14th Dec 1799, George Washington passed away, age 67.
Wow... a lot happened on this day in history. Some of the more interesting events, according to teh wiki's: 1287 – St. Lucia's flood: The Zuiderzee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses, killing over 50,000 people. 1542 – Princess Mary Stuart becomes Mary, Queen of Scots. 1751 – The Theresian Military Academy is founded as the first Military Academy in the world. 1782 – The Montgolfier brothers' first balloon lifts off on its first test flight. 1812 – The French invasion of Russia comes to an end as the remnants of the Grande Armée are expelled from Russia. 1819 – Alabama becomes the 22nd U.S. state. 1900 – Quantum mechanics: Max Planck presents a theoretical derivation of his black-body radiation law. 1902 – The Commercial Pacific Cable Company lays the first Pacific telegraph cable, from Ocean Beach, San Francisco to Honolulu, Hawaii. 1903 – The Wright brothers make their first attempt to fly with the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. 1911 – Roald Amundsen's team, comprising himself, Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, and Oscar Wisting, becomes the first to reach the South Pole. 1939 – Winter War: The Soviet Union is expelled from the League of Nations for invading Finland. 1946 – The United Nations General Assembly votes to establish its headquarters in New York, New York. 1962 – NASA's Mariner 2 becomes the first spacecraft to fly by Venus. 1972 – Apollo program: Eugene Cernan is the last person to walk on the moon, after he and Harrison Schmitt complete the third and final Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) of the Apollo 17 mission.
on this date the boston tea party occurred. patriots disguised as native americans tossed some 300 chests of british tea into boston harbor to protest the escalating tax on tea. that well-known pain in the ass, sam adams, was a prime instigator.
oh i forgot THE most important date in ww2 history. my dad moved up from le mans as the sole battalion commander of his medical unit. he had just graduated in june and was now head meat surgeon. WOW!!
On this day 66 years ago, World War II officially ended. Let us remember those who fought tirelessly to end tyranny and to bring peace to the world. They truly were, in my opinion, The Greatest Generation. Mike
This was Calvin and Hobbes last day. In '95 Bill Watterson shut it down,with Calvin's last words being "let's go exploring". Cheers, RE
Oh dang. I missed it: Dec 29th 1812: USS Constitution vs HMS Java. Exactly 200 years ago, last Saturday.
Today, the 1st of January, 2013, is the 150th year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. FROM: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/ It was, by no measure, a perfect document. But, it was a start. Mike
Perfect day then to see 'Lincoln'. It was phenomenal and Daniel Day Lewis will easily win an Oscar for his portrayal.
On this day in 1942, The Ford Motor Company signed on to make Jeeps, the new general-purpose military vehicles desperately needed by American forces in World War II. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Speaking of Ford: On this day (12 January) in 1904, Henry Ford sets a land-speed record of 91.37 mph on the frozen surface of Michigan's Lake St. Clair. He was driving a four-wheel vehicle, dubbed the "999," with a wooden chassis but no body or hood. Ford's record was broken within a month at Ormond Beach, Florida, by a driver named William K. Vanderbilt; even so, the publicity surrounding Ford's achievement was valuable to the auto pioneer, who in June of the previous year had incorporated the Ford Motor Company, which would eventually go on to become one of America's Big Three automakers. Mike
On this day in history, six years ago the Emir of Kuwait died. He really was a good leader: Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, died today, 15th January 2006 (15, Dhu al-Hijjah, 1426). He was 77 years old. Despite his wealth, Sheik Jaber was considered a quiet listener who avoided ostentation. His palace in Kuwait City's Dasman neighborhood near the sea was described as a spacious but ordinary house, and bread and yogurt often satisfied him at mealtimes. Kuwaitis describe him as a 'kindhearted father' who looked after them and gave them what they needed. The UAE president, Sheikh Khalifa, described him as 'a prominent leader who had dedicated his lifetime for the service and well-being of his country and Arab and Muslim nations.' He was succeeded by Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister at the time. Mike
By request, my Facebook post of this morning: What a great day in American History! In 1783, King George III issued a proclamation announcing the official end of hostilities in the American Revolutionary War. In 1789 electors chose George Washington as the first president of the new republic. It is also the birthday of Rosa Parks (1913).
