[ZJJ]

May 6

1889
The Universal Exposition opened in Paris, marking the completion and dedication of the Eiffel Tower.

1937
The German airship Hindenburg blew up and burst into flames at Lakehurst, N.J.

1941
Dictator Joseph Stalin became the premier of Russia.

1954
British athlete Roger Bannister became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes (3:59:4).

1994
The Chunnel between England and France officially opened.

[ZJJ]

To put this in the correct thread....

Quote

Just out of interest, has that record been re-broken since it was set all those years back?

New Mile World Record at Golden Gala by El Guerrouj
and Sullivan runs his second fastest Mile at GOLDEN GALA

JULY 7TH, 1999

GOLDEN GALA - Roma, Italy -- Grand Prix Track & Field

Hichman El Guerouj of Morocco shatters the mile world record by over a second at the Golden Gala Mile in Roma, Italy in a time of 3:43.13. The old record 3:44.39 was set by Morceli Noureddine of Algeria back in September 1993 at Rieti. Noah Ngeny of Kenya also runs under the old record with a time of 3:43.40. El Guerouj set the 1500 meter record, 3:26:00, here in Roma less then a year ago. Ann Arbor's Kevin Sullivan was also in the world record setting mile, and he run's his second fastest time 3:52.96.

[Pyro_Monty]

Holy sh... I mean wow!

It's gonna take a lot to beat that one!

[firefly2442]

Takes me about 10 minutes to run the mile.....

[ZJJ]

May 7

1824
Beethoven's 9th Symphony premiered in Vienna.

1915
The British ocean liner Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine in World War I off the coast of Ireland.

1945
Germany unconditionally surrendered to the allies in Rheims, France.

1992
The 27th Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting mid-term Congressional pay raises, was ratified.

1994
Edvard Munch's painting, The Scream was recovered a few months after it had been stolen.

1999
During action against Yugoslavia, NATO jets mistakenly bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, killing three and injuring 20.

[ZJJ]

May 8

1877
The first Westminister Dog Show was held.

1902
Mount Pelee on Martinique erupted, destroying the town of St. Pierre, and killing 40,000 people.

1945
V-E Day marks the European victory of the Allies in World War II.

1978
David Berkowitz, a.k.a. the “Son of Sam,” plead guilty to killing six people in New York City.

1985
The first cans of New Coke rolled out of bottling and canning plants on this day—the 99th anniversary of Coca-Cola.

1999
The Citadel in South Carolina graduated its first female cadet, Nancy Mace.

[ZJJ]

May 9

1914
Mother's Day became a public holiday.

1926
Explorers Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett flew over the North Pole.

1960
The U.S. became the first country to legalize the birth control pill.

1962
The Beatles signed their first recording contract and hired George Martin to be their producer.

1978
The body of slain former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro was found in an automobile in Rome.

1984
It took the Chicago White Sox 25 innings, eight hours, and six minutes, over two days, to finally defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6. It was the longest game (in elapsed time) in major-league history.

[ZJJ]

May 10

1863
Confederate General Stonewall Jackson died after being accidentally shot by his own troops.

1869
The United States’ first transcontinental railroad was completed with a ceremony in Promontory Point, Utah.

1924
J. Edgar Hoover became director of the FBI.

1940
Winston Churchill succeeded Neville Chamberlain as British prime minister.

1994
Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa's first black president.

[ZJJ]

May 11

1858
Minnesota became the 32nd state in the United States.

1927
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded.

1949
Siam changed its name to Thailand.

1981
Reggae performer Bob Marley died of cancer in Miami at the age of 36.

1997
IBM's supercomputer, Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov, the reigning world champion, in a six game chess match (2 for blue, 1 for Kasparov, and 3 ties).

1998
India set off atomic blasts.

[ZJJ]

May 12

1870
Manitoba became a province of Canada.

1888
Charles Sherrill of the Yale track team became the first runner to use the crouching start for a fast break in a foot race.

1937
Britain’s King George VI was crowned at Westminster Abbey in London.

1970
Harry A. Blackmun was confirmed as a Supreme Court justice.

1970
Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, swatted his 500th home run.

[ZJJ]

May 13

1568
Mary Queen of Scots was defeated at the Battle of Langside and immediately fled to North England.

1846
The United States formally declared war on Mexico after several days of fighting.

1938
Louis Armstrong and his orchestra recorded the New Orleans's jazz classic, When the Saints Go Marching In, on Decca Records.

1973
Tennis male chauvinist Bobby Riggs defeated Margaret Smith Court, 6-2, 6-1 in front of a world-wide television audience. He would lose to Billie Jean King later that year.

1981
Pope John Paul II was shot and wounded by Mehmet Ali Agca as he drove through a crowd in St. Peter's Square, Rome.

[ZJJ]

May 14

1862
Adolphe Nicole of Switzerland patented the chronograph—a timepiece that allows for split second timing of sporting events.

1904
The Olympic Games were held in the United States for the first time, in St. Louis, Missouri.

1948
British rule in Palestine came to an end as The Jewish National Council proclaimed the State of Israel. Within hours, Israel was under attack from Arab forces.

1955
The Warsaw Pact was signed by the Soviet Union and seven other Communist bloc countries. It finally dissolved in 1991.

1973
Skylab, the United States’ first space station, was launched into orbit.

1998
Frank Sinatra died at the age of 82.

[warhawk]

Great stuff zjj keep it coming. Maybe some of these "young whipper snappers" will finally learn some history.

Stout Hearts
Warhawk

[ZJJ]

warhawk, on May 14 2003, 20:50 , said:

Great stuff zjj keep it coming. Maybe some of these "young whipper snappers" will finally learn some history.

Stout Hearts
Warhawk

Thanks for the feedback, Warhawk. I was wondering if these were useful to anyone or if I was just wasting my time.

May 15

1718
London lawyer James Puckle patented the world’s first machine gun.

1862
The U.S. Department of Agriculture was created by an act of Congress on this day.

1918
The first air mail route in the U.S. was established between New York and Washington, DC, with a stop at Philadelphia.

1930
On a United Airlines flight between San Francisco and Cheyenne, Wash., Ellen Church became the first airline stewardess.

1940
Nylon stockings went on sale for the first time in the United States.

1972
Alabama Governor George Wallace was shot and crippled as he campaigned for the presidency.

1988
The Soviet Union began to withdraw its estimated 115,000 troops from Afghanistan.

[Prophet]

I enjoy reading these...historical facts are very interesting.