1955
Harry J
Harry Jheopart Capehart Sr. was an American lawyer, politician, and businessperson in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Capehart served as a member of the West Virginia House of Del…
Harry J
The 1950s
Explore 1065 historical events from 1950–1959.
1955
Mary McLeod Bethune, American educator and activist (born 1875)
Mary McLeod Bethune was an American educator, philanthropist, humanitarian, womanist, and civil rights activist. Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women in 1935, and pr…
Mary McLeod Bethune, American educator and activist (born 1875)
1955
James Agee, American novelist, screenwriter, and critic(born 1909)
James Rufus Agee was an American novelist, journalist, poet, screenwriter and film critic. In the 1940s, writing for Time, he was one of the most influential film critics in the Un…
James Agee, American novelist, screenwriter, and critic(born 1909)
1955
Manny Ayulo, American race car driver (born 1921)
Manuel Leaonedas Ayulo was an American racecar driver. His efforts, along with those of friend and teammate Jack McGrath, helped establish track roadsters as viable race cars. Ayul…
Manny Ayulo, American race car driver (born 1921)
1955
Alberto Ascari, Italian racing driver (born 1918)
Alberto Ascari was an Italian racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1955. Ascari won two Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles, which he won in 1952 and …
Alberto Ascari, Italian racing driver (born 1918)
1955
Bill Vukovich, American race car driver (born 1918)
William Vukovich was an American racing driver. He won the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500s, plus two more American Automobile Association National Championship races, and died whil…
Bill Vukovich, American race car driver (born 1918)
1955
Joe Brown and George Band, members of the British Kangchenjunga expedition, made the first ascent of the world's third-
Joseph Brown was an English mountaineer who was regarded as an outstanding pioneer of rock climbing during the 1950s and early 1960s. Together with his early climbing partner, Don …
Joe Brown and George Band, members of the British Kangchenjunga expedition, made the first ascent of the world's third-
1955
The USSR and Yugoslavia sign the Belgrade declaration, legitimising different interpretations of Marxism in non-Soviet c
The Belgrade declaration is a document signed by President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev on 2 June 1955 that brought about a short reconciliatio…
The USSR and Yugoslavia sign the Belgrade declaration, legitimising different interpretations of Marxism in non-Soviet c
1954
The first clinical trials of Jonas Salk's polio vaccine begin in Fairfax County, Virginia
Jonas Edward Salk was an American virologist and medical researcher who developed one of the first successful polio vaccines. He was born in New York City and attended the City Col…
The first clinical trials of Jonas Salk's polio vaccine begin in Fairfax County, Virginia
1954
Roger Bannister becomes the first person to run the mile in under four minutes
Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister was an English neurologist and middle-distance athlete who ran the first sub-4-minute mile.
Roger Bannister becomes the first person to run the mile in under four minutes
1954
Beginning of the Kengir uprising in the Gulag
The Kengir uprising was a prisoner rebellion that occurred in Kengir (Steplag), a Soviet MVD special camp for political prisoners, during May and June 1954. Its duration and intens…
Beginning of the Kengir uprising in the Gulag
1954
Ellen Barkin, American actress
Ellen Rona Barkin is an American actress. Her breakthrough role was in the 1982 film Diner, and in the following years, she had starring roles in films such as Tender Mercies (1983…
Ellen Barkin, American actress
1954
Gamal Abdel Nasser seizes power in Egypt
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was an Egyptian military officer and revolutionary who served as the second president of Egypt from 1954 until his death in 1970. Nasser led the Egyptian…
Gamal Abdel Nasser seizes power in Egypt
1954
John Bowe, Australian racing driver
John Philip Bowe is an Australian racing driver, presently racing a BMW M4 in the GT4 Australia series.
John Bowe, Australian racing driver
1954
Mike Zuke, Canadian ice hockey player
Michael Zuke is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centreman who played eight seasons in the NHL, between 1978 and 1986.
Mike Zuke, Canadian ice hockey player
1954
Riccardo Patrese, Italian race car driver
Riccardo Gabriele Patrese is an Italian former racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1977 to 1993. Patrese was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in…
Riccardo Patrese, Italian race car driver
1954
Roddy Piper, Canadian professional wrestler and actor (died 2015)
Roderick George Toombs, known by his ring name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler and actor.
Roddy Piper, Canadian professional wrestler and actor (died 2015)
1954
Michael Sembello, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Michael Andrew Sembello is an American singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer and producer.
Michael Sembello, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
1954
Robert Greenberg, American pianist and composer
Robert M. Greenberg is an American composer, pianist, and musicologist who was born in Brooklyn, New York. He has composed more than 50 works for a variety of instruments and voice…
Robert Greenberg, American pianist and composer
1954
Red Scare: Witnesses begin testifying and live television coverage of the Army–McCarthy hearings begins
McCarthyism is a political practice defined by the political repression and persecution of left-wing individuals and a campaign spreading fear of communist and Soviet influence on …
Red Scare: Witnesses begin testifying and live television coverage of the Army–McCarthy hearings begins
1954
The first practical solar cell is publicly demonstrated by Bell Telephone Laboratories
A solar cell, also known as a photovoltaic cell, is an electronic device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by using the photovoltaic effect. It is a type …
The first practical solar cell is publicly demonstrated by Bell Telephone Laboratories
1954
The Geneva Conference, an effort to restore peace in Indochina and Korea, begins
The Geneva Conference was intended to settle outstanding issues resulting from the Korean War and the First Indochina War and involved several nations. It took place in Geneva, Swi…
The Geneva Conference, an effort to restore peace in Indochina and Korea, begins
1954
Indochina War: The Battle of Dien Bien Phu ends in a French defeat and a Viet Minh victory (the battle began on March 13
The First Indochina War, known alternatively internationally as the French Indochina War, was fought in French Indochina between France and the Viet Minh and their respective allie…
Indochina War: The Battle of Dien Bien Phu ends in a French defeat and a Viet Minh victory (the battle began on March 13
1954
The anti-National Service Riots, by Chinese middle school students in Singapore, take place
In December 1953, the British colonial government in Singapore passed the National Service Ordinance, requiring all male British subjects and Federal citizens between the ages of 1…
The anti-National Service Riots, by Chinese middle school students in Singapore, take place