This Day in History

[Amnorix]

Today...

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by kcpasco

Damn is he really that old?

[Amnorix]

September 6

1492. Christopher Columbus leaves the Canary Islands, west-bound to find a route to India.

1522 The Victoria, the only surviving ship of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition, returns to Spain, becoming the first ship to circumnavigate the globe.

1628. Puritans settle in Salem, which will later become part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

1847. Henry David Thoreau leaves Walden Pond, moving in with Ralph Waldo Emerson and his family in Concord, Massachusetts. (can you imagine what the dinnertime conversation was like there?)

1901. An anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, shoots and mortally wounds President McKinley. With his name, he nearly guarantees that nobody can ever correctly answer the trivia question "name the four Presidential assassins -- and SPELL their names".

1949. Howard Unruh, a former US Army sharpshooter, shoots and kills 13 people in his hometown of Camden, New Jersey, becoming the first single-episode mass murderer in US history.

1972. The "Munich Massacre". Nine Isreali athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich and a German policeman are killed during a failed rescue attempt after being taken hostage by Palestinians. In response, the Isreali Mossad spends many years covertly assassinating leaders of Black September, the Palestinian group that took responsibility for taking the hostages.

[Amnorix]

September 7

1776. The world's first submarine attack. The submersible craft "Turtle" attempts to attach a time bomb to HMS Eagle, the flagship of British Admiral Richard Howe, in New York Harbor. This effort, and the Turtle's other efforts all failed.

A replica:



1812. The BAttle of Borodino, where Napoleon defeats the armies of Tsar Alexander I. Russia is ours! This will be easy....

1864. William T. Sherman orders the evacuation of captured city of Atlanta by all civilian inhabitants. Civilians scramble to obey the order, leaving many possessions behind (much of which will be lost forever in an event that will be reported here later on the appropriate date. Oooooooh, foreshadowing).



1921. The first Miss America pageant is held, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

1940. The first of 57 consecutive nights of German bombing raids on London begins.

1963. The Pro Football Hall of Fame opens, with 17 charter members.

1977. The Torrijos-Carter Treaties are signed, and the US promises to transfer control of the Panama Canal to Panama at the end of the century.

1979. ESPN debuts.

2008. The US takes control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two largest mortgage financing companies in America.

[Amnorix]

September 8

1380. The Battle of Kulikovo. The Russians of Muscovy defeat a much larger force of Tartars in order to throw off the shackles of the Mongolian Golden Horde to which they had been paying tribute ever since they had been conquered by Batu Khan, grandson of Genghis.

1504. Michelangelo's David is unveiled in Florence.



1565. The Knights Hospitaller (a/k/a Knights of Malta) lift the Ottoman Turk siege of Malta, one of the longest, most grueling and famous in history. The event marks the end of the aura of invincibility that had surrounded the Ottoman Empire (though it had suffered setbacks before).

1888. Early in the morning of this date, 1888, Annie Chapman was plying her trade in the Whitechapel area of London. AT this point in her life Ms. Chapman was a heavy drinker, but it had not always been so. Once she had been married, and had three children. But one died of meningitis at the age of 12, and another had been born disabled. As a result of their troubles, she and her husband had become heavy drinkers, and then separated. She received an alimony of 10 shillings a week until 1886, when they abruptly stopped. When she inquired why, she learned her husband had died. Seemingly as a result, the man she had been living with abruptly left her, taking his income away as well.

She earned an income by crochet work, selling flowers and, occassionally, prostitution. She lived in common boarding houses, had a lung condition, and was generally regarded as inoffensive and a more accomplished woman than most of her fellow Whitechapel residents. Beign without money for her lodging this day, she went to earn some on the street.

At about 5:30 a.m. a woman saw a person that she believed to be Ms. Chapman talking with a gentlemen described as over 40, of dark complexion, and of foreign "shabby-genteel" appearance. At 5:55 she was found lying near a doorway in teh backyard of 29 Hanbury Street.

Her throat had been cut from left to right, and she had been disemboweled, with her intestines thrown over each of her shoulders. Part of her uterus had been removed as well.

Jack the Ripper had struck again.

1892. The Pledge of Allegiance is first recited.

1923. The Honda Point Disaster, the worst peacetime disaster in US Naval history. Nine US Navy Destroyers -- all less than five years old -- run aground off California, with seven ships and 23 crewmen lost.



1930. 3M begins marketing transparent scotch tape.

1943. General Eisenhower announces an armistice with Italy.

1966. Star Trek premiers.

1974. President Ford pardons former President Nixon for any crimes committed while in office.

Originally Posted by Voltaire

Nothing is more well known than the siege of Malta

[Amnorix]

September 9

9. (yes, the year 9, AD. Looks odd, doesn't it). The Battle of Teutoberg Forest. An alliance of six Germanic tribes unite to set an ambush and completely annihilate three entire Roman legions under the command of Publius Quintilius Varus. As a result of the battle, the stoic Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, appears to temporarily lose his sanity, refusing to cut his hair or shave for months. He later regains his composure, but is sometimes heard to cry out "Quinctilius Varus, Give me back my legions."

The loss has both minor and major effects on the history of Europe. Although the Romans eventually recovered the standards of the lost legions, their designations are never used again in the Roman order of battle, and Legions XVII, XVIII and XIX pass from history. Further, Augustus ordered the Roman Legions to stay west of the Rhine, and the Roman Empire never did bring the northern and eastern regions of Germany under its control.

A campaign of revenge, however, was conducted shortly after Augustus' death by the new Emperor, Tiberius, who ordered his nephew, now known to history as Germanicus, to cross the Rhine. He did, successfully, and found the battle site littered with many heads staked to trees, which they buried. Burial pits with remains have been found in Germany to support this account. In 16 AD, Germanicus brought the Germans to two set-piece battles, inflicting very high casualties in comparison to his own. With the German tribal alliance broken and pride restored, the Romans once again withdrew behind the Rhine.

1791. The new capital of the United States is named after it's first President -- Washington, D.C.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

1791. The new capital of the United States is named after it's first President -- Washington, D.C.

For those interested, the story of the selection of the Washington D.C. area is told in a great chapter of Joseph Ellis' Founding Brothers, a very readable, fascinating account Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, Franklin, and Burr.

That a city (more, that the capital of the entire country) was named after a living man, like Virginia named after the Virgin Queen Elizabeth, and Jamestown after King James, says a lot about Washington's prestige at the time.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

For those interested, the story of the selection of the Washington D.C. area is told in a great chapter of Joseph Ellis' Founding Brothers, a very readable, fascinating account Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, Franklin, and Burr.

That a city (more, that the capital of the entire country) was named after a living man, like Virginia named after the Virgin Queen Elizabeth, and Jamestown after King James, says a lot about Washington's prestige at the time.

It's also covered in detail in the book on Hamilton by Ron Chernow.

And your second point is true, especially since Washington was still alive at the time and it wasn't just a posthumous honor.

[Amnorix]

September 10

490 BC. The Battle of Marathon, between the forces of Athens and the Persian Empire. Generally regarded as a pivotal moment in European history, the Battle was a serious defeat for Persian, which had been an expanding empire but which was repeatedly checked in its efforts to subjugate Greece. As Greece went on to become a cradle of civilization over the next two centuries, this battle can rightly be regarded as one of the most critical in European history.

1942. The British Army mades an amphibious assault on Madagascar. When they call it a "World War", they really aren't kidding.

[Amnorix]

September 11

1609. Henry Hudson discovers Manhattan Island.

1931. Salvataore Maranzano, the capo di tutti capi (Boss of all Bosses) is murdered by his lieutenant, Lucky Luciano, ending the Castellammerese Wars -- an effort to consolidate mcuh of the American mafia under Maranzano's rule. It was Maranzano who had organized the major urban areas of Northeastern and Mid-Western America (other than NYC) into single family districts, and New York into five families, organized under Luciano (now the Genovese crime family), Guiseppi "Joe" Profaci (now the Colombo family), Gaetano "Tommy" Gagliano (now the Lucchese crime family), Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno, and Vincent (the Executioner" Margano (now the Gambino crime family), all of whom would owe tribute and allegiance to Maranzano.

Maranzano's death left the five families nominally equal in the struggle among the five families.

1941. Ground breaking for construction of the Pentagon.

1944. US troops cross the western border into Germany.

1989. The Iron Curtain opens between Austria and Hungary, from which thousands of East Germans throng into Austria and West Germany.

2001. The 9/11 attacks occur.

[Amnorix]

September 12

490 BC. Hrmm...seems to be some discrepancy as to when the Battle of Marathon occurred. Seems that September 12 is the more commonly accepted date...

1847. US forces under Winfield Scott (and Robert E. Lee) begin a two day battle that will result in the capture Chapultepec in the Mexican-American War. Hence the Marine's anthem line "from the Halls of Montezuma...."

1857. The SS Central America flounders and sinks in a hurricane about 160 miles off Cape Hatteras, drowning 426 passengers and crew. FAr more significant, however, is that the ship was carrying approximately 14 tons of gold from California. The arrival of this news, along with the annual outflow of gold from New York to the farms and farmers who had sold their crops, will result in a tremendous tightening of liquidity and a panic that will become known as one of the most signifciant of all depressions of the era -- the Panic of 1857. More than 5,000 businesses will fail, and from its peak (in 1952) to its troph in '57, the stock market will fall 66% compared to inflation. The ships sunken remains were found in 1987.

1919. Adolf Hitler joins the German Workers Party.

[Amnorix]

September 13

122. Construction of Hadrian's Wall begins. A stone and timber wall built during (and obviously named after) the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian, the wall was built across the entire width of what is now Northern England, a length of 73 miles. Designed to demarcate the northern border of Roman-ruled England, the wall was among the most heavily defended borders in the entire Roman empire, and may have served to help collect custom taxes as well as serving as a military fortification. Much of the wall has disappeared, adn many of its stones were used in roadbuilding during the 18th century, but what remains is one of the most visited attractions in Northern England.

533. The great Byzantine General, Belisarius, conquers the Vandals at the Battle of Ad Decimum, near Carthage, beginning the end of the Vandals and the "reconquest" of the west by Emperor Justinian (the so-called "Great").

1788. The Philadelphia Convention sets the date for electing the first President and establishes the country's capital in New York City, at least for now.

1814. A representative of the colonies was aboard the HMS Tonnant, there to negotiate the release of an American prisoner. Having been aboard the vessel for some time, he had become familiar with the British units' strength and positions, and their intent to attack the city of Baltimore, so he was temporarily prohibited from returning to his sloop. He was therefore unable to do anything but witness the British attack on Fort McHenry, outside Baltimore. When the smoke cleared from the bombardment, he was able to see the American flag above the fort still waving, and shouted the news to the prisoners below decks. And that is the inspiring story of how Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner, which in this humble writers opinion makes for a better story than song...

1848. On this date, railroad construction foreman Phineas Gage was supervising blasting work through rock for the Rutland and Burlington Railroad, outside Cavendish, Vermont when an inadvertant explosion drives a 3 foot long iron "damping" rod through the side of his face, behind the left out, and out the top of his skull.. After passing completely through his skull, the rod reportedly landed about 80 feet away. Amazingly, within a few minutes Gage was speaking, and then walking without assistance. The first doctor to arrive was a Dr. Williams, who recorded:

Originally Posted by Dr. Edward Williams

I first noticed the wound upon the head before I alighted from my carriage, the pulsations of the brain being very distinct. Mr. Gage, during the time I was examining this wound, was relating the manner in which he was injured to the bystanders. I did not believe Mr. Gage's statement at that time, but thought he was deceived. Mr. Gage persisted in saying that the bar went through his head....Mr. G. got up and vomited; the effort of vomiting pressed out about half a teacupful of the brain, which fell upon the floor

Gage ends up suffering some ill-effects, as one would imagine, but survies. As a result of the accident, however, Gage undergoes a severe change in personality. The effects of his accident trigger new waves of thought, research and understanding regarding the role of the brain and the different parts of the brain. Gage is cited in various medical textbooks to this day.

The direction in which the rod traveled:



The weapon in question, held by Gage himself:



1862. On a field outside Fredericksburg, Maryland, Union soldiers find a copy of General Robert E. Lee's plans for battle for what will become known as the Battle of Antietam. The order indicated that Lee had divided his army. Stunningly, despite this gift from God, Union General McClellan will still manage to snatch not much better than stalemate against a smaller army when he should have been able to inflict a crushing defeat in detail and possibly end the war. There was no doubt by the Union regarding the document's authenticity, as a Union officer had known Lee's adjutant before the war, and recognized and confirmed his handwriting.

Originally Posted by that Imbecile McCellan

Here is a paper with which, if I cannot whip Bobby Lee, I will be willing to go home

1899. Henry Bliss becomes the first person in America to be killed in an automobile accident.

1922. The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth -- in Al'Aziziyah, Libya -- 136 degrees Fahrenheit.

1985. Nintendo creates the game Super Mario Bros.

[Amnorix]

September 14

1812. French Grenadiers enter Moscow. Victory! A fire begins, however, will will rage for four days and consume 75% of the city.

1847. Winfield Scott captures Mexico City.

1862. The Battle of South Mountain. At three key passes Lee's badly undermanned men stave off McClellan's Union troops for a day, buying precious time. McClellan begins the process of fumbling the golden opportunity handed to him to crush Lee's forces before they can reunite.

1848. Groundbreaking of the UN building in New York City.

1987. The Toronto Blue Jays hit ten home runs in a single game, setting a MBL record.

[Slainte]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth -- in Al'Aziziyah, Libya -- 136 degrees Fahrenheit.

But it was a dry heat...

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

September 14

1812. French Grenadiers enter Moscow. Victory! A fire begins, however, will will rage for four days and consume 75% of the city.

1847. Winfield Scott captures Mexico City.

1862. The Battle of South Mountain. At three key passes Lee's badly undermanned men stave off McClellan's Union troops for a day, buying precious time. McClellan begins the process of fumbling the golden opportunity handed to him to crush Lee's forces before they can reunite.

1848. Groundbreaking of the UN building in New York City.

1987. The Toronto Blue Jays hit ten home runs in a single game, setting a MBL record.

Yeah know I consider myself a bit of a history buff, so don't be offended. Perhaps the UN building groundbreaking date you listed is about 100 years off.

[Amnorix]

September 15.

1835. HMS Beagle arrives at the Galapagos Islands. Aboard is Charles Darwin, whose work there will result in the fame of both the man and ship.

1862. An element of the scattered Confederate forces in Maryland capture Harper's Ferry. General McClellan presumably attended to his laundry.

1916. At the Battle of the Somme, tanks are used for the first time.



1935. Jews are deprived of their citizenship in Germany as a result of the enactment of the Nuremberg Laws. Germany adopts a new flag, with a swastika.

1950. General Douglas MacArthur's crowning achievement -- the landing at Inchon, Korea. The highly dangerous amphibious assult deep behind North Korean lines (still pressing US and S. Korean troops along the Pusan Perimeter) begins the panicked rout of North Koreans from the country they had invaded.