July 28th
1750
Composer Johann Sebastian Bach died in Leipzig, Germany, at age 65.
1794
Robespierre, one of the leading figures of the French Revolution, was sent to the guillotine.
1868
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which established the citizenship of African Americans and guaranteed due process of law, was ratified.
1896
The city of Miami, Fla., was incorporated.
1914
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, precipitating the start of World War I.
1945
A U.S. Army B-25 bomber crashes into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building killing 14 and injuring 26.
2002
Nine Pennsylvania coal miners were rescued after 77 hours of being trapped in a mine shaft.
2006
Actor-director Mel Gibson launched an anti-Semitic tirade as he was arrested in Malibu, Calif., for driving drunk; Gibson later apologized and was sentenced to probation and alcohol treatment.
Birthdays
66 Bill Bradley Basketball Hall of Famer
64 Jim Davis Cartoonist ("Garfield")
61 Georgia Engel Actress ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show")
61 Sally Struthers Actress ("All in the Family")
61 Gerald Casale Musician and director (founding member of Devo)
60 Simon Kirke Rock musician (Bad Company)
60 Vida Blue Baseball player
55 Steve Morse Rock musician (Deep Purple)
55 Hugo Chavez President of Venzuela
46 Michael Hayden Actor
45 Lori Loughlin Actress ("Full House")
38 Stephen Lynch Musician
37 Elizabeth Berkley Actress
35 Afroman Rapper, singer
34 Todd Anderson Country musician (Heartland)
33 Jacoby Shaddix Rock singer (Papa Roach)
72 Thomas Heyward, Jr. 7/28/1746 - 3/6/1809 American patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence
77 Beatrix Potter 7/28/1866 - 12/22/1943 English author of children's books
84 Rudy Vallee 7/28/1901 - 7/3/1986 American singer and bandleader
76 Earl Tupper 7/28/1907 - 10/5/1983 American inventor of Tupperware plastic containers
64 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis 7/28/1929 - 5/19/1994 American first lady (1961-3)
65 Richard Wright 7/28/1943 - 9/15/2008 English pianist, keyboardist, vocalist and songwriter, best known for his career with Pink Floyd