TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

May 20, 1927

Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, aboard the Spirit of St. Louis on his historic solo flight to France. ALSO ON THIS DATE

1521

Ignatius of Loyola was wounded by a cannonball while defending Pamplona against the French; during his convalescence he turned to religion, becoming a leader of the CounterReformation and the founder of the Jesuits.

1873

Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis received a U.S. patent for men’s work pants made with copper rivets.

1899

Taxi driver Jacob German was pulled over and arrested by a police officer riding a bicycle for speeding down Manhattan’s Lexington Avenue in his electric car at 12 miles an hour at a time when the speed limit was 8 mph; it was the first recorded speeding arrest in U.S. history.