On This Day…

1542 – Explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, known as the “discoverer” of California, landed this day in 1542 near what is now San Diego and became the first European to set foot on the west coast of what would become the United States.

1928 – Sir Alexander Fleming, a young bacteriologist, accidental discovered one of the great developments of modern medicine – Penicillin.

1934 – “Judge Priest” film directed by John Ford, starring Will Rogers is released

1956 – RCA Records reports Elvis Presley sold over 10 million records

1968 – Janis Joplin announces she’s leaving “Big Brother & Holding Co”

1987 – “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” starring Patrick Stewart debuts on syndicated TV

1990 – Marvin Gaye gets a star on Hollywood’s walk of fame

2013 – 27 villagers are killed by Boko Harem in northeast Nigeria

2015 – NASA scientists announce the discovery of flowing water on Mars

Via Britanicca / On This Day