DAY IN HISTORY

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Today is the 116th day of 2020 and the 38th day of spring.

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1859, British, French and German engineers began construction on the Suez Canal in Egypt.

In 1898, the United States declared war on Spain.

In 1945, U.S. and Soviet troops met at the Elbe River in Germany, signaling the defeat of German defenses.

In 1953, Francis Crick and James D. Watson published an article describing the double helix structure of DNA.

In 2011, a four-day tornado outbreak in the southern United States began, producing 358 confirmed tornadoes and killing more than 300 people.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS:

Oliver Cromwell (15991658), soldier/politician; Edward R. Murrow (19081965), journalist; Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), singer; Meadowlark Lemon (1932-2015), basketball player; Jerry Leiber (19332011), songwriter/producer; Al Pacino (1940- ), actor; Hank Azaria (1964), actor; John Henson (1965-2014), puppeteer; Joe Buck (1969- ), sportscaster; Renee Zellweger (1969- ), actress; Jason Lee (1970- ), actor; Tim Duncan (1976- ), basketball player.

TODAY’S FACT: In 1901, New York became the first state to begin requiring automobile license by Andrews Mcmeel Almanac plates. TODAY’S SPORTS:

In 1950, Chuck Cooper became the first African American drafted into the NBA when he was selected by the Boston Celtics with the first pick of the second round.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices.” — Edward R. Murrow

TODAY’S NUMBER: 26,723 — nautical miles traveled by the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine USS Triton during its 60-day, 21-hour submerged circumnavigation of the world, completed on this day in 1960.

TODAY’S MOON: Between new moon (April 22) and first quarter moon (April 30).