Tuesday, August 09, 2005

This date in history

In 1790, the Columbia returned to Boston Harbor after a three-year voyage, becoming the first ship to carry the American flag around the world.

On Aug. 9, 1945, three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, the United States exploded a nuclear device over Nagasaki, killing an estimated 74,000 people.

In 1854, Henry David Thoreau published "Walden," which described his experiences while living near Walden Pond in Massachusetts.

In 1902, Edward VII was crowned king of England following the death of his mother, Queen Victoria.

In 1965, Singapore proclaimed its independence from the Malaysian Federation.

In 1969, actress Sharon Tate and four other people were found brutally murdered in Tate's Los Angeles home; cult leader Charles Manson and a group of his disciples were later convicted of the crime.

In 1974, President Nixon's resignation took effect. Vice President Gerald R. Ford became the nation's 38th chief executive.

One year ago: Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols, addressing a court for the first time, asked victims of the blast for forgiveness as a judge sentenced him to 161 consecutive life sentences.

2 comments:

Erudite Redneck said...

Aug. 9, 1963, one of nephews was born! This post reminded me! Then, distracted my my aching right hind leg, I forgot! I called him today, though.

Aug. 9, 1939: Mama ER and Daddy ER got hitched! ... They woulda been married 50 years but Daddy ER passed in March '89. ... The grocery sack of personal items I brought home from the funeral time is still in the top of a closet, still unopened.

Trixie said...

I know several other couples who said "I do" on that date in history. I find it an interesting thing when multiple huge moments in history occur on the same date.
Like, for another example, April 19. Just as an example.