TODAY IN history

In 585 B.C., the first known prediction of a solar eclipse occurred.

In 1810, Argentina began its revolt against Spain.

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

In 1981, Daniel Goodwin of Chicago used suction cups and metal clips to become the first person to scale the outside of the 110-storey Sears Roebuck Tower. Following the sevenand-a-half-hour climb, he was jailed for disorderly conduct.

In 1982, Britain recaptured the Falkland Islands from Argentina.

In 2011, the final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired with the talk show queen appearing alone on her Chicago stage, talking to viewers about what they had meant to her during the show’s 25-year run.