Today in history

1610 Galileo Galilei discovers Callisto, 4th satellite of Jupiter

1794 U.S. President Washington approved a measure adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag, following the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the union.

1854 Anthony Faas of Philadelphia, PA, was granted the first U.S. patent for the accordion. He made improvements to the keyboard and enhanced the sound.

1893 Britain’s Independent Labor Party, a precursor to the current Labor Party, met for the first time.

1928 RCA and GE install three test television sets in homes in Schenectady, New York allowing American inventor E.F.W. Alexanderson to demonstrate the first home television receiver which delivered a poor and unsteady 1.5 square inch picture.

1942 Henry Ford patented the plastic automobile referred to as the “Soybean Car.” The car was 30% lighter than the average car.

1966 Elizabeth Montgomery’s character, Samantha, on “Bewitched,” had a baby. The baby’s name was Tabitha.

1966 Robert C. Weaver became the first black Cabinet member when he was appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by U.S. President Johnson.

1984 Wayne Gretzky extended his NHL consecutive scoring streak to 45 games.

1986 The NCAA adopted the controversial “Proposal 48,” which set standards for Division 1 freshman eligibility.

1986 “The Wall Street Journal” printed a real picture on its front page. The journal had not done this in nearly 10 years. The story was about artist, O. Winston Link and featured one of his works.

1990 L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia, the nation’s first elected black governor, took the oath of office in Richmond.

1998 NBC agreed to pay almost $13 million for each episode of the TV show E.R. It was the highest amount ever paid for a TV show. 1998 ABC and ESPN negotiated to keep “Monday Night Football” for $1.15 billion a season.

1999 Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls) announced his retirement from the NBA.