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Amnorix · 07-24-2010, 07:55 PM

July 25

1261. Forces belonging to one of the city-states formed by the Byzantine Emperor after the fall of Constantinople to Latin forces during the Fourth Crusade (in 1204) sneak into the city, attack the walls from the inside, open the gates, and reconquer the city. "Emperor" Baldwin II, who among other notable acts during his reign pawned the Crown of Thorns in 1237 to Venetian merchants, and the other leading Latin nobles successfully fled the city.

1866. Congress passes legislation authorizing the rank of General of the Army. This is a four star rank, and only one person was permitted to hold such rank at one time. Grant will be the first to hold it, and then Sherman will be elevated to the rank upon Grant's election as President. By act of Congress in 1888, the rank will be conferred upon Philip Sheridan, then in failing health. The rank will then be disbanded for a time after Sheridan's death later that same year.

In 1944 legislation will pass authorizing a new version of the rank General of the Army, this time with five stars, as well as Fleet Admiral. The rank of General of the Armies is intended to put America's most senior military officers into parity with British officers holding the rank of Field Marshal. The first person appointed to the new five star is George Marshall, and then Douglas MacArthur two days later. Marshall's prior appointment, however, means he outranks MacArthur due to time in grade. Two days after that Dwight Eisenhower is appointed, then Henry (Hap) Arnold the following day. Six years later Omar Bradley will be elevated to five stars.

The United States decided not to employ the rank of "Field Marshal" like a number of other countries because one holding the post is often referred to as a Marshal, which might cause confusion with US Marshals, who are law enforcment officers, and the fact that George Marshall would clearly be promoted to the rank, creating the seemingly undignified title of "Field Marshal Marshall".

The five star rank is still technically available and could be bestowed during time of war with Congressional approval, but no one has held the rank since Bradley's retirement.

This rank is not to be confused with the rank of General of the Armies, which is considered a higher rank, and has only been held by two people -- George Washington during the Revolutionary War, and Black Jack Pershing during World War I. When the new five star rank was introduced in 1944, it was determined that Pershing (who was still alive at the time) would still outrank all of these newly minted five stars. Washington was retroactively promoted to the rank of General of the Armies in 1976, as part of the bicentennial celebrations, when an Act of Congress made it clear that the rank outranked all other ranks of the Army, past and present.

1869. Local Japanese rulers, or daimyo, begin returning land to the Emperor as part of the Meiji Restoration.

1943. Benito Mussolini is forced out of office by his own cabinet.

1946. In a New Jersey nightclub, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin perform together for the first time.

1978. Louise Brown, the world's first "test tube baby" is born.

07-24-2010, 07:55 PM	#559
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	July 25 1261. Forces belonging to one of the city-states formed by the Byzantine Emperor after the fall of Constantinople to Latin forces during the Fourth Crusade (in 1204) sneak into the city, attack the walls from the inside, open the gates, and reconquer the city. "Emperor" Baldwin II, who among other notable acts during his reign pawned the Crown of Thorns in 1237 to Venetian merchants, and the other leading Latin nobles successfully fled the city. 1866. Congress passes legislation authorizing the rank of General of the Army. This is a four star rank, and only one person was permitted to hold such rank at one time. Grant will be the first to hold it, and then Sherman will be elevated to the rank upon Grant's election as President. By act of Congress in 1888, the rank will be conferred upon Philip Sheridan, then in failing health. The rank will then be disbanded for a time after Sheridan's death later that same year. In 1944 legislation will pass authorizing a new version of the rank General of the Army, this time with five stars, as well as Fleet Admiral. The rank of General of the Armies is intended to put America's most senior military officers into parity with British officers holding the rank of Field Marshal. The first person appointed to the new five star is George Marshall, and then Douglas MacArthur two days later. Marshall's prior appointment, however, means he outranks MacArthur due to time in grade. Two days after that Dwight Eisenhower is appointed, then Henry (Hap) Arnold the following day. Six years later Omar Bradley will be elevated to five stars. The United States decided not to employ the rank of "Field Marshal" like a number of other countries because one holding the post is often referred to as a Marshal, which might cause confusion with US Marshals, who are law enforcment officers, and the fact that George Marshall would clearly be promoted to the rank, creating the seemingly undignified title of "Field Marshal Marshall". The five star rank is still technically available and could be bestowed during time of war with Congressional approval, but no one has held the rank since Bradley's retirement. This rank is not to be confused with the rank of General of the Armies, which is considered a higher rank, and has only been held by two people -- George Washington during the Revolutionary War, and Black Jack Pershing during World War I. When the new five star rank was introduced in 1944, it was determined that Pershing (who was still alive at the time) would still outrank all of these newly minted five stars. Washington was retroactively promoted to the rank of General of the Armies in 1976, as part of the bicentennial celebrations, when an Act of Congress made it clear that the rank outranked all other ranks of the Army, past and present. 1869. Local Japanese rulers, or daimyo, begin returning land to the Emperor as part of the Meiji Restoration. 1943. Benito Mussolini is forced out of office by his own cabinet. 1946. In a New Jersey nightclub, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin perform together for the first time. 1978. Louise Brown, the world's first "test tube baby" is born.
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