On This Day
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46 die in a collision between the SS Andrea Doria and the MS Stockholm off the coast of Nantucket

SS Andrea Doria was a luxury transatlantic ocean liner of the Italian Line (Società di navigazione Italia), put into service in 1953.

SS Andrea Doria was a luxury transatlantic ocean liner of the Italian Line (Società di navigazione Italia), put into service in 1953. She is widely known from the extensive media coverage of her sinking on July 26, 1956, which included the successful rescue of 1,660 of her 1,706 passengers and crew.

Named after the 16th-century Genoese admiral Andrea Doria, the ship had a gross register tonnage of 29,100 and a capacity of about 1,200 passengers and 500 crew. Of all Italy's ships at the time, Andrea Doria was the largest, fastest and supposedly safest. Launched on 16 June 1951, she was home-ported at Genoa, and began her maiden voyage on 14 January 1953.

On 25 July 1956, the New York City–bound vessel was approaching the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States.

Historical Significance

SS Andrea Doria was a luxury transatlantic ocean liner of the Italian Line (Società di navigazione Italia), put into service in 1953.

Events Before

  1. "The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

    "The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

  2. Bhutan issues its first postage stamps

    The first postage stamps of Bhutan were issued in 1962, the same year that the first motorable road was opened.

  3. Marian Anderson is the first African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera, singing the role of Ulric

    Marian Anderson is the first African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera, singing the role of Ulrica in Giuseppe Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera"

  4. American film director Stanley Kubrick (26) weds second wife, Austrian theatrical designer Ruth Sobotka (29); divorce in

    American film director Stanley Kubrick (26) weds second wife, Austrian theatrical designer Ruth Sobotka (29); divorce in 1957

  5. "The Millionaire" TV series premieres on CBS

    "The Millionaire" TV series premieres on CBS

Events After

  1. Sputnik 1 Launch

    The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, igniting the Space Age and the US-Soviet Space Race.

  2. An Irish Republican Army (IRA) unit attacks Brookeborough Royal Ulster Constabulary barracks in one of the most famous i

    An Irish Republican Army (IRA) unit attacks Brookeborough Royal Ulster Constabulary barracks in one of the most famous incidents of the IRA's Operation Harvest

  3. Aviator Howard Hughes marries 2nd wife actress Jean Peters

    Aviator Howard Hughes marries 2nd wife actress Jean Peters

  4. South African golfer Gary Player (21) weds childhood sweetheart Vivienne Verwey, until her death in 2021

    South African golfer Gary Player (21) weds childhood sweetheart Vivienne Verwey, until her death in 2021

  5. English-American actress Elizabeth Taylor's 2nd divorce from English actor Michael Wilding, after almost 5 years of marr

    English-American actress Elizabeth Taylor's 2nd divorce from English actor Michael Wilding, after almost 5 years of marriage

More from the 1950s

Sputnik 1 Launch

The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, igniting the Space Age and the US-Soviet Space Race.

space explorationscience technology

"The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

"The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

death

Emil Jannings dies

Emil Jannings, Swiss-born German actor, known for german actor, died on 1950-01-02. Emil Jannings was a Swiss-born German actor who was popular in Hollywood films in the 1920s.

The European Economic Community comes into effect, better known as the European Common Market

The European Economic Community comes into effect, better known as the European Common Market

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on July 25, 1956?
SS Andrea Doria was a luxury transatlantic ocean liner of the Italian Line (Società di navigazione Italia), put into service in 1953. She is widely known from the extensive media coverage of her sinking on July 26, 1956, which included the successful rescue of 1,660 of her 1,706 passengers and crew. Named after the 16th-century Genoese admiral Andrea Doria, the ship had a gross register tonnage of 29,100 and a capacity of about 1,200 passengers and 500 crew.
Why is 46 die in a collision between the SS Andrea Doria and the MS Stockholm off th... significant?
SS Andrea Doria was a luxury transatlantic ocean liner of the Italian Line (Società di navigazione Italia), put into service in 1953.

Explore More

July 25 in HistoryYear 1956