Post by MacBeth on May 21, 2009 5:59:46 GMT -5
In 1542, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto died while searching for gold along the Mississippi River.
In 1832, the first Democratic National Convention got under way, in Baltimore.
In 1840, New Zealand was declared a British colony.
In 1871, government troops invade the Paris Commune and engage its residents in street fighting. By the close of "Bloody Week" some 20,000 communards have been massascred and 38,000 arrested.
In 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.
In 1892, the opera "Pagliacci," by Ruggero Leoncavallo, was first performed, in Milan, Italy.
In 1924, 14-year-old Bobby Franks was murdered in a "thrill killing" committed by Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb, two students at the University of Chicago.
In 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh landed his Spirit of St. Louis near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean as she landed in Northern Ireland, about 15 hours after leaving Newfoundland.
In 1956, the Cherokee test of Operation Redwing commences over Bikini Atoll, consisting of a 3.8 megaton nuclear bomb dropped from a B-52 bomber. The bomb is successfully detonated at an altitude of 4,350 feet, but the flight crew missed their assigned target by four miles. Although it is a complete failure from a scientific standpoint, it demonstrates America's ability to deliver hydrogen bombs over long distances.
In 1959, the musical "Gypsy," inspired by the life of stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, opened on Broadway.
In 1979, former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter (despite the "twinkie defense" strategy) in the slayings of Mayor George Moscone and openly gay Supervisor Harvey Milk; outrage over the verdict sparked rioting. (White was sentenced to seven years, eight months in prison; he ended up serving five years and committed suicide in 1985.)
In 1991, Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber.
In 1999, Presidential friend and fundraiser Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and agreed to cooperate in an investigation of illegal Asian donations to the Democrats. (Trie was sentenced to four months of home detention and three years' probation.) A luxury cruise liner, the Sun Vista, sank off Malaysia's western coast; nearly 1,100 passengers and crew escaped with no casualties. Susan Lucci won a Daytime Emmy Award for best actress on her 19th try.
In 2004, the U.N. Security Council approved a peacekeeping force of 5,600 troops for Burundi to help the African nation finally end a 10-year civil war. Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp., struggling to survive, announced it would cut 11,000 jobs.
In 2008, oil prices blew past $130 a barrel and gas prices climbed above $3.80 a gallon. Israel and Syria unexpectedly announced the resumption of peace talks after an eight-year break. .
In 1832, the first Democratic National Convention got under way, in Baltimore.
In 1840, New Zealand was declared a British colony.
In 1871, government troops invade the Paris Commune and engage its residents in street fighting. By the close of "Bloody Week" some 20,000 communards have been massascred and 38,000 arrested.
In 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.
In 1892, the opera "Pagliacci," by Ruggero Leoncavallo, was first performed, in Milan, Italy.
In 1924, 14-year-old Bobby Franks was murdered in a "thrill killing" committed by Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb, two students at the University of Chicago.
In 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh landed his Spirit of St. Louis near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean as she landed in Northern Ireland, about 15 hours after leaving Newfoundland.
In 1956, the Cherokee test of Operation Redwing commences over Bikini Atoll, consisting of a 3.8 megaton nuclear bomb dropped from a B-52 bomber. The bomb is successfully detonated at an altitude of 4,350 feet, but the flight crew missed their assigned target by four miles. Although it is a complete failure from a scientific standpoint, it demonstrates America's ability to deliver hydrogen bombs over long distances.
In 1959, the musical "Gypsy," inspired by the life of stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, opened on Broadway.
In 1979, former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter (despite the "twinkie defense" strategy) in the slayings of Mayor George Moscone and openly gay Supervisor Harvey Milk; outrage over the verdict sparked rioting. (White was sentenced to seven years, eight months in prison; he ended up serving five years and committed suicide in 1985.)
In 1991, Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber.
In 1999, Presidential friend and fundraiser Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and agreed to cooperate in an investigation of illegal Asian donations to the Democrats. (Trie was sentenced to four months of home detention and three years' probation.) A luxury cruise liner, the Sun Vista, sank off Malaysia's western coast; nearly 1,100 passengers and crew escaped with no casualties. Susan Lucci won a Daytime Emmy Award for best actress on her 19th try.
In 2004, the U.N. Security Council approved a peacekeeping force of 5,600 troops for Burundi to help the African nation finally end a 10-year civil war. Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp., struggling to survive, announced it would cut 11,000 jobs.
In 2008, oil prices blew past $130 a barrel and gas prices climbed above $3.80 a gallon. Israel and Syria unexpectedly announced the resumption of peace talks after an eight-year break. .