Thursday, August 26, 2010

TODAY IN HISTORY

AUGUST 26
1971:Congress declares Aug. 26 to be Women’s Equality Day, commemorating the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution—which went into effect on this day in 1920—and the nationwide Women’s Strike for Equality of Aug. 26, 1970.

1791: Rival inventors John Fitch and James Rumsey each receive a patent from the U.S. government for the steamboat, although it is Robert Fulton who is widely credited with making steamboat travel commercially successful.

1978: Cardinal Albino Luciani of Venice is elected 263rd pope of the Roman Catholic Church, following the death of Pope Paul VI. Luciani takes the name John Paul I, but the “Smiling Pope” will die 33 days later.

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