Gilbert M. Stack's Blog, page 141

Today in History: Halley's Comet

On this day (April 10) in 837, Halley’s Comet made its closest approach to the earth at 3.2 million miles. That’s approximately 13 times farther from the earth than the moon is. The idea of a comet (or similar celestial body) hitting the earth has long fascinated and worried people. (After all, there are some big examples of catastrophic damage being done from such a strike.)One of the best fictional accounts of such a strike is Lucifer’s Hammer, by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven.

Today in History: The Battle of the Saints

On this day (April 9) in 1782, the Battle of the Saints took place—a little known battle of the American Revolutionary War. The French fleet which had helped to trap General Cornwallis at Yorktown united with Spanish forces and attempted to invade Jamaica to take it from Britain. The battle lasted four days and ended in a serious French defeat because the British broke the French lines. French casualties were more than ten times the British casualties plus they had 5000 soldiers and sailors captured, but the British might have won a far more decisive victory if they had pursued the fleeing French fleet. In any event, the victory was sufficiently large to change the strategic situation and permit the British to threaten the French sugar islands, leading the French to lessen their demands for peace.

Today in History: The 17th Amendment

On this day (April Eight) in 1917, the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution became the law of the land. This amendment provided for the direct election of U.S. Senators by the people. Previously they had been elected by state legislatures.

Today in History: The First Friction Match

On this day (April 7) in 1827, English Chemist John Walker sold the first friction match. Walker refused to patent his invention, making it freely available for anyone to make.

Today in History: Richard the Lionhearted Died

On this day (April 6) in 1199, King Richard the Lionhearted died after having a crossbow bolt removed from his neck. The wound became gangrenous, killing him. Richard had the boy who fired the lethal missile brought before him. The boy told Richard that the king had killed his father and two brothers and that he had killed Richard in revenge. Richard forgave the young man and ordered him set free with 100 shillings.

Today in History: Slaves Rebel in Manhattan

On this day (April 6) in 1712, two dozen black slaves in Manhattan armed themselves and gathered to make a bid for freedom. They set fire to a baker’s outbuilding and then attacked the white men who came to put out the fire. They killed eight of them and then wounded seven others. The slaves then fled into the forest but most were rounded up the next day. Six chose suicide rather than be recaptured. It was the better choice.

Fearing a larger slave revolt, seventy black men were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the insurrection. All told 39 men were indicted and tried. None received legal counsel. 23 were convicted and 19 were sentenced to death.

Executions were supposed to be carried out in Manhattan by hanging, but Governor Robert Hunter wanted to use the executions to deter future slave insurrections. Therefore he made examples of four of the men: 1) The first was tied to a wheel and killed over a period of hours by smashing his bones; 2) the next was hung by chains and permitted to die of deprivation; 3) the third was burned to death; 4) and the fourth was burned to death over a slow fire to draw out his agony.

Today in History: Pocahontas Marries

On this day (April 5) in 1614, Pocahontas married John Rolfe. She was seventeen years old and had been captured by the English and held for ransom the previous year. During that time she converted to Christianity and took the name Rebecca. She also met the man who would become her husband. Pocahontas and John Rolfe had a son whom they named Thomas. The next year (1616) they traveled to London together where she became a celebrity. In 1617 as they were preparing to return to Virginia, she died. The cause is debated, but was probably pneumonia, small pox or tuberculosis (although some think she was poisoned). She has many famous descendants, including Edith Wilson (wife of President Woodrow Wilson), Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and Wayne Newton.

Today in History: The Beatles Dominate the Charts

On this day (April 4) in 1964, the Beatles held the top five positions on the Billboard 100 charts with their songs: 1) Can’t Buy Me Love; 2) Twist and Shout; 3) She Loves You; 4) I Want to Hold Your Hand; 5) Please, Please Me.

Today in History: Martin Luther King Jr. Was Assassinated

On this day (April 4) in 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. An American Gandhi, King remains the greatest proponent for Civil Rights that the U.S. has ever produced. He’s inspired hundreds of millions—and quite possibly billions—to recognize the humanity in each other and strive to judge one another by the content of their character. James Earl Ray was apprehended for the crime after fleeing first to Canada and then to Europe. He confessed to murdering King and was sentenced to 99 years in prison, but three days later he recanted his confession. The King family came to believe that Ray was not involved in the murder, but had been set up to take the blame. They pursued a civil trial against Lloyd Jowers, a restaurant owner, and in the trial convinced the jury that a conspiracy involving Jowers, the Mafia, and local, state and federal government agencies (but not James Earl Ray) was responsible for King’s murder. This prompted the federal government to reinvestigate the case, but they rejected the conspiracy theory.

Today in History: Jack the Ripper

On this day (April 3) in 1888, the first of the eleven Whitechapel Murders was committed. Whitechapel was the most notorious criminal rookery (slum) in London and was characterized by extreme poverty, substandard housing, homelessness, and endemic prostitution. The first of the Whitechapel Murder victims was a 45 year old prostitute named Emma Elizabeth Smith, but despite being counted as victim number one, it is not clear she was actually murdered by Jack the Ripper.