Post by MacBeth on Aug 31, 2009 8:26:32 GMT -5
In 1527, John Rut writes to English King Henry VIII noting that there are 14 French and Portuguese fishing vessels in the harbour; also describes Labrador; the first recorded letter written from Canada.
In 1803, explorer Meriwether Lewis departed Pittsburgh, sailing down the Ohio River; he joined up with William Clark in Louisville, Ky., the following October. (The next year, Lewis and Clark began their famous expedition toward the Pacific coast.)
In 1886, an earthquake rocked Charleston, S.C., killing 60 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
In 1888, Mary Ann Nichols, the apparent first victim of "Jack the Ripper," was found slain in London's East End.
In 1897, Thomas Edison receives a U.S. patent for his motion-picture camera, known as the Kinetoscope, amid rival claims by inventors of similar machines.
In 1919, the American Communist Party is established, providing entertainment for Joseph McCarthy and J. Edgar Hoover for decades.
In 1929, Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera opens in Berlin.
In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an act prohibiting the export of U.S. arms to belligerents.
In 1941, the radio program "The Great Gildersleeve" debuted on NBC.
In 1959, British prime minister Harold Macmillan and American president Dwight Eisenhower give an historic live television broadcast from Downing Street.
In 1962, the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago became independent within the British Commonwealth.
In 1969, boxer Rocky Marciano died in a light airplane crash in Iowa, a day before his 46th birthday.
In 1980, Poland's Solidarity labor movement was born with an agreement signed in Gdansk that ended a 17-day-old strike.
In 1988, Canada-US Free Trade Agreement becomes law.
In 1989, Britain's Princess Anne and husband Mark Phillips announced they were separating.
In 1992. white separatist Randy Weaver surrendered to authorities in Naples, Idaho, ending an 11-day siege by federal agents that claimed the lives of Weaver's wife and son and a deputy U.S. marshal.
In 1994, Russia officially ended its military presence in the former East Germany and the Baltics after half a century. The IRA announces a "complete cessation of military operations" after 25 years of bombing and killing.
In 1999, Detroit's teachers went on strike, wiping out the first day of class for 172,000 students in one of the largest teachers' strikes in years. (The walkout lasted nine days.)
In 2004, at the Republican National Convention in New York, first lady Laura Bush and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger praised President George W. Bush as a man of strength and compassion.
In 2008, with Hurricane Gustav approaching New Orleans, Mayor Ray Nagin pleaded with the last of its residents to get out, imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on those who were staying and warned looters they would be sent directly to prison.
In 1803, explorer Meriwether Lewis departed Pittsburgh, sailing down the Ohio River; he joined up with William Clark in Louisville, Ky., the following October. (The next year, Lewis and Clark began their famous expedition toward the Pacific coast.)
In 1886, an earthquake rocked Charleston, S.C., killing 60 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
In 1888, Mary Ann Nichols, the apparent first victim of "Jack the Ripper," was found slain in London's East End.
In 1897, Thomas Edison receives a U.S. patent for his motion-picture camera, known as the Kinetoscope, amid rival claims by inventors of similar machines.
In 1919, the American Communist Party is established, providing entertainment for Joseph McCarthy and J. Edgar Hoover for decades.
In 1929, Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera opens in Berlin.
In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an act prohibiting the export of U.S. arms to belligerents.
In 1941, the radio program "The Great Gildersleeve" debuted on NBC.
In 1959, British prime minister Harold Macmillan and American president Dwight Eisenhower give an historic live television broadcast from Downing Street.
In 1962, the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago became independent within the British Commonwealth.
In 1969, boxer Rocky Marciano died in a light airplane crash in Iowa, a day before his 46th birthday.
In 1980, Poland's Solidarity labor movement was born with an agreement signed in Gdansk that ended a 17-day-old strike.
In 1988, Canada-US Free Trade Agreement becomes law.
In 1989, Britain's Princess Anne and husband Mark Phillips announced they were separating.
In 1992. white separatist Randy Weaver surrendered to authorities in Naples, Idaho, ending an 11-day siege by federal agents that claimed the lives of Weaver's wife and son and a deputy U.S. marshal.
In 1994, Russia officially ended its military presence in the former East Germany and the Baltics after half a century. The IRA announces a "complete cessation of military operations" after 25 years of bombing and killing.
In 1999, Detroit's teachers went on strike, wiping out the first day of class for 172,000 students in one of the largest teachers' strikes in years. (The walkout lasted nine days.)
In 2004, at the Republican National Convention in New York, first lady Laura Bush and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger praised President George W. Bush as a man of strength and compassion.
In 2008, with Hurricane Gustav approaching New Orleans, Mayor Ray Nagin pleaded with the last of its residents to get out, imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on those who were staying and warned looters they would be sent directly to prison.