Sunday, February 16, 2014

History for February 16

History for February 16 - On-This-Day.com 
Happy Birthday! Richard Ford, William Katt,  John McEnroe, Jr.

1804 - A raid was led by Lt. Stephen Decatur to burn the U.S. Navy frigate Philadelphia. The ship had been taken by pirates. 


1857 - The National Deaf Mute College was incorporated in Washington, DC. It was the first school in the world for advanced education of the deaf. The school was later renamed Gallaudet College. 


1862 - Anniversary of the Surrender of Fort Donelson, KY, 1862, in which General Ulysses S. Grant stated, “No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.” This statement earned him the nickname “Unconditional Surrender” Grant

1923 - Howard Carter unsealed the burial chamber of Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen. The next day he entered the chamber with several invited guests. He had originally found the tomb on November 4, 1922. 


1937 - Wallace H. Carothers received a patent for nylon. Carothers was a research chemist for Du Pont. 


1959 - Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba after the overthrow of President Fulgencio Batista. 


1968 - In the U.S., the first 911 emergency telephone system was inaugurated in Haleyville, AL. 


1970 - Joe Frazier began his reign as the undefeated heavyweight world champion when he knocked out Jimmy Ellis in five rounds. He lost the title on January 22, 1973, when he lost for the first time in his professional career to George Foreman. 


2005 - The Kyoto global warming pact went into effect in 140 nations. 

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