September 29
1399
King Richard II became the first English monarch to abdicate his throne.
1829
Sir Robert Peel’s police force, the “bobbies,” began operations at Scotland Yard.
1895
French chemist Louis Pasteur died.
1978
John Paul I died one month after becoming pope.
1982
Seven people died after taking Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide. This led to the use of safety seals on most consumer products.
1988
The space shuttle Discovery was launched, the first American staffed space flight since the Challenger disaster.
2001
Former South Vietnam president Nguyen Van Thieu died.
Birthdays
Lech Walesa
1943—, Polish labor leader.
Miguel de Cervantes
novelist, dramatist, and poet (1547)
Horatio Nelson Nelson
admiral (1758)
Enrico Fermi
physicist (1901)
Greer Garson
actress (1904)
Gene Autry
singer (1907)
Stanley Kramer
film director (1913)
Jerry Lee Lewis
rock musician (1935)
Bryant Gumbel
TV newscaster (1948)