Today in the history of the American comic strip: October 2

American cartoonists and writers may not have invented the comic strip, but some argue that the comics, as we know them today, are an American creation. Clearly, the United States has played an outsize role in the development of this underappreciated art form.

10.2.1898: Frank Miller, the creator of Barney Baxter in the Air (1936-1949), is born in Sheldon, Iowa.

10.2.1909: Flash Gordon creator Alex Raymond is born in New Rochelle, New York.

10.2.1939: Flyin’ Jenny, an aviation adventure strip created by Russell Keaton, takes to the skies for the first time.
 
10.2.1946: Nine years after the strip's debut, the title character in Prince Valiant marries Aleta, Queen of the Misty Isles.

10.2.1950: Charles Schulz’s Peanuts, one of the most popular strips of all time, debuts as a daily strip. Charlie Brown makes his debut in the comic on this date as well.

10.2.1951: Gene Weingarten, co-creator of Barney & Clyde, is born in New York City. Launched in 2010, the strip remains in print.

10.2.1966: Matt Richtel is born. He’s the creator and original writer of Rudy Park, under the pen name Theron Heir. The strip, which premiered in 2001, is now written by its longtime illustrator, Darrin Bell.
 

Flash Gordon

Most of the information listed here from one day to the next comes from two online sites -- Wikipedia, and Don Markstein's Toonopedia -- as well as 100 Years of American Newspaper Comics, edited by Maurice Horn. Note that my focus is on American newspaper comic strips (and the occasional foreign strip that gained popularity in the United States). Thus, comic books and exclusively online comics are not included here.