On This Day in History – June 1

Major Events

• 1495 – A monk named John Cor records the first known batch of Scotch whisky in Scotland, according to Exchequer Rolls.

• 1792 – Kentucky becomes the 15th state of the United States.

• 1796 – Tennessee is admitted as the 16th state of the United States.

• 1938 – The first issue of Action Comics is released, introducing Superman to the world.

• 1967 – The Beatles release Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, a groundbreaking album in music history.

• 1980 – CNN (Cable News Network) launches as the first 24-hour news channel.

• 2009 – General Motors files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, one of the largest in U.S. history.

Famous Birthdays

• Brigham Young (1801–1877), American religious leader and second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

• Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962), American actress, model, and cultural icon.

• Morgan Freeman (born 1937), American actor and narrator known for his commanding voice and film roles.

• Alanis Morissette (born 1974), Canadian-American singer-songwriter.

• Heidi Klum (born 1973), German-American supermodel and television host.

• Tom Holland (born 1996), English actor best known for playing Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Notable Deaths

• James Buchanan (1791–1868), 15th President of the United States.

• Helen Keller (1880–1968), American author, disability rights advocate, and political activist.

• David Scott (1940–2016), American astronaut and seventh person to walk on the moon.

• Ras Kimono (1958–2018), Nigerian reggae artist and social activist.

Holidays

• Children’s Day – Celebrated in several countries including China and Mongolia.

• Madaraka Day – A national holiday in Kenya commemorating the day in 1963 that Kenya attained internal self-rule.

• Global Day of Parents – Recognized by the United Nations to honor parents and their commitment to children.

Fun Facts

• The first batch of Scotch whisky was documented on this day in 1495 — now Scotland’s national drink.

• June 1 is often cited as the unofficial start of meteorological summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

• CNN revolutionized global news by launching as the first all-news TV channel on this date in 1980.

• The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s album cover features over 70 famous figures and took more than 700 hours to design.

• In leap years, June 1 falls on the same day of the week as March 1.