public execution in France, an execution witnessed by the 17-…

Last public guillotining in France: Eugen Weidmann, a convicted murderer, is executed in Versailles outside the Saint-Pi

1939

John Amabile, American football player and coach (died 2012)

John Amabile was an American professional football scout for the New York Giants, high school football coach, and college football quarterback.

John Amabile, American football player and coach (died 2012)

1939

Robert Miller, American art dealer (died 2011)

Robert Miller was an American art dealer.

Robert Miller, American art dealer (died 2011)

1939

Glen Hardin, American pianist and arranger

Glen Dee Hardin is an American piano player and arranger. He has performed and recorded with such artists as Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, and Ricky Nels…

Glen Hardin, American pianist and arranger

1939

Robert Menzies, who became Australia's longest-serving prime minister, is elected as leader of the United Australia Part

Sir Robert Gordon Menzies was an Australian politician and lawyer who served as the 12th prime minister of Australia from 1939 to 1941 and from 1949 to 1966. He held office as the …

Robert Menzies, who became Australia's longest-serving prime minister, is elected as leader of the United Australia Part

1939

The 1939–40 New York World's Fair opens

The 1939 New York World's Fair was an international exposition held at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City, United States. The fair featured exhibitions, activiti…

The 1939–40 New York World's Fair opens

1939

Thomas J

Thomas Joseph Moyer was an American jurist and the chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court from 1987 to 2010. A member of the Republican Party, he formerly served as a justice of t…

Thomas J

1939

Clay Shaw, American accountant, judge, and politician (died 2013)

Eugene Clay Shaw Jr. was an American jurist and Republican politician who served as mayor of Fort Lauderdale and represented South Florida in the United States House of Representat…

Clay Shaw, American accountant, judge, and politician (died 2013)

1939

Peter S

Peter Soyer Beagle is an American novelist and screenwriter, especially of fantasy fiction. His best-known work is The Last Unicorn (1968) which Locus subscribers voted the number …

Peter S

1939

Gro Harlem Brundtland, Norwegian physician and politician, 22nd Prime Minister of Norway–

Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian former physician and politician of the Labour Party, who served three terms as the prime minister of Norway, as the leader of her party from 19…

Gro Harlem Brundtland, Norwegian physician and politician, 22nd Prime Minister of Norway–

1939

NBC inaugurates its regularly scheduled television service in New York City, broadcasting President Franklin D

The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network, serving as the flagship property of NBC Entertainment, a division of NBCUn…

NBC inaugurates its regularly scheduled television service in New York City, broadcasting President Franklin D

1939

The All India Forward Bloc is formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

The All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) is a left-wing nationalist political party in India. It emerged as a faction within the Indian National Congress in 1939, led by Netaji Subhas Cha…

The All India Forward Bloc is formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

1939

Lina Medina becomes the youngest confirmed mother in medical history at the age of five

Lina Marcela Medina de Jurado is a Peruvian woman who became the youngest confirmed mother in history when she gave birth to her son Gerardo on 14 May 1939 when she was five years,…

Lina Medina becomes the youngest confirmed mother in medical history at the age of five

1939

The Canadian National War Memorial is unveiled by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The National War Memorial, titled The Response, is a tall, granite memorial arch with accreted bronze sculptures in Ottawa, Ontario, designed by Vernon March and first dedicated by…

The Canadian National War Memorial is unveiled by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

1939

World War II: Germany and Italy sign the Pact of Steel

World War II, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated. Tanks and air…

World War II: Germany and Italy sign the Pact of Steel

1939

John McCabe, English pianist and composer (died 2015)

John McCabe was a British composer and pianist. He created works in many different forms, including symphonies, ballets, and solo works for the piano. He served as director of the …

John McCabe, English pianist and composer (died 2015)

1939

Sister Helen Prejean, American nun, activist, and author

Helen Prejean is an American Catholic religious sister and a leading advocate for the abolition of the death penalty.

Sister Helen Prejean, American nun, activist, and author

1939

Reni Santoni, American actor (died 2020)

Renaldo Santoni was an American film, television and voice actor. He was noted for playing Poppie on the television sitcom Seinfeld, Tony Gonzales in Cobra, and Chico González in D…

Reni Santoni, American actor (died 2020)

1939

Mel Carter, American singer and actor

Mel Carter is an American soul and pop singer and actor. He is best known for his 1965 million-selling recording "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me".

Mel Carter, American singer and actor

1939

John Foley, English general and politician, Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey

Lieutenant-General Sir John Paul Foley, is a retired British Army officer with a long career in military intelligence. He is the great-grandson of Henry Hodgetts-Foley, and was edu…

John Foley, English general and politician, Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey

1939

Ray Guy, Canadian journalist and author (died 2013)

Ray Guy was a Canadian journalist and humourist, best known for his satirical newspaper and magazine columns.

Ray Guy, Canadian journalist and author (died 2013)

1939

The U

The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and is designated as the navy of the United States in the Constitution. With 290 comba…

The U

1939

First flight of the German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter aircraft

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190, nicknamed Würger is a German single-seat, single-engined, fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank at Focke-Wulf in the late 1930s and widely used during World…

First flight of the German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter aircraft