On This Day In History
PHOTO OF THE DAY: A young Bill Clinton meets President John F Kennedy (1963). pic.twitter.com/9OVNzv2ejH
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 27, 2022
October 28th
1492 Christopher Columbus sights Cuba and claims it for Spain under the name "Juana"
1538 The first university in the New World, the Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino, is established on Hispaniola
1746 Peruvian cities of Lima and Callao demolished by earthquake, 18,000 die
1904 St Louis police try a new investigation method - fingerprints
1919 Volstead Act passed by US Congress, establishing prohibition, despite President Woodrow Wilson's veto
1924 Miner M.de Bruin discovers the infant fossil skull, "Taung child" in a lime quarry in Taung, South Africa. Paleoanthropologist Raymond Dart identifies the fossil as a new hominin species, Australopithecus africanus.
Did You Know?
Statue of Liberty dedicated by US President Grover Cleveland, celebrated by first confetti (ticker tape) parade in New York City
Today in History in 1886
Would You Believe?
Research indicating Plague dates back to the Bronze age in skeletons 5,783 years old, published by University of Copenhagen team in "Cell"
Today in History in 2015
This day 93 years ago - 28 October 1927 - several boats capsized during a gale in Cleggan Bay, Co Galway.
45 fishermen drowned, from Inishkea, Lacken, Inishbofin and Cleggan itself.
The fishing industry would later go into decline.
It became known as the Cleggan Bay Disaster. pic.twitter.com/6jUTPbxxej
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) October 28, 2020
Gunner, resistance fighter, POW and later psychologist, Wanda Traczyk-Stawska took part in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising against Nazi occupation. #OTD in 2020, aged 93, she joined a march for women's rights in Poland. “We have a right to fight for our dignity.” https://t.co/eMa2IQuxY2 pic.twitter.com/Pvwf20uwrw
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) October 28, 2022
On this day in 1958, two Black boys—7 and 9—were threatened with lynching, arrested, and jailed for over 3 months because a white girl kissed them on the cheek. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/EuFO0AmUVv
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) October 28, 2022
28 October 1636. The college which became Harvard University was founded by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It was named after its first benefactor, the clergyman, John Harvard. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the USA. pic.twitter.com/uRCUS2SHb5
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 28, 2022
28 October 1794. Medical pioneer, Robert Liston, was born in Ecclesmachan, Scotland. He was known for the swiftness of his surgical procedures and for carrying out the first British medical operation with the aid of anaesthetic. pic.twitter.com/KIY1dnB1cq
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 28, 2022
28 October 1846. Legendary chef, Georges Escoffier, was born in Villeneuve-Loubet, France. He was a key figure in the development of French haute cuisine and traditional French cooking methods, in particular, by providing updated recipes for the 5 main French cooking sauces. pic.twitter.com/rkThiVRxug
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 28, 2022
28 October 1955. Entrepreneur and philanthropist, Bill Gates, was born in Seattle, Washington. USA. He’s best known as the co-founder of Microsoft Corporation. He’s been one of the key pioneers of the microcomputer revolution since the 1970s. pic.twitter.com/NYwp13N355
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 28, 2022
28 October 1962. Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, informed the US government he had ordered the dismantling of Soviet missile bases in Cuba. It was the beginning of the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis. pic.twitter.com/I8jBSuSeti
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 28, 2022
28 October 1971. The House of Commons voted by a majority of 112 for Britain to join the European Economic Community (EEC). It was primarily Labour MP’s who had voted NO. pic.twitter.com/tyVsDNYiwZ
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 28, 2022
28 October 1914. American medical researcher, Dr Jonas Salk, was born in New York City. He created the first approved polio vaccine in 1955. Polio cases fell from 58,000 per year in 1952 to 6,000 by 1958. Salk’s vaccine was replaced by a new one developed by Albert Sabin in 1962. pic.twitter.com/QQxokBx3P9
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 28, 2022
October 29th
539 BC King Cyrus "the Great" of Persia marches into Babylon, freeing Jewish captives and allowing them to return home
1268 Conradin, the last legitimate male heir of the German Hohenstaufen dynasty of Kings and Holy Roman Emperors, is executed with Frederick I, Margrave of Baden by Charles I of Sicily
1665 Battle of Mbwila [Ambuila]: Portuguese defeat forces of the Kingdom of Kongo and decapitate King Antonio I of Kongo / Nvita a Nkanga
1929 "Black Tuesday" Wall Street Stock Market crashes triggering the "Great Depression"
2015 China announces the end of their one-child policy after 35 years
Did You Know?
English adventurer, writer and courtier Walter Raleigh is beheaded for allegedly conspiring against King James I of England
Today in History in 1618
Would You Believe?
En route Adana to Ankara, Turkish Airlines flight with crew of 6 and 33 passengers hijacked by Kurdish militant, orders pilot fly to Switzerland. Pilot lands in Ankara tricking hijacker he was landing in Sofia to refuel.
Today in History in 1998
This day 204 years ago - 29 October 1816 - eight people (including a five-month-old baby) died when their house was set on fire in rural Co Louth.
18 men suspected of the crime were later hanged.
The tragic event inspired the story Wildgoose Lodge by William Carleton. pic.twitter.com/WSJByVSmFT
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) October 29, 2020
This day 38 years ago – 29 October 1981 – the first female recruits in the history of the Irish Defence Forces completed their training.
38 women took part in the 18-week course, which included rifle marksmanship.
Their passing-out parade was in the Curragh Camp, Co Kildare. pic.twitter.com/llUnGPH8Fk
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) October 29, 2019
This day seven years ago – 29 October 2011 – it was announced that Michael D. Higgins had been elected President of Ireland.
Higgins received 38.9% of first preference votes, cast on 27 October 2011.
He initially promised to serve one term only, but ran for re-election in 2018. pic.twitter.com/6jsMhSV0kP
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) October 29, 2018
Maggie Lena Walker founded the St Luke Penny Savings Bank in 1903. She was the first African American woman to head a US bank, involving others in its management and organisation. “Let us put our moneys together... and reap the benefit ourselves.” https://t.co/HNZXMnOVDA pic.twitter.com/HMSRXFoHru
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) October 29, 2022
On this day in 1869, a white mob in GA attacked Abram Colby, a formerly enslaved Black state legislator, after he refused a bribe to resign. The mob kidnapped him in front of his daughter and brutally whipped him. He survived with permanent injuries. https://t.co/uoQB3yq9EE
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) October 29, 2022