1775, Paul Revere began his famous “Midnight Ride” from Charlestown to Lexington, Massachusetts, warning American militiamen that British troops were coming.
1906, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.3 struck San Francisco. An estimated 3,000 people died as a result of the quake and the widespread fires it ignited.
1923, the New York Yankees played their first game in Yankee Stadium, for a crowd of 74,000 fans, who saw Babe Ruth hit a game-winning three-run homer. In his coverage of the game, sportswriter Fred Liebcalled the stadium “The House That Ruth Built.”
1934, Gene Autry records “Back in the Saddle Again.”
1949, the Irish Republic was founded.
1953, Possibly the longest measured home run ever hit in a major-league baseball game was credited to New York Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle on this day. “The Mick” hit a 565-foot homer in Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.
1955, the phrase “Third World” was first used by Indonesia’s President Sukarno in a speech about non-white, underdeveloped areas.
1956, American actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco.
1964, American Bandstand airs a taped interview with the Beatles.
1966, Bill Russell was named coach of the Boston Celtics, becoming the first African-American coach in the NBA.
1975, John Lennon releases “Stand by Me.”
1983, Sixty-two people, including 17 Americans, were killed by a suicide bomber at the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.
1994, former President Richard Nixon suffered a stroke at his New Jersey home. He was taken to New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in New York City, where he died four days later.
1995, quarterback Joe Montana retired from the NFL at the age of 38.
1999, Wayne Gretzky played his last NHL game, as his New York Rangers lost at home to the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in overtime at Madison Square Garden.
2002, actor Robert Blake was arrested for murder in Los Angeles. Police alleged that he fatally shot his wife Bonny Lee Bakley in the head as she sat in their car on May 4th, 2001.

• Melissa Joan Hart (actress, Sabrina The Teenage Witch) (36)
• Jane Leeves (actress, played Daphne Moon on Frasier) (51)
• Eric McCormack (actor, plays Will Truman on NBC’s Will & Grace) (49)
• Hayley Mills (actress, played twins in Disney’s Parent Trap) (66)
• Rick Moranis (comedian-actor, Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, My Blue Heaven, Parenthood,Ghostbusters) (59)
• Conan O’Brien (late night TV talk show host) (49)
• Eric Roberts (actor, The Coca Cola Kid, Runaway Train, Rude Awakening, brother of Julia Roberts) (56)
• James Woods (actor, Salvador, The Virgin Suicides, Ghosts of Mississippi, Nixon, Riding in Cars with Boys) (65)
• Maria Bello (actress, ER, Permanent Midnight, Payback, Coyote Ugly, The Cooler, A History Of Violence, Thank You For Smoking) (45)
• Barbara Hale (actress, played Della Street on the Perry Mason TV series) (90)
• David Tennant (actor, Doctor Who, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) (41)
• America Ferrera (actress, Ugly Betty) (28)
• Eli Roth (actor/director, “The Bear Jew” in Inglourious Basterds) (40)
• Kourtney Kardashian (reality TV star) (33)

CBS

• SURVIVOR: ONE WORLD – A castaway forces a confrontation; tribe members are brought to tears by a heartfelt message from home.
• CRIMINAL MINDS (repeat)
• CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (repeat)

NBC

• BETTY WHITE’S OFF THEIR ROCKERS – Senior citizens play pranks.
• BEST FRIENDS FOREVER – Lennon tries to create a surprise gift for Joe’s father (J.K. Simmons); a delivery forces Jessica to face reality.
• ROCK CENTER WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS – Madonna; differences between French and American elections; Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt.
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT – A man sees his wife abducted while video chatting with her, but Benson finds out that the victim tried to pick up the ransom herself.

FOX

• AMERICAN IDOL – The remaining finalists perform.

ABC

• THE MIDDLE (repeat)
• SUBURGATORY – George becomes smitten with a woman he meets at the farmer’s market; Tessa and Dalia search for a missing Yakult.
• MODERN FAMILY – Claire tries to help Luke cope with the death of a neighbor; Cameron’s father visits.
• DON’T TRUST THE B—- IN APARTMENT 23 – June begrudgingly lets Chloe set her up on a date; James teaches an acting class in which he can’t escape his Dawson persona.
• REVENGE – Daniel’s imprisonment has an unexpected impact on Victoria; Jack’s search for Amanda becomes more desperate.

CW

• AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (repeat)
• AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL – The models must collaborate with young girls on a PSA for an anti-bullying campaign; Estelle poses with the contestants during a photo shoot.

BRAVO

• INTERIOR THERAPY WITH JEFF LEWIS – Terri Golden needs help with her husband’s bachelor pad and the tension it stirs.

COMEDY CENTRAL

• SOUTH PARK – The boys’ ziplining adventure becomes a terrifying experience.