Post by MacBeth on Jan 26, 2009 6:22:29 GMT -5
In 1784, in a letter to his daughter, Benjamin Franklin expressed unhappiness over the choice of the eagle as the symbol of America, and stated his own preference: the turkey.
In 1786, the first European settlers in Australia, led by Capt. Arthur Phillip, landed in present-day Sydney.
In 1802, Congress passed an act calling for a library to be established within the U.S. Capitol.
In 1837, Michigan became the 26th state.
In 1841, Britain formally occupied Hong Kong, which the Chinese had ceded to the British.
In 1861, Louisiana seceded from the Union.
In 1870, Virginia rejoined the Union.
In 1942, the first American expeditionary force to go to Europe during World War II went ashore in Northern Ireland.
In 1950, India officially proclaimed itself a republic as Rajendra Prasad took the oath of office as president.
In 1962, the United States launched Ranger 3 to land scientific instruments on the moon - but the probe missed its target by more than 22,000 miles.
In 1969, President Richard M. Nixon declared a federal disaster in California in the wake of major flooding.
In 1988, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Phantom of the Opera," the longest-running show in Broadway history, opened at the Majestic Theater in New York.
In 1999, President Bill Clinton welcomed a frail Pope John Paul II as the pontiff began his seventh pilgrimage to the United States in St. Louis. Jordan's King Hussein turned over the temporary operation of his country to his eldest son and flew back to the United States for urgent medical care.
In 2004, the White House retreated from its once-confident claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction; Democrats swiftly sought to turn the about-face into an election-year issue. Lionel Tate, the Florida teen who'd killed a 6-year-old playmate and became the youngest defendant in the nation to be locked away for life, was released after three years behind bars.
In 2008, Barack Obama routed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the South Carolina primary.
In 1786, the first European settlers in Australia, led by Capt. Arthur Phillip, landed in present-day Sydney.
In 1802, Congress passed an act calling for a library to be established within the U.S. Capitol.
In 1837, Michigan became the 26th state.
In 1841, Britain formally occupied Hong Kong, which the Chinese had ceded to the British.
In 1861, Louisiana seceded from the Union.
In 1870, Virginia rejoined the Union.
In 1942, the first American expeditionary force to go to Europe during World War II went ashore in Northern Ireland.
In 1950, India officially proclaimed itself a republic as Rajendra Prasad took the oath of office as president.
In 1962, the United States launched Ranger 3 to land scientific instruments on the moon - but the probe missed its target by more than 22,000 miles.
In 1969, President Richard M. Nixon declared a federal disaster in California in the wake of major flooding.
In 1988, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Phantom of the Opera," the longest-running show in Broadway history, opened at the Majestic Theater in New York.
In 1999, President Bill Clinton welcomed a frail Pope John Paul II as the pontiff began his seventh pilgrimage to the United States in St. Louis. Jordan's King Hussein turned over the temporary operation of his country to his eldest son and flew back to the United States for urgent medical care.
In 2004, the White House retreated from its once-confident claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction; Democrats swiftly sought to turn the about-face into an election-year issue. Lionel Tate, the Florida teen who'd killed a 6-year-old playmate and became the youngest defendant in the nation to be locked away for life, was released after three years behind bars.
In 2008, Barack Obama routed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the South Carolina primary.