Post by MacBeth on May 19, 2009 6:00:43 GMT -5
In 1536, in the first public execution of an English queen, Anne Boleyn is beheaded. In her speech, Boleyn has nothing but good things to say about her husband, Henry VIII: "I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord."
In 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail for England.
In 1780, a mysterious darkness enveloped much of New England and part of Canada in the early afternoon.
In 1909, the innovative Ballets Russes (Russian Ballets), under the direction of Sergei Diaghilev, debuted in Paris.
In 1921, Congress passed, and President Warren G. Harding signed, the Emergency Quota Act, which established national quotas for immigrants.
In 1935, British soldier T.E. Lawrence, also known as "Lawrence of Arabia," died in Dorset, England, six days after being injured in a motorcycle crash.
In 1943, in an address to the U.S. Congress, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill pledged his country's full support in the fight against Japan.
In 1962, during a Democratic fundraiser at New York's Madison Square Garden, actress Marilyn Monroe sang "Happy Birthday to You" to guest-of-honor, President John F. Kennedy.
In 1964, the State Department disclosed that 40 hidden microphones had been found in the U.S. embassy in Moscow.
In 1967, the Soviet Union ratified a treaty with the United States and Britain banning nuclear weapons from outer space.
In 1987, Chet Fleming files for a patent on his method for keeping a severed head alive. The mechanism includes blood filtering, pumping equipment, and nutrient supply. Ultimately, US Patent 4,666,425 is granted.
In 1992, the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits Congress from giving itself pay raises until the next congressional term, went into effect.
In 1999, as NATO's Operation Allied Force entered its ninth week, Russia's special envoy to the Balkans called on both NATO and Yugoslavia to suspend hostilities. The much-anticipated movie prequel "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" opened.
In 2004, Army Reserve Spc. Jeremy C. Sivits wept and apologized after receiving a year in prison and a bad conduct discharge in the first court-martial stemming from abuse of Iraqis at the Abu Ghraib prison. Outraged relatives of World Trade Center victims heckled former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani during his appearance before the Sept. 11 commission. Two men hurled purple flour at British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the House of Commons. Manmohan Singh was named India's new prime minister.
In 2008, China stood still and sirens wailed to mourn the country's nearly 70,000 earthquake victims. Democrat Barack Obama picked up the endorsement of Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, less than a week after Hillary Rodham Clinton overwhelmingly won the state's primary.
In 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail for England.
In 1780, a mysterious darkness enveloped much of New England and part of Canada in the early afternoon.
In 1909, the innovative Ballets Russes (Russian Ballets), under the direction of Sergei Diaghilev, debuted in Paris.
In 1921, Congress passed, and President Warren G. Harding signed, the Emergency Quota Act, which established national quotas for immigrants.
In 1935, British soldier T.E. Lawrence, also known as "Lawrence of Arabia," died in Dorset, England, six days after being injured in a motorcycle crash.
In 1943, in an address to the U.S. Congress, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill pledged his country's full support in the fight against Japan.
In 1962, during a Democratic fundraiser at New York's Madison Square Garden, actress Marilyn Monroe sang "Happy Birthday to You" to guest-of-honor, President John F. Kennedy.
In 1964, the State Department disclosed that 40 hidden microphones had been found in the U.S. embassy in Moscow.
In 1967, the Soviet Union ratified a treaty with the United States and Britain banning nuclear weapons from outer space.
In 1987, Chet Fleming files for a patent on his method for keeping a severed head alive. The mechanism includes blood filtering, pumping equipment, and nutrient supply. Ultimately, US Patent 4,666,425 is granted.
In 1992, the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits Congress from giving itself pay raises until the next congressional term, went into effect.
In 1999, as NATO's Operation Allied Force entered its ninth week, Russia's special envoy to the Balkans called on both NATO and Yugoslavia to suspend hostilities. The much-anticipated movie prequel "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" opened.
In 2004, Army Reserve Spc. Jeremy C. Sivits wept and apologized after receiving a year in prison and a bad conduct discharge in the first court-martial stemming from abuse of Iraqis at the Abu Ghraib prison. Outraged relatives of World Trade Center victims heckled former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani during his appearance before the Sept. 11 commission. Two men hurled purple flour at British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the House of Commons. Manmohan Singh was named India's new prime minister.
In 2008, China stood still and sirens wailed to mourn the country's nearly 70,000 earthquake victims. Democrat Barack Obama picked up the endorsement of Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, less than a week after Hillary Rodham Clinton overwhelmingly won the state's primary.