Historical Anniversaries this Week

March 17

 Events (250 years ago today): 1776 – American Revolutionary War: The British Army evacuates Boston, ending the Siege of Boston, after George Washington and Henry Knox place artillery in positions overlooking the city.

 Births (350 years ago today): 1676 – Thomas Boston, Scottish philosopher and theologian (died 1732)

 Births (100 years ago today): 1926 – Siegfried Lenz, Polish-German author and playwright (died 2014)

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Scott Downs, American baseball player

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Stephen Gately, Irish singer-songwriter and actor (died 2009)

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Álvaro Recoba, Uruguayan footballer

 Deaths (100 years ago today): 1926 – Aleksei Brusilov, Georgian-Russian general (born 1853)

 Deaths (50 years ago today): 1976 – Luchino Visconti, Italian director and screenwriter (born 1906)

March 18

 Births (100 years ago today): 1926 – Peter Graves, American actor and director (died 2010)

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Giovanna Antonelli, Brazilian actress and producer

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Tomo Ohka, Japanese baseball player

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Scott Podsednik, American baseball player

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Mike Quackenbush, American wrestler, trainer, and author, founded Chikara wrestling promotion

 Deaths (950 years ago today): 1076 – Ermengarde of Anjou, Duchess of Burgundy (born 1018)

March 19

 Births (150 years ago today): 1876 – Felix Jacoby, German philologist (died 1959)

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Rachel Blanchard, Canadian actress^[26]

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Derek Chauvin, American criminal and former police officer^[41][42]

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Andre Miller, American basketball player^[43]

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Alessandro Nesta, Italian footballer and manager

 Deaths (50 years ago today): 1976 – Albert Dieudonné, French actor and author (born 1889)

 Deaths (50 years ago today): 1976 – Paul Kossoff, English guitarist and songwriter (born 1950)

March 20

 Events (100 years ago today): 1926 – Chiang Kai-shek initiates a purge of communist elements within the National Revolutionary Army in Guangzhou.^[5]

 Births (150 years ago today): 1876 – Payne Whitney, American businessman and philanthropist (died 1927)

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Chester Bennington, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor (died 2017)^[20]

Commemorations:
International Day of the Francophonie
International Day of Happiness

March 21

 Births (400 years ago today): 1626 – Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur, Spanish saint and missionary (died 1667)

 Births (150 years ago today): 1876 – Walter Tewksbury, American runner and hurdler (died 1968)

 Births (100 years ago today): 1926 – André Delvaux, Belgian director and screenwriter (died 2002)

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Rachael MacFarlane, American voice actress and singer

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Bamboo Mañalac, Filipino singer-songwriter and guitarist

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Tekin Sazlog, German-Turkish footballer

 Deaths (950 years ago today): 1076 – Robert I, Duke of Burgundy (born 1011)

 Deaths (350 years ago today): 1676 – Henri Sauval, French historian and author (born 1623)

Commemorations:
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
World Poetry Day
International Day of Nowruz
World Down Syndrome Day

March 22

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Teun de Nooijer, Dutch field hockey player

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Asako Toki, Japanese singer-songwriter

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Reese Witherspoon, American actress and producer^[59]

 Deaths (50 years ago today): 1976 – John Dwyer McLaughlin, American painter (born 1898)

Commemorations:
World Water Day

March 23

 Births (200 years ago today): 1826 – Ludwig Minkus, Austrian violinist and composer (died 1917)

 Births (150 years ago today): 1876 – Ziya Gökalp, Turkish sociologist, poet and activist (died 1924)

 Births (150 years ago today): 1876 – Thakin Kodaw Hmaing, Burmese poet, writer and political leader (died 1964)

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Chris Hoy, Scottish cyclist^[41]

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Smriti Irani, Indian actress, producer and politician, Indian Minister of Human Resource Development

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Dougie Lampkin, English motorcycle racer

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Michelle Monaghan, American actress^[42]

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Joel Peralta, Dominican baseball player^[43]

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Keri Russell, American actress^[30]

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Benny Sa, Chinese television host

 Births (50 years ago today): 1976 – Ricardo Zonta, Brazilian race car driver

Commemorations:
World Meteorological Day