On This Day In History
Did You Know?
First televised baseball game in colour on WCBS in New York City; Boston Braves beat Brooklyn Dodgers, 8-1
Today in History in 1951
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Would You Believe?
During a radio voice test, US President Reagan jokes he "signed legislation that would outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes."
Today in History in 1984
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This day 94 years ago – 11 August 1927 – Fianna Fáil TDs took their seats in Dáil Éireann for the first time.
One of those elected as a Fianna Fáil TD in the June 1927 election was Constance Markievicz.
However, she died of complications related to appendicitis weeks later. pic.twitter.com/AntoRBfbzC
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) August 11, 2021
In August 1914, Dr Elsie Inglis founded the Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service after being told to 'go home and sit still' when she volunteered to work for the Royal Army Medical Corps in WWI. The SWH provided 14 medical units in 7 countries. https://t.co/aLIXZpqkG6 pic.twitter.com/nv9Xg7zffG
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) August 11, 2022
On this day in 2017, more than 200 members of white supremacist groups from across the country marched at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/WNFKgRvDQ3
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) August 11, 2022
11 August 1909. The first successful use of the emergency wireless signal, SOS, was by the steamer SS Arapahoe while off the North Carolina coast. The signal was received by the United Wireless Telegraph Company station at Hatteras, North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/aZ18wiLtmi
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 11, 2022
11 August 1929. American, Babe Ruth, became the first baseball player to hit 500 home runs in his career for the New York Yankees against the Cleveland Indians. pic.twitter.com/ZR1Qrqjhc4
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 11, 2022
11 August 1934. The first 137 civilian prisoners arrived at the Federal prison on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. It was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other prisons. Most were notorious bank robbers and murderers. pic.twitter.com/dpwntScuIG
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 11, 2022
11 August 1968. The last steam train ran on British Rail. The final journey was by the, Stanier Five Black Locomotive 45110, from Carlisle to Liverpool’s Lime Street Station. The ban on steam was lifted in 1971, paving the way for the many heritage specials which now operate. pic.twitter.com/OziEWfTE4D
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 11, 2022
11 August 1984. Carl Lewis (USA), won his 4th gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games, in the Men’s 4X100 metres Relay. Until then, Jesse Owens was the only American track and field athlete to capture 4 gold medals in a single Olympic Games. pic.twitter.com/MlIjCOs9ze
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 11, 2022
11 August 1994. Hammer horror star, Peter Cushing, died (aged 81). Best known for playing Dracula hunter, Dr Van Helsing. Also played Doctor Who in the two 1960s movies, though not in the BBC TV series. He also appeared as Grand Moff Tarkin in the 1977 film Star Wars film. pic.twitter.com/kyafG01GAo
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 11, 2022
Comedy legend, Robin Williams, died #OTD in 2014. pic.twitter.com/3oHWOW6ctv
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 11, 2022
11 August 2018. Trinidadian novelist and travel writer, V. S. Naipaul, died (aged 85). He is best known for his comic early novels set in Trinidad, his complex novels of the wider world, and his chronicles of his life and travels. His prose was widely admired. pic.twitter.com/cYJQxJD3AY
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 11, 2022
PHOTO OF THE DAY. Johnny Cash just before going on stage for his live concert at Folsom Prison (1968) đź“· Dan Poush pic.twitter.com/Xc9YKaCNIE
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 11, 2022
August 12th
1121Â Battle of Didgori: the Georgian army under King David the Builder wins a decisive victory over the famous Seljuk commander Ilghazi
1480Â Battle of Otranto - Ottoman troops behead 800 Christians for refusing to convert to Islam
1851Â American inventor Isaac Singer patents the sewing machine
1908 Henry Ford's company builds the first Model T car
1981Â IBM introduces its first Personal Computer (PC & PC-DOS version 1.0)
Did You Know?
The last quagga (zebra subspecies with less slashes) dies at the Artis Magistra zoo in Amsterdam.
Today in History in 1883
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Would You Believe?
Self-proclaimed Emperor Joshua Abraham Norton of the USA issues edict abolishing the Democratic and Republican parties
Today in History in 1869
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This day 51 years ago – 12 August 1969 – the Battle of the Bogside took place.
Catholic residents stormed police barricades erected during the annual Protestant Apprentice Boys of Derry march, throwing bottles and stones. The riots which ensued lasted for two days and nights. pic.twitter.com/RZtN2VkMVX
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) August 12, 2020
Cartimandua, Queen of the Brigantes, the largest tribe in Britain, centred in what's now known as Yorkshire, was the first queen to rule part of Britain in her own right. A major player in the Roman invasion of 43 AD, she allied with Rome to preserve her tribe's independence. pic.twitter.com/rLwLzEvkyl
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) August 12, 2021
On this day in 1903, after a failed lynching of a Black man, white mobs engaged in widespread racial terrorism directed at the Black community in Whitesboro, TX, forcing Black residents to flee. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/z4hZRHKPlJ
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) August 12, 2022
12 August 30 BC. Cleopatra (aged 39), the last active pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, committed suicide in Alexandria. After her death, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire. Her life was featured in Shakespeare’s play Antony and Cleopatra and the Hollywood film, Cleopatra. pic.twitter.com/N59H7hyOq5
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 12, 2022
12 August 1848. Railway engineer, George Stephenson, died (aged 67). He was a key figure in the development of rail transport. His company built Locomotion No. 1, the first steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public rail line on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. pic.twitter.com/xtPWkGXvP5
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 12, 2022