March 30th
240 BC
1st recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet.
1822
Florida became a U.S. territory.
1842
Anesthesia was used for the first time in an operation.
1856
The Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the Crimean War.
1858
Hymen Lipman patents a pencil with an attached eraser.
1867
A treaty for the purchase of Alaska from Russia for the sum of 7.2 million, approximately two cents an acre, was submitted to the U.S. Senate.
1870
The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect, guaranteeing the right to vote regardless of race.
1870
Texas was readmitted to the Union.
1909
The Queensboro Bridge, linking the New York boroughs of Manhattan and Queens, opened.
1964
The game show Jeopardy debuted on television.
1981
President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest by John Hinckley as he left a Washington hotel.
1986
Actor James Cagney died at age 86.
2002
The Queen Mother Elizabeth of England died at the age of 101.
Birthdays
83 Peter Marshall Game show host ("Hollywood Squares")
80 Richard Dysart Actor
79 John Astin Actor ("Addams Family")
72 Warren Beatty Actor
69 Jerry Lucas Basketball Hall of Famer
68 Graeme Edge Rock musician (The Moody Blues)
64 Eric Clapton Rock musician
61 Justin Deas Actor ("Guiding Light")
59 Robbie Coltrane Actor
52 Paul Reiser Actor, comedian ("Mad About You")
46 MC Hammer Rapper
45 Tracy Chapman Rock singer
45 Ian Ziering Actor
41 Celine Dion Singer
41 Donna D'Errico Actress and model
38 Mark Consuelos Actor
30 Norah Jones Rock singer, musician
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357 Cigar Asylum Inmate
37 Vincent van Gogh 3/30/1853 - 7/29/1890 Dutch Post-Impressionist painter
79 Arthur Herrington 3/30/1891 - 9/6/1970 American engineer and manufacturer; developed the World War II jeep
19 Secretariat (horse) 3/30/1970 - 10/4/1989 Triple Crown winner in 1973