TODAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 585 B.C.

The first known prediction of a solar eclipse occurred.

In 1792, a highwayman named Pelletier became the first person under French law to be executed by the guillotine.

In 1793, 25-year-old Stephen T. Badin was ordained in Baltimore, Md. He was the first Roman Catholic priest to be ordained in the newly independent United States. He later served as a frontier missionary, and played a key role in establishing Catholicism in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee during the early nineteenth century.

In 1859, ground was broken for the Suez Canal. It was completed 10 years later.

In 1895, Irish playwright Oscar Wilde was convicted in London on a morals charge for his involvement with another man. Wilde was sentenced to two years in prison.

In 1935, future Olympic champion Jesse Owens broke five world track and field records and equalled a sixth — in a mere 45 minutes — at a U.S. college meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His long jump mark was not broken for 25 years.

In 1935, Babe Ruth of the National League’s Boston Braves hit his final three home runs, bringing his career total to 714. Atlanta’s Hank Aaron broke Ruth’s record in 1974 and in 2007, Barry Bonds surpassed Aaron with his 756th career home run. (Bonds finished his career with 762.)

In 1945, delegates from 45 countries met in San Francisco to organize the United Nations.

In 1950, the federal and provincial governments agreed to build the Trans-Canada Highway. It was completed 12 years later.

In 1958, Canada’s first direct-distance dialing system was installed in Toronto.

In 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway opened to shipping.