Friday, December 05, 2014

History for December 5

History for December 5 - On-This-Day.com
Martin Van Buren (U.S.) 1782, George Armstrong Custer 1839, Walt Elias Disney 1901


Otto Preminger 1906, Little Richard (Richard Wayne Penniman) 1932, Jim Messina 1947


1492 - Christopher Columbus discovered Hispaniola (now Haiti). 


1776 - In Williamsburg, VA, at the College of William and Mary the first scholastic fraternity in America, Phi Beta Kappa, was organized. 


1782 - The first native U.S. president, Martin Van Buren, was born in Kinderhook, NY


1848 - U.S. President Polk triggered the Gold Rush of '49 by confirming the fact that gold had been discovered in California


1876 - The Stillson wrench was patented by D.C. Stillson. The device was the first practical pipe wrench. 


1904 - The Russian fleet was destroyed by the Japanese at Port Arthur, during the Russo-Japanese War. 


1932 - German physicist Albert Einstein was granted a visa making it possible for him to travel to the U.S. 


1945 - The so-called "Lost Squadron" disappeared. The five U.S. Navy Avenger bombers carrying 14 Navy flyers began a training mission at the Ft. Lauderdale Naval Air Station. They were never heard from again. 


1978 - The American space probe Pioneer Venus I, orbiting Venus, began beaming back its first information and picture of the planet. 


1985 - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose above 1,500 for the first time. 

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