On This Day In History
13 May 1787. The first fleet of ships carrying convicts to a penal colony in Australia left Portsmouth, England (Poster is a list of crimes punishable by transportion). pic.twitter.com/sM6SmDmxNq
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 13, 2023
13 May 1888. The passing of the Lei Áurea (“Golden Law”), abolished slavery in Brazil. It was signed by Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil (1846–1921), a committed opponent of slavery (pictured). pic.twitter.com/Nbea9s69GZ
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 13, 2023
13 May 1897. Radio Innovator, Guglielmo Marconi, made telecommunications history by transmitting a radio signal across the open sea for the first time. He chose Lavernock Point in the Vale of Glamorgan, as the location for the historic event. pic.twitter.com/6m24soX9vV
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 13, 2023
13 May 1909. The first Giro d’Italia multiple-stage cycle road race started in Milan, Italy. The Italian cyclist Luigi Ganna would be the winner. The first race was organized to increase sales of the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport and is still sponsored by that paper’s owner. pic.twitter.com/ekFfrgy7Y6
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 13, 2023
13 May 1981. Pope John Paul II was shot and wounded in St. Peter’s Square, Rome, by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca. He was rushed to the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic to undergo emergency surgery, and survived. He later met his assailant and forgave him. pic.twitter.com/CBzNswwWQM
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 13, 2023
May 14th
1787 Delegates gather in Philadelphia to draw up US Constitution
1796 English country doctor Edward Jenner administers his revolutionary cowpox-based vaccine for smallpox, in Berkeley, Gloucestershire
1804 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark‘s expedition commissioned by Thomas Jefferson sets out from St Louis for Pacific Coast
1948 Israel declares independence from British administration
Did You Know?
Lina Medina of Peru becomes the world’s youngest confirmed mother in medical history at the age of five
Today in History in 1939
Would You Believe?
Physician Joseph G. Hamilton injects misdiagnosed cancer patient Albert Stevens (CAL-1) with 131 kBq (3.55 µCi) of plutonium without his knowledge. Stevens lives another 20 years, surviving the highest known accumulated radiation dose in any human
Today in History in 1945
This day 286 years ago - 14 May 1734 - Irish economist Richard Cantillon died in mysterious circumstances, his home having caught fire.
Born to a Catholic family near Ballyheigue, Co Kerry, Cantillon later emigrated to France. He is credited with coining the term “entrepreneur.” pic.twitter.com/VoQtX3h1By
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) May 14, 2020
On this day in 1961, a mob of 50 white men in Anniston, AL, armed with pipes, chains, and bats, attacked the Freedom Riders who had traveled by Greyhound bus during a desegregation campaign. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/O3gwk69hL4
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) May 14, 2023
14 May 1643. Louis XIV (“The Sun King”), became the King of France (aged 4). He consolidated a system of absolute monarchy in France that endured until the French Revolution. His reign of 72 years and 110 days is currently the longest of any European monarch. pic.twitter.com/XTLWpuSYom
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 14, 2023
14 May 1771. Social reformer, Robert Owen, was born in Newtown, Wales. He’s best known for his efforts to improve factory working conditions for his workers, supporting the development of cooperatives, and the trade union movement. He had a huge influence on socialism. pic.twitter.com/7wylUxieZr
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 14, 2023
16 May 1770. 14-year old, Marie Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria, married 15-year-old, Louis-Auguste, the Duke of Berry, who later became Louis XVI of France. The marriage was designed to bring about a diplomatic reconciliation between France and Austria. pic.twitter.com/L5RApdD2dy
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 14, 2023
14 May 1796. Edward Jenner became the first British doctor to carry out a successful vaccination (against smallpox). It was the first vaccine to be developed against a contagious disease. Its great strength was that it prevented infection thereby helping to eradicate the disease. pic.twitter.com/B29RKuulJx
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 14, 2023
14 May 1889. Children’s charity, The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), was launched. It was granted a Royal Charter on 28 May 1895 by Queen Victoria, who became its first Royal Patron. pic.twitter.com/Em9m5Y4LJE
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 14, 2023
May 15th
1252 Pope Innocent IV issues the papal bull ad exstirpanda, which authorizes, but also limits, the torture of heretics in the Medieval Inquisition
1618 German astronomer Johannes Kepler discovers the third of his three planetary laws his “harmonics law”
1940 Richard and Maurice McDonald open the 1st McDonald’s restaurant in San Bernardino, California
1951 AT&T becomes the 1st US corporation to have a million stockholders after young car salesman Brady Denton purchases 7 shares worth $1,078
1988 USSR begins withdrawing its 115,000 troops from Afghanistan
Did You Know?
Mickey Mouse makes his 1st ever appearance in silent film “Plane Crazy”
Today in History in 1928
Would You Believe?
James Puckle, a London lawyer, patents world’s 1st machine gun
Today in History in 1718
This day 14 ago – 15 May 2007 – Bertie Ahern became the first Taoiseach to address both houses of the British parliament.
“Ours is a close, complex and difficult history... No two nations and no two peoples have closer ties of history and geography and of family and friendship.” pic.twitter.com/18puQEYYoP
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) May 15, 2021
On this day in 1970, police opened fire on a crowd of students at Jackson State College in Mississippi, killing two students and injuring dozens more. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/k8EzlzPCEo
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) May 15, 2022
15 May 392. Roman Emperor, Valentinian (Flavius Valentinianus), was found hanged in his residence at Vienne (aged 21). At the time of his death, he was in conflict against Frankish usurper Arbogast. It was either suicide or more likely that Arbogast ordered his murder. pic.twitter.com/IyUYu5GzEp
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 15, 2023
15 May 1800. George III survived an assassination attempt, while at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. James Hadfield fired a pistol shot at the King in the royal box, but missed. Hadfield was later acquitted by reason of insanity and detained in hospital for the rest of his life. pic.twitter.com/ILDUwN8cAn
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 15, 2023