Today in History - History - February 1st

1327Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer.

1982"Late Night With David Letterman" debuts on NBC-TV, Bill Murray is first guest

1865General Sherman's march through South Carolina begins

1981Duke Ellington's musical "Sophisticated Ladies," premieres in NYC

2004Janet Jackson's breast is exposed during the half-time show of Super Bowl XXXVIII, resulting in US broadcasters adopting a stronger adherence to FCC censorship guidelines.

1969Jim Morrison arrested for exposing himself in concert

1669French King Louis XIV limits freedom of religion

1953"You Are There" with Walter Cronkite premieres on CBS television

1923Fascists Voluntary Militia forms in Italy under Benito Mussolini

1932Bradman makes 299* vs South Africa, runs out partner going for 300th

1882Louis St. Laurent, Compton Quebec, (L) 12th Canadian PM (1948-57)

1918Muriel Spark, Edinburgh Scotland, novelist (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie)

1948Rick James (James Ambrose Johnson Jr), Buffalo New York, American funk musician

1931Boris Yeltsin, Ural Mts USSR, president of Russian SSR

1895John Ford, Maine, director (Stagecoach, Air Mail, Quiet Man)

1968Lisa Marie Presley Keough Jackson, Memphis Tenn, daughter of Elvis

1902Langston Hughes, Joplin, Missouri, American poet (Weary Blues) and playwright (Mulatto)

1901Clark Gable, Cadiz Ohio, American actor (Gone With the Wind)

1840Novelist Alexandre Dumas (37) weds actress Ida Ferrier

1997Retired MLB player Johnny Bench (49) weds stockbroker Elizabeth Benton

1851Mary Shelley, novelist (Frankenstein), dies of a brain tumour at 53

1944Piet Mondrian, abstract painter (Composition in Blue), dies at 71