Post by MacBeth on May 8, 2009 5:27:53 GMT -5
In 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River.
In 1794, Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror.
In 1846, the first major battle of the Mexican-American War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas; U.S. forces led by Gen. Zachary Taylor were able to beat back the Mexican forces.
In 1886, Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavor syrup for Coca-Cola.
In 1902, Mt. Peleé erupts on the West Indies island of Martinique. A wall of superheated ash and rock cascades down the slopes, slamming directly into the community of Saint Pierre. The shockwave and intense heat even manage to destroy twenty ships in the harbor. Only two of the town's 28,000 residents survive the cataclysm.
In 1944, the first "eye bank" was established, in New York City.
In 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced in a radio address that Nazi Germany's forces had surrendered in World War II, and that "the flags of freedom fly all over Europe."
In 1958, Vice President Richard Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru.
In 1962, the musical comedy "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" opened on Broadway.
In 1970, anti-war protests took place across the United States and around the world; in New York, construction workers broke up a demonstration on Wall Street. The album "Let It Be" by the Beatles was released.
In 1973, militant American Indians who'd held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered.
In 1978, David R. Berkowitz pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom to murder, attempted murder and assault in connection with the "Son of Sam" shootings that had terrified New Yorkers.
In 1984, the Soviet Union announced it would boycott the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
In 1987, Gary Hart, dogged by questions about his personal life, withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
In 1999, NATO expressed regret for a mistaken attack on the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, but pledged to pursue the bombing campaign; demonstrators in Beijing threw rocks and smashed cars at the U.S. Embassy. The Citadel, South Carolina's formerly all-male military school, graduated its first female cadet, Nancy Ruth Mace.
In 2008, Sen. Barack Obama got a front-runner's welcome back at the U.S. Capitol, where he was surrounded by well-wishers calling him "Mr. President" and reaching out to pat him on the back or shake his hand. Silvio Berlusconi was sworn in as Italy's premier.
In 1794, Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror.
In 1846, the first major battle of the Mexican-American War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas; U.S. forces led by Gen. Zachary Taylor were able to beat back the Mexican forces.
In 1886, Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavor syrup for Coca-Cola.
In 1902, Mt. Peleé erupts on the West Indies island of Martinique. A wall of superheated ash and rock cascades down the slopes, slamming directly into the community of Saint Pierre. The shockwave and intense heat even manage to destroy twenty ships in the harbor. Only two of the town's 28,000 residents survive the cataclysm.
In 1944, the first "eye bank" was established, in New York City.
In 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced in a radio address that Nazi Germany's forces had surrendered in World War II, and that "the flags of freedom fly all over Europe."
In 1958, Vice President Richard Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru.
In 1962, the musical comedy "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" opened on Broadway.
In 1970, anti-war protests took place across the United States and around the world; in New York, construction workers broke up a demonstration on Wall Street. The album "Let It Be" by the Beatles was released.
In 1973, militant American Indians who'd held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered.
In 1978, David R. Berkowitz pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom to murder, attempted murder and assault in connection with the "Son of Sam" shootings that had terrified New Yorkers.
In 1984, the Soviet Union announced it would boycott the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
In 1987, Gary Hart, dogged by questions about his personal life, withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
In 1999, NATO expressed regret for a mistaken attack on the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, but pledged to pursue the bombing campaign; demonstrators in Beijing threw rocks and smashed cars at the U.S. Embassy. The Citadel, South Carolina's formerly all-male military school, graduated its first female cadet, Nancy Ruth Mace.
In 2008, Sen. Barack Obama got a front-runner's welcome back at the U.S. Capitol, where he was surrounded by well-wishers calling him "Mr. President" and reaching out to pat him on the back or shake his hand. Silvio Berlusconi was sworn in as Italy's premier.