|
March 30
240 BC. The passage of what will later become known as Halley's Comet is recorded for the first time.
1842. Anesthesia is used for the first time.
1867. Secretary of State William Seward engineers the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, or about 2 cents/acre. At the time, this is popularly referred to as "Seward's Folly" and Alaska itself as "Seward's Icebox". To this day the last Monday of March is a holiday in Alaska to commemorate the purchase -- and the man who made it possible -- as "Seward's Day".
1945. A defecting German pilot brings a ME 262A to the Ameircans -- their first Turbojet plane.
1981. President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest by would-be assassin John Hinckley.
Last edited by Amnorix; 04-06-2009 at 03:22 PM..
|