TODAY’S HISTORY LESSON – APRIL 9
0715 Constantine ends his reign as Catholic Pope.
1454 The city states of Venice, Milan and Florence sign a peace agreement at Lodi, Italy.
1483 Edward V (aged 12) succeeds his father Edward IV as king of England. He is never crowned, and disappears presumed murdered, after incarceration in the Tower of London with his younger brother Richard (the “Princes in the Tower”)
1682 Robert La Salle claims lower Mississippi River and all lands that touch it for France.
1731 British mariner Robert Jenkins’ ear cut off by Spanish Guarde Costa in the Caribbean, later catalyst for war between Britain & Spain
1860 The world’s first recording of the human voice is created
French inventor Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville used his phonautograph, the earliest known sound recording device
1865 Confederate General Robert E. Lee and 26,765 troops surrender at Appomattox Court House to US Lieutenant General Ulysses S Grant (US Civil War)
1866 Civil Rights Bill passes over President Andrew Johnson’s veto
1872 Samuel R Percy patents dried milk
1914 The first full-color film, The World, The Flesh and the Devil, was shown in London.
1927 Italy & US anarchists Sacco & Vanzetti given death sentences
1940 Germany invades Norway and Denmark.
1942 American and Philippine troops on Bataan were overwhelmed by Japanese forces during World War II. The “Bataan Death March” began soon after.
1953 “TV Guide” publishes 1st issue
1963 Winston Churchill becomes the first honorary U.S. citizen.
1967 The first Boeing 737 takes off on its maiden flight
1976 US & Russia agree on the size of nuclear tests for peaceful use
1989 Washington DC march supporting 1973 Roe vs Wade decision (allow abortions)
1992 Former Panamanian ruler Manuel Noriega was convicted of drug and racketeering charges.
2003 Baghdad falls to U.S. forces, ending the invasion of Iraq, but resulting in widespread looting
** history.net, onthisday.com, infoplease.com, timeanddate.com, thepeoplehistory.com, on-this-day.com **
