Today in history

1607 An expedition led by Captain Christopher Newport arrived at Jamestown, Virginia. The passengers went ashore the next day and this site became the first permanent settlement English colony in America.

1821 The first practical printing press was patented in the U.S. by Samuel Rust.

1854 The first big American billiards match was held at Malcolm Hall in Syracuse, NY.

1873 Ludwig M. Wolf patented the sewing machine lamp holder.

1880 Thomas Edison tested his experimental electric railway in Menlo Park.

1897 Guglielmo Marconi sent the world’s first wireless communication over open sea.

1912 Royal Flying Corps was established in England.

1913 Igor Sikorsky flew the first four engine aircraft.

1918 The first airmail postage stamps were issued with airplanes on them. The denominations were 6, 16, and 24 cents.

1940 Winston Churchill made his first speech as the prime minister of Britain.

1949 The first gas turbine to pump natural gas was installed in Wilmar, AR.

1954 U.S. President Eisenhower signed into law the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Act.

1967 Mickey Mantle hit his 500th homerun.

1982 The Chicago Cubs became the first major league baseball team to win 8,000 games.

1985 A confrontation between Philadelphia authorities and the radical group MOVE ended as police dropped an explosive onto the group’s headquarters. Eleven people died in the fire that resulted.

2003 The U.S. government unveiled a newly designed version of the $20 bill. It was the first to be colorized in an effort to stop counterfeiters.