Today in History: 21 May
878 – Syracuse is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily
1260 – Hao Jing, envoy of Mongol leader Kublai Khan imprisoned by order of the high Chancellor of China, Jia Sidao at the Song Dynasty court of Emperor Lizong while attempting to negotiate with the Song
1799 – Napoleon and his forces abandon their siege of Acre after two months – turning point in French invasion of Egypt and Syria
1819 – 1st bicycles (swift walkers) in US introduced in NYC
1881 – American Red Cross founded by Clara Barton
1904 – Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) forms in Paris
1916 – Britain begins “Summer time” (daylight saving time)
1918 – US House of Representatives passes amendment allowing women to vote
1927 – Aviator Charles Lindbergh, in the Spirit of St Louis, lands in Paris after the first solo crossing of Atlantic
1932 – After flying for 17 hours from Newfoundland, Amelia Earhart lands near Londonberry, Northern Ireland, completing the first transatlantic solo flight by a woman
1948 – NY Yank Joe Dimaggio hits for cycle (single, double, triple, HR)
1971 – Marvin Gaye’ eleventh album “What’s Going On” is released; considered the best album of all time by critic surveys in Rolling Stone (2020), The Guardian (1997), and New Music Express (1985)
1980 – “Star Wars Episode V – Empire Strikes Back”, produced by George Lucas opens in cinemas in UK and North America
Download Complete! –
120 BC – Aurelia Cotta, Mother of Julius Caesar
1780 – Elizabeth Fry, English prison reformer, social reformer, and Quaker Minister
1904 – Fats Waller, American jazz organist, piano player, singer, and composer
1952 – Mr. T
1972 – The Notorious B.I.G.
1996 – Josh Allen, American football quarterback (Buffalo Bills)
Unrecoverable Error –
1471 – Henry VI of England, King of England
1919 – Yevgraf Fyodorov, Russian mathematician
1935 – Jane Addams, American pacifist, social activist, feminist, author, co-founder of ACLU
1988 – Sammy Davis Sr., American vaudeville dancer
The Funnies:
Quote of the Day
YouTube Song of the Day
Comic of the Day
Mouseover: I can’t believe they wouldn’t even let me hold a vote among the passengers about whether to try the loop.
Explain XKCD 2935: Ocean Loop - explain xkcd
Image Credit: XKCD xkcd: Ocean Loop
Inspirobot Sometimes Controversial Inspirational Quote of the Day:
In case you missed it, you can read yesterday’s ground and sky breaking Spark by @Lonny6654 over here….
