TODAY I N HISTORY

In 1534, Jacques Cartier explored Belle Isle on his second voyage to Canada.

In 1564, John Calvin, a leader of the Protestant Reformation, died in Geneva at age 54. He spent the last years of his life trying to turn the Swiss city into a theocratic society.

In 1647, the first recorded execution of a supposed witch took place in Massachusetts.

In 1790, the laziest man in history went to bed and stayed there for the next 70 years. Jeremiah Carlton of England was 19 and the heir to a large fortune when he climbed into bed, thinking he never needed to work again. He died at age 89.

In 1818, Amelia Jenks Bloomer, an American suffragette known for her pantaloons, was born. She founded and edited the “Lily,” an early women’s suffrage journal in the U.S. She used it to promote issues such as more sensible attire for women, including the bifurcated skirt, better known as bloomers.

In 1873, Prince Edward Island voted for union with Canada.

In 1912, Sam Snead, one of golf’s all-time greats, was born in Hot Springs, Va. Snead was known for his straw hats and passion for the game. He won seven major championships and a record 81 PGA Tour events. He died May 23, 2002, at his Hot Springs home from complications following a stroke.

In 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge, spanning San Francisco Bay, was opened.