On this Date in 1942...

...World War II: Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarines begin a series of attacks on Sydney, Australia.  The mission, however, was a complete failure as they were looking for the fabled "Emerald City", which is, in fact, in Washington State, in The United States of America.

On this Date in 1842...

...John Francis attempts to murder Queen Victoria as she drives down Constitution Hill, London with Prince Albert.  The attempt was thwarted, however, as they were both riding in a can, which was impervious to attack.

On this Date in 1918...

...Armenia defeats the Ottoman Army in the Battle of Sardarapat.  Though, in all reality, it is not all that hard to beat up on foot stools.

On this Date in 1503...

...James IV of Scotland and Margaret Tudor are married according to a Papal Bull by Pope Alexander VI. A Treaty of Everlasting Peace between Scotland and England signed on that occasion results in a peace that lasts ten years.  Thus proving once and for all that "forever" is officially equal to 10 years.

On this Date in 1813...

...War of 1812: In Canada, American forces capture Fort George.  Fort Lenny, however, was much harder to capture, and took at least a month longer

On this Date in 1936...

...in the House of Commons of Northern Ireland, Tommy Henderson begins speaking on the Appropriation Bill. By the time he sits down in the early hours of the following morning, he had spoken for 10 hours.  The sign outside of a nearby church the next Sunday read, "Come join us this morning for services as we read through the entire Bible, we promise it will be shorter than the Appropriation Bill speech."

On this Date in 2001...

...32-year-old Erik Weihenmayer, of Boulder, Colorado, becomes the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest.  At least that is what they told him.

On this Date in 1689...

...The English Parliament passes the Act of Toleration protecting Protestants. Roman Catholics are intentionally excluded.  It was extremely important to make this distinction since Protestants and Roman Catholics were always being confused for each other.

On this Date in 1430...

...Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne.  Which led to the largest outbreak of bladder infections as the army stationed at Compiègne was forced to cross their legs indefinitely.

On this Date in 1903...

...Launch of the White Star Liner, SS Ionic.  Engineers said it was a breeze.

On this Date in 1904...

...The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is founded in Paris.  Which is interesting since it was losted a year earlier in Germany.

On this Date in 1927...

...At 07:52 Charles Lindbergh takes off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, New York, on the world's first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. He touched down at Le Bourget Field in Paris at 22:22 the next day.  Chuck Woolery seen looking on in approval.

On this Date in 1749...

...King George II of Great Britain grants the Ohio Company a charter of land around the forks of the Ohio River.  Which was convenient since they had no idea what they were going to call it.

On this Date in 1902...

...The Antikythera mechanism, the oldest known surviving geared mechanism, was discovered among artifacts retrieved from a shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera.  So far researchers have only been able to ascertain that it points the way to the Isla de Muerta.

On this Date in 1960...

...American physicist Theodore Maiman operated the first working laser at the Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California.  However, the first successful firing of this laser ended up making a huge mess as it caused one of the on campus frat houses to become completely filled with popcorn.

On this Date in 2006...

...Iranian Azeris interpret a cartoon published in an Iranian magazine as insulting, resulting in massive riots throughout the country.  What could possibly be offensive about be compared to cockroa...ooooh.

On this Date in 1525...

...The battle of Frankenhausen ends the German Peasants' War.  Though, Frank was not too please with the mess they left in his living room.

On this Date in 1509...

...Battle of Agnadello: In northern Italy, French forces defeat the Venetians.  In their defense, the Venetians couldn't see very well.

On this Date in 1779...

...Russian and French mediators negotiated the Treaty of Teschen to end the War of the Bavarian Succession.  They decided to setup a puppet government with a cream pie.

On this Date in 1857...

...Indian Mutiny: Indian rebels seize Delhi from the British.  Presumably for the hot pastrami on rye.

On this Date in 1940...

...World War II: A British force of 746 soldiers invaded and captured Iceland without opposition.  After having taken control of such a strategically important island, the war was soon at an end.

On this Date in 1980...

...in Norco, California, five masked gunman hold up a Security Pacific bank, leading to a violent shoot-out and one of the largest pursuits in California history. Two of the gunmen and one police officer are killed and thirty-three police and civilian vehicles are destroyed in the chase.  The movie version should be coming in a couple years.

On this Date in 1914...

...Paramount Pictures is founded.  Though, no-one was aware that it was losted.

On this Date in 1429...

...Joan of Arc ends the Siege of Orléans, pulling an arrow from her own shoulder and returning, wounded, to lead the final charge. The victory marks a turning point in the Hundred Years' War.  The English returned home in shame as news spread about how they were "beaten by a girl."

On this Date in 1757...

...English poet Christopher Smart is admitted into St Luke's Hospital for Lunatics in London, beginning his six-year confinement to mental asylums.  This was where he reportedly invented the Cone of Silence.

On this Date in 1640...

...King Charles I of England dissolves the Short Parliament.  It didn't take very long, since it wasn't very long.

On this Date in 1493...

...Pope Alexander VI divides the New World between Spain and Portugal along the Line of Demarcation.  France and England look on in amusement.

On this Date in 1952...

...Lieutenant Colonels Joseph O. Fletcher and William P. Benedict of the United States land a plane at the North Pole.  Kris Kringle was seen shortly afterward yelling, "Get off my lawn!"

On this Date in 1194...

...King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter.  Though there are many that are still waiting for the bus.

On this Date in 1751...

...the first cricket match is played in America.  No one, to this day, still has any clue as to the outcome.