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.