2013 Event Twenty people die on the island of Madagascar from bubonic plague, which is transmitted to humans via rat fleas; chronic overcrowding and unhygienic prison conditions are identified as the root cause of the outbreak 1993 Death Wells Root, U.S. screenwriter (Prisoner of Zenda), dies at 92 1982 Death Waverley Lewis Root, American Journalist 1981 Event Willem Klein mentally extracts 13th root of a 100-digit # in 29 sec 1951 Birthday Stephen Root, born in Sarasota, Florida, actor, films include, 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?', 'The Ladykillers', television appearances include, '24', True Blood' 1937 Death Elihu Root, U.S. Minister of War/Foreign affairs (Nobel 1912), dies at 91 1903 Birthday Waverley Lewis Root, American Journalist 1895 Death George Frederick Root, composer, dies at 74 1876 Birthday Jack Root, boxing's 1st light heavyweight champion 1869 Event Charles Elmer Hires sells his 1st root beer, Philadelphia 1866 Event Charles Elmer Hires invents root beer 1845 Birthday Elihu Root, R, U.S. Secretary of State, 1905 - 1909, Nobel Peace Prize, 1912 1820 Birthday George Frederick Root, composer
