Today in History.....

[sergie_sun]

20th December

It is an International Solidarity Day.

 

[taurus2904]

19 December 1995 Queen Elizabeth asks Prince Charles and Diana to divorce.

 

[taurus2904]

Events for 20 December:

1606 Virginia Company settlers leave London to establish Jamestown, Virginia
1699 Peter the Great ordered Russian New Year changed-Sept 1 to Jan 1
1803 Louisiana Purchase formally transferred from France to U.S. for $27M
1860 South Carolina votes 169-0 for Ordinance of Secession, 1st state to secede
1957 Elvis Presley given draft notice to join U.S. Army for National Service
1981 "Dreamgirls" opens at Imperial Theater New York City for 1,522 performances
1985 Howard Cosell retires from television sports after 20 years with ABC

 

[taurus2904]

Birthdays for 20 December:

1868 Harvey S. Firestone, American Businessman/Industrialist, founder Firestone Tire & Rubber
1957 Anita Baker, [Ward], Detroit Michigan, vocalist (Rapture)


Deaths on 20 December:

1812 Sacagawea, Shoshone interpreter for Lewis & Clark
1876 Hannah Omish, at 12 is youngest ever hanged in U.S.
1968 John Steinbeck, author (Grapes of Wrath, Nobel 1940, 62), dies at 66
1973 Bobby Darin, singer (Mack the Knife), dies of heart failure at 37
1988 Max Robinson, 1st black network (ABC) TV anchor, dies of AIDS at 49

 

[iFairylicious]

On this day in 1843, "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens was published...6,000 copies sold.


(cover of the first edition)

It was actually today lol

 

[brmstn69]

Birthdays for 20 December:

1868 Harvey S. Firestone, American Businessman/Industrialist, founder Firestone Tire & Rubber
1957 Anita Baker, [Ward], Detroit Michigan, vocalist (Rapture)


Deaths on 20 December:

1812 Sacagawea, Shoshone interpreter for Lewis & Clark
1876 Hannah Omish, at 12 is youngest ever hanged in U.S.
1968 John Steinbeck, author (Grapes of Wrath, Nobel 1940, 62), dies at 66
1973 Bobby Darin, singer (Mack the Knife), dies of heart failure at 37
1988 Max Robinson, 1st black network (ABC) TV anchor, dies of AIDS at 49

Many people get this wrong, her name was actually Hanna Ocuish. She was a mentally retarded Pequot Indian girl who was accused of killing the young daughter of a prominent white family, and she was hung on December 20, 1786, not 1876...

And technically, she wasn't hung in the United States, because Constitutionally, the United States had yet to be formed.

The United States of America was formed or founded on March 1, 1781 under The Articles of Confederation. John Hanson became the first President of the United States under the Articles of Confederation. However, George Washington became the first President of the United States under the Constitution of America in the year 1789.

Thus, making Mary Surratt, convicted of conspiracy in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and hung on July 7 1865, the first woman executed in The U.S.

 

[taurus2904]

I took it directly from a today in history site. Interesting to have it cleared up.

 

[brmstn69]

I took it directly from a today in history site. Interesting to have it cleared up.

For further clarification, the youngest person executed in the US that I know of was 14 year old George Junius Stinney Jr., a black boy who was accused of killing two white girls ages 11 & 8 on June 16, 1944, just 81 days after the girls died. (can you say railroaded?)

And the young person ever sentenced to death in the United States was James Arcene, for his role in a robbery and murder committed when he was ten years old. He was, however, 23 years old when he was actually executed on June 18, 1885

 

[taurus2904]

Very interesting; disturbing, but interesting.

Can I have you on my Trivial Pursuit team brmstn69? :thumbs up:

 

[smallsleepyrascalcat]

20 years ago a big country invaded a small country.

 

[brmstn69]

Very interesting; disturbing, but interesting.

Can I have you on my Trivial Pursuit team brmstn69? :thumbs up:

I have often thought of writing a book on American atrocities. I think that an occasional reminder of our past misdeeds could help avoid us avoid future mistakes. But then again, the people that make these choices just don't care...

And I'm banned from Trivial Pursuit on family game night...

 

[smallsleepyrascalcat]

December 21st 1988 over Lockerbie...

 

[goejavin]

On this day in 1958, the Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart. It went on to win 3 Grammys in 1958: Best comedy performance, Best children's recording, and Best engineered record (non-classical)


Song starts around the 1:30 mark!!!

 

[smallsleepyrascalcat]

After 28 years between the wall and military barriers, the Brandenburg Gate opens for the public on December 22nd 1989.

 

[glamfunk84]

On this day in 1907, this legendary entertainer was born:

Mr. Cab Calloway.

"What's Happening..."/"The Wiz" star Mabel King was born on this day in 1932.

The Isley Brothers founding member O'Kelly Isley was born on this day in 1937.

In sad news James Brown and Eartha Kitt died on this day in 2006 and 2008 respectively.

 

[XMan101]

That's a young photo of Cab Calloway, don't think I've seen that one before.

 

[smallsleepyrascalcat]

I have no idea who this is...

 

[XMan101]

I have no idea who this is...

He's the guy who, among many other songs, is famous for "Minnie the Moocher". He also featured in The Blues Brothers movie singing that song.

Search him on You Tube, you're bound to recognise it

 

[smallsleepyrascalcat]

I have never seen the Blues Brothers Movie...

 

[XMan101]

Actor (& one of my all time favourites!) Richard Widmark was born today in 1914.

Died in March 2008

http://anonym.to/?http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001847/