This day in history

Some interesting historical facts today include:

 

1756- Daniel Boone married Rebecca Bryan in North Carolina. They later moved west, blazing trails and leading a pioneer life.

 

1820- Edward Delafield and John Kearney Rogers founded the first specialty hospital in the US. The New York Eye Infirmary treated both eyes and ears and changed their name to The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in 1964 to include the otology specialty 

 

1846- a meteorite weighing 2.3 kg (~5 lbs) fell in Cape Girardeau, MO

 

1885- Hotta Zuisho received the first patent ever issued in Japan. It was for anticorrosive paint and he would later receive a US patent as well.

 

1908- Firestone, Kent, England hosted the first International beauty patent, Miss European. The event still takes place and travels fron city to city. Naples, Italy hosted the patent in 2019

 

1935- Congress passed and President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. It created a pension program based on and supported by workers' income

 

1937- the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine was completed after 10 years of work. More than 2,000 miles of trails and paths to entice hikers from all over the country

 

1938- The Student of Prague became the first feature-length film to broadcast on BBC television. Apparently many of the themes and subplot are mirrored in Shrek. Who knew?

 

1939- the White Sox won their first game at Comisky Park

 

1945- Japan surrendered and the announcement became known as V-J (Victory in Japan) Day

 

1964- Muhammad Ali married Sonji Roi. They divorced less than 2 years later

 

1993- the New York Yankees retired the number of left-handed outfielder Reggie Jackson. He earned 5 World Series Championships

 

1995- after challenging the all-male admittance, Sharon Faulkner became the first woman cadet to attend the Citadel in it's 152 year history, although she left 6 days later.

 

Some notable birthdays include:

 

Doc Holliday (1851)

John Ringling North (1903) - his uncle's founded Ringling Bros Circus, but he's the one who turned it into the glamorous show it became

Ethel Lois Payne (1911) - first African American woman in the White House Press Corps

Thomas Meehan (1929) - playwright who wrote the books for the musicals Annie, Hairspray and The Producers which earned him Tony Awards

Steve Martin (1945)

Danielle Steel (1947)

Gary Larson (1950) - cartoonist of the Far Side

James Horner (1953) - won an Academy Award for Best Music for Titanic. Also wrote the scores for Apollo 13, An American Tail and Glory

Magic Johnson (1959)

Halle Berry (1966)