TODAY IN HISTORY

FEB 25TH

1570-Elizabeth I, queen of England, was excommunicated by Pope Pius V.

1836-Samuel Colt patented the first revolving barrel multishot firearm.

1870-Hiram Revels became the first black United States senator, taking over the term of Jefferson Davis.

1901-J.P. Morgan formed U.S. Steel Corporation, the first billion-dollar corporation in the world.

1948-Communists took control of the government in Czechoslovakia.

1964-Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) became world heavyweight boxing champion for the first time by knocking out Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.

1983-Tennessee Williams, American playwright, died.

1986-President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines; Corazon Aquino took over the office.