On this day in 1972
On this day in 1911.

Lewis and Clark departing St. Louis, Missouri.
On this day in 1804 the “Corps of Discovery”–featuring approximately
45 men (although only an approximate 33 men would make the full
journey)–left St. Louis for the American interior.
Skylab, America’s first space station, was successfully launched into
an orbit around the earth on this day in 1973. Eleven days later, U.S.
astronauts Charles Conrad, Joseph Kerwin, and Paul Weitz made a
rendezvous with Skylab, repairing a jammed solar panel and also
conducting scientific experiments during their 28-day stay aboard
the space station.


George Walton Lucas Jr. is 74 years old today.
George Lucas began his collegiate career studying anthropology
at Modesto Junior College, then transferred to the University of
Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. He attempted to join
the U.S. Air Force after graduation but they wouldn’t accept him
because of the number of speeding tickets on his record, so
instead he re-enrolled at USC as a graduate student in film
production.
Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998)
Frank Sinatra was one of the most popular and influential musical
artists of the 20th century and one of the best-selling music artists
of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide.

Alan Shepard became the first American in space when he made
a short suborbital flight on this day in 1961.

On the day in 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte on his deathbed.
The cause of his death has been debated. Napoleon’s physician, François
Carlo Antommarchi, led the autopsy, which found the cause of death to be
stomach cancer. He was 51.

The member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army died while on
a hunger strike during imprisonment at HM Prison Maze (Long Kesh).
He was the leader of the strike in which prisoners protested against
the removal of Special Category Status.
Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "Fifth of May") is a celebration held on May 5. The
date is observed to commemorate the Mexican Army‘s victory over French
forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General
Ignacio Zaragoza.

The Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire on students during an
anti-Vietnam war protest at Kent State University on this day in
1970.
It was on this day in 1979.

On this day in 1886.
It began on this day in 1961.

It was on this day in 1970.

Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826)

Pope John Paul ll (left) shakes hands with Rabbi Eilo Toaff upon
visiting the main Synagogue in Rome on this day in 1986.
The Pope’s meeting marked the beginning of a new era in Catholic-Jewish
relations. It was the first time a pope had entered the Rome synagogue.

On this day in 1964,Sidney Poitier became the first African- American
to win an Academy Award Oscar for Best Actor for his role in Lilies
of the Field.
Sidney Poitier turned 90, February 20.