1957
David Bomberg, English soldier and painter (born 1890)
David Garshen Bomberg was a British painter, and one of the Whitechapel Boys.
David Bomberg, English soldier and painter (born 1890)
The 1950s
Explore 3254 historical events from 1950–1959.
1957
Mait Metsanurk, Estonian author and playwright (born 1879)
Mait Metsanurk was an Estonian writer who led the neo-realist school of Estonian literature.
Mait Metsanurk, Estonian author and playwright (born 1879)
1957
Nels Stewart, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1902)
Robert Nelson "Old Poison" Stewart was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey Le…
Nels Stewart, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1902)
1957
Harald Sverdrup, Norwegian meteorologist and oceanographer (born 1888)
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup was a Norwegian oceanographer and meteorologist. He served as director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Norwegian Polar Institute.
Harald Sverdrup, Norwegian meteorologist and oceanographer (born 1888)
1957
Ronald Knox, English Catholic priest (born 1888)
Ronald Arbuthnott Knox was an English Catholic priest, theologian, author, and radio broadcaster. Educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, where he earned a high reputation as…
Ronald Knox, English Catholic priest (born 1888)
1957
South Vietnamese president Ngô Đình Diệm began a state visit to the United States, his regime's main sponsor
South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam, was a country in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975. It first garnered recognition in 1949 as the associated State of …
South Vietnamese president Ngô Đình Diệm began a state visit to the United States, his regime's main sponsor
1957
Ellen Fairclough (pictured) became the first woman to be appointed to the cabinet of Canada
Ellen Louks Fairclough was a Canadian politician. A Progressive Conservative member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1950 to 1963, she was the first woman ever to serve in th…
Ellen Fairclough (pictured) became the first woman to be appointed to the cabinet of Canada
1957
The United Kingdom tested its first hydrogen bomb over Malden Island in Operation Grapple
A thermonuclear weapon, fusion weapon or hydrogen bomb (H-bomb) is a second-generation nuclear weapon, using nuclear fusion. The most destructive weapons ever created, their yields…
The United Kingdom tested its first hydrogen bomb over Malden Island in Operation Grapple
1957
Led by John Diefenbaker (pictured), the Progressive Conservative Party won a plurality of House of Commons seats in the
John George Diefenbaker was the 13th prime minister of Canada, serving from 1957 to 1963. He was the only Progressive Conservative party leader between 1935 and 1979 to lead the pa…
Led by John Diefenbaker (pictured), the Progressive Conservative Party won a plurality of House of Commons seats in the
1957
Hurricane Audrey made landfall near the Texas–Louisiana border, killing over 400 people, mainly in and around Cameron, L
Hurricane Audrey was a catastrophic and very deadly hurricane that devastated the southwestern Louisiana coast in 1957. Along with Hurricane Alex in 2010, it was also the strongest…
Hurricane Audrey made landfall near the Texas–Louisiana border, killing over 400 people, mainly in and around Cameron, L
1957
The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold, a largely autobiographical novel by Evelyn Waugh, was published.
The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold is a novel by the British writer Evelyn Waugh, first published in July 1957. It is Waugh's penultimate full-length work of fiction, which the author c…
The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold, a largely autobiographical novel by Evelyn Waugh, was published.
1956
70 years ago
Actress Grace Kelly marries Prince Rainier of Monaco
Grace Patricia Kelly was an American actress and Princess of Monaco as the wife of Prince Rainier III from their marriage on April 18, 1956, until her death in 1982. Prior to her m…
Actress Grace Kelly marries Prince Rainier of Monaco
1956
70 years ago
SS Ideal X, the world's first successful container ship, leaves Port Newark, New Jersey, for Houston, Texas
SS Ideal X, a converted World War II T-2 oil tanker, was the first commercially successful container ship.
SS Ideal X, the world's first successful container ship, leaves Port Newark, New Jersey, for Houston, Texas
1956
70 years ago
The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk is made available to the public
Polio vaccine is a vaccine used to prevent poliomyelitis (polio). Two types are used: an inactivated poliovirus given by injection (IPV) and a weakened poliovirus given by mouth (O…
The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk is made available to the public
1956
70 years ago
Marcinelle mining disaster in Belgium. 262 coal miners, including a substantial number of Italian migrant workers,…
The Marcinelle mining disaster occurred at the Bois du Cazier coal mine at Marcinelle, Hainaut Province, in Belgium on 8 August 1956. One of the largest and most notorious mining d…
Marcinelle mining disaster in Belgium. 262 coal miners, including a substantial number of Italian migrant workers,…
1956
70 years ago
David M
David McDowell Brown was a United States Navy captain and NASA astronaut. He died on his first spaceflight, when the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-107) disintegrated during orbital r…
David M
1956
70 years ago
T Lavitz, American keyboard player, composer, and producer (died 2010)
Terry "T" Lavitz was an American keyboardist, composer, and producer. He is best known for his work with the Dixie Dregs and Jazz Is Dead.
T Lavitz, American keyboard player, composer, and producer (died 2010)
1956
70 years ago
Lise-Marie Morerod, Swiss skier
Lise-Marie Morerod is a Swiss former slalom skier. In 1977, she was women's overall season champion.
Lise-Marie Morerod, Swiss skier
1956
70 years ago
Colin Tyre, Lord Tyre, Scottish lawyer and judge
Colin Jack Tyre, Lord Tyre, is a Scottish lawyer, former President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, and a Senator of the College of Justice, a judge of the Supre…
Colin Tyre, Lord Tyre, Scottish lawyer and judge
1956
70 years ago
Former Vice President and Democratic Senator Alben Barkley dies during a speech in Virginia
Alben William Barkley was an American lawyer and politician from Kentucky who served as the 35th vice president of the United States from 1949 to 1953 under President Harry S. Trum…
Former Vice President and Democratic Senator Alben Barkley dies during a speech in Virginia
1956
70 years ago
In Operation Redwing, the first United States airborne hydrogen bomb is dropped over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean
Operation Redwing was a United States series of 17 nuclear test detonations from May to July 1956. They were conducted at Bikini and Enewetak atolls by Joint Task Force 7 (JTF7). T…
In Operation Redwing, the first United States airborne hydrogen bomb is dropped over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean
1956
70 years ago
The first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland
The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1956. Ea…
The first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland
1956
70 years ago
Anne Glover, Scottish biologist and academic
Dame Lesley Anne Glover is a Scottish biologist and academic. She was Professor of molecular biology and cell biology at the University of Aberdeen before being named Vice Principa…
Anne Glover, Scottish biologist and academic
1956
70 years ago
Beatrice Ask, Swedish politician, Swedish Minister for Justice
Eva Carin Beatrice Ask is a Swedish politician and a member of the Moderate Party. She served as Governor of Södermanland County from 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2025.
Beatrice Ask, Swedish politician, Swedish Minister for Justice