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 2487 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
Max Meldrum, Scottish-Australian painter and educator (born 1875)
Duncan Max Meldrum was a Scottish-born Australian artist and art teacher, best known as the founder of Australian tonalism, a representational painting style that became popular in…
Max Meldrum, Scottish-Australian painter and educator (born 1875)
1955
Margaret Abbott, Indian-American golfer (born 1876)
Margaret Ives Abbott was an American amateur golfer. She was the first American woman to win an Olympic event: the women's golf tournament at the 1900 Summer Olympics.
Margaret Abbott, Indian-American golfer (born 1876)
1955
Pierre Levegh, French race car driver (born 1905)
Pierre Eugène Alfred Bouillin was a French sportsman and racing driver. He took the racing name Pierre Levegh in memory of his uncle Alfred Velghe, a pioneering driver who died in …
Pierre Levegh, French race car driver (born 1905)
1955
Ozias Leduc, Canadian painter (born 1864)
Ozias Leduc was a Canadian painter who was an early painter in Quebec. He produced portraits and landscapes. According to Laurier Lacroix, he was the first Canadian artist who can …
Ozias Leduc, Canadian painter (born 1864)
1955
Engelbert Zaschka, German engineer (born 1895)
Engelbert Zaschka was a German chief engineer, chief designer and inventor. Zaschka is one of the first German helicopter pioneers and he is a pioneer of flying with muscle power a…
Engelbert Zaschka, German engineer (born 1895)
1955
Max Pechstein, German painter and academic (born 1881)
Hermann Max Pechstein was a German expressionist painter and printmaker and a member of the Die Brücke group. He fought on the Western Front during World War I and his art was clas…
Max Pechstein, German painter and academic (born 1881)
1955
Edward Lawson, English soldier, Victoria Cross recipient (born 1873)
Edward Lawson VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Co…
Edward Lawson, English soldier, Victoria Cross recipient (born 1873)
1955
Ali Naci Karacan, Turkish journalist and publisher (born 1896)
Ali Naci Karacan was a Turkish journalist and publisher. He was involved in founding the Turkish daily newspapers Akşam (1918) and Milliyet (1955), and his family, including grands…
Ali Naci Karacan, Turkish journalist and publisher (born 1896)
1955
Don Beauman, English race car driver (born 1928)
Donald Bentley Beauman was a British racing driver who took part in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix.
Don Beauman, English race car driver (born 1928)
1955
Adolfo de la Huerta, Mexican politician and provisional president, 1920 (born 1881)
Felipe Adolfo de la Huerta Marcor was a Mexican politician, the 45th President of Mexico from 1 June to 30 November 1920, following the assassination of President Venustiano Carran…
Adolfo de la Huerta, Mexican politician and provisional president, 1920 (born 1881)
1955
Calouste Gulbenkian, Armenian businessman and philanthropist (born 1869)
Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian was an Armenian businessman and philanthropist. He played a major role in making the petroleum reserves of the Middle East available to Western developme…
Calouste Gulbenkian, Armenian businessman and philanthropist (born 1869)
1955
Cordell Hull, American captain, lawyer, and politician, 47th United States Secretary of State, Nobel Prize laureate…
Cordell Hull was an American politician and diplomat who served as the United States secretary of state for nearly twelve years under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, from 1933 to …
Cordell Hull, American captain, lawyer, and politician, 47th United States Secretary of State, Nobel Prize laureate…
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
1955
Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russell (pictured) and nine other preeminent intellectuals and scientists issued the…
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist best known for developing the known theory of relativity. Einstein also made important contributions to quantum theory. His …
Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russell (pictured) and nine other preeminent intellectuals and scientists issued the…
1955
After straying into Bulgarian airspace, El Al Flight 402 was shot down by two MiG-15 fighter jets, resulting in the…
El Al Flight 402 was an international passenger flight from London to Tel Aviv via Vienna and Istanbul. On 27 July 1955, the flight, operated by a Lockheed Constellation registered…
After straying into Bulgarian airspace, El Al Flight 402 was shot down by two MiG-15 fighter jets, resulting in the…
1955
The Austrian State Treaty came into effect, ending the Allied occupation of Austria, although the country was not free…
The Austrian State Treaty or Austrian Independence Treaty established Austria as a sovereign state. It was signed on 15 May 1955 in Vienna, at the Schloss Belvedere among the Allie…
The Austrian State Treaty came into effect, ending the Allied occupation of Austria, although the country was not free…
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