Scott Allsop's Blog, page 37

3rd May 1978: The world’s first ‘spam’ email sent by Gary Thuerk of Digital Equipment Corporation

Thuerk later revealed that around 40 people came to the demonstrations the email was advertising, and estimated that this led to more than $12 million in ...

2nd May 1946: The Battle of Alcatraz began when armed inmates attempted to escape from the high security prison

By the time the authorities re-established control on the morning of 4 May, two prison officers and three perpetrators lay ...

1st May 1840: The Penny Black, the world’s first pre-paid postage stamp, goes on sale in the UK

The Penny Black allowed letters weighing up to half an ounce (14 grams) to be delivered for one penny, regardless of the distance travelled. This made sending mail more accessible and affordable, leading to a significant increase in postal traffic and the growth of the postal ...

30th April 1789: George Washington inaugurated as the first President of the United States of America

Washington's inauguration was conducted on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street, with thousands of spectators gathered below to witness the historic ...

29th April 1909: The People’s Budget introduced to the British Parliament by David Lloyd George

David Lloyd George, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, introduced the People’s Budget to address social inequality and poverty by redistributing wealth through taxation and welfare ...

28th April 1869: Ten miles of railway track are laid in a single day by the crews of the Central Pacific Railroad

Eight Irish rail-layers of the Central Pacific Railroad were supported by hundreds of Chinese laborers to lay a record 10 miles 56 feet of ...

27th April 1953: The US launches Operation Moolah to obtain a Soviet MiG-15 jet fighter through defection

By the time the armistice was signed on 27 July, the money for Operation Moolah was still untouched as no pilot had brought their MiG-15 to South ...

26th April 1933: The Gestapo secret police established by Hermann Göring in Nazi Germany

The Gestapo operated with broad authority and virtually unlimited power, employing a network of informants and spies to monitor and report on suspected dissidents and political ...

25th April 1898: The United States declares war on Spain in the Spanish–American War

Congress didn’t formally declare war until 25 April, although the declaration recognized that a state of war had existed since Spain’s declaration four days ...

24th April 1800: The Library of Congress established when John Adams approves a budget of $5,000 for books

The money allowed for the purchase of approximately 3,000 volumes from England that were housed in the north wing of the Capitol ...