May 9
1502
Christopher Columbus left Cadiz, Spain, on his fourth and final trip to the Western Hemisphere.
1754
The first American newspaper cartoon was published. The picture in Benjamin Franklin's "Pennsylvania Gazette" showed a snake cut into sections. Each part represented an American colony. The caption read, "Join or die."
1828
Birth of Andrew Murray, South African Dutch Reformed clergyman and devotional writer. He wrote over 240 books, many of which are still in print or available on the internet. His most famous writing was "Abide in Christ" (1864).
1860
Birth of James Matthew Barrie, Scottish playwright and novelist best remembered today for his fantasy work "Peter Pan", in Kirriemuir, Scotland.
1913
The 17th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. It provided for the election of senators by popular vote rather than selection by state legislatures.
1914
President Wilson issued a proclamation regarding Mothers' Day: "Now, Therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the said Joint Resolution, do hereby direct the government officials to display the United States flag on all government buildings and do invite the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country."
1926
Americans Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett became the first men to make an airplane flight over the North Pole.
1961
Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton N. Minow condemned TV programming as a "vast wasteland" in a speech to the National Association of Broadcasters.
1962
A laser beam was bounced off the moon from earth by MIT scientists. The area of the light beam on the surface was estimated at a diameter of 4 miles.
1974
The House Judiciary Committee began its hearings on whether to recommend the impeachment of President Nixon.
1994
South Africa's newly-elected parliament chose Nelson Mandela to be the country's first black president.
1502
Christopher Columbus left Cadiz, Spain, on his fourth and final trip to the Western Hemisphere.
1754
The first American newspaper cartoon was published. The picture in Benjamin Franklin's "Pennsylvania Gazette" showed a snake cut into sections. Each part represented an American colony. The caption read, "Join or die."
1828
Birth of Andrew Murray, South African Dutch Reformed clergyman and devotional writer. He wrote over 240 books, many of which are still in print or available on the internet. His most famous writing was "Abide in Christ" (1864).
1860
Birth of James Matthew Barrie, Scottish playwright and novelist best remembered today for his fantasy work "Peter Pan", in Kirriemuir, Scotland.
1913
The 17th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. It provided for the election of senators by popular vote rather than selection by state legislatures.
1914
President Wilson issued a proclamation regarding Mothers' Day: "Now, Therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the said Joint Resolution, do hereby direct the government officials to display the United States flag on all government buildings and do invite the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country."
1926
Americans Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett became the first men to make an airplane flight over the North Pole.
1961
Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton N. Minow condemned TV programming as a "vast wasteland" in a speech to the National Association of Broadcasters.
1962
A laser beam was bounced off the moon from earth by MIT scientists. The area of the light beam on the surface was estimated at a diameter of 4 miles.
1974
The House Judiciary Committee began its hearings on whether to recommend the impeachment of President Nixon.
1994
South Africa's newly-elected parliament chose Nelson Mandela to be the country's first black president.
