Today in History - History - March 31st

1973Ken Norton defeats Muhammad Ali in a 12 round split decision

1980President Jimmy Carter deregulates banking industry

199625th Nabisco Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Patty Sheehan

1796Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "Egmont" premieres in Weimar

1657English Parliament makes the Humble Petition to Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell offering him the crown: he declines

1988NY Islanders celebrate Denis Potvin night

1814Forces allied against Napoleon capture Paris

19671st time Jimi Hendrix burns his guitar (London)

1945Tennessee Williams' "Glass Menagerie" premieres in NYC

1968Mickey Wright wins LPGA Palm Beach County Golf Open

1927Cesar Chavez, Yuma Az, farm labor leader (United Farm Workers)

1928Gordie Howe, Floral Sask, NHL right wing (Detroit Redwings)

1519Henry II, King of France (1547-59)

1685Johann Sebastian Bach, Eisenach Germany, composer (Mattheus-Passion)

1971Ewan McGregor, Perth Scotland, Scottish actor (Trainspotting)

1929Liz Claiborne, Brussels Belgium, American fashion designer, entrepreneur and founder of Liz Claiborne Inc (d. 2007)

307Roman Emperor Constantine marries Fausta, daughter of the Emperor Maximian, later murdering her in 326

1996Actor and director Clint Eastwood (65) weds news anchor Dina Ruiz (30) in Las Vegas

1993Actor and writer Larry David (45) weds environmental activist Laurie Lennard (35)

1834Religious leader Brigham Young (32) weds herbalist Mary Ann Angell (27)

1945Hans Fischer, German physicist (Nobel 1930), dies at 63

1727Isaac Newton, English physicist/astronomer, dies in London at 84